THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Vèritè sans peur.” Wanganui, December 31, 1863.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 376, 31 December 1863, Page 3

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Vèritè sans peur. ” Wanganui, December 31, 1863.

Every mail brings us itelligence of the increased determination of the Home Government to spare no effort to put down the New Zealand rebellion once for all. The Civil Service Gazette says that the Ist battalions of the 10th and 11th, and the 2nd battalion of the 12th Regiments, ore about being placed under orders to embark for this Colony, and the Borne News states that the 55th and 76th Regiments are under orders, and are being Hilled up from the camp at Colchester. The 4th battalion Military Train, consisting of 300 officers and men, are also to embark from Woolwich, Colonel O’Brien commanding having received instructions to pi-oceed hither overland to purchase the necessary horses and waggons prior to their andval. A detachment of the Commissariat staff numbering 8 sergeants and 73 men are also under orders to quit Aldershot immediately. While, however, some of the regiments above mentioned are stated in error to be intended for New Zealand, large reinforcements appear to Vie fully determined upon, two vessels having been taken up by the Horne Government to convey about 600 men to Auckland, without a days greater delay than is possible. The. efforts which the Colonial Government have made in calling out the Militia and in raising Volunteer regiments in Australia have evoked the best possible spirit towards the colony. The Times of 16th October says,—lt is hardly probable that any large reinforce ments will be required from England. We think it indeed the duty of the Colonists to provide the main defence of their habitations. But even the United States do not leave their backwoodsmen to fight without assistance against the Indians. Their army used always to be stationed in detachments on the frontier to aid the Western settlers by the presence of regular troops. If the Colonists be hard pressed we must reinforce them. Should, however, any additional force be required, two or three thousand Sikhs would cost less, and be perhaps more useful than British regulars. The future prosperity off New Zealand will depend on the event of this war, which has so long menaced it, and nothing should be spared to make the operation complete.” The Times also says of the Colonists, “ they have sprung to ai*ms with an alacrity equal to that which the mother countiy would exhibit if threatened with foreign invasion.” From India we learn that the remainder of the troops, ordered to be sent from there sometime since, had sailed from Rangoon on the 15th October, viz 800 of of the 59th with the 350 left behind of the 43rd and 68th, including women and children. It is understood that General Cameron intends winding up the Waikato business, •if possible, to commence operations in the Taranaki and Ngatirunnui Country this summer. For this purpose the troops lately arrived by the Lady Jocelyn are under orders for Raglan, so as to take Ngatimaniapoto in the rear, while a forward movement was being made from Ngaruawahia. When the seat of war is changed, the frontier of this province will want defending with all the vigilance that has been necessary in respect to that

of Auckland, ar.d the Government has promised a regiment shall accordingly be sent here, in good time if it can possibly be spared. The large reinforcements which this mail leads the colony to expect will therefore enable the General, without inconvenience, to protect our frontier ae fully as he hoped he might be able to do.

In Military circles the Despatches of GeneraljCameron, in reference to Koheroa and Paparata are severely criticised. “ It is not gratifying (says the Army and A avy Gazette ) to reprint despatches' from a Brittish General whom Lord Clyde emphatically declared to be the best soldier he ever knew, which record abortive fights between the finest troops in our service and undisciplined savages ; still less pleasant is it to read of Brittish troops being surprised and driven back for shelter into houses by the same enemy.” It is, however satisfactory to find that the “ moral ” of all their criticisms is, that if it is necessary for the British force to be overwhelming, overwhelming it |must be at once made, rather than the rebellion should be allowed to linger on as it has been.

General Cameron has been appointed to the Colonelcy of the 42nd (the Royal Highland). It is a sinecure with handsome pay, and will not involve the General’s giving up his present command.

We understand that it has been determined by the General Government that, in consequence of the pressure of ordinary occupations at this season of the year, the diull for the next three months shall be fixed by the Goveanor’s proclamation shortly expected at one day a week.

The amount of .£l5O voted by the Provincial Council for Rifle Prizes, is to be competed for so soon as the regulations have been drawn up. The distribution of the amount is understood to be as follows :—Wanganui and Rangitikei, £SO ; Wellington and surrounding districts, £45 ; Hutt, £25; Wairarapa, 25 ; Castle Point £5.