THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, March 19, 1863.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 335, 19 March 1863, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, March 19, 1863.

Is tlie recommendation of. the late Mi nistry in regard to the course of procedui’e at Taranaki at last to be followed? The arrhal of Sir Geo. Grey there on the 4th inst., together with Lieut.-General Cameron, may well excite the hope that the time is now considered to have arrived for that recommendation to be acted on. Shortly after the arrival of the Governor the late Ministiy laid before him a Memorandum describing the state of the natives, their opinion of tlie course that should be pursued towards them, and more especially directing his attention to the extraordinary position of Taranaki. After having, in a . few comprehensive expressions, described the state of that Province, the Memorandum mentions three lilies of action, any of which might be taken. 1. “ Matters may remain as they are ;” in that case “the restoration of the settlement . . . . . . would be hopeless.” 2. “It may be abandoned altogether—a suggestion” not to be “fora moment entertained.” 2. “Vigorous measures may be taken to re-establish our position. And this appears to Ministers the true policy. If there must be a war, it is better far that it should be at Taranaki than elsewhere. For whatever mischief could be inflicted on British settlements by a state of war has been done there. The penalties, of war have been already paid. Besides this, the case of the Ngatiruanui and Taranaki natives is the one which presents the fewest grounds of sympathy with other natives. They engaged in the quarrel without provocation, and were guilty of gross outrages. Their present attitude is • one of such open hostility, as in the eyes of well affected natives themselves would not merely justify, but . demand on our part active measures against them, and retribution for the wrongs done. Added to this, ii operations were carried on with a view to open up and establish military communication by roads between Taranaki and Wanganui, such operations would be attended with some facilities and in the end with patent advantages. Ministers are of opinion (so far as they can presume to offer an opinion involving

military considerations), that firm and decisive actiou should take place in this direction. They believe the effect would be in no long time to bring the JS’gatiruanuis and Taranakis into submission. The settlement of Taranaki might then, in the end, be re-established on a safer basis, and enabled to recover and extend itself. The time ; . and manner of commencing such operations would require distinct consideration. The first obj ect appears to be to win back the allegiance .of the bulk of the native people, and to place the settlements in an effective position of ’defence? There appeai’s to 'Ministers no inconsistency in dealing with the main body of the natives, the Waikatos in particular, 'with a. gen tie and. even, friendly hand, and endeavouring by . all legitimate means to recall and attach them, to us ; and at the same time assuming a stern and decisive attitude towards the Hgatiruanuis and Taranakis, with' a view to compel from them material guarantees for their future good behaviour.”

It will be admitted that the . advice, given- by Ministers, as to conciliating the Waibatos, has been faithfully followed. The opinions of his Ministry so far had coincided with those .of Ms Excellency. It will now be. seen whether he intends, to follow their counsel in the other direction. He has already several times mentioned to the natives his intention to' occupy Tataraimaka. This step he is no doubt now a ! out to take-—if it is not already‘taken when we write. : ■ The positioii of Taranaki is so humiliating that to allow it to. continue another winter in its present circumstances would be galling in the extreme to. every generous British mind. But we are afraid that nothing more will be done this yean The summer is now past; wet weather may soon be -expected ; the swamps now dry will soon be impassable; . There has been no movement of troops towards Taranaki to justify the expectation of military operations towards the south. There is therefore no reason to hope that any measures will yet be-taken; “ to. compel from them material guarantees.” Another winter will be allowed to pass. And then, will the day of retribution have come, or will the hopelessness of their position have induced these turbulent natives to- return to the* parental arms of the Governor ? and’ will they be leceived without either material or moral guarantees for their future good behaviour'? Sir Geo. Grey will no doubt bear in mind that he is: the Governor of these natives as well as their- “father ;” and that the obligations oelbngi'ng to- the first office overrule, in a case of rebellion and outrage like theirs, theprerogatives of the second,. It is true there is still time before winter to. strike a decided blow between this and Taranaki, but “all previous experience venders this in the highest degree improbable, unless the despatches received by last mail (possibly in answer to the Memorial sent by the Genei’al Assembly) urge the Governor to such a step., A few weeks will decide the point.'