CHAPTER I. UNSATISFACTORY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENERAL AND GOVERNOR
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SOME HOME TRUTHS
THE MAORI WAR 1863 TO 1869
ON THE WEST COAST OF NEW ZEALAND
CHAPTER I
UNSATISFACTORY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENERAL AND GOVERNOR
HAVING been requested by numerous friends to place on record various incidents that came under my personal knowledge in connection with the Maori War, from 1863 to 1860, during which period I held high and responsible positions, I have decided to do so; more particularly as I am able to place before my readers facts that have never before been published.
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These facts materially alter the impression given by some writers, that the Imperial troops, under Lieutenant-General Sir D. A. Cameron, were to blame for many unsatisfactory movements during the war. In my opinion, the sole person who was to blame, and who was the cause of the generally hostile attitude of the Press towards the Imperial troops, was the then Governor, Sir George Grey, who interfered so unwarrantably, not only with Sir D. A. Cameron, but also with his successor, Major-General Sir Trevor Chute, that the great wonder is that our troops were as successful as they were.
There is not a shadow of doubt, in my opinion, that the most unfortunate thing that ever happened to New Zealand, was the appointment for the second time of Sir George Grey, as Governor. I maintain--and my opinion is borne out by many men of that day--that, had we had any other Governor, the war would have been far more speedily brought to an end; and many valuable lives and a
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PERSONAL OBSERVATION
vast amount of treasure would have been saved.
It is not my intention, in this present little work, to go into the history of the war, hut only to relate various incidents which occurred under my personal observation, and the truth of which I can vouch for; and hence I am giving to this book the name, 'SOME HOME TRUTHS RE THE MAORI WAR 1863 TO 1869.'
