Untitled

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 87, 30 December 1864, Page 3

Yl\q .Southern Cross of the 17 th has the following: — "Important native intelligence reached Ai ckland. yesterday, to the effect that Eowi JSfgatim; aiopoto" had sent an intimation to the Aotea na ive 3 that they would cross from Kawhia to Aotca, and there erect the King's flag, formally taking possession of all the district south of Aoeta .harpor, which lies about midway between Raglan anclj Kawhia. This .appears somewhat contradictors of the intelligence -previously published by us-Unamely, that Rcwi desired to negotiate for peace, • unles.s, indeed, the one circumstance is antecedent to the other, and the rebel chief has ■chaiiged his mind. It is, however, certainly known, that he "w as m ie neighborhood cf Te Awaniutu, which is not very far foom Kawhai. Believing that the above intelligence is true, however,tvre may say that it shows that the rebellion is not dead. -The snalre is scotched, not killed ; and it may yet give us trouble. One. thing is certain, however, whether Mr. Weld likes it or not, that the Waik'ato cannot be abandoned jusfc vet, and that the Imperial troops are nob likely to be withdrawn. It is not a question whether bankrupt Southland and einbarrased Canterbury can' flo^t their loans, by 'pledging the revenues of the Northern Provinces, while they gamble away their laiid_ revenues ; t the question is. a military and an Imperial one, and Mr. Weld and his colleagues,! who lent • themselves to this clever but sonaewhlt dislibriest triclc~ of raising the wind for the Soufti,- will have their labor for their pains. They ■will have deservedly lost their political reputations (and. Mr. Weld at least had a fair one) ; but they will be no nearer the consummation of their hopes. . Eewi Ngatimanioppto stands in their way ; and Sir Greorge Grrey, as representative of the Crown, and Sir Duncan <3ameron, . commanding her Majesty's forces in the field, stand,in their way. We look* forward to the time, and that no very distant one, when Mr. Wold will retire to his 'pastoral retreat, a sadder if not 'a ■ wiser — certainly rot nearly so respected — man, and 'when his colleagues will bo compelled to relinquish the emoluments of office, which in their several cases have niaclo them wonderfully blind io principle. Xasfc Thurpay Rcwi Ngatimanioiioto was to take po3session]of -all^the country south of Aotea, in the King (of New Zealand's name ; .and the Queea's natives were flocking into Raglan to permit him tojdo so unopposed. We dare say Eewi kept his wc&d. - Tj.*uly, this loots like-peace, and an abondonement of our outposts in the Waikaro ! On Ait timt the present Ministry purpose disbanding tbi Waikato regiments. They are too costly to bo kept,' it is said — therefore another sfcep in repudiation is to be taken. Let us Iwhisper a %yord in Minister's ears — the > Waikato regiments are entitled to their lands ; they have been put into possession of a .portion at least ; the rest will Jfollow in good . time, and they will ceep fclieir actes. That is a settled point, so' the WTelcl Ministry need not trouble their not over vise heads aily thing about the matter. The men iave possession, legally and in. equity ;- and- what

gives them a stronger claim, is this— they are able to hold their estates against all comers. The sooner, therefore, tlio "Wailcafco regiments are permanently settled, the sooner will the drain on tho revenue cease, and one cause of • disquiet "bo removed. *„ »* •* Tiie' NeW'£Native Miitistee. — Mr. Mantell has been appointed Nativo Minister, and yestcivlay took the oaths of oflico" before his Excellency tho Grovernor. The object of this chango has been tho subject of somimirpriso, and, we might add, .of unpleasant apprehension. In the last Administration there was no Native Minister, the office having been abolished ; and Mr. Fox, tho Colonial Secretary, managed native affairs himself. Mr. Mantell hold the same office for a short time in Mr. Fox-s Administration, when he resigned, and both offices \yorc combined. Tho appointment; is certainly not one calculated to impress tho public of this province any more favorably with tho "Wield Ministry ; and wo arc afraid that our worst anticipations ■will be realised, and that tho colony will bo brought into very great trouble and embarrassment. In Auckland, however, we look for separation to relieve xis from the incubms, and until that is achieved we must endeavor, powerloss as wo are, to stave off as much of the evil that wo arc threatened with as we can.— lbid. Eeinforcemonts are to be sent to "Wanganui. It is said that Mr. Justice Harncy is aboutto go to 'England, on leave of absence for two yeai-3, Mr. Justice Chapman performing his duties in the interim. v Tho Governor will open tho New Zealand Exhibition in person, on tho 10i.li of January. He will visit the G-oldilolds. The removal of tho various G-encral G-overn-ment officials to "Wellington, will take place very shortly.