EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 340, 23 April 1863, Page 3

EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

Dates to the Bth.February.

Halifax, February 21.—'1 lie steamer Canada, from .Liverpool, the 7tli,' via Queenstown the Bth, has arrived. Her dates are one week later. She brings 759 Lancashire operatives sent out by the Missionary Committee.

The Polish insurrection was spreading. WenzroAv had been taken by the Russians, after a sanguinary battle. The Queen’s speech contains very little of importance, except the folloAving.: Her Majesty has abstained from taking any steps in view of the cessation of <. onfiict between the contending . parties in the North American States, because it lias not as yet seemed to her that any overtures could be attended with a probability .of success. Her Majesty lias viewed with the , deepest concern the desolating warfare which still rages in those regions, and she has witnessed with heartfelt grief the severe distrees and suffering which the war has inflicted on a large class of her subjects, but which has been borne by them with the great fortitude and exemplary -resignation. It is some consolation to her Majesty to be led to hope that, this sufferieg and distress is; rather diminishing than increasing, and that some renewal of employment is beginning to take place. \ .In the House of Lords the question being an address in reply to the Queen’s speech, the Earl of Derby bad no objection to make to.the course of-the Government, but regretted they liad not joined with France in an- attempt, bow even hopeless, to effect an armistice and a cessation of hostilities which would lead the two parties to reflect on the. miseries and hopelessness of -the war in which they are engaged. : Army of the Potomac, HeydquarTers, Feb. 16th —Expeditions sent for the purpose of breaking up the contraband trade between rebels in Maryland and the South and to,pre\ r ent the execution of the Conscript Act in the comities on the; Neck, oixlered to take place on the 14th to the 17th, liad returned successful, bringing a number of horses and mqles, and a large quantity of provisions seised. A large number of contrabands returned with-the expedition. Several vessels, used in carrying supplies across the Potomac were also seized.and destroyed. Richmond papers of the 14th contain the following :—A bill .authorising the impressment of slaves and property- for the'use of the army passed the Confederate Congress; and resolutions were adopted instructing the Committee on Judiciary to report a bill providing for the sale of all negroes taken in arms against the Confederacy, the proceeds. to be divided among the captors' February 19th.—The Richmond. Enquirer, of yesterday, lias a telegram dated Charleston-'and Savannah. He says the movements of the enemy's (Federal) fleets indicated an early attack on one or both cities. The troops and people are said to be calm and confident. s

The Enquirer, in its lender, says there have been no - intentions, or pretence of to mediate bn the part of Trance. -The-South wants no mediation While hostilities go on.' The Richmond Dispatch says the North is fighting as much for self-protection as for--Southern subjugation, and that the time is past when the National Government sought the extinguishment of the South, and the further prosecution 'of the Avar is to save the North from the avalanche of ruin Avhich the success of the South must precipitate- on it. ' •

We are glad to learn that Mr. E Layard, the Curator of the South African Museum, Cape Town-, and late Private Secretai-y to Sir George Cfrey, is •appointed Arbitrator to the Mixed British Court of Commission. The office is worth LB.OO a-vear, and the duties are so slight that Mr. Layard will be able to devote .his time and attention to die •Museum anil other Avorks in Avliich he takes so -much interest. — London, “ IVaidman'' ■ ,

TARANAKI. 'Military Movements —We Reported in our last the starting of a force to occupy the Tataraimaka block from St. Patrick’s redoubt on "Wilkinson’s farm. I’he force consisted of 200 men of the 57th, under Colonel Warre, C. 8., Capt.. Woodall, Limits. Brutton, Thompson, Tragett, Cox, Waller, Lieut, and A.d jt. Clarke, and Asst-Surgeon Hope ; also 100 Royal Artillery as a mounted corps, with two'guns, under Uapt. Mercer, E.A. and Lieuts. llait and Pickard, 11. A., together with 6 of the Royal Engineers, under Major Mould, R.E. 11 is Excellency the Governor, Lieufc.-General Cameron, C. 8., and Staff, the lion Mr. Domett, Colonial Secretary, the lion. Mr. Bell, Native Minister, and Mr. Parris, Asst. Native Secretary, and suite, arrived from town at the redoubt at 9.30, and soon after their arrival the force moved southwards ; the detachment of the 70th, uudel* Major Mnlock, from Mace’s farm, occupying the redoubt vacated by the 57th ; the 70th. under Capt. Ralston, taking the place of Major Mulock’s detachment at .'face’s farm A long train of commissariat carts', with the ’baggage and military stores, &c., in • charge of Asst.-Commissary General Maule and Captain Travels, L.T.C., impeded the progress of the troops, and it was' -after a tedious - march of several Fours that the force reached the Timavu river, the -northern boundary of the Tataraimaka block, no natives having been seen on the line of march. The troops were halted; and encamped on McDonald’s farm, where a well- extended camp 'wits' formed ; the Governor, the General, and ’suite, then proceeded to the extremity of the block, where Hoani, whose kainga”pis : at the “ gate”'.over the Katikai’a, the southern boundary of the block, Avith a few- of' his people, welcomed the Governor with the usual “ Haere mai, haeri mai,” and speeches These people were in fighting costume, but bad white flags flying ; and Ave hear that Hoani told his Excellency to “ sit on liis land” .(Tataraimaka). It was decided, after choosing several-’sites, to bit LI a redoubt on Bayly’s fami, near the edge of the cliff overhanging the road near the Katikara river, and •commanding the surrounding country. Tlie, troops have been employed, .-as the weather permitted, duriug the AA r eek on this defence, Avliich we hear is rapidly nearing' :copipletion ; '

The General .lias not returned from Tataraimaka, but liis Excellency, Mr. Domett, and Mr. Bell .returned on Monday, and liis Excellency .has since remained in town. We hear lie has been detained by the non-arrival of the mail steamer. ...

The Natives.—The Foutliern natives are bringing- up large quantities of cattle ond produce. , One drove,,sold, this week fetched about £ 350. ; But they do . not AA'isli to take back all their Avealth in cash ; we are informed that El was offered this Aveek in toAvn for a pound of ■gunpowder by a Taranaki native. He wished to invest <£'so in the same article, for what-purpose it was to be used Redid not state.

AYe hear that ILori te Kaioroto, who came up Avitli the party ofMVanganui natives, and Avlio-Avas coming in by invitation to see the Governor, has not yet come, the reason of it being that '-he-is prevented from doing so by the Taranaki and other natives.

.• During the week-several rumours have' been circulated in town respecting ’the conduct of the Southern natives .since l the occupation of Tataraimaka. As Ave have no means of getting at the truth of any' of these, w.e Avill only mention one. or' tAvo which Ave believe to have some foundation. It is said that Hoani’s proceedings on Saturday last lias been disapproved by the iwi (tribe), and that in con-, sequence he lias been summoned before a runanga and ordered to hold no com-. munication Avith the troops. We also hear that the occupation of Tataraimak'a. has been made Avithout any consent on the part of the natives ; and as it is said no communication of any kind has been, had, it may be concluded that the silence of the natives is ominous. Vv r e have heard from natives in ioA\m, that they are preparing to resist' not only the occupation ot Tataraimaka but also of Waireka, and that the natCes from the south are gathering in .'Taranaki. We have also

been told chat a letter lias been received from a native''down the coast, telling -tins friendly natives to be tupato (on their guard). .We give these statements as we hear them, for Avhat they are worth, and we do not vouch for the truth of them.

An armed party of natives remain on guard at the gate, and no European is alloAved tp go beyond Tataraimaka. Parenga Iviugi was absent when the troops occupied the block, and Ave hear lie avus very much excited avlioii he heard that Tataraimaka avus in the hands of the soldiers.

We have l-eceived the folloAving from a native in constant communication' Avith the South. We have only; his word for its being true, and Ave hope that pare of it, at least may prove false. The ‘ terms 1 (not of peace, as that already exists, t hut of ; reconciliation, avc suppose) offered by the Government tn the Taranaki tribe are these

“ 1, That” Wait ara shall be adjudicated. : “ 2. That their offences shall be Avipotl out. fKo m/a haru ka viurua). . “ 3 That the Government will not g > upon-(take) any Maori land.”

• “.The words of Mi*. Bell were, these., j Wlieu he. and the Governor heard that the road to Waireka Avas they went and .occupied that.place ; Avhen they saw that Tataraimaka was closed, again: ,fc them,..they Avent doAvn and, occupied .that place : they are now living there.quietly,, anil if any man comes to interfere with them they shall look to. it.’ But Taranaki made no answer.'’ - , .

We are informed that the Governor has received a letter from the Southern chiefs but do not know the purport ot it. A reply from his Excellency left town at 2 p.m. yesterday (Friday). Taranaki Races, 1863.—We have only space to report that on the First Day the Produce St kes (£25), were won by Alice Grey ; the Ladies Purse ( £'2o ), by MTR ; and the Hack Stakes, for a saddle and bridle, by a horse owned by It. Street. On the Second day the Innkeepers’ Plate (£2O), was won by MTR ; and the Consolation Stakes (£ls) by Rarey. ‘ Why-not the Wanganui horse injured his leg on Sunday last and did not run on Monday, but notwithstanding his lameness, made good second for the Innkeepers’ Plate on Tuesday. His owner sold him by auction at the conclusion of the races, when he was knocked down for £43. The Races for the Garrison Plate, owing to the absence of the troops, did not come off.

Colonial Defence Force. —The following regulations relating to the pay of the Non-Com. Officers and Privates of the Colonial Defence Force, and other matters connected therewith, are published for general information :—The men will be enlisted for two years. The rates of pay will be—Sergt.-Major, 10s., Sergt., 7s. Gd., Corporals, 6s. 6d., Trumpeter, 6s. 6d., Privates, 6s. per diem. The men will find their own rations, and no extra allowance will be made for forage for horses. They will provide their own horses, but if any private is unable to do so, horses will be provided by Government and a snm of £25 for each horse will be stopped out of the pay of the private for whom it is supplied. The Force, or any portion thereof,, will he liable to be moved to any part of the colony where their services may be required. The non-com-missioned officers and privates will be sworn in as constables. Arms, appointments, and uniforms will be furnished to the non com. officers, and privates, further rules and regulations will be published hereafter. The portion of the force now to be raised in the province of Taranaki will be and continue on active service until further orders. M. G. Nixon, Lieut.-001. T aranaki, 7th April, 1863.

We are informed that the Commissariat estimate at present far. keeping a horse on dry food is 4s. 9d. a day. This would leave Is 3d. for eaefi man to keep himself and enjoy life* upon. The case of those who have not a horse of their own and who out of this daily Is. 3d. have to refund the £25 will probably need further consideration.

The ‘further rules and regulations ’ promised hereafter are looked forward to with considerable interest,

We have not heard of any. enlistment as yet.

WAIBA.

Under date March 31st, our own correspondent writes no additional facts, but only reflections on the state of affairs in the Waikato, where the natives declare thes will have neither English law nor British magistrates, nor schools, nor any of those costly institutions which the Government designed for the elevation of their race. They evidently attribute the decay of their race to their partial adoption of the habits of civilised men, and seek a remedy by isolating themselves, and declining to have anything to do with our laws and government. We have another letter from Waipa, date April Ist, which informs us that Aporo and Hone Ropiha were the leaders of the Ngatimaniopoto who came from Hangataki to Te Awamutu ; and that Wi King of Taranaki, and Re.wi lyl the party from Kihikihi. William Thompson held a runanga with Rewi on the Ist of April, at which he requested him to leave in his hands all future proceedings in inference to Mr. Gorst, to give up the press, and to pay for damages. Rewi agreed to the two former, but not to the latter. William Thompson said, after his talk with Rewi, that Rewi was “ very hard.” Thompson went to Mr. Gorst, and behaved in a friendly way, to all appearance, but recommended Mr. Gorst to remove quietly, as he could not tell, or hold hims_elf aQr countable for what Rewi and Ngatimaniopoto might do. Our correspondent further intimates that wliaf tho- natives mean by “ giving up the press,” is that they are content to return, ft, provided it is sent from the Waikato, ty, Auckland. “ Affaire, therefore, are not very bright,” he adds, and he is one. of the best informed Europeans in the. district.

Mr. Gorst has since, come to Auckland. Whether he will return will, doubtless, be decided by thp Governor’s reply to Rewi’s letter.— Southern Cross, -April; fl.