REPORTED DESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNOR.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 70, 30 October 1862, Page 5 (Supplement)

REPORTED DESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNOR.

OMINOUS INTERVIEW BETWEEN SIR GEORGE GREY AND WI TARO. (I rom the Otago Daily Times own correspondent.) Wellington, 13lh Oct., 1802. I have hut little to write you about since my letter of the 10th inst. ; but that little is indicative of the future in a more important degree than, perhaps, anything that has yet been allowed tc be gathered here from Sir George Grey's words or actions. 1 have already informed you of the arrival in town of Wi Tako, who came from the West Coast at the Governor s request. Beyond the immediate influence ol his tribe, the Governor had evidently a strong hope that Wi Tako would, if only from personal considerations to llis Excellency, consent to abandon Kingism, and assist in the carrying out ot the new institutions. A long interview took place on Thursday, at Government House, and from the sans souei manner of the Governor while laying the foundation stone of the Supreme Court, immediately afterwards, wc concluded that the interview had been satisfactory'. Nothing whatever in relation to it transpired from Government House ; but Wi Tako has not been so silent, and from him we learn that the Governor strove hard to get him to return to his allegiance ; but on finding him resolved to watch the course of events, got exceedingly angry. The Governor intimated that native proceedings heretofore taken no notice of, would be regarded narrowly for the future, and that it drilling the King's natives at W aikanea (II i T ako’s residence) was continued, troops would be sent thither to put a stop to it. Tako replied that if they came, they must take up their quarter on Queen's land, and'if they didn’t interfere with him ho should take no notice of them. The Governor expressed a half-formed intention of confiscating Taka’s property in (own (some land & houses on the beach) to which Tako replied, that he (Sir George) was Governor, and if lie thought it good, well, he had only to do what was right. Much more in the same strain is reported, all tending to show that the Governor was very angry, and disgusted, and contemplated a speedy 7 limit to the patience hitherto exercised. Ol course this is an ex parte statement, and considering that the account of the interview at Otaki, written by Hi 'Tako, and published in the Independent a fortnight since, had a decidedly onesided tendency', the statements now must be received with caution ; yet it is perfectly clear that what did happen at. the interview caused the Governor and IV i Tako to part in high dudgeon. Lieut. Edwards, ol the 11th, has been appointed a resident magistrate for the district embracing Powina and the II aikariea portion of the wc.-t coast. Ilis appointment was considered a somewhat strange one, as Lieutenant Edwards is not all acquainted witli the Natives or their language ; but it is now thought by some (hat it is possible that regard has been had rather to the magistracy ns a pretext for obtaining a military knowledge of the country in that neighborhood, than to anything else. The Governor sailed for Auckland on Friday afternoon in the Harrier. The quidnuncs say that ho will return in about three months—very probably ; but there is so much mysleav about his Excellency's movements and intention's, that wo are always in the dark about them. This mvsterv is hurtful in the extreme. .For instance, would it not have been belter for all parlies, that the proceedings at the recent public interviews with the Y est <1 oast: natives should have been published officially, as were those (hat look place at Lower Waikato ten months ago. The truth however severe, could not bo more prejudicial than the living rumors which otherwise get into circulation. If the reporting of the proceedings was an ordinary affair, the press would do its duty, but it is not only difficult, but oltcn absolutely impossible, to get a competent Maori scholar to act as a travelling correspondent; and you may as well attempt to get blood from stones as information from the official interpreters, ike., who seem to be in fear of their lives it they uttered a syllable. Still more would it have been desirable that what passed between his Excellency and Wi Tako last week should be officially made known, as the reports, which lose nothing in the transmission, from mouth to mouth, excite unnecessarily and do an incalculable amount of mischief. There is a whisper that the Governor has sent home his resignation a month ago, in consequence of the Duke of Newcastle’s despatch. As far as I can make out, it is “kitchen” intelligence; but Joamcs docs sometimes know and sap more than others who might be supposed to bo better informed. I give it you simply as a rumour, and state the source from whence I believe it comes ; but 1 call to mind some surmises expressed not very long ago by a “drawing room” authority, that his Excellency might bo here only’ six months aud when asked what he meant, was evidently taken aback, and passed it off by saying that Sir George might die, or fifty other things happen. I am not going to say that it is by no means improbable that Sir George, or any else in his position should feel insulted by the tone of the Duke’s despatches, because, not knowing anything about it, I do not want to make the rumour of his resignation pass for more than it is worth. There is nothing else to mention, except it bo that Mr. Domett and the Governor’s suite leave in tnc Airedede for Auckland to-day.