AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 184, 22 July 1864, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

(From the Southern Cross) TAUEANGA.

July 4. Rumors have been prevalent in camp for this last day or two that tiie rebels have again determined to try their strength, and are now throwing up works of defence about 3 miles to the rear of the site of the last unsuccesful engagement. It is also further stated that Ikihiroa, a chief belonging to Maungatapu, is to succeed the late Rawiri as their General. Now this chief Ikihiroa was actually assuming a garb of friendship only about three weeks ago—was in our camp and appeared very jocular with a number of our officers, jesting with them in the most familar manner ; though he was thus professing to be a friendly, still there were parties in the camp who knew that he was acting a double part, and acquainted a certain official with the circumstance, -who, in place of rebuking him for his presumption in daring to come within the precincts of the camp, actually joined in with the other officers in their jests. One of the native assessors called Te Ranapia, belonging to this place (Maungatapu), is the person who nearly broke his neck in falling from his horse whilst galloping, on the 18th ultimo, to warn the enemy that our troops were marching on them. This same native was in the camp the day before the engagement, and was cognisant of the fact that the rebels were on their way to erect defences against us. In fact, he is paid by our Government to act as a spy for the rebels. This is one way the money goes, in order to pay such traitors as these. MAKETU. June 28. It is a curious fact that the whole of the Tapuika who were killed at Tauranga, and Te Mineti, of Ngatirangiwewehi, also there, joined the Maketu natives in their pursuit of Ngatiporou, and fought with the Arawas at Matata. The natives account for it in this way : They say that Ngatiporou came not only to attack the pakeha, but also the Arawa, and seeing their tribe in danger they joined the Arawas against the rebels ; but the fight at Tauranga being solely against the pakeha, they took up arms on

the side of the king. I must mention, however, that none of these natives had been supplied with either arms or ammunition by the Government.

CAMP, TE AWAMUTH. June 29. A Roman Catholic clergyman, Father Garyy, came into Camp the day before yesterday, having returned from a visit to the rebels. The Rev. gentleman reports that the natives are suffering great hardships, and are so short of the “ sinews of war,” as to resort to the tawa and hinau berries, nikau, fern-root, and other indigenous roots abounding in the bush, for subsistence. He also corroborates the statements of the native Pera, in reference to sickness of William Thompson. The rebels say that in deference to the wishes of the prisoners on board the Marion, which were made known to them by the two chiefs who visited them on a parole of honor, “ they will leave Waikato in the hands of the pakehas, and will not renew the war in that quarter.” Waikato (the men of Waikato) lias fallen, and are either killed or prisoners to the pakehas, so the war about Waikato is terminated. But probably this magnanimous act of forbearance has been brought about by the severe defeats they have sustained at Ivoheroa, Rangiriri, Waiari, Rangiawhia, Haerini, and Orakau, than by any respect for the wishes of the prisoners. They will not renew the struggle in Waikato, because they would by such a course only expedite their own destruction.

Tho Hobart Town Jl Lercury, of the 15tb inst., makes the following very pertinent remarks with respect to Mr. Cardwell, and the Hew Zealand confiscation policy :—“Tho debate in the House of Commons on tho confiscation policy of Hew Zealand has drawn forth some remarks from Mr. Cardwell, the new Secretary of State for the Colonies, for which the war party there, —supposing the whole of the British settlers not to be of the war party, —will not be prepared. The Confiscation Act is not to be disallowed, but the Colonial Government is to bo restrained in its administration. This does not sound very well, and will go down but badly, we fear, in Hew Zealand. There, as here, responsible government has been granted, with the sole reservation of the right on the part of Her Majesty to disallow any acts reserved by the Governor for the time being for the signification of her pleasure thereon. But when an act is allowed, or has not been disallowed, but is left to its operation, we fail to see in which way the Government of the colony is to be restrained in its administration. It becomes a colonial statute, and passes out of the hands of the Government. It is not for the Government, and much less for the Governor, with whom tho Secretary of State corresponds, to say how an act shall be administered. That must be left to tho law courts of the colony, subject, of course to any future action of the Legislature or Executive for tho time being. If we understand the object of the Confiscation Act, it is simply this, that the lands of all who take or have taken up arms against her Majesty in Hew Zealand, shall be forfeited to the Crown, and supposing that to be the case, and the act not to be disallowed, what can Mr. Cardwell mean by saying, that, after just chastisement, if guilty, the Confiscation Act shall be terminated, and a complete amnesty be proclaimed P To us, this seems to be altogether inexplicable.”