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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 8, Issue 380, 25 February 1864, Page 1

THE HOSTILE MAORIS/ j-From the Special Correspondent of the Argus.] The actual number of natives in arms against the British authority jis much smaller than *is generally believed. It must be remembered, however, that with the Maoris every man is available for active service. They have not, as we hav®, to employ whole regiments in making roads and clearing bush, and to station thousands in posts to defend frontiers and to maintan the line of communication between an army and its base of operations, iStill, it is probable that the war would not have been entered upon had the tribes who precipitated it not supposed they •would have been able to muster twice or_ tHfice~as~marrybraves~as~thejhave_realy done. At the unsatisfactory conclusion of the last Taranaki war—a struggle in which the British are said to have conquered, but which impressed the natives with a poor idea of our military powers —an understanding was come to among the different tribes that the next war with the pakelias should be a general one on the part of the Maoris^ The natives are armed principally with double-barreled guns. They have also revolvers, and the events of the war—their plunderings and successful ambuscades—jhave placed them in possession of a number of rifles. They manufacture powder themselves. It is coarse-grained, composed of rugged fragments above the size of a split pea, and is weak. It is however, that supplies of good powder, ara obtained from the American | whalers which make the coasts, as American pow-der-flasks have been seen with them. The number of natives who have actually borne arms against us is shown as nearly as can be ascertained, by h the following list : WAIKATO TRIBES. Ngatihaua 400 Ngatijmakuta »' ... J2SG Ngatihineta,and Ngatipakora... 350 Ngaungau | 150 Parts of Ngatimahauga and Ngatiheata and others 150 Total of Waikatos ... 1,300 Ngatimaniopoto 500 COAST TRIBES. Ngatiraukanu ... ... 125 Ngatiporou 75 200 TARANAKI. Wanganui and allies 150 Ngatiruanui 250 Noatiawa 200 Total 2,60 ft Legal. —Otago stands unenviable prominence as possessitig.themost litigious; population in New Zealand. Duiing the year 1862 no fewer than 676 suits were 'commenced in the Supreme Court, of [which 209 were adjudicated upon in favour of plaintiffs ; in 155 judgment was obtained by default, and 16 by oonfession. In Auckland, for the same year, only 89 leases were commenced, Otago exceeding [this number by' 587. —Daily Telegraph.

A CASE FOR THE SUPRESSION OF REBELLION ACT. A correspondent; asks us our opinion on the following facts :—He says a certain member of the House of Representatives, living not one hundred miles from Auckland, recently paid a visit to Tauranga, and on his return voluntarily admitted to him (our correspondent) that he had told the natives there.that the Government u were goiug to rob them of their lands.” Further, that before returning, one of the chiefs made him a present of a valuable mere greenstone and Maori mat. “ [ told them said the M.H. R., “ that the Government were going to rob them of their lands ; ” and during the same conversation “ the chief gave me a greenstone and a Maori mat.” Such are the facts, and now for our opinion. Only that a man should not be convicted on his own admission, we think it would have been a proper case for the operation of the Supression of the Rebellion Act; but if independent evidence can be obtained, no doubt the Government will feel it to be their duty to put the Act in force. The deluded chief, it would appeal', has so appreciated the untruthful information given him by the M.H.R., that he has made him a valuable consideration for it, and will probably act upon his advice, the nature of which may be pretty well guessed. It is this indiscreet, not to say, criminal tampering with the natives that has in fa great measure caused the present rebellion. The least that the M.H.R. can do is to send the mere greenstone and Maori mat as cong cience money to the Treasurer ; and we will then undertake not to disclose his name.— Daily Southern Cross, Feb. 8.

Sheep Branding. — We are given to under* stand that the best preparation for branding sheep consists of boiled oil thickened to the consistency off cream with lamp black, and with a gill of turpentine) to the gallon of oil added. For many reasons, this is a far better preparation to use for branding than pitch. It is easier of application, far more permanent, and in no way interferes with the working up of the wool, as pitch is sometimes apt to Wo. Wc believe the scab inspector has expressed his opinion that this is the best material that can be used. — Hamilton Spectator.