AUCKLAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 369, 12 November 1863, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

The Sturt arrived at the wharf at halfpast seven this morning, and by her we have received a Wellington Independent Extra of Tuesday, containing the following important news from the North. The political news is important. A new Ministry has been formed as follows : The Hon. Frederick Whittaker, to be Attorney-General and Premier. The Hon. W. Fox, to be Colonial Secretary and Minister foi Native Affairs. The Hon. Reader Gilson Wood, to be Colonial Treasurer and Commissioner of Customs. The Hou. Thomas Bannatyne Gillies, to be Postmaster General. The Hon. Thomrs RussdU, to be Minister for Colonial Defence. The policy of the new Ministry is most plain and satisfactory, and consists in the adoption of Mr. Domett’s idea of military settlements and roads, to be paid for by means of the lands of rebellious native tribes. They will at once introduce 3000 more military settlers from the neighbouring colonies, aud get as soon as possible from England 15,000 more for the two provinces of Auckland and Taranaki. The money to do this will be raised by loan on the security of native lands, and will be, partly at least, paid oft'by sales of the same to ordinary settlers. Otherprovinces may participate in the scheme by setting aside land for the settlements. No peace is to be made until the natives acknowledge the Queen’s supremacy, and submit themselves to the operation of the laws ; and they will be disarmed, as a guarantee of the future peace of the country. It is believed that the idea of a Lieutenant-Governor for the Middle Island will also be supported by the new Ministry.

(From the Correspondent of the Hawke’s Bay Her aid.) On Sunday, the Ist inst,, the great native position at Meromere was taken possession of by our troops. Unfortunately, owing entirely to the great height to which the Waikato and its tributary streams have risen of late, it was impossible to prevent the escape of the natives, who went across the swampy country in i'ear of the position, in their canoes where we could not follow them. This was a gi’eat disappointment, as the General, who fully believed they meant to fight for once, had arranged matters so that, except in this way, an escape was impossible. The Pioneer having got up the river on the 27th ult., was at once used for getting up guns to the front, and so on, to cover the landing of our troops. She also towed up the gunboats to favorable positions on the river, and on Friday last indulged the natives by standing as a mark for their guns, great and small for two hours. It was then evident that fully 300 natives we\ - e at the place, and it seemed certain they would fight. Early on Saturday morning the Pioneer ■ and Avon conveyed six hundred men to a spot marked on the “Southern Cross” map as Takapau, and their landed them. They marched to the high ground where the road from Meremeie to Rangiriri crosses, and threw up an entrenchment. It was arranged that on Monday morning, before daybreak, this body should march on Meremere, while the General should attack on the other two sides by means of boats. The natives evidently saw they were in a trap, and took the only way of essape left them ; and as the whole level to the rear of Meremere was under water from the long rains and the rising of the river, they succeeded in making off on Sunday morning in their canoes. Their flight was observed ; but in .spite of the most energetic efforts on General Cameron’s part, they could not be intercepted.

Auckland has been visited by a severe tornado. Perhaps the most remarkable evidence of its fury was exhibited in its treatment of the Government block-house, recently erected of strong iron. It was on the top of a hill, and the wind, seizing it, absolutely annihilated it in an instant. Its timbers were hurled some of them nearly a quarter quarter of a milo away, while the great sheets of iron were rent and crumpled up as if they had been so much brown paper.

The loss is said to be not less than £SOOO.