THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, July 19, 1860.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 200, 19 July 1860, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, July 19, 1860.

The deplorable news from Taranaki up to 7th July, will be found in another column. It is intolerable, that here, 120 miles from Taranaki, intelligence of what is going on should not be received for three weeks—surely the Tasmanian Maid might be .sent down, when anything of importance occurs. The Maories had the news some days ago, but their reticence is remarkable; and no reliable Information can be got from them.

It is said that the Victoria has been sent to Melbourne for Major General Pratt. It is high time that the imbecility at head-quarters should be prevented from doing further mischief. From Auckland we learn that Potatau—to be celebrated in the history of New Zealand as the first and last King of the Maories—has died of the prevailing epidemic. There are 5 or 6 candidates for the vacant throne—among whom is W\ Tako of the Hutt, who when news of the W aitara engagement reached him caused several vollies to be fired and the King flag to be hoisted. The number of candidates may lead to feuds, and the King movement be thus put down by dissensions among its supporters. The Chiefs had not arrived in any great numbers in Auckland up to the 3rd of July. The Victoria had not arrived at that date.

The letter in last week’s * Chronicle,’ signed * A Nobody,* and the public meeting yesterday consequent thereon, are additional proofs of the necessity that exists for the inhabitants of this town appointing a Standing Committee, or a Town Couacil, or gome body of Trustees under whatever name they may go, who may look after their interests, and in whom the property of.the town may be formally vested. In so far as the land on the other side of the river is concerned, we are afraid no transfer would be made to such a body. It is in the hands of the Provincial Government, which has no intention to hand it over to any one else, or to sell it without the consent of the inhabitants of Wanganui, although it has a perfect right to do so. No part of it has yet been sold; the houses lately erected on part of it having been built without any title being obtained; and the Government can give no such title privately. The land must be sold by public auction, if sold at all; and in that case that particular section will have the value of the new houses added to the price at which it is put up for sale. The Government has till, lately- understood that the inhabitants do not wish this laud to ,be disposed of; but recently several applications have been received from parties here wishing to buy sections, who represent that the majority of the settlers are now desirous that it should be sold ; and these applications have, we suppose, led to the survey of the ground that has recently been made. The protest of the meeting held yesterday wifi be in good time to prevent any proceedings preparatory to a sale that might have been taken in consequence of these misrepresentations. Had there been any body of Trustees in existence when this reserve was laid off, the probability is, that they would have received a grant of it for behoof of the town—now we fear it is too late. But there is a very valuable portion of land on the north-west side of the town, where the race-couise now is, which is reserved by the General Government for the.use of the inhabitants ; but which, unless it is claimed immediately, and a proper transfer of it made, may be taken from us. Let us not let such a valuable recreation ground slip out of our hands for want of a little atten- ' tion to our own interests.

There is another valuable piece of ground on the north-east of the town, which will soon be carried into the sea if the encroachments of the river are not timeously stopped. Within the last two months the. river lias eaten into the land at least twenty feet at one place, and more is ready to fall in and be swept away. It is of the .utmost importance that this process be stopped immediately ; and. with a public body haying authority to compel the neighbouring proprietors to assist in the formation of a proper bank, and to contribute somewhat to it themselves from the town’s or- government funds, what is requisite would soon be done, and much valuable property be thus 'saved.

The urgent need for some such commissioners. to (look after the various important matters that w;ould fall under their supervision, is top obvious to need being insisted on, and he. wiji be entitled to, tlje gratitude of the community who induces; the inhabitants to take the requisite steps for their appointment.

The sea faring portion of the community are very quiet regarding their grievances,

though there are some in connexion with our river which ought to be looked to and remedied. A small tug for towing vessels into the river on all occasions when its services were required and could be made available, would be of immense advantage to the shipping that frequent this port, and even though the charge for towing were considerable, would save the loss of many pounds 10 the owners of the vessels that might avail tliemselvos of , its services. Such a vessel would also be of great use when ,it was not required at the heads, in taking goods up the river and bringing down produce, and would be found a great acquisition by the settlers on the banks. But there is not yet enough of trade or shipping to keep such a vessel in constant employment, and unless constant work were supplied the proprietors would incur loss; so that this very desirable assistance to our trade must be regarded rather, as possible some few years hence, than likely to be obtained at present. But there are some more easily remedied grievances which our maritime visitors have to complain of. One of these is the shoals in the river as far up as the town, which are so frequently shifting that its navigation without running on a mud bank and being delayed a tide or possibly, if the tides happen to be taking off, some days, is a matter of considerable uncertainty, although to them do justice the masters of our trading vessels generally are able by great care to steer clear of these obstacles. Still the danger of delay is so considerable that a little expence should not be grudged in removing it by laying down buoys after every change in the stream, to show the proper channel. The first expence of the materials and a few pounds expended in ' giving assistance to the pilot and his men in putting down or shifting the buoys would be the disbursement needed for thus facilitating the river navigation.

Another danger to which vessels are exposed in the river arises from the snags which are not infrequent between its mouth and-the town. The work of raising these, some of which are rather ponderous, would be more difficult than that of buoying the channel, but it would be less expensiye. If the government provided the requisite machinery which does not need to be very elaborate (two punts, an anchor, and one of the stump extractors referred to in another column, or some other kind of lever power being all that is needed) the Pilotage Committee might engage to meet the current expences, as the wood raised would almost if not altogether pay them. All the shipmasters trading to the port will concur in the great advantage to them of a clear channel, and none perhaps more than the master of the Wonga Wonga, the proprietors of which we understand are in doubt, partly owing to these obstructions in the navigation of the river, whether, now thst the government subsidy is withdrawn, it will be advisable to send her to this port more than, once a month.

In these operations the assistance of the pilot at the heads and bis men would be of great use; and they might be undertaken if an addition of £IOO were made to the .£3OO a-year now given for the pilot station—a very insignificant sum when the benefit to be obtained from it is considered, and one which the government can scarcely refuse for such a reasonable object.

Local Intelligence.

Justice of Peace Court.— -Before T* Harper and Charles Sharp, Esqrs., J. Ps.» July 12—rjohn Cameron v. Jas. McDonell, debt £lB Os. 6d. for plaintiff. July 16th, Before D. S. Durie, Esq,, J. P.—R. Sangster V. John Stratten, debt £2 10s. for plaintiff. Tamehana v. John Stratten, debt £5 for defendant. July 18^—Before D. S . Durie, Charles Sharp, and T. Harper, Esqrs., J. Ps.. Mrs. Jane Hair v. John Dunleavy, trespass and,damages ss. Case dismissed.

A Public Meeting called by the Resided Magistrate on a requisition from the Inhabi" tants in order to consider the propriety of protesting against the sale of the Reserve on the other side of the river was held yesterday afternoon in the 7?oyal Military Theatre. Mr. Beaven having been called to the Chair. It was moved by Mr. James Broughton and seconded by Mr. John Dunleavy—That a protest against selling the Public Reserve on the Left Bank of the river opposite the Town be agreed to by this meeting and immediately forwarded to His Honor the Superintendent of the Province, and such protest to be signed by the chairman for and on behalf of the meeting. Mr. Geo. Roberts having supported the resolution in a vigorous speech—it was unanimously carried. Mr. Alexander thought that the inhabitants of Wanganui had nothing to do with the Reserve, which he said had been originally intended as a market for the accommodation of the settlers on that side of the river. Mr. Roberts said that the Reserve was for the common good of the community, although the settlers on the other side had been hardly dealt with in being compelled to pay so very heavy a tax as was entailed upon them by the Ferry. It was then moved by:Mr. W. Kells, seconded by Mr. Watt, arid carried unanimously—That a Committee be formed for the purpose of drawing up a protest, consisting of the following gentlemen, namely—Messrs. George Roberts,James Broughton, and J.M. Richards. A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman and the Meeting separated.

Volunteer Rifles.- —A meeting of the No. 4, or Wangaehu Company of Wanganui Volunteer Riflemen was held last Thursday for the election of officers. Capt. Deighton,

was called to the chair. James Alison, Esq., was. elected; Captain, and Messrs. Thomas Kells and A. McGregor were chosen as first and, second Lieutenants. Militia.?— We understand that orders have been received from Auckland to call out the Militia in this -and the Turakina and Rangitikei districts.

Out Posts. —His Excellency the Governor has appointed four of the Magistrates and the officer in command of the troops, a Board to take the necessary measures for the defence of the district, by erecting stockades, &c.