NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume II, Issue 49, 19 April 1862, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

AVCKLAXI). THE. MIL] TA KY MO ADS. On the ">th of lust January, we gave an account of the location of the military on the proposed line of road t<) Maungatawhiri, and thence to the Waikato river. Since tlun we have had an opportunity of personally observing the extent and progress of the road-making operations, and were gratified indeed at the result which has been already achieved The first detachment of troops inarched from the camp at Otahuhu on the 24th December last, and the second detachment a few days later, leaving only about .'WO available men doing garrison duty. Cur readers will also recollect that very recently the Auckland Rifle Voiunteeis undertook the garrisoi. duty .n this city, and thus released the remaining detachment for operation on the roads. When we recollect the short space it time that has elapsed since the first movement of the troop?, it will almost seem incredible that so much has been actual)' accomplished. But the fact is, thanks to the military, tkt on last Monday a party, including several American gentlemta and ladies, were enabled to drive with ease and safety, acoiuw of Mr. Hardingtou's two-horse four-wheelers as far as Mr. .Selby's farm, within three miles of the Waikato river. The military road from Driuy to Maungatawhiri was passage throughout the entire length ; and its condition may be readly guessed, when we state that the horses not only travelled from Drury to Mr. Selby's, but back to Auckland the same day with ease. A considerable section of the road has been metalled by the troops, the metal being invariably spread over the loose earta used in filling hollows'. The level runs, likely to be cut v.? by traffic, are also metalled ; but the inclines and cuttings are as yet Vft with well-formed surfaces of earth. Every posaiM care appears to have been taken in carrying out the works, am it will not be possible for surface water to lodge on the earring way or in the side drains. Stumps of trees and stones have been removed, and when the finish shall have been put '• ! this great highway to the south, as far as the Waikato river, jwe believe it will not be possible to find a work ol greawr ' utility and permanence in this or any other colony. The men engaged are principally yuuug,--many are nitf youths ; and as they handled the pick and shovel, or nset ■*«■ J crow-bar or axe, one coidd hardly suppose, looking at « I fatigue-dress and occupation, that they formed noinsigni cI section of the British army, and that a large l ,erc(mta^ r ! their number have assisted to maintain their country so on the battle fields of India, and in the Crimea. But so' J Bronzed by the sun, and in the flush and vigour of nca J British troops in this province are employed on a J lO, ! enduring in itself, and of greater consequence to the w ! than if they were engaged in active warfare. Nt* tlia : a moment insinuate that active warfare is not m ina"> i necessity, as well as a duty imposed on a nation ; w ' J instance" the foundation is l*-ing laid for the l*™'™ -11 inient of a large tract of country hitherto uu^va^"' - ]^.;)- ---! thereby the cause of Christian civilization nnist * i a.lvanced. Our fellow-countrymen will soon be oc force on the North bank of the Waikato; and wUca

. with the opposing element, the might of their moral ! i • rlui-nce must in time sweep away every vestige of opposition. ' « Kfvoud Mr. Selby's farm the road is under contract, and i ' . i,f it has been formed into the Haveloek township ; and . * !\.,,-nl t\m at the other side of the ridge, thrmu*li the level ! > \)£\ (1.111. I**"***-' *- , ' j, tn;l t skirts the river, several hundred yards of new road i : ] is ve been completed. Men are working at the cutting at tho , •' .„ nr of Haveloek, and they have felled the timber on the line ! ,f read round the ridge on which the township has been laid ' „ u t The road at present has been made no nearer the river \ than the blind creek ; but the earth from the cutting already | referred to will, in all likelihood, be Hiilhcieiit to complete it to ! the water's edge. The (treat South road from Maungatawhiri j 1 w ill be carried up the high ground past Mr. Selby's farm, and j ' ,vci- the range to Haveloek, but the best line would be to the j' left of Mr. Selby's, through the level country. This cannot | l, c dune, however, as the road would pass through native ter- j ritorv. aud it is deemed best to avoid giving any grounds of j uuarrel. Although the entire line may not be completed j k'fore winter sets in, the Lieuteiiant-Ceneral commanding . will have succeeded in finishing it to the cam]) at ! whiri. through the dense bush and over the Razor-back range, i which would have been an impenetrable cover to an enemy; I while an excellent bullock-dray road is iv existence thence to Haveloek. This makes the Waikato river the line of defence j for Auckland, and as the country on the south side is open for j inanv miles, little danger need be apprehended from a sudden j descend, in that direction, of the turbulent Waikati.s should j they ''•' - s0 disposed. It is true the Thames and the Wairoa j districts' -ir open to them ; but the natural difficulties in the | v,-av of such an expedition will in all likelihood deter any I attempt being made. And, besides, (ieneral Cameron's scheme js not limited by what has been accomplished. It is a great work to "pen a highway to the Waikato ; but the present military chief in New Zealand sees that this is not sufficient iv itself. If the tranquilisation of the country is to be effected by bringing civilization into contact with the natives, it must he done at all points ; and that such may be the more readily accomplished, the territory in the hands of the Crown will be thoroughly opened by roads. A road will be formed from the Waikata to the Packiugton township on the Waiuku will in all probability be formed, and that would connect Waiuku to the Wairoa.; the tramway, already laid out from the Waikato with the Manukau, and secure land and water transit to Onehunga. There is a vast track of unoccupied country in the districts to be opened up by these highways, and we hope that steps will he taken to encourage settlements. We want a fixed bring population to take advantage of the roads, and into cultivation the now unproductive lands of the province. As population increases the difficulties that ln-sct our rulers will disappear, and their energies will then be devoted f-olcly to domestic concerns. We cannot conclude thi3 notice of the military roads to the \V aikato without bearing testimony to the proper demeanour oi the men employed, showing then- admirable discipline and quiet and orderly habits. When on this point we may also give publicity to a suggestion made by a a gentleman iv relation to the roads—that inasmuch as the 65th, 70th, 40th, and 15th regiments are engaged at different points, it would be well to name the section of the line formed by each regiment after the county where the corps was originally embodied ? For instance, let the road near Prury, made by the 05th, be called York-road, the second section up the Razor-back, made ny the 70th,. the Surrey-road ; and the remaining sections, made by the 40th and 14th, the Somerset aud Buckingham roads. This would be a graceful compliment to the regiments, mid would also serve to remind the citizens of New Zealand, m fittiu-e times, of the great work which four British Regiments undertook in a season of difficulty for the pacification and settlement of the country.— Southern Cross. Ti.£ Native Police.—The following letter will show how t-ie assessors and the new police are acting in the Northern district :— WhangareL Feb. 10th, 1862. . piK. -In the absence of a Resident Magistrate, I beg to Jii.orm you at the request at the Native Assessors Manihera, robe and Tipene Hari, who sent for mc this morning, of a 'l'Htiiri..-uice that occurred here this day, and which before I arny.it was likely to become serious, but for the great JiTlwaraiice of tli a Europeans and the very loyal and proper •wijuuct of the Native Assessors and their "adherents. 1 v.-.» hullodcs were sold last Saturday to Mr. Rust, whose ..".mavit is enclosed, the property of* a tribe of Rotorua "Mivi-s who are located at presenr on the Otaika river; this i.'Uiiiiigriieycame, objected to the price, aud demanded the of the animals. Mr. Rust refused on principle <-' star.*:*, on account; of the very bad manner in which these '•■uvi-- oehaved. The Native Assessors heard the case and J'-CiUe.t in tavour of Mr. Rust. The Rotorua natives then tne lr-ost insolent manner told every ..ue present to touch * cattle , lt their peri). A senjlle ensued for the second aud'*!-' , " &t W ° S rinuvrhly handled ; the Ngapahi natives thi.- . J ! ,: ,"'' c; ''; !3 sympathising" very much with Mr. Rust. At friin. L i' ,IS :.^ ~,nt' - V ' a y tmn S Chief, and some jpiative police ii' w ' ''"' '' l ■*'' < * : " 1 ''- 3 * w **<> h'ld beon appointed under the KttH Ul * :; ' ;m V" ns a-'Tivvil, they were staving at one of the auth nn - e:t '"' ° U a vi:,st - ' ] " he Native" Assessors felt their Vike''' U> " tr '- U! ? t " , -e:ii;d by their arrival, and directed them to war "'t I . , ' utlL ' out '-'f the hands of the Rotorua natives, who shim,. " V "'- < "' tlu ' ri h ! ,11!,! - This was ihmv < anil th,, y WC ' ; * L ' part .■/+;" "° nL,i tlil; '''■''' •• f '«i'd for Auckland,—Sydney and the liX '' '' ,It:VoS Preceding to protect the vessel" as far as fun,. 0 ! [ : " ::!; * Pt 0 *" the natives of tlrs place, especially the Tm',"' 1 "*"' 11 ' ;U "-'- •'he \oung Chief Sydney, has been ■"•: I'ra.o:worthy. " J ' I have „•_., T; i( . ]~„ -.- .JOHN GRANT .lollN.so.N, J. P. ■"-'*•■ «..,.' Minister of Native Affairs, Auckland. v'-ij'":-- u-om the North have come to hand as we were - " i'i>'-,;-. _'j lt , joji-jv.-inc- i 3 •-, brief summary of tiie n,-^. Lavt ~-..' - • '•;'-- ->.c were visited by a terrific storm fro to the east

north-east, which destroyed shipping in our harbour to the extent of £10,000. The steamer' Phaiiix has entirely disappeaaecL H.M.S. Harrier lost two boats, and had two men drowned. The greatest damage has been done to our coasting trade. The wharf has suffered considerable injury, I and the breach in Custom House-street, made one month i ago by a similar storm, lias been considerably wideued. | The follcr.vingf vessels have been more or less ingjured :- Barque Kate, ship City of Manchester; schooners Vistula,' Fawn, Rose, Sea Breeze, Zillah, Industry, Canterbury, • Eclipse : brig Sporting Lass; cutters Bessy, Wanderer; Tcazcr, cargo boat; H.M. cutter Ellen, and a yacht belonging to Bishop Patteson. The following are total wrecks: — steamer I'luvnix ; schooner Township of Taurangi, Rose ; cutters A nnie Laurie, and ('lyde.— Southern (Vtww. April 8. Coromandel appears likely to become a really paying gold Held. The papers give extracts from letters, and reports of persons who have inspected the operations of the diggers, and all agree in declaring that, gold has already been found in many places Mini that there is every indication of the existence of extensive and rich deposits. Between' 2gO and 300 diggers bad arrived within the last week from Otago, and many more were said to be on their way. There have been several tires in /iucklanil, in one of which the factory of Mr. Bleazard was destroyed. Damage, £1000; uninsured. We hear from a correspondent that the troops have j completed the military road as far as at present piojected, j and are on the point of returning to barracks.