THE TARANAKI WAR.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1487, 8 January 1861, Page 4

THE TARANAKI WAR.

It is now a. month since we received any direct news from Taranaki. A strong North-wester having blown off the steamer Tasmanian Maid, 6he 'put into Nelson, from whence we have particulars to the 2 1st December. With the exception of the murder of a young settler named Sartin, brother to the Volunteer who was- shot while capturing the rebel ; flag-at the L Stockade, nothing of any moment had transpired. The troops had been reinforced by the return ofthe 400 men, sent for by the Governor on account ofthe alaim felt at Auckland, accompanied by an additional 100 ofthe 14th newly from England. . The dissatisfaction at the supineness of. General Pratt is very great. The blow struck at Mahoetahi has been allowed to become comparatively useless by the inertness which sue ceeded it; for notwithstanding the superiority of our numbers on that occasion : notwithstanding that the engagement only led ttie natives to acknowledge four soldiers backed by Big guns as superior to one Maori— -it was nevertheless a. very severe defeat ; a heavy blow [ and sore discouragement to them. All who.' know anything of Maori character, know full well how easily they become dispirited by defeat* and how a. few blows in rapid succession would, accomplish what years of the present miserably

slow work will not effect. By the Robert Lowe, arrived yesterday from Auckland, we have a well confirmed rumour of a petty skirmish going on at Taranaki a week or ten day since, but otherwise no movement appears to have taken place. General Pratts force consists of nearly 3,000 men ofall classes, and lias consisted of nearly that number ever since his arrival months ago ; while the Maori enemy has never ot any time equalled 1,000 and often onlj a few hundreds. Another regiment is now expected from India, but.uuless a commander arrives shortly with some" dash " in him, the summer will be frittered away, and gallant men who are " every inch the soldier" will continue to be made laughing stocks through tbe incapacity of the General commanding. General Pratt has received «redit for his coolness under fire; but more than this is wanted—we want some small modicum of that. energy and daring which so lately saved our Indian possessions. There, in an unbearably hot and sickly climate, men as old as, General Pratt have shown tbeir competency for the command they were honored with, and unless Geheral Piatt feels himself able to exhibit something like ibe activity ,as> well as the personal courage of , Napier,,, Havelock, or Clyde, be had better make way for a younger and more energetic man ; and Taranaki oontains more than one such

Meanwhile tbe spirit of disaffection is spreading among tbe Waikatos, aud leading them actively to support Wi Kingi. William Thompson, tbe principal chief of tbe powerful Ngatibaua tribe, bns announced bis intention to do so. Thompson, is perhaps without exception the most civilised and intelligent chief in New Zealand, and from being connected with a mission station since early boyhood, has many predictions in favour ofthe pakeha. He regards the present war as a war of races— as a part of tbe great design towards subjugating bis race, wbich induced bim to originate the King movement, of whicb he has continued to be one of the main' supporters. To what the present mode of conducting the war will eventually lead, none can foretell ; but be would run little risk of being convicted as a false prophet, who predicted that if it drags on as slowly this year as it has done during the last, a war of races will become most imminent. "Had the ; war ended at . Waireku," remarks the Taranaki Herald, " Bewi and the Waikatos would not have entered the quarrel 5 had Puketakauere been the last act, Wetbii might have been been buried among bis tribe ; and if Mahoetahi could have been promptly followed up, we should not hear of W. Thompson's defection ; to say nothing of our ruined homes, and the gallant citizens and soldiers whom every fresh action takes from us. Let considerations, like these, which are suggested in ho spirit of blame, bave their due weight iv the councils of our leaders. As a. matter of business, and as a matter of humanity, the quickest, firmest hand is the most economical and the kindest. Every interest urges speed in fighting to its end this, the last war of New Zealand."

We cannot better conclude this notice ofthe war, than by reporting the convalescent state of Captain' Turner, the gallant leader of the st irmiug party of' the 65th at Mahoetahi. The ball had passed through the lower jaw to the neck, and remained there several weeka. Capt. Turner is residing in Wellington r/hither,'. he removed shortly after the wound waß received, and returns to Taranaki to-morrow.