The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1862.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 968, 19 February 1862, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1862.

By the Airedale our news from the Northern Provinces reaches to the Sfch instant. The Governor was constantly movingl about among1

the natives, and the military road works were steadily proceeding 1, with the prospect that by next winter a good metalled road into the Waikato country would be ready for traffic of all kinds. There are no political facts of importance to be gathered from the file of papers. We extract below, from the ' New Zealander,' a summary of the work done towards the settlement of the native difficulty from the time of Sir George Grey's arrival; showing the gradual progress and real success of the policy which has been adopted by His Excellency and his Ministers. The Governor, at the time of the last mail's departure, was about to proceed to Hawke's Bay to be present at an important native meeting to be held on the 24th instant, of which advantage would be taken to organize the Runanga of that district, m accordance with the desire ■of its

native inhabitants, and in. the presence of a large gathering* of the tribes of the interior and others not yet visited. Great difficulties had been placed in the way of his Excellency's movements through the arbitrary withdrawal of the men of war on the station by Commodore Seymore without the Governor's knowledge. The Pelorus and Harrier had some time back gone to Australia, and when the last mail arrived with the intimation of war being declared with America, the Commodore seems to have made use of the oppor-

tunity to send peremptory-instructions to the Miranda to leave Auckland for Sydney, and the Fawn to hold itself entirely disengaged, whatever might be the state of affairs in New Zealand. The Governor was therefore compelled to undertake his journey by the best means in his power, passing from the East Cape to Hawkes Bay overland, afterwards coming southward to Wellington and Wanganui by any opportunity which might present itself j and then returning to Auckland in time for

a great Waikato meeting on the 25th of March. By an arrangement made at Wellington by the Postmaster General we observe that one of the steamers belonging to that port has been secured for liis Excellency's service during 1 part of his journey, and the rest, we .presume, .must be performed as accident may favour Sir George Grey's own active habits. Mr. Fox would also attend at the Hawke's Bay meeting on the 24th February, but would not accompany the Governor on the way. His route is described as being through the Upper Waikato country, by Lake Taupo, and thence to Napier; or along the route of the overland mail.

The "' Nelson Examiner' mentions a rumour prevalent in Auckland, at the time of the Airedale's departure, respecting an act of terrorism attempted to be exercised by the 'King1' natives over Mr. Gorst, who had been lately sent as resident magistrate to that district. It seems, according1 to the report, that Mr. Gorst received an intimation from some natives that.he would not be permitted to remain in the district. He took no notice of this, and was shortly afterwards threatened with forcible removal. As Mr. Gorst was living on a piece of Crown land, and in a palteha house, even this threat did not move him. Presently an 'army' was discerned approaching to perform the duty of expulsion. It is not said under whose authority this 'army' was acting, but it was fairly clothed and disciplined and was commanded by an officer of some military ability, and consisted of about forty men. This force, it appears, held a parley, and some determined language was used by the officer, to the effect that traders might be permitted to settle, but no magistrates, and that a canoe was in waiting to convey any one who did not sell flour, tobacco, and slops, away from the territory of King Matutaere. Mr. Gorst was so obtuse as not to believe that this threat would come into execution and he refused to stir ; while his companions, discovering that the weakness of the 'army' lay in a susceptibility to ridicule, opened a battery of chaff and finally drove.the whole force off the field, Mr. Gorst shaking hands ceremoniously with officers and men. A message to Matutaere elicited the fact from the "advisers" of that potentate, that the whole movement was without his knowledge and contrary to his policy; while a similar message to William Thompson (Tamihana) elicited a still stronger repudiation of the proceeding.