THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, May 3, 1860.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 189, 3 May 1860, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, May 3, 1860.

There is nothing new from Taranaki of an authentic character.

The extraordinary rumour from Auckland, via Taranaki, respecting the cessation of hostilities, which our readers will find elsewhere, extracted from the Taranaki Herald of 21st April, cannot be believed without further confirmation, and we forbear remark on the subject.

A repprt was brought in to the Resident Magistrate here on Monday morning by a Waitotara native, who had received it from a Ngatiruanui, that nineteen soldiers and a maori had been killed by W. Kingi’s party at Waiongona, about six miles from town, on Wednesday the 25 th. It appears, from the account, that provisions had been sent out to the camp at Waitara along the road on Mon day and Tuesday with safety, and that on Wednesday the escort, betrayed into confidence by the quietness of the enemy, had got into an ambuscade, formed by the natives on both sides of the road among some trees, and that of the forty who formed the advanced guard twenty fell, of whom one was a maori, whose limbs and head the enemy cut off, and hewed the body to pieces as that of a traitor. The JFaitotara native stated that he did not believe the report to be true, It is just possible there is some foundation for tlie story, but exaggeration has no doubt been busy with it since it left Taranaki.

The English news is given at as much length as possible. For a copy of the “ Home News ” we are indebted to Capt. Kennedy, of the Lord Ashley, who kindly sent it direct from Nelson. The “entente cordiale” between France and Great Britain seems to have been renewed, and the negociation of the Treaty of Commerce gives reason for believing that henceforth it will be more than a mere sentiment, and that mutual interest will strengthen and prolong it- The French Emperor seems decirous to cultivate amicable relations with us, and the career of internal improvements he has chalked out gives still stronger assurance of his sincerity.

Mr. Stewart, who has been engaged for some weeks past in layiug off the native reserves in the Waitotara block, has now completed his task, and it appears that these reserves amount to nearly a third of the available land in the block, which is by no means a large one, and have included in them the greater part of its best land. The greatest quantity has been reserved by a ehief at Kai-iwi. In these circumstances it becomes a question whether it would not be better for the government to decline the purchase until the natives made their reserves considerably smaller. It is only within the last twenty years that these maories have settled in that district. They have lands elsewhere on which to fall back, if they gave up the whole of the block. A great many of them are anxious to have the purchase completed, and it is likely they would bring their influence to bear on the Kai-iwi chief, and persuade him to more reasonable terms, if the purchase were delayed until the reserves were brought within a reasonable limit. The system of reserves in the centre of a European settlement is bad ; and it would be a pity to allow it to become still more objectionable by a blind surrender to the natives of the land which is most valuable. A petition to the Governor not to buy land, or even to delay its purchase, appears very extraordinary indeed, but in this exceptional case there is such a good reason for delay, if it is thought the object will thereby be effected, that we venture to propose the idea, which at least has the merit of novelty.

There is, a hacknied Latin proverb, that it is lawful to learn from an enemy. Might we not, in present circumstances, adopt a Maori usage with advantage ? They allow no body of men to pass through their territory without leave previously asked and given. Why should we allow natives to come aud go through our settlement without question or remark ? Many of those who have gone north of late may be presumed, with no want of charity, to have joined our enemies at Taranaki, and a party coming south last week caused an alarm, which may possibly make us careless when real danger presents itself. The head of that party. Wi Tako, a Hutt chief, has, it is said, raised the rebel flag at Otaki, notwithstanding all his professions of friendship; and if he had been detained here, or prevented from passing through, he could not so soon, at least, have gained over the natives in that place. But, apart altogether from this case", the information respecting which may or may not be correct, it is desirable that the enemy should not have such free commnnicatlon with the south as they at present have. It may be thought by the authorities impossible to prevent it. They can at any rate issue a proclamation, debarring transit without permission. Such a proclamation, declaring the adoption of" a usage of their own, would be understood by the Maories, and might have some influence with them. It would certainly have, if severe measures were taken with the delinquents.

Local Intelligence.

Wesleyan Chuech. —On the 22d ult. this chapel was opened by the Rev. J. Buller, of Wellington. There was a full attendance. The reverend gentleman took for his morning text Colossians i. 28, and in the evening his discourse was from Psalms xlviii. 12, 13. Collections were made at the close of each service, amounting to £l6. 15s. 2d. t On Monday afternoon a social tea meeting was held in the church, when upwards of one hundred persons sat down to an excellent tea; after j which there was a public meeting, presided' over by that friend of civil and religions liberty, j W. Watt, Esq., M.P.C., who,- after making a

few’’observations, called upon Mr. Allsworth to read the report. The Rev. W . Kirk, wlio is appointed to the Mongonui Circuit, m the north, delivered a parting address. His successor, the Rev. W. J. Watkin, spoke well and to the point, and was loudly applauded. The Rev. J. Buller gave an account of his first visit here before the arrival of the settlers, in January 1840, and also of later ones, recalling the many changes and the friends we have lost during the past few years. The Rev. Messrs. Hogg and Mason were unavoidably absent. The meeting was a very -interesting one. The second annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Mataongaonga district, was held at the house of H. Churtou, Esq., on Monday the 23rd ult.., Mr. Soulby in the chair. Messrs. Joseph Soulby, Richard Shield, and John Nixon, were elected auditors to go over the accounts of the Board for the past year. A motion, to the effect that a rate of Id. per acre be levied for the repair and maintenance of the highways of the district, was lost by the casting vote of the chairman. Mr. Soulby was then elected a warden to fill up the vacancy in the Board, and the meeting separated.

Enoemous Musheooms.— ln the Chronicle of the sth inst. we recorded an enormous mushroom exhibited by Mr. F. Williamson, the weight of which was 1 lb. 12 oz. We have since boeu furnished with the weights of five, found all close together on Mr. Fox’s station at the Rangitikei, on Saturday last, one of which considerably surpasses Mr. Williamson’s giant. They weighed 6 lb. 15 oz., and the three largest weighed respectively—2 lb. 7 oz., 1 lb. 7 oz.; 1 lb. 6| oz. The diameter of the first was 1 foot by 9 inches, the circumference 2 ft. 8f in.! The diameter, of the second was 10 in. by 8| in, circumference 2 ft. 4 in. The first was 3| in. in thickness; this monster was cooked, and proved very good. There were two more found of the size of the second, but decayed, and too far gone to carry home. They were growing on land which had never been cultivated, thinly covered with low manuka, which had recently been burned.

A case of some importance with regard to Roads was decided in the Resident Magistrate’s Court on 26th ult. A settler on the track at present used for the No. 3 line of fload had shut it up, because it was not the line laid out by government j and on the fence he had put across the road being broken down, cited the individual who removed the obstruction, before the court, for trespass on his property. It was decided that no private individual had a right to shut up a road which had been used for a length of time; that that power as well as thepporerw r er to lay out new roads rested in the board of hardens for the district. The settlement of this case has also opened the road on the right bank of the river, which to the great inconvenience of the aettlers in the neighbourhood had been shut for some days about two miles from the town, at a place where the road for a few chains goes on private property. The Cavalry and Rifle Corps were sworn in on Friday and Saturday last by Major Cooper, who has come from Auckland to take charge of the volunteers and militia; and by his promptitude and courtesy has already made a very favourable impression on the volunteers. The cavalry have chosen as their officers, —to be Captain, John Cameron, Esq., of Marangai; Lieutenants, Messrs. John Kells, and P. G. Wilson. The Riflemen met on /Saturday evening and elected Samuel Deighton, Esq. as their Captain and Messrs. Walter Jowett and Samuel Austin as Lieutenants. Both corps are now drilling—the Cavalry twice and the Rifles six times in the week. Of the former there are 65, and of the latter 115 enrolled.