New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, October 3, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 123, 3 October 1846, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, October 3, 1846.

By the Katherine Johnstone we have received several communications from Wanganui, two of the most important of which will be found in this d&y'sS^ectator. They are both from old established settlers in that district, 'the accuracy of whose statements may.be fully depended on, and one of our correspondents (Mr. Nixon), has authorized us to use his name as a guarantee for the correctness of what he has advanced. These commu.nications relate " chiefly' to conversations held with Te Karamu a Wanganui chief, one of the leading- men connected with -Rangihaeata in the late disturbances, and who has returned with his followers to his I'-own district. He distinctly charges Te Rau,paraha with having secretly fomented the late rebellion ; he also as directly charges Puaba with having been guilty of the grossest and most deliberate treachery towards the Government during the late operations against Rangihaeata.' We have hitherto refrained from expressing any opinion on Puaha's conduct, although it has been a subject ,of controversy, but these statements appear -to and confirm many reports which were previously in circulation. Puaha stands charged by one of the -chief actors in the late disturbances, one second in fact only ■ to Rangihaeata himself in importance, with having rendered the rebols more useful-co-operation and assistance than if he had openly joined -them, with having supplied them with ammunition, and with having appeared to assist the party in pursuit of -the fugitive rebels only the .more effectually to mislead them. These statements, which are confirmed by the other Wanganui natives, ought to receive the serious consideration of the local authorities, and if the charges are brought home to Puaha he should .receive a j traitor's reward. Nothing short of such treachery could have enabled Rangihaeata with his handful of followers, in want of food, and pursued by an overwhelming force, to escape from his pursuers. On reading Te Karamu's statements we were apt'to exclaim " Defend us from our friends, and we can guard against our enemies." If the friendly Ngatitoas have not already been disarmed, it is quite time that this measure of precaution should be taken.

The Tidete arrived this morning from Cloudy Bay having anchored at the Heads last night. Messrs. "Weld, Wade, and Caverhill are

Wellington Savings Bank. — Mr. Chas. Suisted, Mr. J. Sutton, Mr. W. Swainson, and Mr. A. M'Donald, the Managers in rotation-, will attend .to receive 'deposits &t Mr. Ross's office, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday the 3rd Oct., and at the TJnioji Bank of Australia,- from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the sth October, , We ar-e also requested to give notice that the monthly meeting of the Superintending Committee will take place at Barrett's Hotel, on Monday evening, the 12th inst., at Eight o'-clock.

Custom House, Wellington, 30th September, 1846. Spirits and tobacco under bond Th s day. Brandy 121 1 gallons ■* Rum 1057 do. Gin 2i9 do. , .Liqueurs ,5J do. ' Cigars 161 ft Tobacco 31,34016 j

i h: — '■ ; Thb following letter was written by a settler living on the coast, and its contents are so iriteWting that we gladly avail ourselves of •the permission we have received to give it publicity.: — t a , , ' " Wai Kawa. Sept. TB46 k rt T mentioned in my last hole that part of Rangibaeata's mvib'Had passed- close to us, and that we expected the odd miin himself shortly ; he was then stationed a short distance from Otaki, about nine miles firumihis; the day after

I wrote, Paora,the chief of the natives here, went down to Otaki, and succeeded in persuading him to leave that place; he had some trouble in doing s<>, as up to that lime he had determined upon staying and building a strong pa there ; however, lie got him to promise he would come irway, and accordingly last Tuesday week, at about 11 a.m., we heard th* guns from his advanced guard, and shortly after he made his appearance, you may be sure we were not without some little anxiety, a3 we quite expected (notwithstanding the repeated assurances , of, Paora and the natives here) ' thajt at least we should 4)e robbed, iF not ill-used; we have to thank God that such was not the case. As soon as he arrived at the pa, attended by his men bearing guns, large bundles, &c, the tangi commenced, he and his followers silting at one end of a quadrangle in the pa, and ourselves and the natives friendly to us at the other. After a few I speeches on the part of the friendly natives, and some of his men, Rangihaeata himself got up. He began (according to the interpretation of Mr. - , a resident here, and who, understands the Maori language well) by deprecating the conduct of' the natives who had foug-htin conjunction with the soldiers against him, andused severe threats against them; he repeatedly and total ly»der.ied that Te Rauparahahad in any way instigated or aided him in his rebellion ; he said it was for him that Rauparaha was taken, and vehemently protested his (Rauparaha's) innocence. He completelyridiculed the idea that the soldier* would ever take him, for he said, if they could not do it when I had but these few (pointing to those sitting around him) with me, and most of these old men and cripples, how can they when I have more? He stated his intention in going to the Northward was to build a pa, and remain there if he was let alone ; but if not, he would fight. Some of his men told Mr. —that he was going up to get more men, and they would all come down again. He stayed heie three days getting the 'kai, and then proceeded to Ohau, which place he -leaves to-day. In all he had not more than forty men with him, and about sixty had passed beforej about sixty more well armed als>o came from the neighbourhood of Rangitiki to get 'the tangi with him when at Otaki : those who were with him had plenty of »hing3 which they wanted to sell, which had evidently been- stolen from white people. Upon the whole I >think you will say wilh me, we have been lucky in escaping this old vagabond. " I should mention that we are very much indebttd to Timothy, the head of the missionaries here, for looking out for us and giving us news j about the old rebel Rangihaeata's arrival. They (the rebels) had .plenty of ammunition wuh them, about six casks of powder and three of ball."