The New-Zealander. SATURDAY,DECEMBER 19,1846.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 81, 19 December 1846, Page 2

The New-Zealander. SATURDAY,DECEMBER 19, 1846.

Be just and fear not : Let all the ends thou aims't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truths.

OFFICIAL 5 DESPATCHES.

"Why, thou knowest'l am as valiant as Hercules"— —"shall we have a play extempore 1" "Content; -and the argument shall he thy running away." "Ah! no more of that, Hal, an' thou lovestiue." "But let us try thesc j truths with closer eyes." Falstaff's account of his conflict with the rogues in buckram, and the knaves in Kendal green, is completely. eclipsed by the veracious descriptions of the capture of Te lluapekapeka, which have been palmed upon the British public, and reparaded in the Local Government Gazette. What a pity it is that the observation and experience of every resident in the Colony should strike a discord with the high sounding periods, and spoil the effect of the brilliant passages these officiar despatches contain ! Here is Truth in masquerade with a witness. Suber facts scarcely to be recognized amidst a profusion of fustian' embellishments. The capture of Te Ruapeka^eka was certainly a most fortunate achievement; and as the manner of its accomplishment was more the result of accident than design, we think that a somewhat more modest style might have been adopted, without prejudicing the inteiest of the tale. Wheo Cobnel Despard's despatches were first published in the Colony,, the New Zea lander significantly alluded to the bombastic style in. which they were written ; but the Colonel did not give such free scope to his' imagination in the composition of his account, as did; it. appears, some, of his comrades in' command. We have not had an opportunity of perusing His Excellency Governor Grey's entire despatches to the Secretary of State,' relative to this affair ; and it would be unfair to form an opinion, upon the nature of his account as a whole, from the few detached | paragraphs that are contained in the columns

of a London paper : but as he lias published some official documents relative to this achievement in the Gazette of Wednesday last, thereby implying his approval of them, we are obliged to take it for granted that he wrote to Lord Stanley in much the same strain. The despatches published in Wednesday's Gazette certainly contain the truth ; but, as we said before; •what with the embellishments, and the omissions, the truth is very much shorn of its lustre. For the benefit of the future historian of New 2ealand, who may be rather apt to mislead his readers if he follows the text of these official documents too closely, and for the benefit of His Excellency the Governor, who may not perhaps be too wise to take a lesson even from us, and who, when he achieves a similar exploit, may stand in need of a model despatch, — and especially for the enlightenment of our friends at home, wewill assume for a moment the gubernatorial chair, — place ourselves at the official desk, — and draw up what we conceive would be an unexceptionable account of the capture of Te 'Ruapekapeka« " My" Lord,— l have the honor to inform your Lordship, that the rebel Kawiti's Pah, at lluapekapeka, has been taken and rased to the ground. "I cannot, strictly speaking, say that this stronghold was carried by assault ; neither was it captured by stratagem : but, owing to a Providential combination of circumstances, we obtained possession by accident, and having gained this advantage of the foe, were enabled to defeat his repeated attempts to regain the position he had lost, at the expence of much less blood than must have been shed, had we been forced to take the place by storm. " Without troubling your Lordship with unnecessary details, it will be sufficient for me briefly to state, that on the l Oth January, the preparations for battering the defences with our great guns being completed, a well directed fire was opened, and kept up until towards evening. Our assault was then contemplated, and a number of men told off for this service j but, at the suggestion and remonstranes of the allied Chiefs, the puipose was abandoned. " The fire was continued occasionally during the night, to prevent the rebels from repairing the breaches. "During the cannonnade, the rebels retired to tlfe farthest end of the Pah, taking advantage of the sloping ground to shelter themselves from the shot and shell. " On the following' morning, (Sunday), while our Native allies, as well as some of the rebels, were engaged in their respective positions in performing Divine Service— for I must apprize your Lordship, tnat not- • withstanding the lamentable want of Christian principle displayed by the insurgents, many of them have, during the whole course of the war, been scrupulously attentive to the forms of religion, and probably did not expect to be attacked by us on Sunday — William Waka Turau,' brother of Waka Nene, accompanied by several others, strolled towards the Pah, and finding the trenches deserted, boldly entered the stockade : others followed their example, and the fact being communicated to the forces (in the camp, a rapid advance was made, and possession obtained before the rebels were aware of our approach. As soon as they took the alarm, they opened a heavy fire, retiring to the eastern side of the" Pah ; , but our 1 troops being, now protected by the stockade, and being transformed, as it were, from besiegers into i the besieged, were enabled to repel the most desperate , attempts which the enemy made to recover his lost po- , sition., ' " Some hard fighting enstfed, and some considerable ' loss was sustained by us ; but the rebels were ultimately driven from the wood with greater loss than ours.' ' "The. extraordinary strength of the place, being cleaily revealed after wo had gained possession, I felt thankful that we had succeeded in "capturing it in so singular a manner'; as in all human probability, the attempt to carry it by assault, contemplated on the previous evening,— -if it had been made,— -would have been attended with dreadful, sacrifice of life, if not have failed altogether : and my own reputation for prudence and skill, would doubtless have suffered in your Lordship's estimation, by such a disastrous result. "This important object Jiaving been so fortuitously accomplished, I gave directions for the troops to be re -embarked with all speed; and such were my convictions of the propriety of avoiding, by all possible means, the risk of an attack during our progress to the point of embarkation, that I considered it advisable to secure this object, even though a portion of our baggage should be abandoned, and our retreat be so hurried, as to almost admit of its being termed a rout. "The eminent services rendered to Her Majesty's Government by "Waka Nene, the principal Chief of our Native allies, are deserving of your Lordship's special consideration : without him and his adherents, we could, have done, comparatively, but little. The officers and men,' both naval and military, in as far as the conflict afforded them opportunity, behaved with , their accustomed "gallantry ; and ( fully sustained tlie character of bravery for which' British seamen arid soldiers are so justly renowned when'brought into actual contact with an enemy. " I congratulate myself, extremely, in being able to communicate to your Lordship the fortunate issue of this affair ; and although I cannot lay claim to the honor of having "secured/;by preconcerted plan, so successful a result, yet I am, nevertheless, enabled to assure your Lordship, that'fhe tranquillity of 'the Northern Districts will" now, in consequence, be speedily re- established. " I have the honor, &c, &c." Now, although we may not have,had so much practice in writing military bulletins and diplomatic despatches as His Excellency, yet we venture to say that our narrative will be a better guide to the future Hume or Smollet of this Empire in embryo, than the colored j contents of Wednesday's Gazette. Our Excellent Governor is certainly not remarkable for mauvalse honte: He is determined that we shall not remain in ignorance of the plaudits bestowed upon him by the j Downing-street authorities. This perhaps is pardonable, for the best of us are but men, though we must confess that Mr. Gladstone's commendatory despatch would have produced, quite as much, if not more effect,; and would have' been quite as deservedly appreciated as made known to us by the English papers in our possession, even if it 1 had been omitted in i the Local Gazette. There is something in this that savours too much of egotism, it is, familiarly speaking, like a man blowing his own trumpet, and, to say the least, evinces bad taste. Before we quit the subject of official dcs-

patches, we, must notice a paragraph contained in that of His "Excellency, to the Secretary of State, respecting the Pre-emption system. It is as follows. "I am inclined to think that it won Id be most unwise on the part of the Government to waive the right of pre-emption secured to the Crown by. the Treaty of Wai-. tangi, as no more certain means.of controlling the Natives could be found than refusing to purchase any lands from those who conducted themselves improperly, and in whose tions of surrendering their lands no confidence could be placed. I find moreover that various complicated disputes have already arisen be* tween the Natives and various persons wh» have purchased Lands from them under the terms of my predecessor's proclamations, waiving the Crown's right of pre - emptio?i." , Governor Grey's word is, of course, indisputable • at least all he writes will be received as'undoubted truths, by Her Majesty's Minister, to whom the letters are addressed :' but, Really, if these " complicated disputes" have any existence in "reality, 'how is it they) have escaped our notice, whojhave^watched* the progress of the pre-emption system in allots stages, and who are conversant with all its deftcls. We have been 1 rather longer in the Colony than Governor Grey, but we have" failed to discover any serious dispute that has originated from the pre-emption purchases. Statements of this kind should be supported by facts. Can His Excellency produce, afiy ? He ought either to do so, or;i-etract hisincor-i rect assertion If any of our correspondents are aware of the existence of such complicated disputes, we shall feel obliged -by their "communicating the particulars. ,

The arrival of the Terror, put us in' posses? sion of English news to, the 4th August. The copious extracts we. havfe transferred to our columns, will, furnish our J'eaders with most of the important intelligence. * " l *.C^ The Russell, cabinet is formed; a list -of the appointments will be found underi-the English extracts. The Times , and other leading journals do not, speak in veryconfident terms of the probable stability ,of the new administration ; and_ this" opinion would seem to be strengthened KyrtheJact, that Lord John RusselLhas endeavoured to fortify his cabinet", by offering seats to some of the younger colleagues qfr.theglate{Premier« Sir Robert Peel, though expr^sing-hTsjde^ termination not to oppose such^an^avrangement, informed Lord John 'that he could-.not interfere in so ..delicate a matter, and would nottecommenda step which would.be/liable to unfavourable comment, as indicating, a too great tenacity of office on tlfe "part* oT Lord Dalhousie,, Lord Lincoln^ and .Mr.^ SydneyHerbert, theyoung statesmen whom the new Premier was desirous to incorpopateVin his cabinet. Mr. Cobderi had also.been^offeredLa. seat in the cabinet, buthad dec]ine^, f on grodnds of a private nature ; his health rendering it neceaiary for him to' retire a while) Jxon^ the toils of public life, and liis business^requiring his personal superintendence. srl „

In another portion of our paper will be found the promotions that have taken place-in the Army and Navy, consequent upon'',ttiejbrilliant character of the services performed during the late campaigns in New Zealand/ We never wish to disparage real merit, -or withhold, praise when praise is due; but really in the pi esent instance we thinly these honors; (excepting perhaps in one or two individu&rcases) have been bestowed with more liberality' than discrimination. The knowledge 'we 'possess of the real character of the military operations and successes, quite unfits us for "appreciating, the wisdom and impartiality of the rewards that have been bestowed, and the unfortunate. op-~ portunity we have had of- comparing official ; military despatches with simple stubborn^ facts/will give us quite a" distaste' for perusing his-. -' torical documents of this , nature In'^future. -i Hereafter, when we meet ! in - the^pag^ijf£his-^ tory descriptions of battles, .ana .details/ of t military successes, our Imnds'willkin^olunta-:, rily revert to what we have seenahdichownL.. during the late insurrection,- 1 - thfe pleasing'it -, lusionwill be destroyed,— and( instead *p£ Joe- - : ing filled with astonishment jand^deiiglt^weC-, shall be apt, like Mr. Burchell, to' qttlr/an in-f " terjectional "Fudge!" "How Isit~that 7nqmention has been made of Coloiiel'Huhrie in the list of promotions ! J}id s he ' not /do^ as much or more than others ?; And^ what; has been done for the real hero of the campaigns, Waka Nene, the man whojdid nearly* all the work, who for a time supported ' only; ; by his , own adherents sustained the blirden of the 'con- r z flict, and saved the capital from destriictioh ? If we had had the" 'distribution of 'tne^Honora and rewards, probably "some other names beY side those that now appear .would have figurgd.% in the list. ' We should not' have'fprgoUen tjiej volunteers. , The rianie vof-FiggrthxmglUp|^-.-haps not so ,euphonious and aristocratic^as.^e;, paironymics of others/his companions ! iri E arnis, T is as worthy, perhaps worthier; of 'being handed*' down to fame than theirs. YVe know that^e^ displayed unwonted" gallantry, at^ >Ruapeka-?| peka r ; but he being but a vdlunteer;^is uot ? only unrewarded; but forgotten,' and f discarded from the public service. , Truly the dispens"£fs.^ of Fortune's favors are as blind as the^g^d" dess herself. , , r -

Departure of the Governor. — On Wednesday, Hie 16th inst, His Excellency embarked on board the Driver, for Wellington. The Racehorse gets underweigh, we believe, to day for the same port. Waka Nene and Te Wherowhero have not accompanied His Excellency, although they came to Auckland for this purpose. It appears that they did not consider there was any special inducement for them to undertake the journey; and, therefore, with His Excellency's consent, determined on remaining behind. A detachment of the artillery, under Capt. Henderson, went with His Excellency ; they take several field pieces and a quantity of ammunition. Government Gazette. — In addition to the official notices, &c., transferred to our columns, the Gazette of Wednesday last, contains the following appointments : Major Henry Matson, of H. M. 58th regiment, to be Commissioner for examining and reporting upon the Land Claims. Thomas Ringrose Atkyns, Esq., to be Inspector of the Auckland armed Police Force, consisting, besides the Inspector, of one Sub-Inspector, one Sergeant-Major, four Sergeants, four Corporals, forty Privates. Major Patience, Major Wyatr, and Major Matson, to be Justices of the Peace for the Colony. The honorable H. W. Petre to be Treasurer for the Southern Division; Mr. T. H. Fitz Gerald to be Surveyor at Wellington. Mr. D. M'Lean to be Inspector of Police at New Plymouth, and Informer under the Land Purchase Ordinance, (a rather incongruous metamorphosis this, a Protector of Aborigines into an armed Police Inspector and InformerJ Mr. John Tinline, Clerk to the Magistrates at Nelson, also to lay com plaints and informations, i.e., to be Public Informer ■under the Native Land Purchase Ordinance. Mr. A. W. Shand to be Clerk in the Customs' Department at Wellington, vice Rennie, incapacitated for present service by ill health. D. Rough, Esq., to be Boarding Officer of the Customs' at this Port. The Notice to Land Claimants, and the Proclamation respecting the landing of Goods, must not be passed over by us in silence. Did we not designate the Land Claims Bill, Tvhen first it saw the light, the Confiscation Bill ? and does not the spirit of this notice corroborate and justify the expression ? There is, as usual, an ambiguity about the notice, which renders its precise meaning difficult to be ascertained. Some read it as follows : that the claims of those who had not taken possession prior to the 18th of November, 1846, will be in no way recognized until they have been heard by the Commissioner ; others read it, and we confess that the wording favors this latter interpretation; that the claims of paities who did not enter into occupation before the 18th of November, will in no ways be recognised, that is, that they will be thrown overboard without even the benefit of a hearing. ' 0 how wicked,.how impolitic, how disgraceful is it thus to take advantage of those who have been led into their present circumstances, and placed in their present position by the connivance, nay, by the express permission of the Government ! what an example to set before the Natives ! will they not naturally reason thus : ]f Government does uot keep faith with you who are its own natural subjects, what guarantee have we that our rights will be respected ; and if Government makes so light of our agreements, and the obligation of our arrangements for the alienation of the land, why should we be so scrupulous in adhering to the bargains we have completed ? The Notice alluded to is a deadly wound inflicted upon the agricultural interests ; and the proclamation now to be commented upon, is an equally fatal blow to the commercial interests of this part of the colony. After the 21st instant no goods are to be landed except between the Queen - street Jetty and Messrs. Williamson and Crummer's bonded store, and only between the hours of 8 o'clock in the morning, and 4 o'clock in the afternoon, during the summer months, and between 9 o'clock and 4 o'clock during the winter months. When this subject was discussed in Council, and Mr. Kennedy raised his feeble voice in objecting to the inconvenience that might arise from such restrictions, his scruples were speedily satisfied, and"*Jn"s fears silenced by His Excellency's assurance that as the Ordinance would give power to the Governor to regulate these matters, no inconvenience need be apprehended, But we have a proof now of the wisdom of trusting such discretionary powers in the hands of Government. To show the inconvenience that will arise to many parties from this arrangement, let us take for instance the merchants of Fort-street, amongst whom are some of our principal importers. They must land their goods between the above named points, and as this will most frequently be done at high water, when it is impossible to convey them by land to their stores, they must either let them remain (no matter the state of the weather) until the tide recedes, or go to the expence of re-shipping them in lighters to be again discharged on their own wharfs. Who can estimate the damage that such a process may occasion to goods of a perishable description? Governor Grey, either from accident, or by design, never issues notices, proclamations, &c, of a character which he must shrewdly conjecture will be unpalatable to the public, but just on the eve of his departure for the other settlements, when the parties affected by them cannot remonstrate. Is it a want of moral courage, that induces His Excellency to adopt this course ? Whatever may be the reason of his invariably acting in this manner, we can assure him that it is not calculated to endear him to the colonists. Had an opportunity been afforded them, the merchants would probably have waited upon His Excellency to point out the impediments which these restrictions will place in the wayof commerce ; but nowthey must wait, and suffer the inconvenience an indefinite time, for we will not 'suffer ourselves to believe, that in the present state of this beach and quays, His Excellency will persist in adhering to this proclamation in opposition to the wishes of the public. Tenders.— Notices have been issued from the Colonial Secretary's Office for the reception of Tenders, to be forwarded on or before the 2 1st instant, for Stationary, Rations, Smith's Work, Painting, Glazing, and Plumber's Work, and Firewood , also for the erection of a General Hospital in Auckland Park, for which Tenders are to be received till 4th January, next. The Weather.— The season has been unusually dry ; it is now some six or eight weeks since we had *am. The country in consequence is wearing a parched and arid aspect, and the crops will suffer severely. Indeed, the late potatoes, the barley, and a considerable portion of the wheat crops, will totally fail. Rain, even 'jf it descended now, would come too late to ensure a plenteous harvest. We may, consequently, look forward to a scarcity of some of the necessaries of life, especially vegetables ; and the effect will be seriously detrimental to the general trade of the Colony, inasmuch as the Natives, on whom we so greatly depend, will have much less than usual to sell, and of course much less than usual to spend. Queen Street. — The repairs of the "gulph" have, at length, been commenced; and there is now some prospect of being ere long able lo walk that side of Queen Street without danger. Chancery Street is also undergoing some repairs, and its neighbourhood is being accommodated »with a substantial and well constructed sewer. The slaughter house which still infects this portion of the town, should next engage the attention of the Government. Its removal is really necessary to the health and comfort of the inhabitants. - Bay of Islands. — Several disturbances, not however of a very serious nature, recently occurred at Kororareka. Sonic of Wakas natives, it is said, purloined

some bread, and were fired at by the European owner. Repa, who though a loyal and valiant chief, is nevertheless a nptoriously troublesome fellow, refused to give the culprits up. The affair has, however, we believe, been quietly arranged. It is rumoured that the proceedings of the Police Magistrate in this case have not given very great satisfaction, and the probability of His being superseded is whispered. Major Patience, we understand, is to be the Resident Magistrate. Fike. — It is our painful duty to record the serious and afflicting loss sustained by Mr. Joshua Thorpe, of the Thames, an old and much respected settler, well known to many of our readers. Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe had been in Auckland, and on returning, were alarmed by a report that their premises were destroyed. On turning the reach of the Waihou, that affords the first view of Mr. Thorpe's picturesque farm, they found their worst apprehensions confirmed. Not a vestige of the dwelling-house remained, excepting the chimney, the defaced and blackened appearance of which, gave but too plain indications of the cause of the catastrophe. The first person who was able to give Mr. Thorpe a succinct account of the accident, was his son Hampton, who exhibited on his hand and wrist the marks of the devouring element. It appears, according to the account given by the young man, that on the Saturdaj evening preceding Mr. Thorpe's return, one of the younger children, who had been washing in the kitchen, went up stairs with a lamp, to fetch his brother's night-gown ; by some means or other, the flame of the lamp caught some flax that was packed in a kit, and instantly com municated with the curtains and bed-clothes. The terrified child, called out " lightning ! fire ! bring some water !" The elder children repaired to the spot with water and wet blankets, but their efforts were unavailing ; though it was perfectly calm, yet every thing being so dry from the hot weather, the five extended with such rapidity along the roof, as to baffle every attempt to extinguish it. In less than half an hour, the entire building was a heap of ruins. At the time of the accident, the youngest child was in bed in a room at the far end of the house, and was for some time forgotten, till his cries brought his brothers to a recollection of his danger. The stair-case was already wrapped in flames, but Hampton succeeded in rescuing him, not, however, until the little sufferer, had sustained some severe injury on the side of the head, and on one of his hands. With the exception of a single table, two chairs, a clock, and some trifling 1 articles, every thing was consumed. There was a quantity of bacon in the kitchen, and on the rafters upstairs, besides cans of oil, kegs of lard, butter, paint, &c, &c, which, owing to their combustible nature, rendered the heat so intense, as to change the shape of the iron pots in the store-room, and scorch many of the trees at the distance of one hundred feet. Some pigs were burnt to death, and the fowlb were singed before they could be driven from the roost. The cows bellowed, franctic with fear, in the stock-yard, and the heat and light brought the bees out of the hives. Altogether the scene was most appalling, and the destruction most complete. The loss to Mr. Tiiorpe, whose house and station were crowded with necessaries and comforts, can scarcely be estimated ; but on the lowest computation it must amount to £800, or jgI,OOO. It is with the deepest sympathy we record this melancholy occurrence, and happy indeed should we be to promote, any effort that may be devised by the friends of Mr. Thorpe, for alleviating some of his immediately pressing wants.