Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENGATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICR." SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1869.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2851, 19 June 1869, Page 4

Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENGATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICR." SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1869.

Despatches have, we are informed, been received by the Government from Major Noakes, giving some fuller details of the capture of 40 men, 37 women, and 40 children, of the Pukekoa tribe, including its chief Tauroa. It appears that on the 9th inst. Major Noakes left Patea with a force of 264 men, consisting of Armed Constabulary, Rifle Volunteers, Wanganui • Veteran Volanteers, under Captain Kells, together with the Carlyle Volunteers, Ngatiporous, and some Wanganui natives. On arriving at Makaroro, half of the force was left there under Captain Hawes, while Major Noakes pushed on with tho Ngatiporous and Wanganui natives, and a few Europeans under Captain Goring and Mr Blake The parly soon found tracks of the enemy, and on the fourth day of being out were close upon his scouts. On arriving at a village called Taitata, an envoy was met who came from the chief Tauroa, with a missive suing for peace. Mr Booth went back iv the canoe which had bvought the messenger, and proceeded to where Tauroa was stationed with bis followers, the messenger being detained as a hostage for Mr Booth's safety. Mr Booth not returning soon, Major Noakes, with 50 men, advanced to the enemy 'a position at Te Kura, where a pa had been built. Major Noakes found Mr Booth there, and in reply to Tauroa's desire for peace, said he would accept nothing but an unconditional surrender, at the same time sending a portion of his force to cut off the retreat of the enemy in the rear of the pa. On this being clone, the Hauhaus came out and laid their arms down at Major Noakes's feet. Major Noakes then promised Tauroa that his life should be spared, and his men notdest royed. Thirty-one stand of arms and eighteen canoes were taken possession of, but the village was left untouched. It seems that these people had been watching the advance of our force for two days up the river, and first intended to fight, but surrendered at the eleventh hour. The prisoners have been given into the charge of the Ngatiporous. The Patea river, up which the force went in their expedition, is very winding, and has several rapids in it. The expedition suffered a good deal of hardship from heavy rain and cold when out. The prisoners, as before mentioned, were brought into I'atea.

By the events which we have thus succintly narrated, it will be seen that the Government and the colony are placed in a somewhat embarassing position. It is true that Major Noakes and his men have secured the surrender of a section of a rebel tribe, which has all along given serious trouble, and which it is certain has participated in all the robberies and house burnings and murders of Europeans which have taken place on the West Coast districts. Still we cannot help thinking that it would have been better if Tauroa and his followers had shown fight, and thus enabled Major Noakes to exterminate them, leaving, of course, untouched the women and children- We clearly fight on unequal terms with those murderous Hauhaus. They show no mercy to prisoners ; but fight a la outrance — killing, mutilating, and even burning all whites who may fall, into their hands ; while we, on the other hand, as in this case, accept Uie unconditional surrender of forty-six men who have been most active in the field against m>. Nay more, the officer in command of our force grants the rebel chief and his followers their lives, — refrains from burning their -village or destroying their cultivations. We aie not blaming Major Noakes for his humanity to a helpless foe ; and indeed there is some doubt whether, under the existing law, rebels who surrender can be summarily dealt with on the spot. "We believe, however, that the Government contemplate bringing forward a measme in the Assembly conferring on officers in the field the additional powers which are required to deal with such cases. Meantime what are we to do with the " white elephant" which has fallen into our hands ? Are we to be at the expense of feeding and pampering prisoners ? And, are the already tax burdened colonists to pay for doing so ? In truth, we have already had enough of Maori prisoners and their escapes, and it would be very well if the advice should be taken now, which we gave a year ago — to take as> few prisoners as possible — to fight soagainstan enemy which must be almost extirpated, and as a rule in the contest to spare noue but women and children.

The debate on Mi* Fox's motion of want of confidence is still going on ; but the present disorganised, state of the Houserenders it impossible to speak with confidence as to its result. MrVogel made a brilliant speech on Thursday evening, and was replied to by the Hon. John \ Hall. Yesterday afternoon rumors were current that Mr .Rolleston, on behalf of what is known as the "Middle" party, intended moving an amendment having for its ob ect to relieve the House from the responsibility of voting either for or against the Ministry retaining office. It was further reported that a prominent member of the Opposition had been gained over by Mr Rolleston ; and that a coalition Ministry was not improbable. However, in the evening, after Mr Richmond had made a long speech, Mr Rolleston got up and said that he found his intended amendment could not be put in such a way as to attain his object, and he therefore should not move it. He recommended the ejectment of the present Ministry, in order that an opportunity might be given for constructing a Government which should com maud the unanimous support of the House.