WELLINGTON.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 22, 2 June 1860, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

[From the JYeiv Zealander Advertiser']. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Mr. Toomath moved that the Superintendent he asked to lay on the tabic of the House copies of any correspondence which had taken place between himself and his Excellency the Governor, the Colonial Secretary, or the officer commanding the Wellington Militia, with regard to the Militia of this Province.—The Provincial Secretary thought that it would, at the present, he inexpedient to give publicity to the whole of the correspondence, containing as it did instructions to Major Trafford with reference to the military defence of the Province, which it would he manifestly improper to make public, hut if there were any particular point about which the hon. member wished to be informed, the Government would have no objection to supply such portions of the correspondence which related to it. —Mr. Ludlam agreed with the Provincial Secretary-that there were times when the Government would exercise a wise discretion in withholding communications, the publicity of which would be detrimental to the public service. Correspondence relative to the harrassing duties to which the militia bad been subjected to, the manner in which it bad been called out for active service, and to matters of that kind ought to be laid before the Council; but the Council should not demand the military instructions forwarded to Major Trafford if the Government thought they ought to be withheld. —Mr. Wakefield confessed that ho was at a loss to understand how any correspondence between the elected head of the Province and the Governor of the Colony could be of a kind which ought to be withheld from the Council; and that if such communications bad been received by the Superintendent, which it was not proper to place before the Representatives of the People, instructions would have been sent to that effect; but in the absence of any notice of the kind, it appeared to him that copies of instructions sent to the Superintendent were sent for the purpose of being communicated to that House. Was there a fear that the knowledge of the preparations made for.the defence of the settlers would have an injurious effect upon the native mind ? If so, he confessed that he had no such fears. Ho would rather sec preparations made which would have an effect on the Native body, regarding less what effect they might have on the Native mind. He should like to sec tbo Province put in a position to resist any attempt hostile to its peace and safety, and not to remain unarmed while the natives were permitted to be armed. Rumours grew and spread owing to the secrecy with which everything was enveloped which had reference to the present state of affairs, and to the means to bo used regarding it. He felt disposed to support the motion as it stood, because if it was right for one representative of the people to bo placed in possession of information which so intimately concerned the people, it was right that the other representatives of the people should he similarly privileged. There, was a report that the Superintendent, without any communication with Major Trafford, had written to the Governor, recommending that the whole of the Militia should be disbanded,. and tlicrc was a report that Major Trafford had received instructions in reply to adopt such efficient measures as lie might think expedient for putting the settlement in a state of defence. Such reports arose from all information of an authentic character being withheld from them. lie could understand that if wc were engaged in actual warfare instructions relative to it might then be withhold with propriety, but under present circumstances lie thought that no communication would have been made to the Superintendent which it was not right for him to lay before the Council.—On tlie suggestion of Mr. Ludlam, the words “with the exception of military instructions to Major Trafford,” inserted, and after ,a few words from Mr. Howler, the motion-, as amended, was agreed to. Mr. Toomath, pursuant to notice, asked the Provincial Secretary “ Whether his Honor the Superintendent or the Executive of this Province, had taken any steps to obtain the payment, provisionally, by the Province of Hawk’s Bay, of any portion of the interest due on the two loans of £50,000 each ? The Provincial Secretary replied

that his Honor had written to the General Government on the subject, and that the substance of the reply was that the apportionment of the interest on the Wellington debt must stand over. The sum of £I,OOO was agread to be remitted for the aid of Taranaki, in such sums and at such times as the state of the Treasury might warrant. The Wairarapa. —Mr. Turton, of the Native Affairs Department, returned from the Wairarapa on Monday night. He had convened a meeting of the natives of the district, but Manihera, hitherto so favourably known as the friend of the Government, had refused to attend it. This does not look exactly the thing. Fire. —On Wednesday night the back premises of Mr. Swinbourne, Commercial Wharf, were discovered to be on fire. As soon as the alarm was given, the Liverpool and London Insurance Company’s engine was on the spot, and the proximity of the premises to the sea enabled it to obtain a plentiful supply of water, with which the flames were quickly subdued. Had it not been for this circumstances, the fire might have extended to the neighbouring warehouses, which fortunately escaped without any serious damage. Mr. J. P. Taylor has refused to rosign his seat in the House of Representatives because he voted for the New Province Act, and he says he shall still support that measure, with some modifications, in theensuing session. Exports —The total value of New Zealand produce shipped from our port direct to London this year is £1.13,054 18s. 6d., besides wool, &c., transhipped from the Snaresbrpok from Napier to the Zealandia, of the value of £B6OI 15s. The British produce shipped was valued at £762 10s., so that the total value of export in our four home ships .this season amounts to £123,656 13s. 6d. The Wonga Wong a-. —We regret to learn that this vessel is to be laid up. The Wellington directors have been taught tlio truth of the lesson " Put not your trust fin Princes.” Aid to Taranaki. —We have much pleasure to inform the public that subscription lists are open at both Banks for the receipt of aid for our fellow colonists at Taranaki'. We shall be happy to publish the names of subscribers in our columns. WANGANUI. By the Overland Mail we learn that at a Native meeting held at Otaki the Maories were about equally divided as to the propriety of at once erecting the king flag there ; its erection was eventually postponed till sTune. A very eloquent and able letter from Mr. Ross in reply to Mr. Fox shall be inserted in our next. The Chronicle has a leader upon the same subject, in which Mr. Fox gets most severely and justly handled. It observes " that King, at any rate, must be grateful to Mr Fox, as whatever doubt the rebels may have hadas to the propriety of their proceedings, must now be set at rest.”, One correspondent advises Mr. Fox to make himself scarce, and another says he ought at’once to be called upon to resign his seat in the G eneral Assembly ; and yet the sapient editor of a local journal recommends the members of the General Assembly to follow his example, while the same writer basely asserts that lie who suggests that the non-expression of sympathy for Taranaki, on the part of this community, owing to the neglect of' the authorities, might have had something to do with politics, " has a base and most ignoble mind. ” The sentiments publicity expressed by Mr. Fox we may be sure are participated in by his colleagues, and hence we again repeat the cause why Wellington has been the only place in New Zealand, whore support to the Governor and sympathy for Taranaki, has not been publicly tendered. OTAGO. Upon the upset price of land, which was finally fixed at 20s. per acre, "the very ricketty Executive,” as the Colonist terms it, sustained a defeat, and M’Glashan has resigned. Without the appointment of a new Executive the Council have refused to pass the Estimates, so that Otago also is ' doomed to a " Ministerial crisis,” and the suspension of the machinery of Provincial Government, which in all the Provinces, but most in Wellington, imperatively requires re-modelling. The following is the financial position of the most flourishing Province in the Colony : “ The revenue available for the half year is put down at £87,156, and the gross amount voted is £69,560, exclusive of £80,533 appropriated last session, and now in course of expenditure. The estimates for roads and public works have been voted on a liberal scale, amounting to £55,341. AUCKLAND. The following correspondenoe has been addressed to the New Zealander : ' Sir—The enclosed address, signed by 78 country settlers, was presented to the Governor on the 24th April.

The reply of his Excellency was read by Colonel Nixon on parade the next morning, and received with enthusiastic cheers. Albin Martin. Tamaki, April 25. (Copy.) Otahuhu, April 23, ISGO. We the undersigned settlers residing chiefly in the Otahuhu and neighbouring districts, beg respectfully to express to your Excellency the confidence we feel in the measures you have taken to put down the rebellious natives who have appeared in arms against the Queen’s authority in Taranaki. We make no doubt but that ere long these offenders will receive that punishment which they so richly deserve; we also take this apportunity for stating that your Excellency may rejy on our services at any moment you may think fit to call tor them; and we make no doubt that not only those who have signed this address, but that all good and loyal settlers, will answer most promptly to the summons. We feel confident that your Excellency will not relax your efforts until the Queen’s undivided authority is acknowledged and submitted to over the whole of the Islands of New Zealand, so that justice may be equally administered both to the English and Native populations. To his Excellency, Colonel T. Gore Browne. (Copy.) Government House. Auckland, 21th April, ISGO. Gentlemen—l beg you to accept my sincere thanks for the address I have this day received from you. Publicity as to intended operations would, in most cases, defeat the object of them. The assurance, therefore, that I enjoy your confidence, and that gallant men are ready to aid me when required, is particularly gratifying at the present time. In return I can assure you that no exertion shall be wanting on my part to inflict severe chastisement on those who have dared to violate our territory and murder our unarmed settlers ; and to place the colony in a position to defy any future attack should such ever be again meditated. I have the honour to be Gentlemen. Your most obedient servant. (Signed) T. Goan Browne. Colonel Nixon, Mr. Albin Martin, and the Gcntlenmen signing the address. The Rev. T. Buddie thus speaks of the intentions of the Waikato,s; from which it will be seen that if they do not go to assist King it is not because they do not think it would be right but because they do not consider fit expedient. They wanted to finish what they had in hand first:— "What course will the Waikato tribe pursue.? Will they join King, and by so doing bring themselves into direct collision with the Government ? I think not, at least not at present. This subject was largely discussed by them last week on the arrival of the deputation sent by the two great tribes of Taranaki, i. c., Ngatiruanui •and Ngatiawa, to present the allegiance of the tribes -to the Maori King, and was for the present negatived. The subject was strongly represented by Ngatimaniapoto, the tribes that occupy Kawaliia and the upper Waipa district. The leading Chiefs of those tribes expressed strong sympathy with the Taranaki belligerents, and earnestly exhorted the Waikato Chiefs to join them in an expedition to the scat of war to succour King. Violent speeches were made, special pleading employed, the sins of the Pakeha against the Maori counted and commented upon, and instant action urged. The Waikato’s however were not to be moved at present. Some said " Our Pa is not finished; let us complete what we have in band ’’.(referring to the King movement). Others said "How oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him ?” Others said " Why should we go to Taranaki to have our blood shed, if it must he spilt lot it be at our own home at tbe foot of our own Taupiri (a mountain.)” The result was that Ngatimaniapoto and the Taranaki deputation returned disappointed. I am informed that the day after we left, Potatau, who was not present during the public discussion, delivered himself very decidedly against any movement on the part of Waikato. " I am not willing” lie said " that the evil work of former times should bo brought back: I will not consent, nor will I consent that you (Ngatimaniapoto) should take your guns”—referring to their accompanying the Taranaki strangers on their way home. " You found me living in the presence of the Governor, hisservant. I wish to live and die atMangarc; at your request I came here. Now you would make me like To Rauparaha,” (an old Chief who was captured during the Wanganui war and brought as an hostage to Auckland.) Itfis said that the proposers of violent measures were much ashamed and left greatly disappointed. Aid to Taranaki.— The subscriptions at Auckland for tbe relief of the colonists of Taranaki already amount to upwards of £7OO. The following resolution, proposed by Mr. Forsaith at the public meeting, was carried by acclamation —" That this meeting desires to express its gratitude to Almighty God foV the success which has attended the operations of the combined military and naval forces, and local volunteers and militia at Waireka. While recording its admiration of the gallant conduct of all engaged—particularly of the steadiness and devotion of the irregular force of civilians —would especially record its high appreciation of the energy and dauntless bearing of Captain Cracroft and

the seamen under his command; whose promptitude, skill and courage, mainly contributed to the success of the enterprise. The prowess of the gallant band is likely to produce a salutary impression on the minds of the insurgents and of the natives generally ; and this meeting is desirous of conveying, through the chairman, its warmest thanks to Captain Cracroftand the brave men whom he commands, for services which entitled them not only to the gratitude of the inhabitants of Taranaki, whose safety was more immediately endangered, but also to the gratitude of every European resident in the Colony. Musketry Instruction —During the last week, Lieut. Toker, of the 65th, instructor in musketry, has, at the request of the local militia officers, been giving a series of lectures on the above subject to the members of the different volunteer rifle companies in this City. This morning the non-commissioned officers will assemble at the shooting ground beyond Freeman’s Day, for the purpose of practising under Mr. Toker’s eye; we may mention that the Taranaki volunteers, who have already been of good service in the present war, were for the greater part Mr. Toker’s pupils on the occasion of his first visit to the south.— Southern Cross. Deception. —We are informed that Mr. Hargreaves, the owner of Deception,”—the winner of everything she ran for at the late Nelson meeting —proposes sending the mare to contest the Champion Stakes at Sydney. Sporting men in the south think highly of her chance, and it will be a curious circumstance, if Auckland, one of the few places in New Zealand which does not boast of a race-course, should carry off the palm in racing from the rest of our South Sea neighbours.— lb. The Auckland Volunteers. —Various changes have recently been made in the organization of our rifles. At present they are composed of four companies, the youngest the " Victoria,” being still in its infancy. The command of the Rutland Company has been given to Captain Lyons, and the first lieutenant of the same company, Mr. Wilson, has left, to the great regret of all in the corps who appreciated his zeal and military ablitics, in consequence of his appointment to the adjutancy of the militia for the Onchunga district. The muster on morning parades —increased to three in the week—is beginning to be quite imposing.