MANAWATU.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 113, 29 August 1846, Page 3

MANAWATU.

From a correspondent at Manawatu we have received the following interesting particulars : - -" For' three months past, with the exception of bigh winds, we have had every variety of , winter weather; occasionally thunder and lightning, sometimes keen f.ost, the distant ranges of the Tararua mountains being generally covered with snow, and the cold more than usually intense. Heavy and long continued rains have however heen chiefly predominant. The river has been almost constantly swollen, but, although on two occasions it completely filled its capacious banks, happily both for the «tt tiers and the natives, it lias not overflowed them this season, or in the least- injured the labours of the husbandman. The natives have been busily occupied for some time past in putting in their wheat. Heie, as well as in some other districts along the coast, a much larger breadth of wheat has been put in this year than on any former season ; both settlers and natives have been cultivating largely. The prospect of Messrs. Kebbell's flour mill being speedily in operation, and the hope of a brisk demand and a good price elsewhere, have stimulated both European and native industry. The maories on this river are gradually perceiving the advantages of civilization, and acquiring a taste for its conveniences and comforts. The blanket is no longer the highest object of their ambition, other articles of European dress are eagerly sought after. Their increasing cultivation requires new implements and creates new wants ; hence a number of spades, sickles, sacks, and similar articles are from time to time finding their way up this river among the natives. They are also projecting weather boarded barns in which to store and thrash their wheat. While so eagerly and actively employed with the implements of peaceful husbandry it might very naturally be expected they would feel little inclination to resume the weapons of war. And it has so proved. When the Wanganui taua came along the coast, a party was despatched inland to sound the inclinations of the Manawatu natives, but these departed as they came, with no addition to their number. Indeed, both Taikuporua and Taratoa had written to Wanganui, when they first heard of their intentions, urging them to remain at home. It may safely be affirmed that all the natives on this river who profess Christianity — imperfect and superficial as their Christianity is — are heartily disposed for peace, warmly attached to the Government, and cherishing the most friendly feelings to the whites. Even the professedly heathen are in general peaceably inclined. The settlers have on several o casions been seriouslyalarmed for their safety, in their scattered and utterly unprotected state, in consequence of exaggerated reports of approaching danger. But in every instance of alarm, all the chiefs have assured them of their protection and assistance to the utmost of their power. A small section of the heathen have all along sympathised with Rangihaeata, and when the Wanganui natives came to Ohau, and found the opposition before them much greater than they had anticipated, a special messenger was sent express to the sympathizing party here, and about twenty of them, without the knowledge of the other natives, went off to join the taua. On hearing of this step the Ngatiraukawa and Ngatiwakatere natives met, and passed a resolution, that in these unsettled times no one connected with their tribes should, for any similar object, go below a certain point on the river, without acquainting the rest of the tiibe, that the general opinion may be ascertained and expressed on the propriety or impropriety of any such intention. When tbe taua found that the great bulk of the natives on the coast were decidedly opposed to their going forward, — -that Te Rauparaha was taken prisoner — that the Governor had fakeu such active measures to prevent their joining Rangihaeata, and was himself sailing backwards and forwards along the coast in the war steamer — the internal arrangements and rapid movements of which have quite astonished the natives— when they found that to attempt advancing further in these circumstances, was hopeless, they reluctantly turned back at Ohau. The main body returned direct to Wanganui ; but to render the attempt as little abortive, and the retreat as little discreditable as possible, one of their chiefs, Maketu, and about twenty of his followers came up the Manawatu. Three days of speechifying followed between the war-seeking and peace-loving natives. Great was the riri, loud and vehement the oratory, vast and prodigal the expenditure of words. Maketu said that he bad come at this time in a small canoe with few men in it, and so many of the natives were against him that he was forced to turn back, but he would now send for the Taupo and Waikato maories, and would return in a large canoe well manned, and would go iorward in spite of all the natives on the coast. But even among those who usually sympathize with those in rebel-

, lion these sentiments were but feebly supported, and by some of them even decidedly opposed. For here also, as in other regions of the east, most men " bow to the rising sun." On Tuesday last, the 4th inst. Maketu sent off ten of his men over the mountains to the Wairarapa to join Mokau, by that route. He and a few followers are still lingering hereabouts waiting to see what may happen. The auihorities, we believe, were made duly aware of these movements. Maketu's object in sending away these men seems to have been this — Seeing Rangihaeata's cause to be hopeless, he wished to assist him in effecting his escape by way of Wairarapa and Mauawatu, to Rangitiki or Wanganui, where, if he could do less mischief, he might be in greater safety than in his present position at Porirua. Owing to the disturbed state of the colony . and other causes ho vessel had visited this river for a good many months, and very few of the natives have found their way to Wellington. On this account pigs have accumulated and potatoes are still plentiful, there has been a great scarcity of trade in the river, the natives are becoming much in want of the more common articles of clothing,, and of tobacco, the one universal maori luxury, there has been all but a famine ; a shilling has been offered for a single fig of tobacco. Two vessels have however arrived in the river just now, and will supply the more immediately pressing wants of both the settlers and the natives ; and should peace, the harbinger of prosperity, be established soon, and life and property rendered secure, trade in all its branches will speedily return to the usual channels." The same correspondent -who was then at Wanganui, informs us that a very severe shock of an earthquake was felt in that district, about the time the landslip occurred at Taupo, which no doubt contributed in a material degree in producing that catastrophe. The earthquake was also felt, but in a slighter degree, at Manawatu.