WANGANUI.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 351, 5 March 1861, Page 3

WANGANUI.

{From the Wanganui Chronicle.) The elections have passed over very quietly here, and have resulted in the return of Mr. Harrison for Wanganui, and of Mr. Fox for the new district of Rangitikei, without opposition. Wellington thus sends to the Assembly a-compact body of able men, united on all .the great political questions that may came before them; and though they may differ on minor matters, and on subjects that will not come before this session of the Assembly, prepared to support each other in obtaining justice to the various provinces, in enforcing a diminution of government expenditure its passing effective measures for the increase oft the revenue, and the proper adjustment of the incidence of taxation; and, when the time arrives, in introducing such a system of government and law for the natives, as may at once benefit tbem and the colonists. That the time for legislation in native affairs may arrive speedily is a consummation devoutly- to be wished for. But we are scarcely so sanguine on this point as Mr. Fox, judging from wbat he said atTurakina, seems to be. No doubt the Government will make a Strong effort to obtain some decisive success before the end of autumn, which may induce the natives to submit. Already the natives must be aware that in open ground they cannot make,head against the coolness and resolution of our soldiers and the skill of our engineers. And if the permission to engage in bush work be taken advantage of so soon as the proper clothing recommended is procured, and our soldiers^ prove their superiority in that mode of warfare also before ■the rainy weather sets, in, there may be some hope of convincing the natives that it 3s time for them to yield. But judging from the past, and looking at the slowness with which our officers learn to adapt themselves to the varying circumstances of an irregular warfare, there seems little ground for believing that all this will be accomplished in so short a lime. The disaffected Waikatos are doing their utmost to impress on the minds of their countrymen that the contest is now one between the two; races, also tbat they are to be thoroughly subjected and deprived of their lands—and they say, "the men first, the land afterwards; you must first destroy the inhabitants, and then you. may get the country." They may not «««jee<| iq ihm endeavour in this way to

.flhiainJ,heH&ssistaoce .ot'.theli-.CQmvtj'.ymen.in. a body; but no doubt these representations ha?e had, and. will continue to have influence with a-number, who will go to supply the places of those who have fallen. Such was their effect on Mamaku, who was here last week. On his way down the river he endeavoured to persuade Mori Patene and Pehi, two other chiefs, to go with him to Waitara. They refused, and the representations of the authorities and others ho;e changed his mind so far that lie resolved not to go himself in the meantime, although he said he couid not hinder some of his people. Some of those chiefs, however who do not lend an ear to the Waikatos' suggestion, say that they will not hesitate to go to war so soon as an occasion arises. If, for instance, a Maori be killed by a white man, and the Governor do not give them up the murderer, to be dealt with by themselves, they will consider that an occasion of war. The execution of the murderer by the British authorities will not satisfy them. It is thus evident that a mere accident might occasion the war to spread much more widely. There is some reason for supposing that an attack on Auckland may be made by the Waikatos, if they find themselves again defeated at Waitara; and we believe it is considered, in quarters well furnished with information, that there is greater danger of the war becoming general now than there, has been hitherto. Still, the Maoris must have places from which to draw their supplies of European commodities. This.circumstance alone may prevent them from enlarging the scene of hostilities, and all the present bravadoes of the discontented may be soon hushed to silence by a decided advantage obtained by us at Taranaki. In any case, as Mr. Fox observed, legislation may be commenced with the peaceful tribes in the north. The elections at Wanganui took place on Friday, the Ist of February, when Captain Campbell proposed and Mr. Watt seconded the nomination ol' H. Shafto Harrison, Esq. No other candidate being proposed, Mr. Harrison was declared elected. He said that his political opinions were moderate, he was no thick-and-thin partizan. He thought the conduct 'of some, of the missionary party mischievous; he blamed the present Government for their conduct towards the provinces, and without-pledging himself to follow the Featherston party wherever they might lead, he was prepared to give them, in their main undertakings, his conscientious support.

The election for Rangitikei took place on Monday, the 4th of February. Mr. Fox was the only candidate. He was proposed by Mr. J. Wilson, and seconded by Mr. R. Hammond; In the course of his speech he said, referring chiefly to the native question :—

He believed that the opinions of the electorsand himself were closely allied on all political subjects. In the present state of the war there was no necessity for entering into a defence ot the opinions he had advocated regarding it. Indeed, if these opinions had been properly represented, there would not have been found such a difference as was supposed to exist. He thought the war unjust in its origin, but, after its commencement, he conidered there was no alternative but its vigorous prosecution. There never had been, sotfar as he was aware a " peace- at any price " party, as the ministerial journals had striven to impress on the public. No better proof of this assertion could be brought forward than the result of a meeting which was held lately in Auckland, convened by some of the Auckland members of the late General Assembly, in order to defend themselves against an imputation cast on them by Mr. Thorfi&s King, late member for Taranaki, of having proposed to send a deputation to Wi Kingi to sue for terms of peace. The statements made by this person were utterly false, and ivere pronounced to be so by the largest meeting that has ever been held in Auckland. When the resolution declaring their falsity was put to the meeting, every hand was held up except two ; and when those of the opposite opinion were called upon, two dirty hands were held up for an instant and immediately withdrawn, as if the persons to whom they belonged were ashamed of themselves. (Laughter). All that the members of the house who opposed the lniuistry on the war question wanted was inquiry. Inquiry was refused. But in regard to its continuation, he ljad in all cases and circumstances desired its energetic prosecution. Wherein then did his sentiments on this question differ from, those of his constituents?, A great deal had been said about maintaining, the honor and dignity of the British name in this dispute. He had taken the course he had thought most likely to do so; and no statement could be more unfounded than that which represented him as belonging to a " peace at any price'» party. But the war was now taken up by the British Government. It was no longer a colonial question. It bad been taken completely out of our hands, and it had now become an Imperial question. It was impossible so say with certainty when it might be concluded ; but he would not be at all surprised if it was brought to a close within the next three or four months, or before the General Assembly meet. But though this should not he the case, it would not be again brought up for discussion in the Assembly. It would no longer be a bone of contention, unless indeed the ministry, for their own purposes, endeavored to make it so."