WANGANUI.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 82, 26 December 1846, Page 2

WANGANUI.

It is riot easy to state how we are situated herq at preseht~in point of fact we are in a state of perfect quietude, but'so'me tbirik it/is no more than the lull before the storm. 'Whether so, or not, I stake no opinion, but the fact is unquestionable that Marauku, Makatu.and Ngapara are gone up the river, and,, it, is, said, for tjie^purpose of a gathering to join Rangihaeata., Some. think they majr 'succeed in getjting f a number sufficient to intimidate our natives, while otlidrs think' it hardly likely. One thing is obvious, we should be' prepared for the worst, and we ought to have a porlipn of troops stationed here without delayj and, adhering to my formerly, expresse.d.opinion, I repeat that this does appear one of the best out stations Tliat could be adopted. v On Friday last, \hat detachment of the Taua, which in the postscript to my letter published in your paper of the 31st ult., I noticed as having, gone to the Manawatu, returned here, and without stopping embarked in great haste, ,and immediately proceeded up the ( river. Whether they- we're Apprehensive' that their progress would be interrupted here I am not aware'} but something of this natuie may b6 inferred, and not as has been rumoured that they were going| up to ring the tocsin, since one or two could-have done it quite as well, artd then the remainder; would have gone to strengthen their friend, and save r thehls'elves a" w eai'isom'e jb'urhey. , We bave^ nothing else I believe in the^ way of news, except, indeed, tba't a 1 fortnight ago we gave our chiefs a feast in the English fashion, to i w hich they did y ample justice, and joined our hip, hip, hurrahs with' all the vociferous loyalty of I good jolly subjects. I *• A movement however, has been iriade u'pbn Wangaiiui ; ,this corroborates the fuhiour'cur-, rent here, that something of the kind was in contemplation. We shall look for -furth'er in- 1 teliigence with anxiety. Five officers, and 160' men of the SStb regiment, one sergeant and ten men of the armed po lice, and five ariilleVy men toYd'ke charge of two field. pieces, proceed to;tnqrrow,-in H.M-.S. Cc%-, \ 'liope; to Wanganui, where tliey are to be sta-' tionell.— -Ibill. By the subjoined from the same paper of 9th December,- it appears that another murder, has .been committed. We are not in possession of the particulars.

t j TheMurdered BoyH<sß man.— "Yesterday MrfVallance, and Mrs.^ Brown,- discovered the remains^f the unfortunate lad Hobraan, murdered by^'the Native Petomi. The poor boy had been struck across the back of his head with a tpmahawMnd .h&d.ptber.wjsft. b^jgumutilateji.-— After the murderlKeTbody wat placed "under a largejog in the small creek, and the rising of the water during the last few' days had lifted the log and exposed to view the boys legs and feetv We trust 'the infamous perpetrator of 'this cruel 'deed will shortly be arrested and placed in gaol One hundred pounds revrardls ' oHefett Tor the apprehension of Petomi, the inhabitants having subscribed fifty s and,his Hoi^or Major.Richmond, on bea^l^oTuqvernmeni/haV^^inadQ'ap IrV mainder. t .v". v " „ . . A severe earthquake had been experienced!* The" Spectator of- December sth, gives th© following accounts— .-• . -- -~ Earthqu a KE.'—Onepf the most severe earths quakes which 'fiaVj^curredT since the formation of the B€ttlement,,t^k^iace^yes^erday evening, about 'iwenty;five 'mfnutei pastfive. . Th'e ?> shock lasted several "secomjsiand the buil^ingsl rocked and 6hook in so alarming awnlanneV?fh'arthe?inhabitants rushed out into! the open air. The wind l^ad been strong during the day from the PJorlh-,w,est,, and,! 1 cc P I \ 1 } nue d .f9,^°i? v j_?' cs > I^y after .theVeartiijiuake^ s for the.last ! siafweeksjwe have had a succession ofdty weather 'altogether unusual at this season of the year. We have not heard of any accident caused by the earthquake" in Wellington. Several lighter shocks were experienced in the course of the evening. - From the same paper, of the 14th, we glean the following :— , Mr. Button, who was formerly Sub-Editor of the New Zealand Colonist, was Found by themaster of the' Ariel in a laleXisit to New Caledonia, living witX,the natives. .of that island, haying entirely adopted tbeircuslomsand habits, arid degenerated into a Wy^age ( , or, barbarous state. Mr. Suttbn was oiie, of those who sailed from Auckland in the Bngand forthV'F^ejee. Islands, 'about three years ago, when J several persons were treacherously killed by the natives, i.n attempt jo;.take possession of the vessel, andMr. Sutton was supposed to have been one of (he number. - ~ -- - - - — ■ , ■-■ t wvw•-> < i 't. \ } xr. ,. ■ v \i tr t v