CONCENTRATION OF THE TROOPS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1492, 29 January 1861, Page 5

CONCENTRATION OF THE TROOPS.

While we always refrain from attaching to tho opinions of a newspaper correspondent an undue importance ; yet from the wide circulation which those of the Nelson Examiner's Taranaki Correspondent receive, and the frequent unison of the sentiments he publishes, with those really entertained by the Taranaki community, we think we shall err on the right side if we briefly allude to the blame, which he attaches to the Governor for locating a portion of the 14th Regiment here, instead of sending them on to Turanaki.

It must be borne in mind that when i war broke out at Taranaki, the limited garrison in Wellington was cheerfully spared, in order that every available bayonet might bo concentrated at the scene of action. To protect the handful, of settlers at Taranaki and their property, Wellington willingly undertook the risk to which the total absence of troops exposed tho settlers and property of this province. It was then expected that the withdrawal of our troops would bo only ] temporary that the war would be speedily over and the 65tU again take up their quarters here. During the whole of the! tedious war and the consequent excitement among the native race everywhere, we have never asked for the immediate return of our garrison ; all we have asked for has been that when reinforcements arrived our barracks should not continue empty. When tho 14th arrived at Auckland, tho Governor distributed the Regiment among the provinces of Auckland, Hawke's Bay, and Wellington, and was thus able to send from the two first of them, about 350 of the 65 th, &c, to Taranaki. The force at Taranaki including Militia must now exceed 8000 men, and with tho Artillery and Indian force will ere long exceed 4000 ; while the Natives do wot number more than about

ten or twelve hundred figh ting men. If the Taranald authorities insist upon further reinforcements they had better apply to Auckland where communication is! constantly open by means of the men-of-war steamers, and not as it is here, where weeks might elapse before we could receive military ail, oven if -.we were never so hard pressed for it, But to withdraw the small force cither at Auckland or Wellington in order to add to the immense one already at Taranaki, would present circumstances be absurd. It is well known that we are not alarmists and have never cried out about danger simply to secure troops ; but we cannot avoid warning the Governor of the grave responsibility he will incur by withdrawing any part of the force now here. The possibility of the natives adopting a different mode of warfare So soon as their last stronghold falls before English shot and shell — the machinations of northern tribes as exposed in Ronata's

celebrated speech at Hawke's Bay — the discussion still going on about the King's flag on the West Coast, are all indications that General Pratt' s cautious but wearisome policy may some day lead to consequences here and elsewhere, which forbid all idea of lessening the small defence already enjoyed.