TARANAKI.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 795, 17 May 1865, Page 3

TARANAKI.

The Taranaki Herald, of the 6th instant, gives the following account of the military operations that hayebeenrecently undertaken in that province : —

The noticeable feature in the news of the month has been the renewal of military operations (or more properly, of military movements) in TaranaM, which is all the more remarkable as'being simultaneous with General Cameron's retirement into winter quarters. Whether it is that tbe winter is milder here than 60 or 100 miles to the southward ; or whether it is that where there's a will there's a way, and where there's not a will there isn't a way, we do not know, but the fact remains that just as General Cameron has given up the thoughts of further operations as impracticable, Col. Warre, on the motion of the Government, has been advancing his outposts considerably in each direction—ls or 20 miles to the northward since last month, and 25 miles to the southward. Pukearuhe, the site of an old Maori pa on this side of Parininihi (or the White Cliffs) and about 25 miles northward of the town, was occupied by a mixed force of Regulars and Bushrangers, under Captain Ralston, 70th Regiment, on Monday, 24th April. It was in consequence of the rumored approach of the Ngatimaniapoto that this important post was taken up, and though Eewi and his people have not yet appeared, it cannot be denied that the move is a most judicious one, looking to the absolute command it gives of the only direct route from Waikato. When W. King, of TJmuroa, was told of it, he said, " Ah, then you have put up your gate at last ? " —a remark which sufficiently indicates the nature of the place and the effect of occupying it. The day before this move was made a small party of men, who though almost unarmed had very rashly gone out to a distance of! several miles from the camp at Te Ngana, Stoney River, were attacked by a party of the Taranaki Natives, and two of the number killed; one of the bodies only was found, and from it one eye had been cut out, no doubt eaten in accordance with their lately adopted (or rather lately renewed) cannibal practices. It was [rumoured, in connection with this affair, that these Natives had seen one unarmed party, previously, and might have killed them but would not, and gave notice through the friendly Natives at Tukitukinapa that they had let them off, but that in future they should kill any they met with. The story was of course in the highest degree improbable to any one who considered that these Natives belonged to the worst section (the Patukai and Upokomuta) of one of the very worst tribes in New Zealand, and upon enquiry we found that the mistake arose from a warning given by one of the TukituMpapa Natives on his own account from what he knew would happen if men continued going carelessly about as they were then doing. A week later Colonel Warre, with a small force of Bushrangers and Regulars, went down in the Wanganui and took possession of Opunake, a place reckoned to be about 45 miles to the southward of this town, and therefore perhaps about twenty-five from Waingongoro, the northernmost post which General Cameron has heen able to occupy in his advance from Wanganui. The occupation of Opunake is important as tending to separate the Taranakis from the Ngatiruanuis ; though from the nature of the country'it will be difficult to make this separation complete, even if other posts are taken up inland. Still, it make 3 their communication more difficult, and ours more easy—and is another step towards the necessary occupation of the country between

here and "Wanganui. It also relieves TV". King, of Uruuroa, from the awkward position he has been in for the last two or three years, and will no doubt secure the allegiance of such of his people as are waverers. On Monday last, Colonel Warre having returned to town by sea, started again with a mixed force to go down overland, camped at Warea the same night, and started for Opunake the ; same morning. The result of this ex- ! pedition is not yet known. It may, however, be safely said that more has been done in the last fortnight than in the previous six months, —that is, since the capture of Manutahi and the occupation of Mataitawa and Te Arei—and it is due partly to the energy aud decision of the Defence Minister and partly to the ready and able assistance rendered by Colonel "Warre to the plans of the Government. It was the more essential that something should be done, inasmuch as General Cameron had not only ceased to advance, but had even retired a few miles from the furthest point he had reached—and therefore, as it has been followed by an advance here, the natives will look upon the retreat probably as a feint —in which light it is as well that they should regard it. The Pai Marire fanaticism is probably still on the increase among the hostile and semihostile natives. The Government, it will be seen, have issued a proclamation on the subject, declaring the practice of it a custom repugnant to humanity, and therefore to be suppressed under the royal instructions. But the thing itself derives its whole strength from the lawlessness and aversion to restraint (at least to such restraint as our law supplies) which are inherent in Maori nature and have been fostered to an unusual degree by various events in the last five years, and therefore in dealing with it alone we are dealing with what is little more than a symptom, and not with the root of the disease. Still it is desirable to prevent the spread of the infection among the friendly and half friendly Natives (the Ngapuhi for instance), for though no doubt they would take it in a much milder form, it would supply a bond of union between them and our open enemies which it is obviously desirable should not exist.

EEPEESENTATIOS' OP THE TOWN. "We have much pleasure in giving prominence to the following reply of Mr. Sewell's to the requisition sent to him by the electors of this town. No one can doubt Mr. Sewell's assertion that the reinstatement of Taranaki is one of the cardinal points of the policy of the Government of which he is a member, and it is therefore wise in the people of this place to support that Government as far as they are able, even without considering what a very remote chance there is of getting a better Government for New Zealand generally:—

TO THE EtECTOBS OP THE TOWN OP $EW PXTMOT/TH. Gentlemen, —I accept with great pleasure your requisition to mc to become a candidate for the representation of the Town of New Plymouth in the General Assembly. It affords mc gratification to observe that the special ground on which you invite mc to become your representative is my sympathy with Taranaki in its troubles. 1 can assure you with great sincerity that you do mc no more than justice in attributing to mc that sentiment, and that the reinstatement of that province is one of the cardinal points of the policy of the Government of which I am a member. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Tour most obedient servant, H. Seweli. Wellington, April 2% 1865.

THE LANDING SEETICE. The News, of the 4th inst., says : — We learn, with much satisfaction, that a company is about to be formed for the purpose of purchasing the surf boats,harbor debt, &c, from the Provincial Government; and undertaking the landing of cargo and passengers, in a more efficient manner than hereto-1 fore. The company, which it is proposed to call the Taranaki Lighter Company, will haye a capital of £1000, raised by issuing 100 shares of <£10 each, and which have been already nearly all taken up by the merchants and boatmen of the province,' the latter \ having purchased to the extent of £400, which will, to a certain degree, guarantee the enterprise working well. The direction and control of the department is, we understand, to be placed in the hands of Captain John Holford, who is well known here and in whose energy and skill the strictest reliance can be placed. The company intend having a boat built specially for passengers, which will be fitted up with every convenience, and placed under the charge of an able coxswain. It is also in contemplation to reduce the present landing charge of 30s per ton on duty paid goods to 15s —a most judicious and important reduction.

Frederick Webster, Esq., is to be chairman and president ofthe company, to whom all applications for shares are to be addressed, and who will furnish all particulars connected with the company. His Honor the Superintendent is highly favorable to the proposed change, and thej company now only waits the consent of the Provincial Council to complete the arrangements. No opposition is anticipated in that; quarter, and in a short time we may hope; to sea inaugurated one of the most import-:: ant and valuable improvements that has ever been effected in this province. j

A New Bed ov Iboit Obe.—The discovery of a large bed of iron ore, combining, as it does, a remarkable geological formation, having attracted the interest and attention of some of the most eminent scientific men, as well as those connected with the iron manufacture, not only of this country, but of foreigners, a description of it will, no doubt, be interesting, particularly at a period when iron of a good quality is so indispensable for war materials and other purposes for which a superior article is so much in request. The bed in question lies between Kettering and Thrapston, and is on the property of General Arbuthnot, contiguous to which a line, leased to the Midland Company, is in course of construction, and rapidly advancing to completion. It is on a slope facing the north-west, the extreme point lying due west, and running east, and extends rather more than a mile in length. The width of the bed has, not been accurately ascertained, but it is known to be'

considerable. At the base of the slope the iron crops out, increasing rapidly in depth as the ground rises, the highest point yet reached, the rock of iron, being from 27ft. to 30ft., and it is the opinion of those who have visited the places that the rock increases in depth as well as strength. Tbe formation differs very materially from anything found in any locality. At about Gft. from tho surface above the rock in question is a bed of fire-clay, immediately below which is a layer of freshwater shells. Underneath is a bed of alumina, a very pure milk white cliy, which has been tested by Messrs. Minton of Stoke-on-Trent, and other eminent men, and found to resist any degree of heat. Then appears a bed of very fine white sand, resting on a thick bed of various colored sands, resembling what h found in Alum-bay in the Isle of Wight, under which a variety of fossil plants are found, among others equisotum, a specimen of which is in the Royal Geological Museum in Jermyn-street. But what most interests the spectator is the iron. It is an iron rook. Many of the blocks are of immense size, and an eminent assayer calculates there are six or seven varieties, all differing in appearance, but all pure and rich. To test tho quality in the furnace a sufficient quantity was sent to Staffordshire, where a trial was made to ascertain its value. The result has been most satisfactory, the report being that tlio produce resembles steel more than iron, and is well adapted to those purposes for which steel is now so much in request, with every probability of an increase for its demand. There is much to interest the naturalist, nautilus and many varieties of sea-shells being found in the iron rock.

The subject of a substitute for human milk, to which Baron Liebig drew attention in the last number of the Popular Science Bevieto, is creating a good deal of excitement. The Lancet having described the baron's process for preparing an artificial liquid equal in nutritive value to the milk of the mother, it is said that a physician interested in the question has written to that paper, assenting to Baron Liehig's views, and stating that he is engaged in making arrangements with certain manufacturers by which the public can be supplied with malt (one of the ingredients) of the proper quality for preparing the new pabulum.