THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vèritè sans peur." Wanganui, March 7, 1861.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 225, 7 March 1861, Page 3

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vèritè sans peur." Wanganui, March 7, 1861.

The mail brought us yesterday intelligence of the election of Dr. Featherston as Superintendent. Our Wellington correspondent—, whose letter want of space obliges us to omit this week—writes, “The Doctor showed strong emotion, feeling keenly the importance of the high honour conferred upon him for four years longer, and that too unopposed, thus showing the undiminished confidence the electors retain in him after the difficulties he has 4 had to struggle through.”

It will be observed, from the advertisement elsewhere, that the days for the nomination and election for this district are those we announced last week as likely to be chosen.. It will also be observed, that Mr. Fox and Mr. Watt, the only gentlemen of those to whom the requisition is addressed to whom it has yet been presented, have agreed to comply with the request contained in it.

A Ngatiawa came into town yesterday from Taranaki, which he left on Friday last. . Nothing further had taken place, except that two Wgatiruauuis had been killed and two wounded by an escort on their way to Omata stockade. The General had carried his sap close to Pukerangiora. The Wiger had arrived with 250 men of the 57th from Auckland.

The Light of the Age was to sail within a few days of the 16th Feb. from Sydney for Auckland, with 180 horses for the artillery force expected in the Norwood.

The intelligence by this month’s English mail is of a more sober character than that which has reached us for some months past. Only before Gaeta is there any fighting. But there seems to be the certainty of a renewed and extended in the spring of this year. 7'he flag of United Italy is to be raised on the Quirinal by Garibaldi. Venetia is to be wrested from Austria by the same energetic arm, and Hungary is to be freed from the Ilapsburgh thraldom. JVegotiations and gold may avert the evils that would arise from the forcible attempt to attain the two first objects of Garibaldi’s ambition. His Holiness may be in- „ duced, by the urgent remonstrances and the lukewarm support of his headstrong son Napoleon, to abdicate his temporal sovereignty, or at least to withdraw from the scene of action, and under protest allow himself to be deprived of it. The representations of England and France, and the strong coercion of an empty exchequer and internal foes, may induce Austria to sell Venetia for the twelve millions offered for it. But it is scarcely to be expected that the friendly remonstrances of his allies, or the prospective danger of a civil war, will have any effect in changing the stubborn will of the Austrian Dmperor, and inducing him to grant to Hungary those reforms, without the concession of which she will not be satisfied. Even, indeed, if the Emperor granted these reforms, something more is

needed to restore the confidence in his government, so rudely shaken by its treacherous conduct subsequent to the revolution of 1848. Almost all that is asked now was then granted, but as soon as the government was in a position to defy the people, it relapsed into its old despotic ways, and the freedom of the lower classes from feudal labour was the only benefit obtained by the sanguinary contests of 1848 and 1849. The Comitats—local assemblies of the influential men in the various districts—have resolved that nothing short of these reforms can be accepted ; but though they are all reasonable, and some of them have passed into law, it is very unlikely that they will be obtained. They include the formation of an Hungarian ministry; an annual Diet, to be held at Pesth, and to dissolve which the King shall have no power until the budget be set-

tled ; the possession of the elective franchise by all having ,£3O w r orth of property and all members of the learned professions; the adoption of equal and impartial taxation ; the abolition of tithes, compensation being made to the clergy; the imparting of education without regal’d to religious distinctions ; the freiedom ( of the press; and the power to raise money for the construction of roads. It will be seen from the report of the proposals of the new Minister of the Interior, given iu another column, that these demands are not all likely to be conceded by him ; and it is to be feared

that Kossuth’s declaration is but too true, that confidence in the Austrian government has been wholly lost by the Hungarians, and that nothing will restore it. In that case //ungary must either be kept down by the iron foot of tyranny, or must assert her right of freedom and independence while she has the opportunity, which the chivalrous aid of Garibaldi and his legions.uow affords her.