Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 570, 21 April 1858, Page 4

Colonial.

TARANAKI

By way of Auckland we have news from Tavanaki to the 25th March. The following account of the present position of the native question in that province is from the ' News ' of that date.

On Saturday last the public of New Plymouth were informed that Ihaia, perceiving that the time.was fast approaching when theKaraka and its dependencies would be untenable, had resolved as a last resource to avoid the cruel fate that impended from his merciless enemies, torequest British protection, that he might be tried by British law and receive British justice.. Although there appears something novel in the request, those who know the critical position of Iliaia, "and could recall to mind his anxiety for many years past to become a British subject, were not altogether taken by surprise, though it must be admitted that his decision caused the most intense anxiety; for it involved important questions, and foremost demanded, in the event of his request being granted, an open and decisive" course of action on the part of the local authorities. A meeting of the Bench' of Magistrates was consequently summoned to consider the steps proper to be taken thereon, at which Major Murray attended in his double capacity of magistrate and commanding officer of her Majesty's forces in the province. The proceedings of the meeting were not made public, but, as usual on such occasions, sufficient transpired to give- those out of doors some notice of what had occurred, and the probable results to which the discussion tended. The first and most important question would of cnirso be—shall the request be granted? which clearly involved the sending down of a sufficient force to the Waitara to bring Ihaia and his people out of }iis surrounded stronghold and place them in safety. A readiness, we understand, was shown by both civil and military authorities present to aid

the unfortunates, and rescue them from their periloSs position; but before any positive action, ft was considered necessary to despatch the Assistant Native Secretaryto Ihaia, we presume £ ascertain the authenticity of the letter purporting to come from him his followers. Whether this step was intended simply to so ve this difficulty, or that it was thought desirable to nut a new face on the affair, is not at present known, nor the absolute purport of the communication. Probably an explanation to Ihaia of the nosition in which an unconditional surrender would place him was a part of the business, and, supposing delay to be its object, it is not difficult to guess at the result. He admitted the letter- but altered his mind, and preferred dying as a warrior, gun in hand, at the Waitara, to chancing the result of the reliance he had before contemplated. This second decision of Ihaia's defers the aues tion for the. present, and grants to the resident magistrate further time for the development of his theory of non-interference. There is, however, little doubt that the force of circumstances and the, advice of those of his friends who view his position in its true light will compel Ihaia, in a short time, tb repeat his request, and it is fitting that Government should be pre-, pared to assume a sound position. It must be admitted that the business was one of great gravity, and demanded wary walking; and we think it is riot to be regretted that, for the present, and until the General Government can be communicated with, the necessity for instant action has passed away. This communication with Government is now rendered imperative. A few days may see the arrival of a climax in this affair, when, within a single hour, our election will have to be made. The Governor's proclamation, had it been acted upon in the spirit which its framers intended,would,in all probability, have placed the settlement in a far better to deal with such an emergency. Had fit Been made operative the duty which now des volves upon the local authorities would have been transferred to the General Government, whose despatches, court the responsibility, and point its direction. But it is useless to repine. "In man's most dark extremity, -oft succour "beams from Heaven." So out of this hazardous dilemma a resolution has been arrived at, which promises fair to bring the General Government acquainted with our true position and the doubtful safety of the community. The following temperate memorial to his Excellency is in course of signature, and his honor the Superintendent has been invited to take charge of its delivery, •and will, it is understood, proceed to Auckland by one of the vessels daily expected, to give the representation of the province the aid of his personal weight with the Government. To his Excellency Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, C.8., Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of New Zealand, &c, *c. The memorial of the undersigned inhabitants of the Province of New Plymouth, sheweth,- — That the native warfare in this province is by no means likely to die out otherwise than by the annihilation of one party or the other. Tor the present, the prospects of success are on the side of those who seek vengeance for the death of Eatatore; and if Ihaia's party are not relieved and enabled to come out from their beleagured pa, their besiegers must before long be in a position to carry out their-threats of destroying: thp whole party, without distinction of sex or age. Already they fire on women and children. If Ihaia should be relieved, there is little reason for hoping that his party would be more merciful. In either case, a scene of massacre must follow, which would cause great alarm in the province, arid be a lasting blot on the Government of a British community possessing power to restrain and prevent it. Before the receipt of this memorial it will be known to your Excellency that your proclamation regarding the native disturbances of this province, which was received here with unmingled satisfaction, remains up to this hour inoperative, in consequence of some misunderstanding between the Resident Magistrate and the Justices, respecting the construction of the unpublished instructions which accompanied it. That consequently the aggres- * sive proceedings of the natives opposed to Ihaia proceed on our territory unchecked as before, and that we may properly be considered as aiding and abetting them in the work of violence. Your memorialists cannot believe that they misinterpret the intention of your Excellency's proclamation, because nothing could be more clear than that its publication must prove to the last degree mischievous if it is to be of no force, since it were better that the natives should continue their aggressive course under what they might consider a tacit permission of the authorities, than in absolute defiance of solemn proclamation, as is the case now. In the opinion of your memorialists the present moment is the most favourable that is ta occur for action by Government. They conceive that the interference of the military authorities, to remove at least the women and children from the pa of Ihaia should be the first step. They are credibly informed that a number of the besiegers are lukewarm, and would fall off at the appearance of military on the Waitara; that the more active division would not venture to oppose a force such as could be brought to act on them ; and that the party of Ihaia might be removed without bloodshed now. They are fur- > ther informed by all travellers coastwise that [ the tribe southward are preparing to join the \ quarrel, and they submit that the danger of alj lowing the present state of affairs to continue is 1 extreme; but they conceive that further arming j and influx of war parties would be prevented by I such a measure as they suggest. S What course should be pursued towards Ihaia | and his immediate confederates they do not j venture to suggest. His old steady adherence I to the connection with the settlers, his un- | shaken determination to pursue a land selling j policy, makes his cause the popular one in this [ place. They cannot, however, overlook the j savage murder by which he violated British ground and recommenced these ruinous disturbances. Nothing can be pleaded by them on his behalf ; but on the score of humanity, of public tranquillity, and the honour of the British Government, they humbly pray that your Excellency ; will be pleased immediately to stop the native

war in the Province by rescuing and removing the beleaguered inhabitants of the Karaka pa from the hands of their besiegers. And your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.

We (' Taranaki News') learn from a private source, that Mr. Lewthwaite, member for the Grey and Bell district, has forwarded his resignation to the Speaker, and that, consequently, we may look forward to an election for that district immediately on the opening of the Assembly.

The_ Frenoh. distillers are meeting and memorializing the Government for increased " protection"—they demand an augmentation of the import-duty on foreign spirits, as they find they cannot compete with the foreign distiller. The ' Messenger for the Tyrol and Vorarlberg' states that on the 11th September two young Englishmen insisted on crossing the " Mutterberger Perner," (a glacier), although advised not to do so by their guide, Jacob Muller, an old chamois-hunter. While walking, one of the young men lost his footing, and fell into a crevice in the ice which was fifty-four feet deep. Muller, after directing the other Englishman to keep watch over his friend, started off to seek assistance in an Alpine hut, about eight miles distant. Muller returned in an incredibly short time with three men, who by means of ropes soon rescued the adventurous son of Albion from his unpleasant situation. Both of the Englishmen were so exhausted by fatigue and cold that it; was necessary to carry them part of the way to the hat, where they passed the night. As the travellers only gave one florin (25.) to three of the men and two franks to the fourth, the Stadtholder of the province ordered them to be properly paid out of a Government fund.