TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Bruce Herald, Volume V, Issue 229, 16 September 1868, Page 6

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(From the Daily Papers. ) Wellington, Tuesday, Sep. 8. The farewell banquet to Sir George Grev, late Governor of New Zealand, rook place at 2 o'clock this afternoon. There was present a large and distinguished company. The affair proved a verv great success. Sir George Grey in replying to his health, was greatly affected. He alluded to his long expei-i°nce in the Government of New Zealand affairs. After the banquet an address was presented to Sir George Grey by the citizens of Wellington, expressing their thorough appreciation of the many valuable and lengthened services he had rendered to the colony. The Fire Brigade, Volunteers, Veterans, all accompanied him to the wharf, where. he embarked on board the Airedale to take a j trip round the harbour. The Mataura, by which Sir George sails, has not yet arrived. Fox's want of confidence motion comes on upon Wednesday, (to dav.) Rumoured dissensions in the Ministerial camp currently reported. The Government party held a meeting on Saturday, at which certain honorable members were deputed to confer with Ministers The Conference took place on Monday, and laro-e concessions were agreed to ; in the direction of Fox's resolutions. It ' the Ministers bring in the resolution alluded to by Mr Hall at the close of his Budget speech, Mr Fox will propose his resolutions as an amendment thereto. H.M.S. Sturt arrived at 1 o'clock with disastrous news from the front; five officers and 14 men lulled, and 24 wounded. Great regret is felt at the loss of the gallant Major Von Tempsky,. who fell while nobly leading his men to battle. The brave Captain Buck, and the equally brave officers, Palmer, Hastings, Hunter, and Rowan, are reported as dangerously wonnderi. The meagre /facte, of this un- j fortunate reverse to. hand, have evidently bpen forwarded for the purpose of allaying excitement; On Monday (7th. instant) our forces again ' left Waihai at 4 o'clock a.m., and j at 2 o'clock p.m. encountered the enemy a second time at Ngutu ote Manu. This time the enemy were evidently prepared to trive ns a warm reception— not only were the rifle pits, but also the tops of the trees manned by the enemy. Deadly volleys were poured upon our men, who. boldly pushed forward cheered by the officers — 27 Maoris were killed. The s.s. Mataura has arrived, and sails ! this evening at 7 o'clock. Sir George Grey leaves in her. Hastings, one of the officers reported as - dangerously wounded, was for four years sub-editor of the '* Wellington Independent' newspaper, and was much respected. . ''■'■■ Wellington, Sept. 10 . In introducing his amendment of. "no j confidence" last night, Mr Fox explained his' policy. Instead of taking over all j Provincial payments for interest, &c, he proposed a capitation allowance, of thirty shillings, each Province, being responsible for its own interest. Besides other advan tages it would have given L35,960 additional last year, and Llß, 67o this. •With a view to secure uniformity of action, unity of purpose, and' harmony 01 temper,' instead of the present conflict, uncertainty, and intense bitterness, . he proposed substituting for the: Defence Minister a Secretary for the Provinces. He did not think any great reduction; ot taxation could be made at present, but it ought to be done, to some, extent, if only as an indication of the intentions ol the Government to do so largely, as speedily as possible. He 'thought that sufficient, savings could be effected for tlii& purpose*

i Believing that". rebellion was ruin to the Provinces of the North -Island, proposed delegating the Native management and Defence to the Superintendents, but that of the East Coast— although ib Auckland Province— to Mr M'Lean,' the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay. He would grant out of the Consolidated Revenue L 100.000 for each of two years, and L76.000 for each of. three years, to those Provinces for Native and Defence purposes, and, with a view to stimulate peace efforts, would allow all the balance to be spent on works requiring Native labor, &c. He would extend local self, government in every direction insubordin a'ion to, and not set over, Provincial Institutions. He would extend it to mining as well as agricultural districts. He thought his policy would give an opportunity to reinstated Provinces to devote themselves to their proper colonising functions, which were now rendered all ..butimpossiMe. Stewart's Island need no longer remain a waste— the West Coast of Otago unpeopled— Westland uncertain of its future — Nelson constantly afraid to do justice to outlying districts, because of the prospect of dismemberment— Taranaki without a career, or hope — Hawke's Bay oppressed by an intolerable incubus—Wellington, Canterbury, Auckland, and Otago, paralysed by the dread of constantly recurring organic changes. In the Government policy, on the other hand, he saw nothing but a. perpetually dissolving view— a thing which has no j solidity, permanence, nor stability — a constitution by which nothing is constituted — a circle which has no centre and no circumference. He saw a policy composed of purposeless drifting, galvanised into lite by the application of* a system of unblushing political bribery, addressed to those sections of the community which are ever ready to.sell great political birthrights for j .small but immediate messes of tempting and savoury pottage. For the present, and until the colony was brought back into a position in which it might prudently expend, he did not propose adding to its uebt by borrowing. Messrs Graham, Reynolds, and Curtis, supported Mr Fox's amendment, and Messrs Stafford and Brown oppospd. The Lady Bird returned from the South last night with the body of Burton the diver, who went. over that morning to the steamer Taranaki. He went down in diver's dress at 6 a.m., and exchanged signals for a quarter of an hour, when nothing more was noticed until a red cap was seen floating on the water. Efforts were made for an; hour to haul him up, but he got entangled in the rigging. When irawn up, it was found that his helmet had become unscrewed, and he was quife dead. He was an experienced diver. A private letter states that of the fourteen men killed in the attack on Te Ngutu o te Manu, five were Friendly Natives. Surgeon Best, was also killed. Most of the dead were left where they fell/ The force started at 3 a.m., returning to the camp at 11 a.m. , Mr Stafford has introduced a Bill enabling Provincial Councils to' make the Superintendent chairman by the resolution of a clear majority. Three separate sittings to take piace with intervals of not more than one week. Mr Hall has introduced a Bill repealing a portion of the Constitution Act, with a view to defining and subordinating the powers of Superintendents and Provincial Councils. The Bills are not yet printed. Several tenders have been received for raising the Taranaki at from LSOOO to L6OOO - but the Company to run nearly all risks. The wreck of a schooner is officially reported as having been seen on Farewell Spit. Great distress in Wellington over the fallen in the late unfortunate affair at Patea Strong leader upon the subject in the ( Independent,' The late Governor, Sir George Grey, embarked in the Mataura at 5 o'clock, under a salute of 17 guns from the Volunteer artillery. There was a large. concourse of persons assembled to witness the departure ot Sir George. The Mataura sailed at 9 o'clock last' night. HM.S. Sturt left at 2 o'clock with Colonel Haultain on board for Artea_, the seat oi war, on the West Coast. , Wellington, Sept. 11. The debate on Mr Fox's want of confidence motion was resumed last night by the Opposition side. Travers attacked yesterday's leader in the Wellington 'Independent, condemning the strong language used concerning the late Patea disaster, also M'DonnelPs military tactics. Mr Borlase followed suit. Jollie spoke in favor of the Government. There was a good deal of chaff made use of on both sides. The ss. Wanganui arrived this morning, bringing further confirmation of the late disaster at Patea ; 5 officers and 12 men killed, 24 wounded, .and 2 missing . The wounded, being unable to walk, were left behind in the hands of the enemy. - , The Wanganui ' Herald, of yesterday gives farther particulars of the attack on the posi. tion of the enemy on Tuesday. , The attack was not on Te Ngatu o'teMariu, as previously reported,; but on Pourow,. a pah four: miles on the other side of the; first mentioned place. The friendly natives spoiled the plan of attack adopted by Colonel M'Donnell, and the consequence Avas tliat the forces were discovered to the eriemy. . Colonel M'Dbnnell placed the friendlies in the front, aiid when Within about half a mile of tha pah, they found the tents of the out- . Hauhau pickets. No sooner had they caught sight of these than they raised wild ' yells. The Hauhaus ; ran away and apprised the. garrison of the approach of the attacking force. : The friendlies caught' a bay iri one of the tjents, and ; quickly dashed out his brains. i^eHauh^a^.tobkLtd.rihe trees When. the -' roops appeared within range of the pahT

They .were, received with "a volley which brought Lieut? Hunter io .the l grourid;: ' Ofie of Major Von tempsky 's men was wpunded, and Von Tempsky went forward to bring him from under fire, and in removing him, fell wounded. Another man went forward to bring away the Major, _ and he was shot dead. A second went, and he was shot through, both thighs. A third went and he was shot through the hands . At this time it was not known' whether 'Von Tempsky was killed, but the balls were coming so thick from the tops' of tlie trees,' ihat it ; *^as scarcely possible that anything could live near where he was lying. The friendly. natives were in an adjoining gully, and Colonel M'Donnell went to speak to Captain Kemp. The friendly natives were Worse than useless, and the only good thing they 'did. was to shewV some, .men who had lost themselves in the bush, the way ont. Captain Buck's cap was brought into Wai hi. The men got confused, and there seemed to be no one to , command them. Some of ;them ran away. It is believed that the friendlies betrayed our designs. In this retreat, Major Hunter behaved with great courage, and to him is due the salvation of the force. ..Cplonel M'Donnell placed too much confidence in the friendlies, and appeared to be more at home with, them than with the Colonial forces- Only twelve of the wounded were bronght in to Waihi. The others were left on the spot -where they fell. The list of the killed has already been given. The wounded (many of whom must now be dead,) are — Lieut Rowan, Surgeon Best, Privates Howston, O'Brien, O'Hagan, and Waldron, of the Armed Constabulary; Sergt Tooey, Privates O'Connor, Burke, Hannigah and Harris Wellington Rifles ; Privates Caldwell, M'Manois, Waldren, Griffiths, Quincey, Melvin, Loder, J. Wells, J. Hamblin, Hollo way, Hoyland and Flynn, Taranaki Militia. There are missing:— Private Darlington, of the Armed Constabulary, and Private Dowries. Wellington, Sept. 12. Mr Rolleston for Mr Fox's amendment, and Mr Ludlam against it, were the only speakers last night/but there was a smart interlude arising out of the Lobby rumours as to, the large sums promised to several of the Provinces In replying to Mr Bell, Mr Stafford was understood to say that he would answer if Mr Bell would question. Mr Bell did question, and Mr Stafford declined to answer, declaring he had been misunderstood. The debate, is scarcely expected to close till Wednesday. Telegrams from Napier express great in-, digna tion at the withdrawal of the constabulary. The Government continue firm, and the constabulary left Napier this afternoon.