THE Wellington Independent " NOTHING EXTENUATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." THURSDAY MORNING, 30th JUNE. THE NORTHERN MAIL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2081, 30 June 1864, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent " NOTHIN G EXTENUATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." THURSDAY MORNING, 30th JUNE. THE NORTHERN MAIL.

" Wb have been waiting for you to come and attack us for a whole month, but you have not come, and therefore we are now coming' to attack you." Such were the words of Bawiri, the chief who distinguished himself in the affair of the Gate Pa, in a challenge addressed but a few days ago to Colonel Greer and the troops at Tauranga. We congratulate the Colony that this challenge has been fittingly answered. The natives infesting the district have not been allowed time to attack the troops at all, and their pah. building operations nave received a timely, check. The brief yet graphic narrative which we republish to-day from the Auckland papers does justice to the spirited engagement which it describes. The natives had been constructing a pah on the road traversed by the Colonial Defence Force when out reconnoitring, and a party of 400 men sent to stop their operations, gallantly attacked and tpok possession of the enemy's works, in a few minutes, and forced its occupants to flee for their lives. Nor was the victory fruitless. The retreating natives were followed by the Defence Force for nearly ten miles, to such purpose, that the number of killed and wounded, are said to be above two hundred. This engagement is a specimen of that short, sharp, and decisive warfare so much to be desiderated. The number of men engaged in it was comparatively small, there was no protected bombardment, no mortars, or Armstrong guns, and yet a dashing victory was achieved, which will go far to make us forget the memory of that other unhappy affair of the 29th of April. We agree with the Southern Gross when it says :•—'.' We cannot omit to congratulate General Cameron on his foresight or good fortune in the choice of his Lieutenants. Two of the most marked successes of this war have been gained through the means of those whom he has appointed as his substitutes at different points. General Carey, at Orakau, and now Colonel Greer, at Tauranga, have nobly justified the expectations with which he placed them in a position of grave responsibility. It is. the greatest mark of an able commander that he knows the best man to choose for a command. It was to. this faculty more perhaps than to his own great powers of generalship that Napoleon owed the wonderful military position of his Empire. It was to this faculty in the Duke of Wellington that he owed the splendid efficiency of the army of the Peninsula, and that brilliant ring of general officers who surrounded him there and at Waterloo. The credit, therefore, of these successes at Orakau and at Tauranga will as justly belong to General Cameron as did the splendid successes of the Peninsula to Wellington, al" though he may not be present when the successes themselves are won. The Province; and the Colony too may be congratulated, we think, heartily upon this success. It will go far towards making the way plain for the complete settlement of the Tauranga district by the Ist Waikatos. There is no doubt of the rebellion of the Tauranga men when there leading chief is found dead beside the pa at Taumata-i-a-hui ; and the victory which has been won will probably prevent any more, attacks for some little time, so that arrange- . ments may be made with safety. ,-. 'Tis^surely a pity that the troops must come back again

tb the landmg at Ta-urangaind |\fait 110111:611 . attack. This could better be dond'Cby:men who might be doing somefttinfl else^t^the same time-^-men who might add; some 'farming to their fighting." K ; ; C ■;■"','/ The AucHand newspapers express varied and conflicting opinions on the news received from England relative to the probable action of the Imperial Government on the Confication Act. It is contended on one side with apparent glee, that the action of the Ministry will be interfered with,.andsiat;the Governor, despite their " responsibility," can v . still have pretty much his own way. With this opinion we by no means agree, from reasons already fully put forward, but think with our contemporary already quoted, that if the English telegram • • has any meaning at 'all; ' it means, when rendered into common English, that the Government have been obliged ' to assent to the Bill while they caution 4 the Colonial Government to modify it in exercise. There are but two things ' that -the " J Constitution empowers the English' Government to do with a ' bill from the colony— either to confirm or reject it, or else to let it' alone, when it becomes law by default of any opposition on their part. . They > find/ it imposible to disallow ; therefore-: they must of absolute necessity leave it to its operation, otherwise the Constitution' wotdd be violated. The instructions of Mr Carj^nrell cannot over-, turn the Act, oncepassed and not disallowed ; therefore they need not alarm any one. So far as we can understand them they do not mean much ; for after the guilty are punished (by confiscation) there cannot be much for the select commission to do except to ad judi- . cate upon questions of compensation; to persons who have given proofs of loyalty and good behaviour." - It is not easy to understand the continued delay in locating the military settlers in the' Waikato. The country has been conquered ( and 5000 men specially enlisted for the purpose are waiting to occupy it, and form aperr manent line of posts, constituting a military frontier, from Baglan on the West Coast ; to Taurangaon the East. Why are these men ] not placed on their lands? Last mail brought the intelligence that they were to be located immediately, while the present only tells us what we knew, before, that 300 mea' of one Waik ato Begiment are . at Tauranga. There must be a reason 'for these fresh delays, and the suspicion is gaining ground that some secret influence is at work to produce,, them. If the Ministry wish to keep; faith with these men, who nave been broughtf-to,, New Zealand, .on ,the , distinct .promise of .. receiving a certain quantity of land, -and-. do not wish to be charged with a violation of their word, they will at onco. have the 5 land surveyed and. the.settlers placed upon it.