THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, May 31, 1860.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 193, 31 May 1860, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, May 31, 1860.

Our news from-'Taranaki is to the 24th inst., but nothing of great interest has occurred since the 12th, —the previous date to which our intelligence was brought up. As will be seen from the account of Mr. Parris’s excursion, given in another'column, the number of YVaikatos that have come to Kingi’s assistaiic'e are reckoned by him at 150. This party joined- Kingi on the 14th inst., and had been engaged in feasting for' some days. Timber had been collected for the construction of another pa on the disputed ground, to be made so soon as the feast was over. Another account mentions, that 230 Waikatos arrived oh’: Wednesday the 10 th, but we presume the same party must be referred to. The camp was' daily reconnoitred from an eminence close at hand, from which every movement of the troops c.an be seen. Huts were being erected gt.jPukgkoJie for. the Winter quarters of the troops at "\Vaitara. They consist of 120 rank and; file of the 40th. regt, and 180 of the 65th, with their officers. There is also a native irregular corps, armed with doublebarrelled fowling pieces, under the command of Captain Brown and Lieut. Stockman. In .the. neighbourhood of Taranaki, at the Bell Block, a party of civilians, guarded by a number of soldiers, were engaged in collecting firewood, when they canie suddenly on a party of natives, threshing their wheat, and digging their potatoes, who stood their ground, while our people precipitately retired. A native belonging to this neighbourhood, who has been at Patea, has brought the intelligence this week, that the JVgatiruanui arid Taranakis, to the number of oOO.or 600, have again gone ; .north to -Taranaki, to make an atta.ck on it by night. . They may have arrived by-.this time, and may- be expected to. carry oufe‘their intentions,mf persisted in, within a week. The Ngatiruanui have built a strong pa, ag a place of retreat, at Wlienua Aura, a fejv miles south of the Patea. Before they left they, were informed by Abraham, the chief-at Waitotara, that they might go north to fight; but that if, : on their -return, they wished to go to Wanganui, with the settlers at which no tribe had any quarrel, lie would resist their passage. The native further

reports (but this part of his news must be received with-caution), that the chief of the Ngattvuanui deputation to Potatau had been assured by that potentate, that he intended to join W. Kingi, as lie saw the war was really regarding the whole land question, and not the little -bit- at Waitara, and. to bring the Waikato to his assistance. It is scarcely likely; however, that Potatau would thus compromise himself before the meeting to take plaCfe in the beginning of this month. The natives-,at Wairarapa continue turbulent. They 'abe said to have laid claim to 500 acres on Mr. j?id well’s run, regarding which there was some misunderstanding when it was bought some years ago. At 7/awke’s Bay, Mr. Alexander, in a letter to the ‘ Herald ’ of. the loth inst., says, “ Up to the last few days, the- native! could have had no ulterior views against the settlers, inasmuch as they have been actively engaged in erecting a flour mill. and comfortable dwelling houses, in European fashion, almost within gun-shot of the barracks. ■

; All the chiefs ‘on the Wanganui river invited to the conference at Auckland, have expressed their intention to he present either personally,, or by deputy.

We regret that want of space prevented us last week from directing attention to the Annual Report of the Wanganui Common School Committee, which we published last Thursday. On reference to it, it will be observed, that whereas last year there was a balance in the hands of the treasurer of £47 10s. Bd.,' the balance this year is only .£6 7s. 6<j., and although thi* deficiency is partly made up by the increased amount due by the government to the Association, yet we understand that on the whole there is a falling off in the funds, and that the annual subscriptions are not on the increase. In consequence of this state of matters the new committee have been considering the propriety of endeavouring to .levy a house tax, in order to provide the funds necessary for rendering the institution more effective. We believe that a proposal to this effect has already been laid before the electors of this place twice, and been rejected by them, and we will not venture an opinion on a question so delicate. Knowing, however, that though Englishmen in general have a great objection to direct taxation, no other nation in the world maintains charitable institutions of all kinds and for all purposes so extern ively, we have no doubt that the circnrastances of the case merely require to be made known to induce a more liberal contribution, and so render unnecessary any steps towards imposing a tax for the efficient maintenance of an institution, which every one must desire to see in a prosperous state.

iiiK Wellington l-'rovinciai ouuuui tnijuuinoa from the 15th to the 22nd inst, when they again met, ten members being present. The Speaker laid on the table certain papers re: ceived from the Registration Office, Melbourne. The Provincial Treasurer read a copy of the correspondence with the General Government relative to the Militia, which was ordered to be printed. The house then adjourned to the 21st June.