TARANAKI.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 4, Issue 197, 29 June 1861, Page 3

TARANAKI.

fJProm the ifeto Zealcmd&r Correspondent J

Now Plymouth, May 27, 1861.

In my last month's summary I reported that the Southern Natives ■were desirous of discussing the terms submitted to them, and that there was some probability that, by a portion of them at least, they would be accepted; such, however, has' not been the case j they perfectly understand that the original question had lapsed, or rather that it had developed the much more important one of the King movement, and consequently when Mr. Parris met them by arrangement in, reference to the terms, he soon found that they preferred awaiting the issue of events at Waikato ; they, however, hinted that they did not contemplate taking aggressive measures on the old score.

Previously to this a mail had been despatched to Wanganui at the instance of Mr. M'Lean, with a view of ascertaining, if possible, the distinction in the policy of Taranaki and of Ngatiruanui, and for which purpose one of Hapurona's men had been employed. He passed through Taranaki without interruption, but on reaching Katokaura, at Waimate, he was stopped by Tamati Orakaura, a Ngatiruanui chief, and ordered to return forthwith to town, and to report that if another mail was sent it would be taken and destroyed, and further to intimate that neither Europeans or stock belonging to them would be allowed to pas 9 through_that district. Since then, no communication has been held with them, but it is understood that, in the event of hostilities commencing in Waikato, they will endeavour to create a diversion by resuming their practice of sending small : parties to pick off stragglers and destroy property. The Natives south of Wanganui, the Ifgatiraukawas and Ngatihapas especially, have sent messengers to Hapurona requesting to be informed if it is true that he has joined the Queen's party ; he , has replied in the affirmative. There is a report that a considerable force at the South, consisting of a portion of the Ngatiawa at Otaki and Wellington, will be prepared to assist in conjunction with the Tarauakis and Ngatiruanuis in another raid upon New Plymouth if necessary, and this report is confirmed by a private letter from Wanganui. A weekly Maori mail will be established between Wanganui and Waitara, and if any attempt to interrupt it is made, the overland mail between Wanganui and Wellington will be stopped.

■ At Waitara everything remains much as before. Hapurona has taken formal possession of Matarikoriko, and other friendly natives will soon be in possession of Puketakuere and Mahoetahi. The principal portion of the old camp at Waitara has been destroyed by the troops, and to-morrow the detachment of the 14th stationed there will, with the exception of about 30 men who will occupy the block house at the mouth of the river, retire to the Bell Block pending their embarkation from Hew Plymouth. Taimhana and the principal portion of King's followers have left foe the South, professedly to attend a tangi on their deceased relatives, but in reality it is suspected to attend a large ruuauga of the Southern tribes on the present state of affairs.

The proceedings of the last month are not of Buch a character as to inspire any hope of a' prolonged peace, and farming operations are in consequence only undertaken on a limited scale, and in the immediate vicinity of block houses j but settlers have not missed the opportunity of trimming fences, collecting the residue of stock, and ascertaining, as far as they can the extent of their loss.

On Thursday last two gentlemen, Mr O. Brown and Mr. J. C Richmond, were nominated as can-

didates for the office of Superintendent, Mr. Cutfield, the. «x " Super.," having retired from, the contest* during the week : the show of hands was in favour of Mr. Brown, and a poll being demanded by the other candidate, resulted the next day in favour of Mr. C. Brown, the numbers being as follows ;— Mr. 0. Brown, 167 ; Mr. J . C. Richmond, 98; — the total number polled being rather in -excess of two-thirds of those on the roll. The new -Act had prevented the display of excitementusual on such occasions, but for some time previously the more immediate supporters of each candidate had actively canvassed their respective merits. In New Plymouth party politics were probably never at a lower ebb than at present, and in consequence the chances of each candidate might have been considered about equal-; but a few supporters of Mr. Brown determined at all

risks to secure his election : but a decoy duck was necessary, and the Nelson grievance readily Biiggested itself, and as the event proved, answered well. As the so-called " Nelson Grievance" is really a colonial matter, I will relate its history, both for the above reason and because it is necessary, that the colonists of New Zealand should understand that the New Plymouth Bottlers, with the exception of one or two unscrupulous politicians who have created this grievance for their own ends, appreciate and are thankful for the liberal manner in which their families have been treated at Nelson.. In March last, just before the battle of Waireka, offers were made by people in Nelson to take in refugees. A meeting recommended the Superintendent to take steps to allow, all to avail themselves of the offer. The Provincial G-oyernment applied to the Governor for the übo of the steamer " Airedale," urging public health and morals, and the anxiety of many married men in the militia. Col. Gold discouraged the removal, but the " Airedale" was granted, the town was crammed, military commanders turned families into the streets, and soon after Waireka came. Col. Gold then urged the Superintendent to send families away, and many left. In the

jnea'ntime the Provincial Government had issued relief to the necessitous, and those who had gone to JSelsou were informed that they would receive further allowances, but yet were expected to help themselves: and relieve the Government. These

arrangements were entered into at the risk and on

' the 'responsibility of the Provincial Government. The General Assembly afterwards relieved them, and the whole was made a colonial matter j but * the odium, if there be any, is to remain with the v provincial Government. The rations have varied in value from 10b. or 12s. a- week for one person *tp '455. for a family. When families exceeded 6 adults (children counting half) the rate of allow*

anee remained. fixed j it being assumed that some members of the family could support themselves. A free school was also opened for the Taranaki children, and medical attendance furnished gratis to all. The result of assistance to refugees at Nelson will then be a charge of some £20,000 on the public revenue of the Colony, — a large sum considering it does not altogether suffer from I'embarras des richesses, yet not quite sufficient, it must be admitted, to have maintained them in affluence: ,

As a fair specimen of the Nelson grievance I will just instance the case of W. Bayley, Esq., M.P.C., first brought before the public by Mr. Bayley in his seat in the Provincial Council in November last. His was a family of the largest class, he had^ a wife and nine children, and his allowance was only £2 ss. per week, besides what he may have received from the Aid Committee. He did not, however, like many others, bring a charge without proposing a remedy ; he drew up a report of what he considered " starvatious" allowance for his family, the prayer of which was that he should receive £370 10s., paid weekly, a sum which it was unjust to have expected the Council to agree to, more especially as a datura upon which to reform the relief allowance. No doubt there were individual cases of hardship, but the Provincial Government was neither immaculate nor altogether responsible ; but a grievance existed, and the opposition taking the place of the " Jjwpus in Fabula" Mr. J. C. Richmond having been Provincial Secretary, he, aa a candidate for the Superintendency, came to grief. The 24th inst., being the anniversary of the Queen's Birthday, a review of troops and militia in garrison was held, and notwithstanding a drizzling rain, passed off well. The appearance of the militia and volnnteers was highly creditable, and the 15 'months' active service showed the great improvement they had made / in their drill. Col. Warre, C.B , is so well pleased witb. their appearance that he has made a special report to that effect to Lieut.-Greneral Cauierou, C.B. The state of health here still continues unsatisfactory. From 1848 to 1859 the average of deaths per annum was a little over 12 ; in 1860 it reached to 68, while since the Ist of January last 53 persons have already died, and of these there are 15 cases each of diptheria and typhus tever. The shooting for the Colonial prizes began on Monday. Mr. E. Marshall's score, 18 points, was the best, and there were three scores of 15 points next in merit. About 30 had shot, and 150 remained on the list of entries.