LATEST FROM TARANAKI.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 371, 14 May 1861, Page 3

LATEST FROM TARANAKI.

( Frovi the News, May 9.)

Latest intelligence from the South by no means favours the hope oftranquility which recent events have seemed to promise. In our last we alluded to a report that the mail which had been forwarded to Wanganui had been turned back ; we were then unable to furnish any particulars. It has since transpired, that on reaching Katotauru, Waimate it was stopped by Oraukawa, a Ngatiruanui chief. The bearer was ordered to return forthwith to town, and was told that if another mail should be sent, it would be taken and destroyed.

We further learn from the Wanganui Chronicle : that " a party of Waikatos headed by the chief Kewi came down to Waitotara and report that the Ngatiruanuis do not accept the terms, as they intend to join the King natives. 5' "These Waikatos have come down to ask the Waitotaras to return the £500 given them in May, 1859, as an instalment of the purchase money of land between there and Wanganui,' so that the land may belong to the King. It is probable they have other objects in view, bu they have not transpired."

It appears from the intelligence they bring that the Waikatos are determined to stand by their King, so that we may expect that all their adherents throughout the island, and these are the great majority of the natives South of their territory, will rise to their assistance. How that assistance may be rendered it is impossible to say # The natives of this neighbourhood may remain quiet, and be content with sending men to Waikato, but we ought to be prepared for the worst, especially so, if the reports be true, that the Kingites have intimated their intention to hold the Government natives as enemies in the coming struggle. The Government should now do what it ought to have done long ago—put forth a proclamation, stating, that the land of every native who takes up arms against the Queen will be confiscated; and follow up the proclamation by instantaneous and energetic action against the Waikatos. On such energy depends the safety of the other settlements.

Such then are the views of the future entertained at Wanganui; nor, are they to the best of our belief at all exaggerated.

On good information we hear that intelligence from W. King has been received at Mataituwa, Waitara, to the effect that he is in the district of Kawhare where he means to abide, and has left his business in the hands of an old chief there. Also that the Waikatos generally have determined to support the King, and that a messenger has been sent to the South to tell the Ngatiruanuis and other tribe?, that if attacked by the Queen's forces they were, immediately to send information of the same to Waikato ; the inference is cleaily enough indicative of a determination to resist any attempt that may be made to punish or obtain restitution of the brigand Ngatiruanui and their neighbours.

In such a state of affairs where is the security which many fondly hope to see sufficiently established in a short time to enable them with safety to proceed with their ordinary occupations in this settlement. It is true that it may be urged that peace settled with the Taranakis on the terms prescribed by the Governor—the members of that tribe will form as it were a human buffer between the Ngatiruanui and ourselves, but, what amount of reliance may be placed on such a barrier the opening of the late war has sufficiently demonstrated. Indeed on reperusing the considerate reply of Major-General Cameron to the Superintendent of the Province, it becomes perfectly evident, that the military authorities, however desirous they may be to further the interests of the community by facilitating a return to industrial occupations, can only see their way to it on a limited scale, and that the proposed block-houses, or a short distance beyond them, must be considered the only available ground which for the present can be operated upon with security. It would have been more satisfactory if the whole of the correspondence—that on the part of the Provincial Government, as well as General Cameron's, had been given to the public, that it might have beep seen to what extent the suggestions made by the Government to the military authorities have extended, and the grounds upon which they have proceeded, as they will doubtless have had considerable influence, from causes sufficiently apparent, in the decision arrived at, or to be arrived at, in which possibly the safety as well as the interests of the community may be. so deeply concerned. We may, however, doubtless look for the publication of some organised and feasible pla.n of operation when the matter is more ripe, until which—except in the immediate vicinity of the town, prudence should recommend quiescence.

By an order in Council published in the AFew Zealand Gfazettee, May 6, 1861, the Militia of Taranaki will be called the Taranaki Regiment of Militia. And by the Gazette of the 3rd of May, it is notified by the chairman of the Council of the National Rifle Association in Great Britain that in accordance with her Majesty's desire Colonial Volunteers will be entitled to compete for " The Queen's Prize." And that silver medals will be given to Colonial Rifle Associations. Also the appointment of Charles Brown to be Paymaster in the "Taraoaki" Regimtnt of New Zealand Militia. Also the appointment of R. Chiiman» Esq., to be collector of Customs at the port qf H%w Plymouth.,

During Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the rain was heavy and incessant and the weather squally. " On Friday the Airedale arid the Tasmaniah Maid put to sea the surf not permitting the embarkation of the remainder o( the 651h. On Sunday the Airedale was again off, (having been to Nelson for coal), but could not communicate with the shore and having exchanged signals proceeded oh to Manukau. The Rita and the Corio have returned during the week frym Nelson with a large number of refugees. The Provincial Government have published a voluminous paper of letters and documents this week, intended to rebut, charges made against them of having written letters Home, and to some of the provinces of the colony, repudiating the necessity for the benevolences tendered for the relief of the settlers of this province. The documents are collectively of great length, and altogether beyond the limits of our space as a whole. We shall endeavor to give those of them which have emanated from our own Government—and upon which alone the charge could rest, so that independent of our own opinion that the charge has been successfully met, the materials for forming a judgment may be as public as possible, and the question be permanently set at rest.