SUMMARY FOR Europe & Australia

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1469, 6 November 1860, Page 3

SUMMARY FOR Europe & Australia

PER S. S. PRINCE ALFRED. ■ffBOM 6TH OCTOBER TO STH NOVEMBER, 1860. . . . . _ '' ' "* Independent Office, Wellington, Nov. 5, 1860. Our dates from Taranaki are to the 27th October. The want of interest so long felt in the arrivals from Taranaki, lias, we hope, ceased. Eor sometime pdtet the public had given up the expectation of anything very brilliant taking place there, content if the forces were only spared from repeated retreats from a numerically insignificant foe. The news lately received points to more stirring times. The summer has set in. The «nemy, having finished planting, are again appearing. New allies have been obtained in the Waikatos ; who, instead of being content with passively allowing j a few of their number to assist Wi Kingi, seem now to have determined to support him en masse. We cannot contemplate the alliance of this tribe, already resulting in the contribution of upwards of eight hundred men — a portior of whom have arrived at the Waitara — without endorsing the opinion of our Taranaki correspondent, that there will be " hot work" there before long. The troops will be forced into activity, whether the I General desires it or not. v As the Waikatos are so far misguided as to resolve on taking a prominent part in the war, it must be matter for congratulation that they have determined to proceed to Taranaki, instead of Auckland. Like previous wars,the present appears to be waged with the troops rather than with the settlers. Were it otherwise, Taranaki would not have been chosen in preference to the North. . When our last month's summary was posted we had only received the intelligence that an expedition under Major Hutchins had started on the 19th Sept. for Kaihihi, to the South of New Plymouth. That expedition proved fruitless. Major Hutchins found it necessary to apply for reinforcements and a larger gun, with permission to attack a pa, around which there was considerable bush. The gun was ordered up from the Waitara ; but on its reaching New Plymouth it was retained and Major Hutchins' expedition was recalled. The reason is supposed to be the General's dislike to expose the troops to a bush fight — a correspondent tells us that if the correct term, " scrub," had been used the expedition would not have been ordered to return. It was with universal regret that the colonists heard of the result of this expedition ; and the success which has since accompanied a second expedition to the same spot, is proof that if we had a little more dash, — if there was less timidity at head quarters,, we should soon have to record a very different state of affairs, to that which we have unfortunately so long had to chronicle. The most inglorious expedition we have had yet to narrate took place on the 29th September. A body of SOOtroops under the command of Col. Leslie were sent to Huarangi (Waitara) to fill in rifle pits, &c, in the neighbourhood of several pas which bad sometime before been deserted by the Natives. While doing so they were fired upon at long range ; but as no fire was returned from the troops the Natives came cut of cover, and literally hunted the retreating troops over, two miles of, open country. Five soldiers were wounded and the rear guard, at last uncontrolably exasperated at seeing their comrades fall, faced tight about and lived at their pursuers who were only from 50 to 100 yards distant, For this act of insubordination — the strictest orders having been given to them by Col. Leslie, not to fire — the rear guard bad its grog stopped. Major Nelson who was in the rear, repeatedly sent tp Col. Leslie for permission to fire, but without success. We can only presume that Col. Leslie was under the strictest orders, otherwise he, as an experienced Indian officer, would never have permitted such a disgraceful retreat. The Native force was a mere handful. No explanation has been since offered, except perhaps some question may have been asked and answered ie tbe Assembly, but if so we have not received any report. The second expedition to Kaihihi already alluded to started under the command of General Pratt on the 9th October, and was most successful. The three pas discovered by Major Hutcbins were the object of attack. They were so situate as to protect each other, and this, combined with the nature of the country, prevented my of them being surrounded. The Orongo-mai-hangai pa was chosen for attack and bombaided, and although the whole of the pas were strong, they were all evacuated during the night. In consequence of the sreceipts receipt o. despatches from Auckland announcing the in. tentiou of the Waikutos to join Wi Kingi the expedition was prevented from following up this guccess, and obliged it to return to tuwu.

! j While we cannot help feeling regret that the : last expedition of General Pratt should have resulted in the destruction of- three empty pas — that the enemy should have escaped ; we are bound to express our belief that the Natives ; have suffered a much more serious defeat than j is evident at fust sight. The Orongomai-l hangi, Pukekakariki and Miitaiaio pas were) strongly built and admirably situated. They i were believed to be well calculated to sustain ifi siege, and so protected each othei that a gen- J tleman, writing from the spot, distinctly states that it would have required several thousand men thoroughly to invest them. The three pas formed a triangle, and it was impossible to surround any oue of them without being exposed to attack from the other two, and risking veiy many lives. Under these circumstances it is highly satisfactory that the Iris' powerful gun, for the first time brought into actual operation, proved not only sufficient quickly to rentier a strong pa untenable, but so forcibly to convince the natives of this fact, as to lead them hastily to abandon all three. We think we are warranted, therefore in considering 1 the expedition to Kaihihi as one likely to produce a most salutary impression. If in addition to the know ledge that pas, however strong, cannot withstand the fire of the large guns now in use, we could only tea h the eueiny that the bush was also no protection—that we had organised a force for the express purpose of coping with them on their g eat 'vantage giound— they would have little more to learn. A full account of each of the above three expeditions will be found elsewhere. From Auckland we have only received a three day's later newspaper since our last summary ! We have a few snatches of intelligence via Hawke's Bay and Taranaki, hut not enough to warrant us in attempting to give even an outline of (he General Assembly doings. The particulars of the supposed murder of a native, and the excitement it occasioned in Auckland, will be found in our "Latest Intelligence" columns of to-day. The Assembly it is expected will close to day, as its term runs out either to mor row or next day. The absence of communication with the South shows how necessary it is that it should meet in Wellington. The quiescent state of the Wellington Pro- , viuce is very satisfactory. We can confidently state that at no period since the breaking out . of the war h.-»s the native population baen quieter— a lesult which we are told on all hands has been effected by the knowledge that the General Assembly has shown itself desirous even under present exciting circumstances, of ' dealing fairly with native lands. The idea had permeated itself through the whole of the aboriginal population that the Governor was intending to seize its lands. This idea has been dispelled and quiet has been restored in Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, the West coast, Wairarapa, Hutt, and Wellington. We do not, however, say that there is no danger of this quiet being disturbed. Some untoward event may unexpectedly arise in any one of these districts productive of much local disaster ; but we are still sanguine that by continued forbearance, we may, with God's blessing, be able to avert anything like serious collision. A public meeting to urge on the war has been held in town. It was endeavoured to be turned to local party account, but the attempt resulted in a complete failure. The Wool Season is just commencing, and the prospects of a heavy clip are good. Trade is not quite dull, but we fear must remain more or less depressed while war coutinues at Taranaki.