THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, May 28, 1863.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 345, 28 May 1863, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. " Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, May 28, 1863.

It is urifortunately,’ a matter of ordinary j; occurreiiG§ - for its receive European news in advance of the mail. “ Quick as the post V , used to* i be a significant proverb, but latterly it lutely meaningless. Yesterday’s overland brings us London dates to the 2nd April, received at Wellington by the Ladybird on Saturday from Otago. The Lord Ashley is still waiting the mail’s arrival, andwould reach Wellington yesterday at latest. The Storm Bird may bring it, on to-day. '. It is. generally thought, however, -that the mail will not reach .Otago -before’: the Ashley in which case we do riot know when to expect it. The A ortham made her appeai’ance punetiially- on her due date a few hours after hhe Aldinga had sailed—her date of departure being- actually s .fixed, during every month in- the year, a day before the mail is due in Melbourne ! The City of Hobart left a few days "after the Aldinya, hxzt she has not been paid anything for carrying the mail on former similar occasions, she left it beliiud.- We cannot be surprised at tbis, so far as that vessel is concerned. We can easily imagine her dislike' to- dq. gratuitously that .for. which ; her onyal is so heavily subsidired ;;'but s we I? do wbuder at the Melbourne authorities not obliging her to* carry if. Surely there must be a point atPwhieh ifhbfldletaiieei by the Govern-ment,-of such fantastic tricks as are played with the;New"Zealaild mail service will culminate ' '. The news is om the whole of a- quiet character. The Americans are a little but, tinder the irritating circumstances, not more so than we might expect. The building, in English' dockyat;ds, of steamers for the use of the Confederates, is the wound which Jls constantly -breaking out afresh. This time it is caused by the Alabama’s companion, the Florida , having captured a ship bound to New York with a China cargo worth £‘300,000. The President bad declared that var with England was not impossible, pbxt waf'it.Mudesm’tble. decisive engagement had taken place. There had been some small successes, on both sides, for in this gigantic war the cutting to pieces or capture of three of the Federal regiments of infantry is comparatively a slight occurrence. A farce of 5000 negroes is in trainings tO;;be commanded by white officers, and led southward with a view to instigating a rising in the slave states. Everywhere the war ’ feeling is as strong as ever,. and there seems to be no likelihood of the struggle coming to an immediate end.-Congress, lias given President Lincoln everything he asks for—letters of .marque, suspension 1 ; of habeas corpus, and a conscription Vetubracing all between and The prospects of a recognition of the South by France are ; w-liile, in the British Parliament, non-intervention lias been stoutly maintained; by Earl Russell as the duty of his own Government. The Prince of Wales was married on the 10th March. The rejoicings were never, before approached in magnificence. Sevei’al deatlis occurred in London streets from suffocation, frc. The Queen has dbsired to Iprovide for the families who have thus been deprived of support. Parliamentary proceedings have been devoid of intei-est. Loi*d Palmerston is prepared to dissolve £if necessary. It is not thought that there will be any occasion for it. No attempt will be made to defea t the Government before Easter, if then, i- a J : J a There have been riots by the unem,ployed'- iri| tlib north; the grounds of complaint seem to have been very trivial —a reduction in ' the allowance to adult scholars, and the'substitution of relief tickets for mosey. The ri'ofc was commenced at; Staley bridge and spread to Asliton ; the; 'cavalry; had to. be called OUt. - i • : -- A - . : Genei’al Cameron’s successor Is not yet known. The New Zealand command has fairly gone a-begging.; It was offered successively to Generals Wood (Malta), Rowland Smyth, Booke Taylor (Aldershott), and Sutton (Shorricliffe),] and declined by all four. It was then offered to General Dupuis, 5 who was‘abroad ; meanwhile, as there was a delay in his answer, it ‘was offered to 1 arid accepted by Sir. R. Dacres. It never rains but it pours..; General. Dupuis; also sent an acceptance by telegraph, and. himself posted .to .London, where; he was when the mail left. We pi'csume the command

wiir tlieir reypectiv'e qualffi'cations'we have, not yet heard. i r■ v_ The February wool sales opened well, but prices declined, after a few nights ; about 1. 15,000 . bales were withdrawn. r J he. Maria sailed for Wellington on the 4th March,, and the steamer Auckland would leave w on the 10th April, calling at the Cape, Melbourne and Sydney, eu l’oute.forjtbis,colony. .......... Prince Alfred is fast getting well, and has returned to England. Prince Wil-, liam of Penmark has been proclaimed King of Greece, and the Polish insurfec tion is virtually ended. It made considerable headway, and defeated the Pus sian troops on three occasions, capturing at one swoop 6000 stand of arms, ot which the Poles were much in need. Laugiewicz was ; proclaimed Military Dictator, with assent of the secret provisional government. Everywhere his Dictatorship was hailed with enthusiasm; he carried everything before him all the while he used his undisciplined and halfarmed forces in guerilla attacks, but the moment lie.gave battle on the open plain he was defeated. He has been arrested by the Austrians,; but will not be surrendered to the Russians. The secret committee; at Warsaw has again become a provisional government, but the last telegram is -that the revolution, though not wholly extinguished, is virtually at an end. The Provincial Council did not close on Friday, having to omit sitting on Thursday with a view to enable the committees to report. There have been only two items of special interest to ! this district. The amended Town Board bill was withdrawn on Tuesday, it being found impossible to get it into committee without raising such a host of amendments as would, if adopted, render the bill acceptable to no one ; the general feeling of such of the members as had examined the bill was in fayour pf its withdravyal, and it was accordingly. ;.Tlie other item of interest tefus was'tlie adoption of tlie following resolution, moved by Mr; Watt,- —“ Tliat in the opinion - ofthis Council his Honor the. Superintendent be authorised to take such steps in the Supreme Court or General'Assemblv, as may lead either to the cancellation of the Grant referred to in the Petition of the inhabitants of Wanganui, or the ap-plication'of-said ;land to the purposes of general education within the., district of Wanganuij on non-sectarian principles, or in conformity;with such scheme as the Supreme Court.or.General Assembly, may direet.” „ No further news from Taranaki had reached Wellington ; it will be seen, however, from the following letter published at Otago, that the Governor has taken possession pf the land between the Omata' and Tataraimaka blocks. We are told it was conceded to him by the native owners. It certainly does not say much for the communicativeness of the present Government,,- when it, allows; such important news as this to reach us in so roundabout u- ,, r K New Plymouth, : ' - i ; f ; “10th May, 1863. “ Sjr,—-The Government has determined to take possession' of the block of land between Omata arid Tataraimaka in this province;' upon which the late nnirders were; committed, in order that a settlement may be placed thereon of perSOnS able to protect themselves. “ The intention ; is to give each settler fifty acres of land, with, one* acre at the site of the villages, on the condition that they shall hold the land ori a system of iriilitafy tenrire.. ' : 1 ' “ Much of the land to be allotted is of a very fine , quality, corresponding land at Tataraimaka,' which- is further from the town of New Plymouth, having been bought by settlers before-the war at from «£Ato i:lo'per acre. ' “. It lias occurred, to the Government that there;; might be many active young men at Otago qualified to form such a settlement, who- would be willing to become settlers ou the ■ above Conditions of military tenure and free grrnts of land. “ Your Honor would oblige me by giving me' yoiir opinion on this point by return of post, tlie object being to place the men on the laud with the least possible delay. “ Further particulars will be sent next mail. 1 will only add now that Government will undertake to have a-stockade or stockades built for them, and find them giiiis, ammunition, and with necessary rations.

. ;;... i tt j ] iave tbe honor to be, sir, “ Your most obedient servant, “ Alfred Domett. « His, Honor ; the Superintendent of Otago.” The ) Storm Bird arrived in Wellington on Monday morning from Napier. All quiet there. . News had reached there that Major Ryan (in command at Otago) liad been directed by the last (May) mail to proceed ,to Galle, and telegraph to Bombay for one European and two Sikh regiments.' The 18th '.Royal ' Irish and the 2nd battalion of the 20th being also under orders for New Zealand, it is expected that, there .will thus, be five.additional regiments in the colony within the next few months. This, news is authentic. The New Zealander gives it semiofficially. s Thet Qorio jdsp arrived in Wellington on; Monday morning. No news ot the mail.

. x: xx:;.. LOCAL INTELLIGENCE* ' - tTf ■< p- • ' • •- ~ - RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT r ' Wanganui. May 14. J. Newport v. J. Dunleavy. Debt. Dismissed, plain tiff not appearing. ; • 16. T. W. Gudgeon r. E. Bond, Debt. Judgment confessed for 157554 d, costs Gs. ■ 18. F. Baldwin v. Jas. Barlow. Debt. Settled out of court. 19, D. Atkinson v. F. H. Watts. Debt. Judgment by default 2/, costs 7s. Before D. S. Durie, Esq,, R.M., and T. Harper, T. Waters, H. cle C.' Martelli, J. Nixon, J. Handley, T. B. Taylor, P. Imlay, 11. Smith, and J. D. Hewett, Esqrs., J.Ps. 21. Regina by J. Woods v. J. Dunleavy, Assault. J. Woods, a; private in H.M. 57th regt., was at Dunleavy’s on April Bth, between 3 and 4 pan ; Dunleavy, Danderson, and another man, were present; I asked Danderson and Bull to have a glass of ale with me ; paid Is fid. Bull and Danderson went out, and I had a glass of brandy for which I put down a half-crown, which Dunleavy took up ; 1 afeked for the change, and Dunleavy said I had paid nothing; I said I had paid half a crown, and he denied it. He their came from behind the bar and seized me by'tlie neck, getting his two thumbs in and squeezing it; lie'Called me a d-d ruffian or d—d rascal. I had not struck or touched or threatened him.; He threw me ou the floor holding me by the neck, then let his knees fall on ; me and knelt on, me ; my side and chest were so hurt with liis knees that I could not move. When I came to I was lying oh the floor, and he was going away. T told Bull he was very unmanly to see one used so. Dunleavy then either kicked or riod ou my jaw,; I don’t know which ; I was lying ’own and ; he was ' standing up/That kick broke my jaw. I told him lie had done so. He and Bull then went into the back room; I did not fall with my jaw against anything ; felt no injury there till kicked or trodden on. Dunleavy gave me no change ; had on a shell-jacket 'Mtliout JJobke'ts^ 'bxcb'pt'la Watch pocket ; keep , money in my trowsers pocket. I lay sime time on the floor, aud then sat oh the form holding my broken jaw, then went to the hospital. James Shea came to speak to me about this matter. Did not strike or tlii’eaten Dunleavy first, but believe I struck him in the struggle. Have been under Dr,- Davis - nearly two months, and not ; been able to do duty from the injuries received I don’t live in barracks ; • was at home at half-past two. Had a glass of ale with Mr. Russell at Liddell’s. Had not been in any cither public-house, nor had any more drink. I neither received change 1 of called for more drink. Dunleavy said I had given him iio money, not that he had given me change ; ; am sure I did- not call him a d—-d rogue. He ordered me to leave the house, and I said I would when I got my change. I was sober. Don’t know if Dunleavy’s face, was bleeding, when we fell, or whether I held him by the beard ; never had words with him before ; have "been-1-9-years in the-service ; was ...sent, away with a draft, but-’riot for abusing my wife ; was tried by court martial and reprimanded,; because my accoutrements were stolen from me ; had been fined. 5s at this court, assaulting a .boy who struck one of.-urine. Dunleavy put the.; halfcrown in till; he struck me first; and called a d—d ruffian when he kicked me ; could not say positively ’ who was present during the struggle. I lose 9d a day hospital stoppage. , ? - James Davis, assistant surgeon to 57th regt.—Knew Woods. He was brought to the hospital about 6 prii/on April Bth, for broken jaw ; Iris face was much swollen as from beating, and a little cut on one side of his nose. The lower jaw was broken on the left side, and I believe on the other too, close to the ear, but cannot swear,to the last. „ The outer skin was not broken over the ' jaw, the bleeding was into the mouth, it would take , a very violent blow with a fist to produce such an injury ; a kick would be, more likely. Woods was in danger at first, as he was liable to erisypelas. He has been in my charge till now, and is not yet out of hospital. Such injuries -rarely occur in a scuffle. He next day complained ofgreat pain in Iris chest and ribs ; no ribs were broken, and there’was no external mark to account for the great pain and difficulty in breathing which he suffered ; am sure he was not shamming. Internal injury’causing such symptoms might arise from being knelt on in a scuffle; his mouth bled but little when I saw him, but might have bled more freely before ; tlie jaw might be., broken by falling against a form, but in this case, or if done by a kick, from, a boot,, the. skin /wouldprobably be broken ; a kick from a slip- ■ pered foot would -cause the injury without breaking the skin., ,, t , James Shea, private in 57th regt. .Knew. Woods : and Dunleavy ; heard .of Woods’ injury; had some conversationwith Dunleavy at liis doqr on April 12tli. He asked after Woods ; I said he was bad enough, but I thought would get better soon. He desfred. me, to tell Woods he would send up anything lie required ; he said lie was sending to Ran-' gitikei for evidence which would cost him. ,£2, and that Woods, might as well have it. He told me to tell Woods that if he would say lie was as much to blame as Dunleavy himself he would give him £5 towards his .family’s support while he was in hospital. He said Woods struck first blow after he, ordered him,out ; that lie was, /Sorry for the accident, and would rather give £5 than have it appear,, and would , give . any tiring t he could.to help tlie family., Tliought' such a proposal strange. , , ,' James Bull, publican at Rangitikei, was at Duriicavy’s on April Bth, between

-3 and" 4-p m , - Woods- came 4n- and - Call ed : for a glass of Brandy, for which lie " paid 2s fid, and Dunleavy gave 2s change. Woods called for another glass and oil -Dunleavy’s asking payment, called him a rogue, and said he had halt-a-crown of liis. Dunleavy tried to , take back the glass and Woods struck him in the face/ Dunleavy ordered him out, and went imind to put him out. Woods then struck Dunleavy twice, and the later closed with him and both fell. When they were down I tried to part them, but could not and' called in Dunleavy’s . man. During the scuffle I picked up ’2s which had been given as change and gave them to Dunleavy oil the counter. Think each had hold of the others hair. Woods had Duuleavy by the tliToat and collar ; Dunleavy tried to get liis hand,'away from the throat and called for help. I think the first blow on 1 Dunleavy’s face drew blood ; had "not "been drinking with Woods who must have been drinking a little. Did not'sde Is fid paid for ale nor see Danderson at all then ; have no difficulty in recollecting this case though often have' in others. Was at Dunleavy’s on Thursday two or three times ; dined there ; : saw Dunleavy, and naturally had some talk 'witli him about this aftair ; said I; did mot want to hear about it,' think others broached the subject. Dunleavy said he'was sorrv 1 was too late tor the case to come off that day. Was in the house before' Woods came in, and went behind the bar where I was when the affray occurred ; am sure about the half-a-crowii and change. Have a license myself, and often have trouble: some customers. When the . combatants fell I think they struck the seat; heard next day that Woods’ jaw was broken ; heard him say it was, and laughed at him. He got up and walked to the door, saying he was hurt:' ' 1 left; about same time as Woods ;' did'riot'go in .the hack roonx ; picked up tlie 2s which I heard fall from . Wood’s pocket and put them on the counter showed them to Woods, saying, “ Here’s the money you grurnbled about.” Did not see which pocket they fell from. Woods did not seem to be much hurt, or hold his hand to liis face, or bleed at the mouth. Neither was on the other ; they were side by side. Believe Dunleavy did not strike Woods on the ground ; did not see Trim kick him, or see them separated, or knew which got up first. One got up while I went for help ; can’t say which, or if either , was up when. I came back. Dunleavy had slippers on. Can’t account foi* the broken jaw 'unless by a fall against the seat, and was surprised to hear the man had been laid up for two riioriths. Did not see Dunleavy kick him, but was away for some time seeking help to : part them, arid can’t say what happened then. No" words took place before the half-crown was paid ; harder to ‘tell what occurred after. They fell with their‘heads'behind the’ door; saw their heads under the seat, which is about four feet from the counter ; they could hardly fall without striking one or the other.

J; Danderson.—is brother-in-law to Dunleavy. Recollects the day of the scuffle. Had some beer with Woods at ■'Did‘dgt] , S‘ i that day ; was riot drinking with Bull, and never saw him that Hay. Saw Woods leave Dunlea vy’s about 6 p.m. bleeding, and asked what was the matter; he said he was killed, Iris- jaw was broken, and I told Min to go to the lidspital. ‘ J., Dunleavy was convicted, and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. Lancashire Relief Funi>. — l lie following acknowledgment of the receipt of the Wanganui contribution; lias been handed, .us.for. publication. 21, New; Cannon Street, Manchester, February 19th, 1863. Sir,--1 beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of tlie 3rd December last, addressed to the Treasurer of the Lancashire Relief Fund, Manchester, and enclosing Bank draft for 92/ 6s 6d, being, the amount subscribed by the inhabitants of tlie district of Wsniganui, New Zealand, in aid of the’ distressed operatives of Lancashire arid I have much pleasure in; handing you, oil the other side, copy of a resolution unariimously parsed at a meeting of the. Executive Committee, held at the Town’Hall; Manchester; on Monday, -the 16th inst., Lord Edward Howard in the chair.. : I have the honor to be, sir, ; - Your most obt. Servant. John Wm. Maclure, Hon. Sec. H. Churton Esq. “ At a meetiug of the Central Executive Committee, held at the Town-hall, Manchester, ou the 16th February, 1863, Lord Edward Howard, iii the chair. Proby Major Egerton Leigh, seconded by S. J. Stern, Esq.,-—Resolved, Thattlie Honorary. Secretary be requested to convey to the inhabitants of the district: of Wanganui, who have so generously subscribed towards the distressed operatives of Lancashire, the grateful acknowledgments of this Committee for their liberal donations, and to state how fully their noble, efforts are appreciated.”

Buller River Cold.— Mr. Mclntosh, mentioned in our paper of the 14tli as having returned .from the Buller, lias brought with him three nuggets, weighing respectively 2 oz. 10 dwts., 19 dwts., and 1 oz., found in the bed of the Lyell creek. • His party found others even larger,: but Mi*. Mclntosh kept these in preference-as specimens on account of their greater purity. These very beautiful samples ;of New .Zealand ’ gold are exhibited at Messrs. Bell’s store. ' Tlie following gentlemen are gazetted as officers of the Caledonian Rangers. James'Allison,Captain ; : Alex. McGregor, Lieutenant ; and Allan' Lees, Ensign ; date,of commissions, Abril 16, 1863.

-Presbyterian ~ Church, MatarauaPistrict. —A- meeting )of some - of the friends of the Presbytei’ian Church of New Zealand in that district, and others, was held in the Schoolroom there on the afternbon of Saturday: last, for the purpose of considering whether measures should jjow, be taken foivthe erection of a place of worship in connexion with said church——yet on a liberal basis, as its constitution war rants —on a piece of ground which, witliiu the last lew weeks, has been generously given by .Mr. Alex. McGregor, of that valley, for such purpose, as well as for a cemetery for the locality. The spirit of the meeting—to the object of which tlic Rev. R. J. Allsworth, of Turakina, gave very efficient support, —was declared by the following resolutions, -which were adopted by it : Ist. That the friends ofthePi’esbyterian church-of New Zealand, in this district, are deeply indebted to Mr. Alex. McGregor for his generous grant of land, on which a place of worship in connexion with tliat church may be erected by them. 2nd. That this grant shall, in the form that may be appointed by the General Assembly of said church in such cases, be handed over to suitable trustees for its behoof, ,in this locality, with the least practicable delay. ‘ 3rd. That, relying on arrangements for its satisfactory supply being made by the Presbytery of Wellington, or by the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Gliurcli of New Zealand, to be hekl in that city (D.V.) in November next, a subscription shall be entered on immediately for the erection of a sacred edifice thereon.

4th. That,: meanwhile, the spiritual necessities of the Presbyterian part ol the population in the Mataraua district and neighbourhood shall be relieved- as adequately as, all circumstances considered, shall be practicable. sth. -That, as regards our brethren of the Anglican church and others, with whom we have hitherto worshipped, and We trust still fnay, in this valley, we shall, with the help of God, make it our constant and resolute aim to “follow after the things which make for peace, and the things whereby one may edify another,”

: 6th. That a committee Consisting of the following persons be appointed to carry into effect resolutions second and third ; as also to determine on the site of the church and the burial-place,-—viz., Messrs. A. McGregor, George Paterson, John Plampin, David Strachan, and the Rev; David Hogg. r. : -I he following names,- with their respective contributions, were appended to a subscription list, which' was presented at the : close of the meeting Messrs. A. McGregor 251, G. McGregor 251, Qeo., Paterson 10/, David Straclnxii 51, Rev. J. Allsworth 1/ Is. Queer’s Birthday.- —The usual parade iu honour of this day took .place on the 25tli find was mxmerousfy‘'attended, by volunteers of the Cavalry corps and Victoria and Prince of Wales Rifle companies, who were bi’igaded with the Royal Ai-tillery and PI..VJ. 57th regt. ’lhe brigade went through some of the usual evolutions, fired a feu de-joie, presented arms, and gave three cheei’s iii honour of her Majesty, after which the whole formed open column of companies, and marched past in slow and then in quick time. Tlie troops of the line afterwards formed close column of companies right in front' oil their, left company, and the Rifle volunteers formed in a similar manner on their left company, after which the several corps were.’ marched to their respective, parade grounds and dismissed. Defeat op the Natives. —. News reached town on Sunday afternoon of an engagement of some sort at Tataraimaka on the 18th in.st. According to the native account eighteen Maories, who had observed the artillery horses picketedoutside the Tataraimaka camp, crept up, and, having, loosed some of them, were commencing to drive them off, when a party of soldiers sent for the purpose cut off their retreat. The Maories crouched in the fern and fired two v.ollies,without effect, on. which the soldiers returned the fire, killing the leader Arapeta Taumumu, son of old \\ ikitoria, chieftainess at Kaiiwi. The Maories fired again, wounding .some one whom they supposed to be an officer, and the troops in return killed Horomona Tahukumutia, a nephew of Haretipene of. N'ukuinaru, and wounded several others, whereupon the remainder fled. The above account does not tally with a letter -.which' was shown to Mr. White, and which, as well as conversations wliich have been, overheard between natives, would intimate that an engagement of a far more serious character had taken place, in which the Maories were worsted, The • natives also . admit that there was fighting on every subsequent -day .till the messenger loft. There is no doubt that the chiefs abovementioned are killed, and probably others of inferior rank not belongingto the neighbourJhood. Authentic details are confidently looked for by the next arrival of the iSprtiy from Sydney.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. , , May 18, ISG3. Slit, —It appears that Governor Grey is determined to carry out his boast,—namely, that there shall be no war in New Zealand. His grand object seems to be himself arid his own private interest ; for in spite of all his past experience proving to every one that he is in the wrong, lie still persists. The steps he has been taking in the matter is the sure way. to ruin, the country, by incurririg a great debt for bribing, and by giving the natives every encouragement to rob and murder white men, by never calling them to account, for their past misconduct.' ( ' The public are naturally beginning to inquire whether he is mad • or not, and whether he

ouglit.uot to be... restrained- fr.nn doing further barm. In bis boasted attempt to take possession of Tataraimaka here is the result—the murder of innocent men ; that affair brings him quite to a stick-fast, for lie dare not fight without permission from the Bishop-and.(Jo.- He will now bo treated with merited? contempt by every honest man. . .

The effect of his conduct will he a general misgiving throughout the country, and we may have just reason to expect a fresh outbreak in a new district, where th j rebel natives will be able to get plenty of plunder. The Governor's last mad act appears to have been sacrificing through, carelessness the lives of innocent men, and the giving away of Waitara, together with £OOO of our money. Waitara alone has cost us about one hundred lives —ruined all the country district of New Plymouth—and about a hundred thousand pounds in money ; and this the; Governor gives away with a scratch of liis pen. For what purpose are all these things done ? Merely that he may shuffle his .time over without any war and redeem his boasted promise.

Are we to sit still and allow the Governor to act in such a way as to cause us -to be murdered by instalments, or are wo to use every lawful method to put a stop to his proceedings ? I think the most proper way will be, to call the General Assembly together, and let them pronounce whether liis policy is to be persisted in any longer. J. Jackson.

May 26fcli, ISG3. Sir, —Allow me to state, relative to the recent distress sales, that- in accordance witli the best counsel that can he obtained in this province, the so-called “Town Board” cannot legally levy rates ; which, if found on trial to he correct, will place the Members of the said Board in a predicament which it would have been better to have avoided, than to have placed themselves so hastily in such.a position, when they were early warned to the contrary. , I am sir, yours, &c., FAIRpLAY.

The following Account of what-has been done by a very small body of. Anglican churchmen' is worthy of the attention of their co-religionists in Wanganui : St. Paul’s church, Otago, was consecrated by the Bishop on Easter Sunday. The church was crowded, and many were obliged to stand in tlie aisle during the whole service. It is perhaps one of the prettiest churches in New Zealand. The style is “ decorated, and tlie interior consists of a nave, north aisle, and chancel. The roofof the aisle is supported by well proportioned arches and columns, the walls being 20 feet liigli, and tlie roof rising another 20 feet; tlie interior looks larger than it really is, there being sittings only for about 400. persons. Tlie collection in aid of the building 'fund amounted to nearly A 90. There is still some A'looo to collect before the whole cost is defrayed.

: The (Canterbury) Press, speaking of tlie- Civil Commissioner at Hawke’s Bay, says ; —• ■ - ? ! ’ ■; Tliei*e it a Major Whitmore, or some sncli. name, Civil Commissioner at Hawke’s Bay. lie is perhaps less fitted for the office than any man who could have been found. Of course lie takes the salary, but we bear lie lets M’Leau do all the work for him. Both actions show liis sense. Who could have said he was not lit for a Civil Commissioner /

WELLINGTON. We have received information from Porirua, to: the effect that a letter had been received by the King natives at Waikanae from Taranaki stating That >the tire will be again kindled all over the country, if the tire at Taranaki continues to burn.”; Doubtless this is the wish of the Taianakis and Ngatiruanuis, but whether there are any considerable number of natives in this Province who will feel disposed to cany out their wishes is, to say the least doubtful.— Sew Zealand Advertiser. ' ■ : Removal of Arms. —The muskets, itc., which, were deposited at the Thorndon barracks, were yesterday, ■ removed to Mount Cook, whether for use or safer keeping report sayetli not. We do not object to precautionary measures being taken, but how can.any be : necessary in the opinion of the . local authorities ? Were we not told by the Superintendent in his opening speech “ that the relations between the two races in this Pro\ince continue to be entirely friendly,” and in the Government Railway Memorandum “ That the difficulties connected with the native question may be considered to have nearly passed away.”— lbid. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. .Friday, May 8, 18C3. Mr. Allen asked the Provincial Treasurer—Whether it is the intention of the'Government to take any steps to obtain a Crown Grant for the piece of land in 4 the Tinakori Road, known as the ‘ Botanic Garden Reserve ? ’ The Commissioner of Crown Lands observed in reply, that the matter had been! under the consideration of the City Commissioners. Some of. the Commissioners thought that the Botanical Reserve was included in the jurisdiction of the City Commissoners, others thought not, and until the opinion of the Provincial Solicitor was given in the matter they could take no steps. Mr. Watt moved—For leave to bring in a bill to provide for theiestablislunent of a-board of Commissioners for making I and repairing of.streets and sewers and other public: works within ■the town of. Wanganui. • • ~ Bill 1 read a first time and ordered to be committed. Mr. Bovlase moved—For a return of all promissory notes on account of immi-grants-fro in'England, now payable. The Commissioner of Crown Lands suggested,' it would: be better to order the return to be laid befovetho Committee. Carried. v r Mr; Wallace moved—That Dr. Allison’s name bo added to the select committee on the Scab Act.

Mr.-Rhodes seconded. Carried. - Mr. Watt moved—For a select committee, by ballot, to audit tlie published accounts of the Province for the year ending 31st March, 1863. The ballot was taken and Messrs. Johnston, Hunter, Taylor, Dransfield, and Watt, were returned. Cattle Slaughter-—The. Commissioner of Crown Lands brought up the report of the committee on this matter, ordered to be printed. . Drainage Bill—This was ordered to be printed forthwith, with . amendments to be read a third time on Wednesday The House then went into committee on the Estimates. Tlie following items were passed : llutt Badge 100/—After a few remarks from Messrs. Buck, Allen, Watt, and the Provincial Treasurer, the . item was agreed to. Road—lUnmtaha' Hoad 800/—Mr. Carter hoped they would spend the money.. Tlie Provincial Treasurer said tliat Government intended to have done a great deal of work, but all the tenders were too high. Government were determined to commence as soon as possible. Grants in aid 9000/—Mr. Stokes asked the Provincial Treasurer whether, in the event of the Town Boards Bill passing, any of this fund would be distributed to the town. The Provincial Treasurer said lie saw no difference between town and Country in this matter. Mr. Hunter asked if tlie Town Rates amouuted to 200 J/ or 3000/, would the Government give an equivalent / r llie Provincial Treasurer said they had put down 2000/for Town Boards. After some further discussion from Messrs. Dransfield, Hunter, and Taylor, The Provincial 'Treasurer would not guarantee to give such a sum as 5000/ to the Town Boards ; lie . never contemplated such a thing. Karori read , 200/ —?-’r. Johnston asked for 300/. A lengthened discussion ensued in which Messrs. Hunter, Capt. Smith, and Watt, took part ; the latter gentleman complained loudly of the Government system of placing yearly sums oil the estimates that were never spent. ■ Mi 1 . Fawcett ultimately pressed the house to a division on an inneiMliiient that; the sum be 250/, wliich was lost by a majority of 2. . - . i Several more items were then 7 passed without discussion. : Captaiu Smith moved—The Second reading of the Fencing Amendment bill. Mr. Carter said last session lie was on the committee, and lie'came to’ the eonelusion that they could not bettor it. By enacting that some other fence, say of four rails, 'should legally supersede tlie present three rails, they virtually ignored the legality of the greater part of Ae fencing in the province. Mr. Stokes said lie had voted for’ leave to bring in this bill, as it was understood that the fate of a bill was usually decided on its second reading. He felt bound to oppose the bill in its present state, unless it was greatly altered in committee, as some of its provisions were retrospective, and would affect the majority of existing fences ; .there were also objections to other pi’ovisions in the bill. Dr. Allison would support the bill. Three-rail fences might do for one species of stock and not for another They could consider the bill in‘ conimittee, and Mr. Stokes’ objection could then he met by making the ! requisite alterations. He thought furze fences ought not to be allowed within certain distar ces of houses. Mv- Watt-should likewise support the bill. He thought it was not very complimentary to Captain Smith to throw the bill out at once without going into committee. In his district the fences were nearly all ditched and banked, and by the act no absentee or adjacent owner could recover more than the value of the post and three-rail fence. Mr. Hunter agreed with Mr. Watt, that it was very uncourteous to refuse tlie second reading, although for his part unless the bill was modified in committee he would not vote for it. The amended act would virtually ignore all ditch and bank fences. After some further remarks from Mr. Borlase, requesting Captain Smith to withdraw the Bill, Captain Smith replied on the whole. Mr. W. Taylor having moved that the Bill be read that day six months, there appeared fer tile introduction of the bill 7. Against it 10. The house adjourned at 10 o’clock.

Tuesday, May 12, 18G3. Mr. W. W. Taylor presented a petition from Messrs M’Laggan it Thompson praying for an extension of time for the completion of their contr. ct for li; Deep Water Wharf. Dr. Allison laid on table a petition from somo of the Wanganui settlers, praying for; certain modifications to the Town Board bill. Mr. Stokes brought up the report of the select committee on railway communication. Read, and ordered to be printed. To be considered on Thursday. Committee of Supply—Mr. Doeastro moved—That the sum of Twenty-live Pounds (.£23) may bo placed on tho Estimates, to forage for one Policeman at Porirua.” After some remarks from tho Crown Land Commissioner and Mr. Borlase, the motion was agreed to. 'Capt. Smith moved—To place on the Estimates the sum of 300/, for the purpose of forming a bridle tiack from the Waiwotu over the Beacon .hill towards Orongoronga, the bridle track to.be four feet wide. He asked for this'because the road was used a great deal by East Coast settlers, both as a bridle road, and as a road for driving cattle to this market.

Some portions of it wore positively dangerous. The Provincial Treasurer regretted lie should feel bound to oppose it. The road referred to came under the head of District Roads i and if the inhabitants chose to Work . the act, they could receive Government assistance, as any other district would under similar circumstances. There was a direct trunk line to the district referred to, and if people preferred another shorter and more difficult route, they as being a travelling community ought to take steps among themselves for improving it. A fter further remarks from Capfc. Smithy Mr. Carter and Mr. McEwen, the motion was negatived without a division. Capt. Smith moved—To place on the Estimates the sum of 2501, for the purpose of printing all the A cts of the Provincial Council in force up to the end of present session, in an Svo. form, for distribution to the Magistrates, to the members of the Provincial Council, and for sale to the Public. He wished for a digest of the present Acts of Council as a guide for benches of Magistrates and the public. The Provincial Solicitor asked Capt. Smith to withdraw his motion ; the House he said was only experimentalising in law making at pi'esent, and some sessions must pass before their bye-laws and acts would be found to work easily. Mr. Borlase hoped Capt Smith would not withdraw. He had been enquiring for Provincial Acts, for the use of himself and his clients, and could not get them. Some had said they had got burnt in the Government fire some years ago. Anyhow they were difficult to get, and he should support Capt. Smith. Capt. Smith said his friend Mr. Borlase had done right in laying stress on the fact that people could not get these Acts. He (Capt. Smith) had looked them carefully over, and he imagined there would not be a book over 372 pages. All the bills of this Session would be included, and he purposed adding the Land Regulations and one or two ordinances. Mr. Schultze said there had nothing been said about an editor. Capt Smith explained that he had laid his plans so that it could be edited, &c., for the 2501. Mr. Schultze suggested the words editing, printing, and binding be added. After a few remarks from the Commissioner of Crown Lands the Provincial Treasurer spoke again against the motion, and Mr. Carter and Di\ Allison in its favor. The motion was then put and carried without a division. On the motion of Mr. Watt leave of absence, was granted to Messrs.. Hewett and Peake for the remainder of the Session. The House then went into Committee. The drainage. bill was reported with amendments. The Compensation Bill and Wanganui Bridge Bill each advanced another stage, and the House adjourned at half-past nine. Wednesday, May 13, 1863. Mr. Carter presented a petition from 67 electors ofWairavapa m favour of increasing the. representation of the district. Read, received and ordered to be printed Mr. McEwen presented a petition from Geo. Buck, praying that the House would take steps to obtain him a road to some proj)erty he had bought of the Government, and to which no road at present was laid off. Mr.. Dransfield gave notice that at the next sitting day he would call attention to the unprotected state of the town and suburbs in consequence of recent accounts from.Taranaki. The Commissioner of Crown Lands begged the hon. member to withdraw his motion, seeing that open discussion could do no good, and suggesting that the only method to adopt in that house was to call for a Select Committee sworn to secrecy. He might add further that a meeting of t.lie Magistrates was fixed for to-morrow to take notice of the matter. The Provincial Treasurer brought .up report of compensation Committee. Received and ordered to be printed. The Provincial Treasurer brought up report of Compensation Committee. Received, read, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Wallace’s return after a short debate ordered without a division. Mr. Wallace then moved—“ for a return showing : “ Ist. Names of engineers, overseers, or inspectors of public works—the amount of-salary paid to each from January 1862 to the present date. “ 2nd. . A statement of Government or public works and public buildings carried out and in progress, during the same period—specifying the cost of each undertaking, the contract price and extra work done, if any, the contractor, and by whom superintended on behalf of the Government.” Order granted. Mr. Carter moved—“ That Mr. Watt be added to the Immigrants’ Promissory Notes Committee.” He did so in consequence of Mr. Hewett having left. Agreed to. Mr. Watt moved the House into Committee of Supply to consider the proposition of Major Roolces commanding Wanganui Militia, suggesting that 2501 should put on the Estimates for prizes for the "Volunteers of the Province. Mr. McEwen said the proposition only referred to Volunteers, and asked if Militiamen were to be debarred from firing? . ' Dr. Allison said, he hoped no objection would be raised to Militiamen competing. The Commissioner of Crown Lands agreed to the motion, and entered at some

length into the unfavourable . circumstances that might arise under which one seti tlemeub in the province might complete i with another, whether from not having • so good rifie yanges, special days being i fixed for firing jpr the prizes, and the ; matter being more unfavourable in one ■ plate than another. He proposed that the prizes'should be localized, giving so i much to each district. He should give a ! certain sum to each of the districts of . Wellington, Wanganui, the Hutb, Wair rarapa, Porirua, Rangitikei. ; Mr. Borlase said if they made a challenge cup, they reduced the matter almost to certainty, as the crackshots would , have it all to themselves. What they , wanted was to encourage the use of the rifle among all classes, and to gain that > end you must scatter the prizes. Mr. Duncan suggested a sum in the . aggregate should be j voted, and leave tletails to the Government. The Commissioner of Crown Lands > said the house had better clas§ify the [ prizes, and decide whether Militiamen , were eligible or not to compete. , Mr. Hunter said it. should be open to > parties liable to serve in the Militia. The Militia might not be[embodied at the , time. ! After a lengthened discussion in which r Messrs. Allen the Commissioner of Crown ! Lands, Stokes, McEwen, Schultze, and s Watt, took part. The motion was ulti- : mately amended by adding “ that the prizes were open to all Volnnteers and l Militiamen, or other inhabitants of the ; province whose names should appear on • the jury list,” and carried without oppo- ; sition. ; The Commissioner of Crown Lands with a few explanatory remarks moved ' —*“ That in the opinion- of this Council the exercise of Land Orders granted by ! the Commissioner to Naval and Military ! settlers ought to be restricted to blocks of Land on; the frontier specially reserved ; for the purpose. ‘ “ Provided always, that when claimants ! whose applications have been favourably • reported on,- shall desire to select their lands elsewhere* the above restriction may be relaxed, subject to the following eon- ' ditions, viz : “1. That the lands they propose to select shall be surveyed by them free of cost ' to the Government, and to the satisfaction of the Commissioner. “ 2. That in such cases the Land Order shall be withheld nntil after the survey " shall have been so completed.” Mr. Borlase would not agree to this ! motion. He did not see why soldiers L should be compelled to reside on the lahds they selected. They had been told in r that House that the majority bartered . away their lands, and left the district. „ He knew numbers who were doing well' in town at other avocations, who were saving money to go upon their properties. t He understood the land was given them as a reward for military services, they could remain on it or not at their option ; what we wanted was to have a trained ! force living in the district, who would be useful in ease of emergency. He did not sec bow a man just discharged was to pay for survey of his land, you might as well say stop military land orders in £ future, and this motion was nothing but a side wind to do it. Dr. Allison said military settlers had no taxes for roads to pay to their lands ; [ their neighbours did that for them, be- [ cause till they got Crown Grants tlitey ■ were not liable as owners; he should . vote with the Government. ; Captain Smith said discharged soldiers were only required to remain in the pvo- . vince, they were at liberty to employ L themselves in any way they liked. Mr. Hunter thought this was not the . time to , push the motion. If they required ■their,■ services it was only giving . 20 1 for immigration, and paying it in land . to a class already on the spot. Such [ alterations might have the effect of driving this class of settlers entirely away. He did not approve further of forcing the men to settle on the frontier, it was :• only to make the men paupers. He himself knew numbers working m town to get means together to settle in : the , country. Mr. Taylor did not approve at all of military grants. The soldiers would have , remained whether they got land given . them or not. He should have supported the Government, even if they had brought . forward a measure stopping all further military land orders. Mr. Watt agreed with Mr. Hunter, the men ought not to be expected to go out at once upon the frontier. It was . expected 95 men would shortly he discharged from the 65th in Taranaki, and in all probability they would settle in this ; province. He therefore stoutly objected to the Land Regulations being altered. . Mi. McEwen said this scheme had cost l the Government a good round sum already. Soldiers had not sufficient title • to be legally called upon to pay road s rates, boundary fences, or anything else. A number had settled at the Pahuatanui reserve, and not a farthing could be got . from them for local rates until they got their Crown Grants. Mi’. Wallace said those naval and military settlers had been wasting their lands away, and he hoped the Commissioner of Crown Lands instituted a strict inquiry before the Crown Grants were , issued as to whether the men had really I fulfilled the conditions. Parties had 5 bought their land for less than 5s an acre and sold them again at a profit. Again . many of these men could come down from f Auckland, where their services had peeti i chiefly given, pnd claim land here.- He should supjmrt the motion. Thq Provincial Solicitor said a great . deal of land in this province had been taken, out of the hands of the Govern . ment by the natives being allowed to* . sell. Every grant to the military lessened

our revenue, and we had all expence of survey to pay. ' He did not agree with Mr. McEwen, who had said discharged soldiers could not be made to pay rates till they got the Crown Grants. If any magistrate had decided so, he, should recommend ap appeal against the decision. Mr; Allen suggested the word “ frontier ” be struck out; be did not think that discharged soldiers should be forced out on the frontier, but he decidedly thought they should be stopped “ spot ting” about the country. Mr. Johnston said he should support Mr. Allen’s view, and strike the word “ frontier” ; out. He perfectly agreed with the Commissioner of Crown Lands, the system had not retained settlers, in the place. :It was usual however to make these giants, and as other provinces did the same he supposed they ought.The Commissioner of Crown Lands deemed that the remarks that had fallen from Mr. Borlase relative to these land orders being given in the light of rewards for military services is one of that gentleman’s hallucinations. It had nothing to do with Imperial legislation... The General Assembly had said in 1858 that it was desirable to encourage the . settlement of naval and military men in the Northern Island. If it had been a matter of merit he should not so much have objected ,to the system. But how did the scheme work ? Why I a young gentleman “on town” he might say; who happened to be possessed of three or four hundred pounds, could get four hundred acres for nothing, having simply after purchasing an ensignoy,. to hold it for a few weeks, then sell out, and walk into the Commissioner’s office here and demand his grant of land. The Government ought to make it a sine qna non that military settlers should be embodied and be under the command of some officer who could call them together, now and again to report their residence in the Colony, and , in the event of hostilities command them. At present he could not find out whether they, were resident in the colony or not. He: had addressed circulars to many of them requesting them from time to time to report the fact of their residence in the Colony to him, but it had failed to bring in anything but the smallest fraction of replies. Land orders was a matter of notorious traffic. One way they managed to do this was to receive from the purchaser twenty shillings down, so much per annum for five years and when the Crown Grant was issued the balance. If there was any meaning in giving military settlers land, on the frontiers was the place to do it, because then they paid an equivalent in the event of their services being required. However, he had, he considered, modified the matter; of locality by allowing the Superintendent the ppwer to lay off blocks, and had added 4 a clause that would permit them to select .elsewhere if they thought fit, but not to spot about the country. Mr. Borlase had cried out that the expences of survey would be too heavy for the soldier if bound to do it himself. How was it, he would ask, that some of them had employed land agents to select for them ? He fearlessly appealed to the house to put some check on this lavish waste of land, they were now giving away more land than any other province. The lion, member concluded a long speech by declaring his resolution to divide the house on the amendment. Mr. Borlase in speaking to the Amendment wished to avoid the word frontier, as they could not define it. He thought the house had no right to spot places for these claimants, but even if they did, lie did not see that the extremity of the province should be the frontier. Upon the understanding that the words “ suitable blocks of land” be inserted instead of the word “frontier,” Mr Johnston withdrew his amendment, and the resolution was. passed. Mr Taylor moved, “ that the memorial of McLaggan and Thompson be referred to the committee on Private Grievances,” which, after a remark from Mr Wallace, was agreed to. . The Commissioner of Crown Lands moved for leave to bring in a bill to appoint John Morrison, Esq., of Adelaide Place, London, to be agent for the Province of Wellington. ' ' Leave granted, bill read first time, ordered to be printed, and to be read a second time to-morrow. The Wanganui Town Board Bill passed its second reading, and was ordered to be committed to-morrow. The Cattle Bill passed its remaining stages. The Drainage Bill was further considered in committee, reported with amendments, and leave granted to .sit again to-morrow. ; ■ , The Compensation Bill passed its second reading, and was ordered to be committed presently. Subsequently repeated with amendments, and leave granted to sit again to-morrow. 1 ; . The Wanganui Bridge Bill was further considered in committee, and was ordered to be read a third time to-morrow.