MERE MERE.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 13, 7 December 1863, Page 3

MERE MERE.

We, (New Zeatander November 14th) have been furnished with the following interesting information from an authentic source : — There were 1800 Natives at Mere Mire previous to its evacuation, 600 at Paparata, aud 100 at Fukckawa. When the Pioneer passed with the 600 for Takapau the Chiefs said, "we must go at once or our supplies will be cut off. The General has possession of the water-way, and if he takes the land too we have no road for supplies," and it was resolved to leave. They took to their canoes, paddled up the Maramarua, and dragged the canoes across p irtage into the Waikairi lake, and entered Kangiriri ; 400 were told off to attack the General's position at T.'ikupau : ihey came down on Saturday night and opened fire on tt.e position in the dark, being only able to se^ the position by the flashes from the soldiers' guns. They continued firing till a chief was wounded by one of his friends from behind.; then another man was wounded by one of his friends, when they thought it discreet to return. Since they retired to Rangiriri, large reinforcements have come from the East Coast, principally of Ng ttiporou, amounting to 2000 m'eu. The women and children have been sent to Maungatautari, which indicates they expect to re:ire before the Xroops. Tbey are well supplied with food, plenty of flour, beef, potatoes, aud eels. As much as twenty-seven t ns of flour haul been sup-■p&e&A*y~*ki&-~hapi** <se^u_py^g'^hO:*'o^nfry"n" r little above Ngaruawahia. There are no Waikatos at Wairoa. All that has been done tiiere has been done by Thames Natives. Ngatimoru and Ntjatitematera have sent contingents to Waikato. Paparata was occupied principally by Natives from Taurangs and the Tham >s. At Pukekohe they lost five, at Maiiku four, there being 80 natives engaged in that attack (no. 400, as it has been said.) NORTHERN FARLIAMENTRY AND GENERAL NEWS. The Parliament news is important. The resolution relative to changing the seat of Government had been carried, and led to a most serieus parliamentary fracas. The Nelson Colonies correspondent of 2nd November- thus describes it : — "A Resolution has been carried to the effect that the time has arrived when the seat of Government should be removed to some suitable sits in Cooks Straits. .After ,-i great many attempts to postpone the question until a number of Southern members had gone home, and some very illjudged threats to speak against time, unless the posponernent weie consented to, in which Mr Stafford took a very prominent part,'' Mr Fitzherbert brouuht the House to a division about 12 o'clock on the night of Friday last, moving the previous question — " That this House d > divide ; '' tlus being carried, and all further discussion thereby prohibited." Mr Stafford rose in great wrath, and said — addressing the Speaker — " this is veiy unfair, and I shall not stay in the House whe the division is being taken," and immediately walked out, followed by all his Auckland friends, and by Messrs. Gillies, Yogel, Baldwin, and Brodie, Major Richardson called tlie Speaker's attention to Mr Stafford's conduct ; and Air Mantell proposed that Mr Stafford's words be taken down, which was put to tlie House, and agreed to. ' J Mr Bel) proposed that Mr Stafford should I be sent for, and the Sergeant-at-Arms, with I his white rod, was despatched to bring Mr ' Stafford in, but he reported that Mr Stafford was not to be found in any part of the House, so that the taking down of the words was postponed until Tuesday, The House then proposed to divide ; but in order to get a division, two of the .Southerners had to vote 'No ;' when the numbers appeared —Ayes, 24 : Noes 2. Mr Fitzgerald's motion for the Com oiission to decide upon what part of Cook's Straits should be named as the Seat of Government wits carried by 24 to 17. The House is like to be delayed some time longer in its session. It was hoped to have got through the business by the 24t.1i, to have enabled members to have gone south by the Phoebe, but the Estimates are not passed, — not even yet commenced — and the Re-adjust-ment Kepresentationßill only just introduced. This Bill was undertaken by the Ministiy to please some members, who preferred that course to the scheme of giving a Lieutenant Governor and Executive to the Middle Island. Of 13 new members one is proposed to be given to Auckland, 10 to Otago, and 2 to the Maoris. Bell and Mantell are spoken of as just the men to represent Mao i is. The Loan Bill passed with considerable discussion, Southern members declaring themselves willing to give even L 5,000,000, 000,000 if necessary, for crushing the rebellion, but grudging the L 1,200,000, 200,000 for settling 20,000 men in the Northern Island. We must either have, however, an overwhelming force in the North to overawe tbe Maoris when conquered, or we must go in and exterminate them, or we shall have the same war break out again in a few years, and then the L 1,200,000, 200,000 grudged for settlement will be required twice over, to put down another rebellion. The

L 3,000,000 however, may, if the Government be not too squeamish, be paid from the confiscated Native land. All"' land south of Auckland has b^ea^juatfy for/cited, for all have aided in the rebellioit either directly or 'indirectly; the Wa^ftyfc^tn'elß have only been quiet because WarfgluWi -^^PM* from whence Waikato can -&• auppHed. Hawfces' Ray Natives have not joined, iti the rebellion, because they could assist more by by supplyv ing funds than men, hesidefc running less risk. They are wealthy,:" isttahg their runs to the European squatters — but all are equally guilty, and the loo acres to be given to each Native (according to the New Zea- . land Settlement Bill) would leave the Natives ; amply provided for, and the. remainder of the land would pay the whole of the war debt, and render this colony the finest in the Australian seas. Mr Dillon Bell some days age introduced a ;• bill for granting six extra members to Southland and two to Otago. The till was supported generally by^membeis, but opposed by the Government. At length the latter deemed it better to submit to a eornprornise rather , than risk a hostile vote, and soit was agreed to take the whole subject of remodelling the representation into consideration, and a Select Committee was formed for the purpose. Om the report of this committee a bill ha-? been introduced giving one member to Albert Land. Auckland, two to native potmlr ation, one to Canterbury, one to Oamaru, two to Tokomairiro, two to tho Lakes, and two to " the Molyneux, Otago,— and two to Southland. The Rangatira had been defined in Auckland and would not leave juntil Friday or Saturday last. < The Neio Zealand Eeraffi says the Intercolonial Royal Mail Stean? Company have taken up " the Panama Route, -and intend at once to lay on a Kn§ of steamers to New Zealand. They have already secured several suitable vessels, aud are'Tn treaty fot others. ti .-.. -The site in Cook's Strait| fo-5 the seat of ( Government was expected to/ 'bet reserved to Commissioners appointed by jfchrae Australian Governors, wlio were to ta)-e evidence and give a final decision. ,'.