The New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, June 10, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 90, 10 June 1846, Page 2

The New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, June 10, 1846.

The Victoria arrived on Sunday morning from Wanganui, which she left on the previous Thursday afternoon. Mr. Symonds the Commissioner appointed by the Governor for settling the Land Claims of that district, with the surveyors on the part of the Government and the Company, have returned in her to Wellington, having been unsuccessful in the objects of their mission. Their failure has not occurred from any want of judgment or ability on the part of Mess. Symonds and Maclean in dealing with this difficult and embarrassing question ; on the contrary we are informed the settlers of that district feel satisfied that these gentlemen have shewn the utmost anxiety to arrive at a final adjustment of this question, so as to prevent the recurrence of those harrassing disputes which have hitherto impeded the progress of the settlers. It is solely to be attributed to the caprice and exorbitant demands of the natives, and to the effect, which the news of the late attack on the camp by the rebels and the consequent loss of life has produced in increasing their demands and inflaming their cupidity. After this news reached them, of which they were informed with the utmost minuteness and circumstantiality of detail, it was soon perceived that all further negociation was hopeless, and Mr. Symonds was reluctantly obliged to abandon the attempt, having fortunately sue- i

ceeded in sending the compensation money on board the Brig, so as to prevent the natives from helping themselves to it, which appeared by no means an unlikely contingency. The patience of the settlers is so completely worn out, and the prospect of the future appears to be so unsatisfactory, that many of them have memorialized the Governor to remove them to some place in the Southern Island where they may be free from further annoyance from the natives. On the 26th May news arrived at Wanganui from Taupo, that Te Heu Heu with his daughter and twenty other natives had been killed by the falling in of a cliff which had buried them alive. It was intended to hold a general gathering of the Waikatos and other tribes of the interior, to have a tangi or lamentation over the deceased chief, when it was believed that the natives will take that opportunity of discussing the question of peace or war with the Pakeha. Two hundred natives proposed to leave Wanganui on the 10th June, (this day) to be present at the meeting at Taupo, and the Rev. R. Taylor intended to accompany them in the hope of influencing their I determinations and of giving them a pacific turn. I We now begin to feel some of the consequences of the late disaster and of the subsequent inactivity of the local authorities. There can be no doubt that the effect of their conduct has been to impress the natives with a thorough contempt of the authority of the Government, and a conviction of their own superiority. This will necessarily have the effect of protracting the struggle, and of increasing the number of Rangihaeata's adherents] so that this rebellion, which might have been easily put down by a little resolution a short time since, will not now be quelled except at great expense and at the sacrifice of many valuable lives. The question is now materially altered, since the murder of the Gille&pies, it is no longer one of land, but a question of the supremacy of British authority. Until this is established beyond all contradiction or dispute, until the band of robbers under Ranuihaeata is completely broken up, and their leaders brought to justice it is useless it to dream of the satisfactory adjustment of any question connected with the natives. The settlers now look forward to the arrival of Capt. Grey with increased anxiety and impatience, as the only person able to restore order out of present confusion. We sincerely hope he will lose no time for his own sake as well as ours;, for everything appears to depend on the energy exhibited by the Government on the present occasion. And if he conceives that the means at present at his command are inadequate to maintain peace and enforce obedience, how absolutely necessary will it be that the management of these means shall be intrusted to competent hands, so that they may not fail for want of proper direction. It may have been hi& misfortune to find the subordinate situations of his Government filled by incompetent persons the creatures of his predecessors, but it will be his fault if after the conviction of their unfitnes^ which recent events must have forced upon him, he perils his own reputation, the safety of the colonists, and the peace of the country by their longer continuance in office.

On Friday the Superintendent and Major Last the officer in command went to the camp where they had an interview with E Puni. As different versions have been circulated of what took place, we think it right to publish the native version, which we believe to be the correct one. The natives say that Major Richmond taunted E Puni with not driving the rebels from the Hutt, upon which E Ware (E Puni's son) reminded Major Richmond ttat the friendly natives had left their pas, their wives and children for the purpose of assisting the Pakehas and of acting with the soldiers, that they had come, not to pick off a few miserable stragglers in imitation of the bad example of the rebels, but by joining in a well concerted plan to put an end to the war, and asked Major Richmond since it was the Governor's quarrel why the soldiers did not drive the rebelsaway? he then proposed to Major Richmond that he would retire with the friendly natives from the camp, and at night they would ascend the Koro Koro so as to occupy a position in the rear of the rebels, and on a given signal that the . c oldiers should attack the rebels in front, while the friendly natives would take them in the rear. This sensible plan was not approved of by the Superintendent, who was not prepared however to suggest any plan of his own. As the Superintendent has since stated that he had a plau for driving the rebels from the

Hutt with the militia and natives, but that E Puni refused to act ; E Ware early on Monday, to give the most complete contradiction to this asseriion, crossed the river with thirty men, ascended the hill, and gained a strong position, which was previously occupied by the rebels, where they remained a good part of the day, the rebels retreating before them, and returning to Porirua with the provisions and plunder they had obtained in the Hutt. On Monday night, in consequence of this movement of the friendly natives, a wardance was held in Hangihaeata's pa, the noise of which was distinctly heard at the camp at Porirua. It may be hardly necessary to add that the Superintendent has not risen in the estimation of the friendly natives from these events, and they are now anxiously expecting the arrival of the Governor.

We are informed that Tihi a principal chief of the Ngatiraukawas at Ohau, has written to William King chief at Waikanai, informing him of his having refused to join Rangihaeata and of his desire now that he had become a missionary to live at peace. This is one of the chiefs to whom Rangihaeata's wife had written as we mentioned last week inviting him to join her husband. It will be remembered that the Ngatiawas and Ngatiraukawas were until the last few years bitter enemies to each other, but now they both agree in desiring peace. If his Excellency were here to assume the direction of affairs, and to finish what he began, there is every probability that he would soon put an end to the present disturbances, but everything is so wretchedly mismanaged in his absence, that it is impossible to say what may happen under those who have the direction of affairs.

An alarm was caused in Wade's Town on Sunday night or Monday morning, by a report that, the rebels were coming owing to the following circumstance. It appears that a. party of about 30 natives started from Ohariu late on Sunday evening with fish and other provisions which they intended to dispose of in Wellington. After passing over the hills between Ohaiiu and Wellington, they halted at the back of Wade's Town, where they lighted their fires. These were quickly observed and being in the middle of the night occasioned the report to which we have alluded. A party of militia under Mr. G. Hunter advanced to Wade's Town, and by ascertaining the facts of the case dispelled the apprehensions which this unusual occurrence had occasioned.

A smart little craft of about seventeen tons was brought over to Wellington by the owner S. Cemino, on Monday, from the mouth of the River Hutt. She was built on the Waiwetu river by Mr. R. Williams, and- is intended for the coast trade. She is to be called the Cathetine Ann.

We are exceedingly sorry to record the total loss of the Uncle Sam, about a fortnight since, the news of which has been brought by the Robert Burns, which arrived from Hawke's Bay yesterday morning. The Uncle Sam was caught in a very heavy south-easter off the East Coast, and in running to take shelter from the storm was wrecked off Long Point in Hawke's Bay. All the lives, it is said, are saved, but the cargo and vessel were totally lost. The official account of the late attack on the Hutt was sent by the Uncle Sam, so that owing to this misfortune a considerable delay may occur before the intelligence reaches Auckland. It is reported by the men at the stations at Hawke's Bay, that the steamer was seen to pass to- the southward about ten days ago. The loss of the Uncle Sam will be a heavy blow to the stations in Hawke's Bay, as she was freighted with the stores, whaling gear, &c, necessary for their supply for the season.

The Government brig sails.foruAucldandithisday at twelve o'clock. By this opportunity four soldiers of the 99th regt. will be sent to head quarters to be tried by a Court Martial, three for desertion, and one for striking his superior officer.

A whale has been caught at Guard's station, and two were struck at Dorothy's station in Cloudy Bay, but they succeeded iv getting away. *

Wellington Savings Bank. — Dr. Dorset, Mr. P. M. Hervey, Mr. William Hickson, & Mr. John Johnston, the Managers in rotation," will attend to receive deposits at Mr. Ross's office, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the 13th June, and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 15th June.