DR. FEATHERSTON AND THE WAR.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2498, 22 July 1865, Page 5

DR. FEATHERSTON AND THE WAR.

Tiik following is an extract fiom the speech uncle by the Superintendent of Wellington on the opening of the Piovmcial Council on the 10th instant : — The warm tubute paid by tho Council last year to the Wangaivu natives has been most amply justified, for not only have they ever sinco the battle of Monoa most caiefully guarded tho liver, but, finding that the rebels wcie prepaung for another aggressive iuo\emcut. they nt once attacked aud defeated them, stonn«d sevenil of their pas, and captured a considel able number of prisoners, and ultimately followed up their victoiy by taking possession of Pipit iki, which may be considered as the Key of tho livei. The victoiy of Ahoutahi was, however, de.iily puichased at the sacrifice of Iloaiu Wuemu, one of the most civilized and intelligent chiefs in these islands — a long tried and faithful friend of tho settleri, and, peihaps, the most steadfast supporter the Government has possessed. By tho subsequent submission of Pehi and his people, Kutgism and rebellion may be considcied as virtu illy extirpated in tho Wanganniiivor. And there is little doubt that, had our gallant and ti usty allies been left perfectly free and unfettered in their action, the Wereroa Pa would long befoie tluB have fallen, and the icbel tiibci between Wangauui and Taiannki cither reduced to submission or forced to take refuge in the fastnesses of the iutenor. I am glad to add that in spite of the spioad of tho ITauhau fanaticism wo ha\e abundant proof of the loyalty of the leading chiefs in other districts, and that there is not the slightest reason to appiehond any attempt on the part of the natives to disturb the peace. The couiic thus steadily pursued by tho natives confii ms the wisdom of the policy hitherto adopted in this province — the policy of ti listing and aiming the fiiendly natives, of confiding to them in a gioat measure tho duty of preset ving the peace and protecting our outlying districts. It also gO3s far to prove that as fai as this province is concerned thete will be no great lisk iv gradually removing the Imperial forces fiom the colony. • In accordance with the resolution of tho Council, I succeeded, dm ing my lecent visit to Australia, iv purchasing a not inappropriate monument for the biave men who fell at Moutoa, which it is proposed to picct in some conspicuous part of the town of Wanganni.