LATEST FROM THE EAST COAST.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 494, 22 April 1869, Page 2

LATEST FROM THE EAST COAST.

By the arrival of the "Wallabi from "Wanganui we have received the latest telegraphic despatches from the East Coast.

Napieb, April 12th 10.45 The following was received from Waikau, dated Sunday, at noon: Te Kooti is in full possession of Mohaka. The Mohaka natives held their pa against him for about 24 hours. Early this morning Te Kooti proposed that if they gave themselves up they should not be hurt. This was agreed to, but when Te Kooti entered he began to kill all that he could lay his hands upon. Some thirty or forty on perceiving Te Kooti's treachery, escaped across the river, and are now safe. It is to be feared that the Europeans living higher up the river have fallen into Te Kooti's hands. The whole place is in flames. One European only has been seen dead. Ten Hauhaus were seen dead. Messrs Lavin's, Cooper's, and Sim's families may have escaped into the bush. Te Kooti is estimated to be from 400 to 500 strong. April 13, 8 p.m. Colonel Lambert should have 80 Europeans and 70 Ahuriri natives for action to-morrow in concert with the Wairoa people. The ammunition per Hero would be delivered to-day, and the Murewai and Grayling will be off Waikare and Mohaka by daylight, with ample supplies of stores and ammunition. April 14. Te Kooti said to be killed. Loss on our side—Lavin's family, Cooper and Williamson (known,) and about 40 natives, principally women and children.

The families of 14 settlers were brought in last night per Murewai, but nothing further was heard of the missing Mohaka settlers. Ensign Lavin, J. P., a much respected industrious settler, with his family, have been killed at Mohaka.

The main body of the Hau-haus had retreated with plunder to the Waikaremorau Lakes, to prepare for any fresh outrage.

It is feared that unless prompt measures are taken to check Te Kooti's band, their next attempt will be on Napier. The Wanganui Times, of the 17th inst., has received intelligence that a pa held by 50 friendly natives, had been attacked by Paora Toki, that the King sanctions Kooti's movements, and that an attack inland from Patea will be made on the outlying districts of Hawke's Bay. The attacking force is said to have been 200 strong. Overland communication between Taupo and Napier is stopped.

CENTRALISM, PROVINCIALISM AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. In the "Wellington Provincial Council, Mr Pharazyn moved a series of resolutions having for their object the supercession of Provincialism. He advocated on central Government. Mr Hutchison, one of the "Wanganui members, and who is editor of the Chronicle there, said that while agreeing most heartily with the the desirability of putting an end to Provincialism as an inefficient and expensive mode of Government, yet he could not agree to the resolutions. It would simply be getting out of the frying pan into the fire. He was therefore prepared to move as an amendment that instead if the General Government bringing in a hill to get the management of everything into their own hands, they should be requested to bring in a bill empowering districts, either singly or two or more in combination as might be moat convenient, to make the necessary arrangements for local management. And he wished the Council to observe the distinction between his amendment and the resolutions before the House. It was not a question of detail. It was a question of essential principle. The resolutions proposed to take the management of certain in. stitutions from the Provincial Government and hand it over to the General Government; his amendment, on the other hand, proposed to take it from the Provincial Government and hand it over to the people of the respective districts, which was a very different thing. And he believed that what the people of the country needed, and what generally speaking they were desirous to obtain, was simply the liberty to manage their own affairs in a homely and inexpensive way—they soughs- freedom to develope the resources of their districts as the eircumstances and the necessities of the case required; without having to ask the Superintendent for thfc, or. the Gen- j eral Government for that. They do not want law, fine speeches, or aping at Government, but simply to be let I alone. By all tue&na, let us g?L rid of j Provincial Government, but in escaping from Scjlla there is no Toasrn ~hy wo j sh6\ild be wrecked CusirybduS j He could not too strongly urge upon j them that having go* rid of provincialism they should not fly to centralism. Beyond having the General Govern- ] ment as a vinculum—a sort of centre to unite the smaller bodies together— j they did not require its interference j and were not likely to get much of its aid. Local Government should be the direction in which the settlers tended. The hon. member knew perfectly well that there will be no revenue after the General Government has manipulated the various departments j he proposed to hand over to them. But suppose there should be some Ut-

tie money and suppose the chairmen of road boards were the proper parties to expend it (which he doubted) was there nothing for the settlers of the respective districts but roads ? They attached great importance no doubt to their roads, but people in the country sometimes did think of other things. And they believed if they are i capable of managing roads, they could do a little for bridges—tbey could look aft u r their ferries and harbours, Burveys, and other thiDgs of a public v character. Provincialism had failed. It had failed for various reasons. It had been administered in a partial and one-sided way; it was cumbrous and expensive ; it aped at formalities which were pleasant enough in an old and rich country, but which were simply ridiculous here ; it had failed because of these and other reasons, but it had failed mainly, he believed, because it was not local government. Well, the provincial government had failed and having done so there was no reason to suppose that the General Government would do any better. Local government, such as his amendment pointed to, was the only reform worth caring for.