LATEST NEWS FROM TARANAKI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1496, 12 February 1861, Page 5

LATEST NEWS FROM TARANAKI.

'"j. — — ' [From a, Correspondent. of the Nelson Examiner.]

Febiuary 5, 1861.

Notwithstanding bur late successes I see no prospect of an early termination to the^ war. General Pratt's system is now fully developed, and. if persevered in, I do hot besilate to say that we must wait for a new com n inler before

we can hope to conquer the natives. That the Maories miy be tired out and thus induced to listen to the strenons exertions w iioh we learn

are being made in the north to bring about a peace, is possible ; but we have not impressed them with such an idea of our power as t.i lead

them to unconditional sub-mission, without, which it is to be hoped p_aoe will .not be granted. •.•••» Shortly after the battle of Mih letahi you are. awaie that 400 men were sent from here to Auckland ; this led to tot il inaction OoJ the pait

of the General, on the plea that he had- not a ; sufficient force to take the field effectually ; as he was dhermined when he moved from the town again to follow up the natives vigoruisly, destroy their plantations, and thin cmnoel them to submission The success at .Vf thoetahi, and the confident tone as to the future, gave us hopes that the war would be over before winter; without food the Waikatos cm-Id not remain

here, -md with the large force at the. General's

cimmand, and the expected reinforcements from England, we weie confident of being able to drive Wirerau Kingi from the Waitara, and follow up the southern natives even to Wanganui, if needful. The truce at Matarikoriko, which enabled the natives to get off safely with their wounded and retire quietly from the contest, shook our faith once more in

the General's energy and foresight; we felt that the natives had been too cunning for him, and that, as iv every previous case, he had neglected to follow up the advantage gained. It is now five weeks since the natives were driven from Matarikoriko, and the whole of the intervening time has been spent by the force at the Waitara, in getting to Huirangi, about a mile distant. Within this space five redoubts have been erected, fie troops advancing to take up tbeir new positions, and erecting the redoubt protected by strong firing parties. From the second redoubt, I believe an open sap has been carried on to Huirangi, betweeu 700 and 800 yards in length, with regular traverses) h work of art indeed that would have done us credit at Sebastopol. A week since it was known that many natives had left the Waitara, aud it was said the rifle pits also, but still it was necessary that the latter should be approached in a scientific manner— it might be a trap; ani who knew what danger lurked behind those dreaded pits? However, at last they were reached ia due form, and found empty. Thus have five weeks of precious lime been occupied, W. .Kingi remains in his stronghold at Miitaitawa, and the large: cultivations there are untouched ; there is still a place of refuge at Waitara for any disaffected natives who choose, to come, and abundance of food to maintain them. ...

In the meantime the natives have" been gathering around the town iv large numbers, and have established themselves at Waireka, where they have erected two pahs, supported by rifle-pits. From these strongholds marauding parties have been sent out to burn and plunder; cattle driven away almost within rifle shot of our block-houses, aud houses burnt within a mile of them in open day. No attempt has been made to cut off these parties, although occasionally a force is sent out, but with stringeut instructions to keep along the, main road (where they can be seen for miles distaut), .and cumbered with a 24-pjunder. Of course this is no check ; and a large number of horses aud cattle collected by the natives were driven off -a day or two since to NgatirUanui. The natives -still threaten to "attack the town, and it is said have even arranged their plans for so doing. They are probably more numerous around the town than at any former, time,and are aware that the force here is hot so numerous, as the General has lately withdrawn several companies to the Waitara, where he has upwards of 2,000 men, for what purpose nobody can imagine, unless it is that the men are nearly used np by working at that foolish sap, which the General is so anxious about that the men are kept working at it on Sundays. When the General's operations at the Waitara will be" completed it is irapissible to say, bnt if he gees on in the same wly at Waireka, it is quite evident that the natives Will have ample time to seoure their crops, and thus the war may be prolonged for an' indefinite time. We have a right to conclude, from the events of the last few, weeks, that the General has not sufficient energy, and appears to; be: afraid to lose a single mao. Id attacking the natives, he trusts entirely to his artillery and superior rifles, but will not risk a close encounter; al-

though when forced into it, rs in the attack upon the redoubt, the' superiority of our forces is apparent. Both officers and men are eager for more active ser? toe, an'd^if, the conduct of war had beenlefv in younger haads, I beljeve the natives would long ere this have suffered so severely, as to be glad to submit to any terms. Had tlie Governor's advice " that a system of sudden, secret, and constant attack, when and where they least expect it, conducfed by energetic officers, confident of support at appointed places, acting with, enough of personal responsibility to excite* ambition," been .adopted, I believe our families would have been comfortably in their homes again!