New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, August 19, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 110, 19 August 1846, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, August 19, 1846.

We have extracted from the Government Gazette, just published) the official Despatches, detailing the military operations recently undertaken and still in progress in this district. The account commences with a description of the measures adopted for the capture of Te Rauparaha, and is continued to Sunday evening last, when eight of the rebels (including Kumete) were surprised and made prisoners by our native allies. The account we have from time to time given from private sources of the progress of the war will be found Jbo at ree in most particulars with that now published by authority, and to which we refer our readers as containing the latest information which has been received. The despatches are prefaced by a short address from his Excellency, expressing in glowing terms his approbation of the gallantry displayed by the officers and men of the combined naval and military forces engaged in these operations, and his entire satisfaction at the conduct of the officers and militia, their ready cheerfulness in encountering dangers or difficulties, and the alacrity they have shown in the discharge of their duty during the late operations. This hearty acknowledgement of the value of their services, this just appreciation of the exertions of the settlers by the Governor of the colony, who was an eye witness of their conduct, and cheerfully participated in all their privations and difficulties, and by his own example encouraged and stimulated them to renewed exertions, cannot fail of producing*its due effect. But above all, the ready testimony of his Excellency to the kind and friendly feeling entertained for each other by the settlers and the natives of this district, their mutual attachment and the harmony with which they have acted together during the late operations, cannot fail to cheer and gratify the settlers, as it is a sufficient refutation from the best authority to the calumnies which have been so long and so industriously circulated against them. What a contrast between the present position of the settlement and our state on his Excellency's return from Auckland ! In three weeks Rauparaha and other chiefs are made captives, Rangihaeata and his followers are driven from their strongholds, defeated and dispersed, some are slain, others taken prisoners, and the main body of the rebels are closely pursued by our native allies. A chain of strong military posts is established by which we may hope that the tranquillity of the district will be secured, and the recurrence of any sudden attack or hostile incursion by the rebels effectually prevented. But though much has been accomplished, something still remains to be done — Medio de fonte leporum Surgit amari aliquid. — Rangihaeata, the pnme mover and promoter of the late disturbances is still at large, and no effort should be relaxed for his apprehension as, while he remains at liberty, the peace of the district will be in continual danger from his efforts. Owe space will only allow us to notice a few of the most important subjects connected with the late events, but our sketch, however brief, weuld be imperfect if we omitted to make any allusion to the probable treatment of the prisoners. What is to be done with them ? We hope that these traitors will .receive the punishment due to their crimes, that the example made of them may strike Iterror into the disaffected and ■prevent them ifrom xigain disturbing the general traniquillity. The conduct of one of them (J£uimete) has shown how unworthy he was of the clemency extended to his former ofifences ; the first use he has made of his liIberty has been to array himself with the enemies of the Government and the settlers, and he is taken prisoner a rebel with arms in his hands. When- we consider the enormity of their offences," and the number of valuable lives that have been sacrificed in

the late disturbances, we sincerely hope that nothing will be allowed in their case to prevent the law from taking its course.'

Akakoa. — By the Mari't which has just returned from "Akaroa, we learn that Mr. Watson the Police Magistrate at that place has lately employed the Police and the prisoners on the roads in that settlement, and has effected several important improvements. The body of the S,u?igeon of the French whaler Cologne, had been found by the natives, and had been brought by them to Akaroa, where it had been interred; ihe body of the other missing man had not been found. A French settler at Akaroa has lately been fined fiity pounds ,for selling spirits without a licence and the penalty has been paid. The following is the amount of oil caught at the stations near Akaroa up to the Ist of August. Price's station 50 tuns, Wood's station 50 tuss, Rhodes and Greenwood's station 14 tuns.

The Bee arrived on Monday afternoon from Otakou. She made the passage from Cape Terawitte to Otakou in thirty six jiours, and was forty eight hours from Otakou to Wellington, being the quii kest trips that have yet been' made between the two places. The weather had been very cold at Otakou, and a good deal of snow had fallen during the winter, and the weather had interfered a good deal with surveying operations. The Bee proceeds to Nelson to- morrow, and returns to this Port, when she will proceed to Peraki with Capt* Bourgneuf of the Cologne, by whom she is chartered, to take the crew belonging to that vessel, and the oil saved from the wreck to Sydney.

On Wednesday night, the 12th inst., while H. M. S. Castor was at anchor off Mana one of the men employed in the fore rigging fell overboard and w as unfortunately drowned. On the alarm being given the boats were immediately lowered, and every exertion was made to save him, but it is supposed that he struck the fore chains in his fall, as he was never seen to rise again.

About a month since we mentioned that Mr. Greenwood at Port Cooper, had been robbed by two white men and a man of colour. We have just heard by the Mana from Akaroa the following particulars respecting the robbery. The three men, who are known as desperate characters (one of them had been shipped at Sydney by the French whaler Cologne, and was subsequently discharged from that vessel) had been employed at Mr. Wood's station, and succeeded in robbing him in his absence, and had then gone over lo Port Cooper in quest of employment. They applied to Mr. Greenwood who engaged them to saw timber for him. After supper on the night of the 27th. J une, shortly after having entered their new employ, one of the m.en made an excuse to leave the house and immediately returned with a gun, when the others drew pistols out of their pockets, seized the inmates of the house, bound them, and commenced the work of plunder. After ransacking the house, they unloosed Mr. Greenwood's brother, and one of them holding a pistol at his head, compelled him to assist them in their search. They took about twenty pounds in money, watches and other valuable pioperty, and made one of Mr. Greenwood's servants assist in carrying the property down to Mr. Greenwood's boat, in which they escaped. The next morning Mr. Greenwood sent to Port Levi, and got the assistance of two i boats crews well armed, and despatched them in pursuit of the robbers. It appears they were traced to the bush near Mr. Deans' house, and while the men were seeking additional assistance to capture the robbers, the latter got away, stole the blankets and ammunition out of the boats of their pursuers and made their, escape, and .have not since been heard of in the neighbourhood though no exertions have been-spared by the settlers or natives of the district to capture them, and a reward 0f, £50 was offered for their apprehension. We learn however by the Bee, that they have since been taken at Otakou by a party jof the -surveyors by whom they were put in irons on* 'board the maori schooner Sisters and sent to Akaroa. 'Through Mr. Greenwood's exertions there is little doubt these men f were prevented from robbing Messrs. Deans. To prevejTt the recurrence of similar attempts, we^understand the settlers of that district have prudently determined to'keep very little money by them.

Wellington Savings Bank. — Messrs. T» M. Partridge, Mr. C. Perry, ' Hon. H. Petre, and Mr. Chas. Clifford, the Managers in rotation, will .attend ito , receive deposits. at Mr. Boss's office, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the 22d August, and at the; Union Bank of-Austra-lia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 24th August.