THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, June 27, 1861.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 241, 27 June 1861, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, June 27, 1861.

As will be- observedi from, our advertising columns, a new election is to take place im-. mediately. To the courteous attention of Mr. Fox to oar interests, we are indebted for this immediate action. At the late election there was ho opposition. The great desirableness that no unnecessary delay should take place would make it a matter Jfor regret that there should be any opposition at present—as that opposition,,it is to be presumed, would be an opposition, not of parties, but of persons. Had. Mr. ifarrison acted with ordinary courtesy to bis political friends; had be placed himself in their hands, and followed their advice in a matter which involved no conscientious scruples on bis.partor had he, before deciding the. question contrary to the advice of these friends, s consulted bis constituents, there would have been no doubt of his re-election. But the isolated, divisive, and! injurious .course he baa pursued, has alienated many of his previously warmest supporters,“and we doubt if as respect?, able a requisition to him to. stand for re-elec-tion would be forthcoming now. a? on tli&.

former occasion, if any othei ; popular Candidate were brought forward. For it is but reasonable to presume, that a gentleman .who pays so little .attention to what courtesy and Reason demand in any one particular point, may be equally ecceutric and unreasonable on any other. ' The extraordinary rapidity with which our cbmet-like'member , passed his perihelion at Wellington, and receded into. the north without affording observers a passing glimpse of him, makes it' not improbable that, on a change of his orbit with its focus aty/uckland, the increased attraction may either cause him to rush, into the . great central luminary there, or 5f lie pass that, danger, some other attraction may, draw him out of . his elliptic course, and he may go off, into boundless space, and be iost altogether to the JFanganui political 'horizon. The, past may, indeed,, not be withexit its beneficial effect; but. so far as can be seen, at present this i 3 the view, that is no doubt taken by ’many of his friends.T. It: is, jxsrhapsi- .premature for us to< speculate/thus, ' not being, aware whether, it is Mr. f garrison’s .intention again to come.forward, now- that Mr. Fox has knocked at the door, and .gained for him the possibility of admittance, or whether any other gentleman in the district would allow himself to be nominated to the important trust. The electors have no., time to .lose, however; and whatever may. be..their;Opinious and desires, they should give expression to them without delay.

The speech o'f his Excellency the Governor at the openirig of the Assembly, like most documents of the kind, contains little that was not previously known. It has as yet given rise to no discussion, unless the conversation in the Legislative Council regarding it be so designated. In the course of this conversation; his : Excellency was complimented on the “ moral courage displayed by him in publicly making the avowal ” that his commencing the war at Taranaki, was a mistake, a precipitate and rash act, arising from his ignorance of the real nature and position of the questionThese are of course not the. words of this lauded avowal; but they express its meaning. It is difficult 'not to think that under this compliment there lurks a bitter sneer. His ' Excellency has made several grand errors during his short tenure of office, and all df them have in a short while declared their character 80 unmistakably a 3 to leave the impression on the mind of an observer of ordinary acuteness, that his Excellency would either be the better for a little more mental vigour to enable him to’ understand the necessities of his position, or a'little moral courage at an earlier stage, to enable him to resist the counsels of those who lead his Excellency so egregiously astray.

JThat has been the Occasion of the last display of this fine quality, of liis Excellency’s disposition— 7the moral courage wl-iieh enables him to confess that be lias been in the wrong ? Either personally, or by his ministers, his Excellency has. repeatedly declared that the investigation of the title to the Waitara land was thorough and complete before the war began. Jn a despatch to the Secretary of the Colonies, dated 28th June, 1860, he writes,l did not make this purchase withont full consideration and the most careful investigation.” ft Nine months were occupied in the consideration and careful investigation ojf the vendor’s title.”" And his ministers write, on the 25th May, 1860,—“ The facts of the case were notorious and undisputed. On this ground therefore no elaborate investigation was requisite, and the purchase might have been speedily concluded, though ia fact its transaction occupied eight months.*’ Now’ the Governor Arid his ministers liavd changed their opinion. The investigation “ the most careful,*’ is now Acknowledged to have been ■ careless, and the Governor proposes to continue it.. This was the point which the Wellington members particularly insisted on. They said, —“ Let the disputed claims be investigated the Governor said,—“ They have, been investigated.” Now lie admits that he lias been in error, but his f * moral courage” is still deficient. The investigation is to be resumed, “at the point at which it was forcibly interrupted.” , . Another point in which he has more unequivocally confessed his mistake has reference to the tribunal before which the investigation is to be made. Mr. Parris was sole judge before. Anything else was ridiculed. “ Would it have been wise or prudent,” writes the Governor, “ to establish a special tribunal to try a case, no similar one having ever been brought before auy court of law or equity ?”—(this, by the way, seems a very extraordinary reason Against, being the best argument that could be urged for, the appointment of a special court.) “ The matter,” said liis minister, “ was to all intents' and purposes res judicata. But had this been otherwise, a trial “ with the usual safeguards against partiality or error,—namely, evidence on oath and arguments of counsel,” would, under the circumstances have been something more ludicrous than has yet been seen in our public dealings with the New Zealanders.” This was also what the Wellington members asked for—a proper tribunal before which the investigation might be made. Unwise, imprudent, and ridiculous as it was considered a year ago, his Excellency has now appointed such a court, in which Mr. Justice Johnston is to preside, being assisted by Native Assessors.

What more triumphant vindication could j there be of the conduct of our members, and what stronger argument can be adduced for our having confidence in men who, amidst much obloquy and opposition, bad the “ moral courage,” not to confess an error, like the Governor and his ministers, but to advocate what they then thought, and what now proves to be, the right and the true ?

The intelligence fiom Auckland reaches to the 12th instant.' A 'number of motions had been brought forward by Dr, Feutherston and Mr. Fox—the principal of which, that the House should take into consideration the present state of the Country, was to come under discussion on the 19th. Mr. McLean has resigned the office of Amative' Secretary, retaining that of Chief Land Purchase Commissioner. The Waikato’s reply to the Governor’s ultimatum had reached Auckland. Their meeting was attended by 2;600 people. They will remain quiet, intending no disrespect to the Queen’s flag, but respecting their, own, —until the Governor attacks them. When Wi Kingi receives compensation for his losses through the soldiers, it will be time to expect compensation from him.. This is a deliberate aud cool defiance. . : ' The Government having been informed of a traffic with theJVatives in gunpowder and other IFariike stores, offers a /Reward of <£3oo for such information as may lead to the conviction of-offenders. : : -

j Tlie Taranaki papers up to the 22nd inst., contain no additional native news. Mr. Justice Johnston has been appointed to settle the proprietary rights of the natives’ lands at Waitara. John Rogan, Esq., to mark off the boundaries. Capt. ‘Atkinson, of the Taranaki Volunteers has been elected to the General Assembly for the Grey and Bell District without opposition;

Some of the passengers by the Wonga Wonga, which left Taranaki on Saturday afternoon, report that on that day Mr. Eogan beginning the survey at Waitara was driven off the land by the natives; and that Ibaia, our so long faithful adherent had joined the King party.

WELLINGTON. - (From our own Correspondent.)

- ; June 24th, 1861. I had no chit chat to give you last week, and must now make up for it, otherwise my pay will be stopped. We were aroused from our slumbers on Friday morning by the firing of the Storm Bird’s big gun, an anxiously looked for arrival—she being so much behind her time, coupled with cruel and : wicked rumours of soldiers being shot by natives at Napier, the originators of which richly deserve their three dozen. .

Well, now for Auckland news. ... The Waikatos will not accept our. terms* and are determined to sport the King flag in defiance; in plain terms state, —let us alone, and we shall not meddle with you; but if you attempt to puli, our banner down, we are for war to the knife; and have also given a significant hint that simultaneous movements will take place all over the northern island. .To be candid, although not an alarmist., the news looks exceedingly ill, The 'Governor has declared that he is not prepared to fight at present, and that no hostilities shall take’ place until the spring, as lie expects large reinforcements. Troops.are. daily expected from home and Tasmania, also two regiments from the Cape ; this is correct., The Governor received the deputation with our Council’s petition for troops for our province very coolly, saying, that General Cameron came out solely to assert the Queen’s supremacy, and to put down the King movement, and not to protect outsettlers’ cattle and sheep; and if they were afraid, protection would be afforded them in the towns —so that as far as lie was concerned the herds might be left to „ the tender mercies of the Afaories. Tin's is a- pretty .specimen of the extent of spite the Stafford ministry exhibits towards the Wellington province. Several Native letters have been received through the Post office by. the Maories at Otaki and elsewhere, which were posted at Auckland ; they are got up in first-rate official style, and headed “ On his Majesty's servicethis is cheek with a vengeance. Napier is to have 100 more troops, and the force at IFanganui is to be augmented to 400; I susp.ect you have an arrival by this time. General Cameron may be.expected, here any day on a tour of inspection ; he first visits Napier ea route to this, and gives a call at JFangamii. This is a most judicious step, as he will then be able to form a correct judgment. Zet the military authorities look out for squalls* as he is a taster, and has brought parties who least expected it up to the scratch. No blue serge shirts with him-; — nothing short of full fig and pipeclay. The Wellington militia are to be ordered out next month, and it is said no substitutes are to be allowed.'

Our members had a long and stormy passage up by the Bird, and their arrival at Auckland was hailed with delight; the Assembly was dull and inanimate without them. The first night they made their appearance the house was crowded, and what a revolution—your member, Mr. Fox, received great applause from the gallery. Jollie moved the address, to the Governor’s speech, and made a sad mess of it; he was well primed, but lost his thread ; it was an unmeaning speech, artfl most damaging to the ministry. Fox happily pitched into him well, and hit hard ; afterwards Fitz walked into his affections in right good earnest. . I have seen a gentleman who lias returned from Auckland, and I was gratified to learn the admitted fact there, that the three F. 9 were decidedly the ablest men in the house, and their talents were held in high esteem. Munro, as Speaker, presents rather a graceful appearance; although apparently a little foppish, with a dash of conceit, still 1 think he is a clever possessed of a good deal of Scotch pride. Carleton is now Chairman of Committees; with all his peculiarities, he is vi ell up to his work. Z'he Commissariat at Auckland have received an

importation of some. 40 to 5,0 butchers and bakefs'; all4t)Mfac4t- % cease^^^^e^montjis; they are to purchase ’their, flour and bake it—also buy cattle, and slaughter them;' This, 1 hear, is *a new scheme, introduced by the Duke of Cambridge, and lias beelfiadopted at Chatham, &c. Beef and'mutton at Auckland, 3d to 9d. Mr, IV. JV. Taylor has chartered the Thames City, for proceed to Auckland with stock. /Smith’Co.,-and Tully, have engaged the Coleman < steamers for several trips—price transpired. A new writ lias arrived at Napier in consequence of Wtark’s resignation. The very amiable John. -Tucker; is ,to be the new member. , The Returning was remarkably active in putting the; .writ in force, by getting out a supplement to.,the Hawke’s Bay Herald■ and issuing a proclamation. In order that no delay mightintake ; place, Mr. Fox moved that a new'3yr& should be issued for Wanganui,. to prevent£^.ays,aad ; settle ;the question ; of r..iilegaltty T 'whiiikvhase <eome do\yn, I hope the Returning Officer will exercise the same diligence that has- -.been' done at -Napier, as the session is advancing; to see it advertised in .ne.xt Thursday's Chronicle. The feeling here is;, .that, von shbukDnot elect Mr. Harrison again. You ought to' have some representative, of more decided/, political character ; but of course /the electors are best able to judge.; It is to-.them-that Mr. Harrison has shown the greatest want of courtesy ; one vote will be of the greatest value in the Assembly at this crisis. . A grand project has been started at Auckland,- —namely, the formation of a -new Bank, to be called the “Bank of New Zealand,” which has met with eminen <£2oo;> 000 has been already subscribed'in Auckland ; one baker there alone put his fiaine down for <£10,000; I wonder if Andrew Duncan will show the same pluck. The Required capital is <£;>oo,Qoo, in *£lo shares; half down, the other half to be paid up if-required at long dates in convenient payments. The Provisional Trustees coriiprise parties of all shades of politics, including Stafford, Weld; and the leading opposition members. The wealthiest and most respectable leading Auckland merchants have come down handsomely. Our city member, Captain Rhodes, has taken 1000 shares. .The U. B. A. inspector (Raymond), who is sore dismayed, will be here in three months to reside permanently?;' it will play old gooseberry with this establishment. /That an exposure the Appendix to the'Prospectus gives of the gains of the Gnion Bank, which last year, after paying all ekpences --and; losses, cleared nearly <£70,000. I shall |quote it to show your readers. ’ The- Prospectus will be published in next Tuesday’s Independent —it, was received too late for publication. “ A reference to the last Bank returns published in the Government/ Gazette of 31st May last, will show that one English -Banking Establishment in New Zealand had, on 31st March 1861, Deposits belonging to the colonists amounting to 619,352/ 8s 6d, together with a circulation of Notes amounting to 105,795 Z, making a total debt to the public of 725,14778 s 6d, while the coin and gold held against this large surii amounted only to 161,317/ 12s, showing that a,, large amount of New Zealand Deposits are' ’ made use of by that Bank out of New Zealand; not only is a large profit derived from this source, but the same Bauk discounts for, atid advances to the public 641,208/ 11s Id, upon which an average rate of interest, say '9 per cent., is obtained.”

At the Criminal Court ‘Jackson got off through a merciful jury. He. applied personally and by letter to the Judge for compensation because he could not get work, when the Government had offered to employ him. For contempt of court his Honor; gave him; ten days. The quibble' the 'Ziverpool Insurance Company regarding, 'Taylor, Watt, and Co.’s insurance, has caused some excitement among the merchants lvere. They think it exceedingly unjust to bring forward the question of average, which expressed in the policy. It lias taken aback some of our known ones, down at the head of the Bay. I suspect our Chamber of Commerce will take up the question. I hear that the . Northern have now greatly reduced their rates; the premiums charged by both offices are- far too high ; a good many thousand pounds are annually netted here for fire insurance 3 alone.

The Hon. «/ohn Johnston goes to Auckland by the Lord Worgley; he ‘ought to have gone earlier. Mr. J. 0. • Crawford prefers staying here, as his Militia billet, whjchJStafford gave him, pays better. -