New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, November 6, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 237, 6 November 1847, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, November 6, 1847.

On Thursday morning H.M. Racehorse sailed for Auckland. Various rumours are in circulation to account for her sudden departure. It is reported that the Treasury requires to be replenished from head-quarters ; other rumours assert it to be the intention of the Government to reduce the naval force on this station, and that in future the Southern province will only receive occasional

visits from one of the vessels of war on this station, instead of having, as heretofore, a man-of-war permanently stationed in Cook's Strait for the protection of the Southern Settlements. Without vouching for their accuracy, we may assume a sufficient probability of truth in these rumours to indulge in a few speculations on them. The Calliope sailed for Auckland on the 29th ult., and on the same same day, after her departure, the Thomas Lowry arrived from Auckland. It would appear then if the report first alluded to is correct, that some oversight or mistake must have occurred which should render the sudden departure of the Racehorse necessary. But without pursuing this question further, we must be allowed to express our hope that the rumour of the removal of a man-of-war from Cook's Strait may prove unfounded. We cannot iconceive a greater mistake than too hastily to assume, in the absence of immediate disturbances, a settled state of tranquillity ; — to cry peace, peace, when there is no peace. In saying this we do not wish to exaggerate probable dangers, or become alarmists ; we are ready to admit that the present aspect of affairs in the immediate neighbourhood of Wellington is hopeful and encouraging; but previous experience assures us that the best way to secure peace is to be in a position to repel aggression. It is not much more than three months since the last attack on the troops at Wanganui was made, when the rebels on their departure announced their intention of returning again in the summer to fight, and we have generally found them exact in the performance of these promises. In Col. M'Cleverty's despatches to Capt. Grey, referring to Te Oro's determination not to make peace, he states he does not consider peace to be a desideratum, nor does he believe it to be the Governor's wish without such a submission to the authority of the Government on the part of the rebels, as would insure its continuance. In Capt. Grey's despatch to Lord Stanley requesting additional reinforcements he states 2,500 men to be the smallest force that could be stationed in these Islands to prevent those " sanguinary and expensive, yet petty wars' ' which would otherwise take place, and which " would entail a large and useless expenditure of blood and money and retard the advancement of this country almost indefi. nitely" — and hints that it would be necessary to keep such a force in New Zealand for four or five years at least before it would be advisable to make any reduction. We need only refer to Captain Fitzroy's egregious folly in sending away the troops sent to his assistance and the consequent destruction of Kororarika before fresh succour could be placed at his command, to show the danger of precipitation in removing the means of protection. And with three if not four men-of-war on this station, besides the Government Brig, it would be preposterous that all those vessels should remain idly at anchor at Auckland when their services may be required in the South. After the present roads have been completed and have produced their effect in connecting the natives with the settlers; when the natives have permanently settled down into agricultural communities, and feel the mutual dependence and assistance of the two races to each other; when by their industry and productive labour they have a stake in the prosperity of the colony which would be endangered by the recurrence of fresh disturbances ; when the tide of emigration once more sets in towards the colony, and the number of Europeon settlers in the colony is considerably increased ; then the gradual reduction' of the force in New Zealand might be safely attempted, but at the present juncture the experiment is too hazardous to be ventured upoD, and the colony has suffered too much already from the outbreaks that have occurred to risk a repetition of them. We hope therefore that since the Calliope is removed, the absence of the Racehorse may prove to be only temporary, and that no attempt will be made to reduce the force in this district until it becomes palpable from a continued and settled state of tranquillity that such a course may be safely resolved upon without any fear of evil consequences.

It is reported that a detachment of the 65*h Regiment will shortly proceed toWanganui in the Eleanor Lancaster, to relieve the detachment of the 58th Regiment stationed there, which will go on to Auckland. This exchange will complete the disposition of the troops, by which the 65th Regiment will te stationed in the Southern, and the 58th Regiment in the Northern Piovince of New Zealand.

A meeting of the Committee of the Horticultural Society was held at Barrett's Hotel, on Wednesday evening, when it was decided that the next exhibition of the Society should take place on the 22nd inst.

Wellington, Nov. 1, 1847. — Quantity of rain fallen in October, 4 inches 5-lOths.