THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Vèritè sans peur.” WANGANUI, DECEMBER 24, 1863.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 375, 24 December 1863, Page 3

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Vèritè sans peur. ” WANGANUI, DECEMBER 24, 1863.

Private advices lead to the conclusion that watever may the submissive feelings of the Waikatos, the Ngatiamaniapotos are as stubborn as ever. The Governor with Mr. Fox and Mr. Whitaker, the the Commodore, and General, were to start on the 16th for Ngaruawahia, from ■which we may infer that there is every disposition to arrange matters with the Waikatos if they are so inclined. At the same time it is satisfactory to find the Governor, in His Excellency’s proro gation declaring that, “while fully Hrecoguising the responsibilities of the colony towards the Maori race, 1 shall not relax in following up our successes with such measures as may be necessary to reduce to obedience those who, may still offer resistance to Her Majesty’s authority.”

WrTH reference to the “ Rifle Prize Firing,” we extract the' following from the Southern Cross, —

Mr. Harrison moved that the correspondence laid on the table, relative to the late rifle prize firing, be taken into consideration. H« obsGX-ved tliat tlioJ’O lirtd been several differences between the actual mode of firing and the mode prescribed bv the published regulations—a thing which might be productive of serious consequences, and which he hoped the Government would prevent in future. With the purpose of calling their attention to it, he had made the motion.

Mr Russell said that, though the manner of carrying out the regulations had been complained of, it had not prevented gentlemen in the hon. mover’s district carrying of a great many prizes. He believed there had been some irregularities in this competition arising from the distance of the different places and difficulty of communication, «fec. The present Government were not responsible for them, but would take care they should not occur in future.

Mr. Fitzherbert referred to some prize firing having taken place in an avenue cut through tea-tree scrub—a system which manifestly would not be on equal terms with firing iu a strictly open manner.

Mr. Fox said there had been such a charge, and it had been investigated and found to have no foundation, there having indeed never been any manuka scrub in the place at all. No doubt in such a matter it was very desirable the rules should be strictly carried out. The rules in fact were not very clear to civilians.

Mr. Atkinson wished to see the regulations made to accord with those in use in the army. Mr. Cargill suggested that the final shooting between the best shots of different parts should come qff at one place. If not, he thought it of very little value. Mr. Stafford confirmed this view, and thought it would be very beneficial that the competitors should be taken to a central place at Government expense. The House had previously expressed strong opinions on this subject, which had been paid no attention to. He thought there should be a chief prize for every militia district, in addition to the chief prize for the colony and champion belt.

The inter-provincial mail services are to be revised on the plan recommeuded in the following paragraph of the Committee’s report. “ 2nd. That there should be a weekly communication between Southland and Otago ; a bi-weekly communication between Otago, Canterbury, and Wellington ; a weekly communication between Wellington, Napier, and Auckland ; and a weekly communication between Wellington, Picton, Nelson, Taranaki aud Manukau ; provided such a service can be performed for the sum of not more than 40,000.” The Taranaki compensation, voted in the session of 1861, is recommended by the Assembly to be distributed without further delay. Circular letters have been sent bv the Native Minister to the various officers of

the Native Department in this district, and we presume in others also, directing them to correspond with the General Government through the Superintendent, through whom they are in future to.roceive their instructions. The Superintendent is thus placed in the position lately occupied by Mr, Muntell. Ihe necessities of the public service have required the appointment of an Under Secretary for Defence, and His Excellency’s private Secretary has been offered and has accepted the office. Mr. Seed belongs to this province, and if the very satisfactory manner in which he performed his duties in the Customs is any criterion by which we may judge of his qualifications, we may look upon the appointment as a most judicious one. From an Otago paper we learn that Capt. J. Wilson, of the Waikato Militia, has recently proceeded from Otago to Auckland with a company of Volunteers. Captain Wilson is a son of James Wilson, Fsq., J.P., of Turakina.

In reply to the Memorial lately sent to the Superintendent respecting the Public Wharf for the town, his Honor has addressed a letter to E. Lewis, Esq., in which he says,— “ I beg to state that the Government will be prepared to entrust the erection of the Wharf to the bridge Committee, on condition that the work is done by contract, and that the contract price shall not exceed the amount voted by the Provincial Council, —viz.. One Thousand Pounds. The Committee to be at liberty to use as much of the Wanganui Bridge timber as may be suitable for the \\ liarf. The plan in process of preparation by Mr. Hales will, I understand, entail an outlay little short of £3000.” There certainly seems to have been a blunder either in putting £IOOO on the estimates for a work likely to cost three times that amount, or in preparing plans for a £3OOO work where a third of that sum wo ild suffice, and was all that had been voted ; and the proposal to hand the matter over to the Bridge Committee looks, therefore, rather like turning a difficulty over to somebody else. We believe, however, that a good, plain, substantial Wharf might be constructed on the terms proposed by the Superintendent ; and we woidd advise the Committee to close with the offer. Should they, however, be unwilling, we would suggest that the Town Board—(within whose province, under the Local Boards Act, such a work clearly comes) —should offer to undertake it, and so put an end to the delays which, if much longer con tinued, will throw us again into the winter without anything being settled tipon-