LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 270, 28 November 1861, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

The. Militia. . The change in this force, which Ave -.mentioned-some weeks ago, as likely place, lias now been realised. Orders have been received, that the pay of the Compa-ny-enrolled for active service is to cease ; the • only office now paid is that of Adjutant, to which Major Durie has been appointed. That gentleman also acts as Paymaster. Major Cooper has consequently ceased to command in the district. This''' BisU’op •Or New’ : Zealand. Bishop SgfWyn was-, expected here last Saturday but - did n&t arrive. Information was received yestnatives who had come from the.north,. ; that‘ he.had been stopped at Whareroa’ place 4o .miles north from this, by the "Ngatiruanui-, and -obliged to retrace his steps to New Plymouth. His popularity does not seem to - have- revived, there, if it is to be estimated - by-the number of his congregation when he officiated’ there; a few Sundays ago. There were two present.' ' Our' ' Minerals. We understand that Mr. J. C. Crauford. of Wellington has kindly undertaken, at the. request of the Superintendent, tp make a Geological Survey of this neighbourhood and the country up the river, and may shortly h.c. expected here on this exclusion.

s '' MAJOR COOPER’S DISMISSAL.

Vi Some of; Major:. Copper’s friends called a public meeting yesterday, ■to take .into consideration the manner in whicli’ he had- Been' deprived of hjs'command of the Militia force here. ■ The. meeting was to be held at one o’clock, biit hothirig'Aviis ■dbii'e'- till a : quarter past two, in ephsequeu'ce- of.vAlr. Harrison; M.H.R., its principal promoter as we were told, who was expected-tp take the chair, being waited for. Thafgehtlemah hot making his appearance, Mr.. NiXoiij' Mr. Geo. Roberts, and Mr. W. Paterson were successively voted into the chair, but declined. Mr. E. T. Woon was then proposed, and took'the chair.

Having read the placard calling the meeting, Mr,, Wpoii, at the suggestion of Mr. H. B. Roberts," asked Major Durie for the communication he had received regarding the change in • the Militia appointments, which that gentleman handed towards the chairman, but it was .intercepted.-by .Major Cooper, who had just eri^ed,.and-who thought it would be better 'Hidt it sliohld not be read. He said he would father himself explain how matters stood. Preof a-letter which came by impost, requesting him to resign his ajippint-,, ment, he had written a letter, which was dated l.Sfh Noyly intimating . Ki§ resignation of the if it were true, as reported, that the' 3 Goyekidr. had-hande'd Over the control of :£tbe Militia; force to his /Ministry. He had received and held his appointment from the Go.yerij I pr>;'' v appointed by. the Queen, and '’\yhb' t ' therefore'.' lie could always be certain •vvouM -be a gentleman ; but he could not keep ibis . office under the rule of any Ministry, and especially he would have no connexion with Mr. Pox, who.- it was well known would systematically suppress the truth, add to, diminish r ffoih,'and alter facts, when it suited his political Jeaiiings—as,-for instance, he had done in the, 'Ca|s«of the Rev. /Mr, Duncan and Sir George (rfey. himself. He (Major Cooper) had given up it large, to’accept a small income, when he eaVhe-hefe,’ and he did so for the sake of the couhtry.; but;he would not sacrifice his political ; in,dependence.,; He had accepted the appointbmeVt, understanding that he would have liberty "tO' Vote' or represent any constituency in the country ; blit when he found that Government iOlfiebrs were, iiofeto take parkin politics, he prerfjfkfredj.seq4ingiin his resignation. He was not ashamed of anything he had done since he came to this place. ' There had been an inquiry in relation to a which Mr. Churton had brought against him. Evidence of natives not on oath had beem taken by Mr. Halse in that affair which was false’; blit he had received a 'reprOof from"the Governor oil"account of it, whi<&jhad’dispoSed of’ the case finally.. .After;" rwg,^.s.MK : Pox brought it before the General "Assembly, arid now lie had laid it before a new ' Governor—so that there had been three judges *oa ojie/ca'se.': r.'lt 'was-the greatest injustice to .revive a cy.se already disposed of.;, Last week Tip received a latter referring again to that “cake,'and'advising him to send in-his resignation, as the Governor considered it would not he for the benefit of the public service that he .sh.biildfeinhihin.his position, He had received .another letter blaming him for having .paid tho militia since their re-enrol-ment; Ine Militia had been discharged and agai a enrolled under the new act, andhehad full power to' call out a company on active service to whom pay should he given. ■ . He did so not only because sDme’of the men needed the money;. RutMso,because, considering that the late Gov-, would iu power, as a matter’ of course/Jhe supremacy of the Queen would be maintained, the honour of England, and English. IS#- upheld, roads made, - thq Taranaki settlers .©Jjppensatied and .their assailants punished, and ends could be attained without’ wyr,‘ ©very ipan should be ready-for action. “He bmi^Ved'tliat the militia and volunteers, here were among " the most efficient in the island. Major .Cooper read two letters regardinffhis resignation dated 15th. and 25th. Nov. , infi’ tenor of -which corresponds with these remarks. " • ' The gallant Major having retired, Mr v Hackett proposed -that three cheers should;.]?e gjve%. him j meeting hbYever that pitbh of ‘ inthu?:aßm; / .tlie : following motion •

Bfeut7 Jovvett; and'nnanimously. carried:- . That a Memorial at be fonvarde 1 to his.Excellency Sir Geo. Gfey,;fequestiug_hini to retain Major. Copiier ahd Siaff in .office ahWanga nui, so long as-it is found uieces’sary ' fh'atvthe services of ..militia aridvolunteer*- forefes are re- • quired to bs in for. the protection ,of •the di3tri&ts of WangaiinivTurakinaj-’and Rangitiki. ." L.V-'

A Committee was then’ appointed to carry this motion into effect.