THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Véritè sans peur." WANGANUI, AUGUST 20, 1863.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 357, 20 August 1863, Page 3

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Véritè sans peur." WANGANUI, AUGUST 20, 1863.

The proclamation summoning the Assembly to meet on the 19th of October, for the •despatch of business, has been issued, and unless Ministers change their mind in consequence of the increasing feeling for its postponement, no further delay of any consequence •will probably take place. The Nelson Examiuer representing the Stafford party, has adv ised delay, and at a great meeting in Christchurch on the 10th inst., specially called for the consideration of the question, Mr. Fitzgerald and those who advocated the immediate meeting of the Assembly, were defeated by the passing of the follo wing amendment from Mr. Weld :

“ That while it is inexpedient to press •“ the immediate convocation of the Gen- ** eral Assembly, it is the opinion of this * l .meeting that it shall be called at the “ earliest possible period that the state of “ affairs in the North ,Island will permit. “ That, haying regard to the failure of “ the late temporising policy, the urgency “ of the present crisis in Native affairs “ will warrant the Government in taking ■“ such action as may be necesary to briug “ the war to a speedy and decisive issue, •“ and to obtain such material guarantees -“ as may insure the future maintenance “ of peace and order among the insurgent “ tribes.”

In tlie spii-it of this resolution we believe the Wellington party will heartily concur. Perhaps they would have preferred that the war had been staved off for a few weeks, tin til the certainty of theueararrival ofreinforcmentsenabledthe Campaign to be carried on more after the General’s own heart ; but having been forced to enter upon the war, it is we believe the conviction of every one of the Wellington members that the trembling hand will make the bloodiest work, that the interests of both races alike demand that the war should be allowed to be conducted with all possible vigor, and free from any such fettering instructions as the blue books show to have been constantly issuing from the Stafford ministry, daring the first Taranaki war. We should be sorry to lead our settlers to suppose that there is no possibility of this Province becoming embroiled ; but it is certain that the immediate danger, so generally anticipated when the news of a war in Waikato circulated through maoridom, has blown over, and in the Wairarapa, Hutt, West coast, and this neighbourhood the natives have become alarmed for their own security, rather than anxious to interfere with ..ours. This alarm is a wholesome one, and has arisen from the preparations which they see or hear are everywhere making. If this alarm can only be guided, so as to lead the natives to feel convinced that so long as they are peaceable they have nothing to fear,- —aud not worked upon so as to induce desperation —we may yet escape that loss of life suffering, demoralisation, and pecuniary ruin which already hangs over Auckland. True this is only the universal price of civil war, and whatever the price we are resolved upon to pay it ; yet if the lesson, now being taught in the north, be made

useful in honestly ‘ reducing the natives oT this province to the authority of law—if natives can he led to feel the vastncss of the power we can command, and the utter hope] ess ness of aggression, we shallhave saved a cost, that in the mildest aspect of war, is always fearful to Contemplate. We notice in the report of the Superintendent’s visit to Otaki that he thus aimed at pract cally improving the Northern war. We ai*e glad to find that, in tlie address which he deliver d, lie dealt with YVi Tako and his party in a spirit so threatening as to what would be the result of their insubordination, as to revive the sobriquet of “ the lighting Super-intendent”—-at the same time that he pointed out to them that the}'- might roly on their safety, if they remained quiet and abandoned their obedience to a king whose only power was for evil and not for good. The address is certainly calculated to do good, if any words can-—and because it correctly states the peaceable intentions of the Government and settlers to those who intend to remain e ; unequivocally expresses the Waikato war to be just, and that “ whatever number of ti’oops and ships of war may be required for its completion will be readily granted by the Queen” ; and emphatically declares that “ there can be no peace until this rebe lion- is completely crushed, put down, and for ever exting ashed”—because it informs the natives that this,is the language of their best friends.-~-we are very glad to learn that it is to be largely circulated in Maori.

The practical bearing of our remarks is plain. At this moment Auckland is on the verge of ruin from the whole population being on active service—the third class militia being now called out. Shops are shut, business stagnates, country operations are neglected to the serious injury of the future, stock is driven in to be sold at incredible sacrifices, and those who can leave are doing so in haste. \\ ith us there is just now but little threatening of war ; the excitement was certainly great both amongst settlers and natives, but for the present, certainly, it has greatly subsided. With us there is no necessity at present why any should neglect his land, or sell his stock at a sacrifice. We are not wholly unprepared for defence, and with proper organization could manage to hold onr own, and, as very many of us think, could do even something more. We trust that, notwithstanding panics will frequently arise, every settler will feel in his heart that there is ground for confidence, and therefore put on the very best face he can. A confident bearing is everything, and half the battle is over to him who feels sure of success. While we neglect no precaution from within nothing null so to create security from without as the uatives witnessing the freedom from hesitation with which we pursue our daily avocations ; nothing conduces more to belie our words and relieve tlieir wholesome alarm, than a tendency to homsteads drive in stock, or other similar exhibition of being afraid of them.