TARANAKI AFFAIRS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 32, 6 February 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

TARANAKI AFFAIRS.

f'From the Hew Zealand Advertiser, Jan. By the s. s. Wmg a Wonga, Captain Benner, we have received later intelligence from this once beautiful but now desolate Province. The Militia there are to be disbanded, as there is goin " to be an entire organic change in the establishment of that force. It is intended that all persons able to maintain themselves should be left to their own resources, and that in the case of the others the receipt of pay and rations should be coupled with conditions requiring from them effective service. “ Probably,” says the Herald, “ the whole force will, in the first instauce, be disbanded, and afterwards those who can show that they are unable to obtain a certain livelihood in other wavs will be enrolled in a sort of volunteer force, which will be employed on public works until such time as Sir George Grey can tell us with a clear conscience that we may salely return to our farms, and the Government has put us in a position to do so.” r lhe Herald asserts that it would be impossible for Mr. Eos to come down a little further to gratify the Upper Waikatos, or if not he would probably do so. Their answer after deliberation must decide the question of peace or war. “ The latter,” says the Herald, “is by far the most probable alternative. We shall have peace, but it will be the rest of unstable equilibrium, and liable to be destroyed by the most trilling accident.” That journal then asks—- “ What, in this case is to be the future course of the selt’ers in this province, especially the out-set-tlers ? Are we to re-invest our compensation money—when we get it—in building houses and stocking our old farms; or will it be safer, for those that can, to throw up their remaining nroperty here, or sell it for what little it may fetch, and seek a home in the other island ? This is a pressing and painful problem for many of us, and we hope that, in common hum&nity. Sir George Grey and his Government will do their best to help us to a right solution.” If Sir G. Grey carries out the views he expressed to Tipene, as reported in our last, the settlers of Taranaki will soon be helped to a solution of this problem. If they are not advised by parties in the background to do so, the Ngatiruanuis will not restore the plunder, or permit military posts to be established on their teritory, if they can help it.