THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur." WANGANUI, October 11, 1860.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 212, 11 October 1860, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “ Véritè sans peur." WANGANUI, October 11, 1860.

By the White Swan, arrived at Wellington from Auckland, there is news from-Taranaki to the 21st and Auckland to the 29tfi ult‘. At

Taranaki nothing; further had been done except the despatch of a ,force of 550 men, under Major Hutchins, on .the 19th, to Tataraimaka to destroy pas. * Five of the mounted volunteers came back on the 21st, asking reinforcements for the purpose of attacking a pa occupied by natives. ; General Pratt decidedly objects to venturing into the bush, but the Governor has written him to change his tactics, and allow volunteers from the troops to - follow the' natives'’up.' This 'is' the first move in the;right- direction. The mailman reported at Taranaki that 400 Waikato were about to leave for Waitara, and there was a report that Te heu heu, of Taupo, was likely to join Kingi. ' ■ ' The Native Offenders bill had caused such an excitement among the Waikato, who had been told that they 1 would be among the first to feel its force, that fears were entertained of an attack on, Auckland.; but it.; was expected that, the bill, having been withdrawn by tlie ministry, the excitement would subside. The Governor had sent to Taranaki for what troops could be spared. ; .

His Excellency , has received a despatch from-the .Colonial office,-dated 26th July, informing him, that any policy which requires the forces he asks for “carries its condemnation on its face and that “ wise government, and prudent conduct on the part of the settlers, will do far more than an increased military force to maintain the relations between the Europeans and the Natives, on a satisfactory footing ;” and warning him against expecting *’ the British Government and people to undertake that indefinite expenditure of blood and treasure to which Mr. Richmond invites them.” It is probably as severe • a censure as ever issued from the Colonial office on the policy of a Cojonial Governor— and it is quite in keeping with the tone of previous despatches in respect to the military establishment supported in this island. But tlie disappointment which this despatch must cause is counterbalanced by the consideration that, we have a sufficient number of troops, if properly handled, to settle the. present dispute, and |that on its beingproperly settled, the natives are likely to be more reasonable.

It will be. seen from Mr. Richmond’s Financial Statement, given in another column, that he proposed applying the unappropriat ed balances of former years to defray the unauthorized expenditure of the Government Dr. Featherston, on the 20th jnst., moved that these moneys be .paid, to the. several provinces,, agreeably to the Surplus Ordinary jßevenne act of 1858 i The motion was carried by a majority of 19 to 17. Dr. Featherston then carried,' by a large majority, the repeal of the act of 1858, which directs the Government to retain one?sixth of the land revenue of the Northern island,. ; Ministers opposed, strongly, but ,in vain. The; repeal act has been read a third .time, hut is threatened in the Legislative Council.; Dr. Feather ston followed, this up, by an address to the Governor, requesting that the'funds kept back during the last two years should be refunded. Ministers, it is' said, were furious, hut the motion was also harried by a large majorjty. Thesf. two ...motions .will. place in the Wellington chest alone about, £ 14,000. It is proposed to refer the Hawke’s Bay debt to arbitrators- selected by the two provinces, with the Chief Justice as umpire;, but the house had not decided*. J

Government propose-to alter the Militia act, so that the men may be sent to. distances of .100 miles. The introduction of this mga> suie will bring the whole question hLMilitia before the house, and it is.not improbable that some more sweeping alteration may be .made* The select committee on the Coleman Coiiipany’s contracts has recom mended'a return to the original agreement, which limits the outlay to <£lo,ooo for one' line of'Steamers to Australia, and the keeping up of a monthly communication between the Provinces.

A return has been laid before .the house’,, which show's that no less .than: £40,000 hasbeen expended by ; the. inatives ■in arms and ammunition. It is said that Potatau; whosepacific sentiments are well known,.urged-the Governor not to allow the sale of these, other; wise serious consequences must follow'. It would appear from the reports of the proceedings' in the; house of Lords,, tbit his Excellency lias written to the Home Government, that “ the great obstacle to peace is the hostility of the settlers towards the natives, and their desire of ‘•blood for blood..’ ” This is certainly.,a grateful, return to his friends who have supported his war policy, by their memorials.. ‘ ,7. \7 ; ’

There was a report in . Auckland on the; 27th ult., that there had been. ah outbreak here.. What could have- given rise to such a rumour it is impossible to imagine, as there has not been the slightest appearance or. the least probability of an rising!. ‘ ‘

Bold and confident assertion (goes’a'faraway. .2’here are .many who know'so little and are ready to believe so much that they swallow greedily anything .presented, to. them with a decent degree of assurance. It must be in a great degree owing to the and ex cathedra manner in. which it is w'ritten

that a letter signed “ a Voice from the People,” which appeared .in our last two numbers, has • been received; by many: with the; implicit .credence that! of old was given ; to the utterance;,of the oracle. ~ It is not our;custom; to comment .on, the , letters of our correspond * dents. On rare occasions we, have, idone so j but we pre,fer .lqttjng themyfight out their, own battles. , W.e intended however to have - point*, ed out the long series of incorrect statements madglg thjs letter and have tp regret thfet the want of space prevents us from doing,- > so. If as our corespondent asserts “7a large majority of the eleqtpry’hbave withdrawn tbeut

confidence from the Superintendent and their representative, it must be for other and more, cogent reasons founded on other and more reliable facts than those adduced in this letter, which so far as its facts go is one mass of errors. If however this is the case, ,if the electors think that their political sentiments will on the whole be better represented in the General ; Assembly by others, they will soon have the opportunity of making a change. But we-mu.'t demur to the opinion' expressed at the conclusion of thi^’letter: “ we are unmindful by whom we be represented—so that we m be represented” '2’he electors we .are sure could have no confidence in any man who has no opinion of hfs ! ovvh, or who fears to express it, and is ready to vote on any and every question at the bidding of his constituents. -It may be considered l>y many, imprudent in these gentlemen to have expressed their opinions in regard to the origin of the war, its*, being just or unjust;' the inexpediency,of commencing it in such a state of unpreparedness ahd : otlfer ‘ Connected with’ it. But holding such opinions conscientiously ; believing that a general war, such as was at one time apprehended,' and may eveiy yet take place .would be ruinous to the interests of the colonists generally, as the Taranaki war has been to those of that settlement; and anticipating with certainty the beneficial results to the settlers of wise and vigorous action in native affairs in a.,time of peace; it would have been pusillanimous in them, especially in the face.of Mr., Stafford’s taunt, “this (the expression of the Representatives’ opinions on the, wfar question) is • especially necessary on the eve of a general election” to have main ■tained silence in the discussion of the subject.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of copies of various papers laid on the table of the House of Representatives relative to native affairs.

Militia, and Volunteers.— -The following ' appointments are notified in the New, Zealand Gazette of 21st ult.—-Wan-ganui /Regiment of Militia, John Nixon to be Captain, Charles Broughton to be Paymaster. Cavalry Volunteers, Philip Mussen to be Surgeon——Dateof Commissions, sth Sept., 1860

The Makiri Kiri Farm Cattle Sale of Messrs. Gudgeon and Co, held on Saturday last at Turakina, was numerously attended. The cattle, went off briskly at advanced prices and although they were much out. of condition, and but seven steers in the whole herd, the average was <£4 15s. per head.

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