WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 461, 3 February 1864, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

[from our own cobrespondent.] January 28. , I observe that you have just published my statement iv the Herald relative to the Wellington Spectator, and afterwards chai'acterised it as a " mis-statement which you regret to have inserted." As this course of proceeding inflict 3 the most gross injustice on me, I claim the right to say a few words thereon. In the first place, then, I assert without fear of contradiction that the paragraph in my letter was substantially correct, and that the contradiction which appeared in the Spectator was untrue. The facts are as follows : — Some weeks ago Mr. Robert Stokes, the printer, editor, aud proprietor of the Spectator, intimated to his employes that he could not afford to continue paying wages for its publication. The men then proposed to print the paper for a time at their own risk and expense on the tribute system, and Mr. Stokes consented to this arraugement as an experiment. It is therefore being tried at present with the woful result of an empty treasury on Saturday night, and much consequent hardship to the printers and their families. Meantime, Mr. Stokes is in an excellent position. He saves himself the necessity of disbursing. money for wages, aud if at the end of six months the seat of government, should be definitely arranged to be

placed at Wellington, he can then if he chooses to do so resufoe the proprietorship of the journal. Such are the facts of the case. I believe Mr. Eobert Stokes is in Napier now, and I defy him to dispute them. Should he attempt to do so, you are at liberty to furnish him with the name of the author, and I will be prepared if necessary to substantiate them by affidavit before a Magistrate of several credible witnesses. In the course of many years' experience as a writer for the newspaper press, I have never before kuown a journal on ex parte evidence assume at once and without further inquiry, that its correspondent had made a mis-statement, wilful or otherwise, and I regret extremely that the Herald should have been the first to do so. " Call you this hacking your friends ; a plague on such backing." We had great doings on Anniversary Day, which was celebrated in something of the ancient style. A liberal subscription had been raised for the regatta and rural sports, and everything passed off very pleasantly. I need not tire your readers with the particulars, which you will find duly chronicled iv the local papers. The Lord Ashley arrived this morning from the South without the Euglish Mail, which has created great disappointment here. The Gothenburg reached Otago on the 24th, having left Port Phillip on the 18th. Up to the hour of her departure the English Mail had not been sigualled. It is not uncommon for the January mails to be late in their arrival at Melbourne, but considerable anxiety is nevertheless felt. Major Dwyer and Captain Furneaux of the 14th regt. depart to-day for the front. The command of the battalion here will thus devolve on Major Lepper. I don't know whether the Resident Magistrate in Hawke's Bay has received any special instructions for dealing with disloyal uatives, but a circular has reached the Resident Magistrate of Wangauui from the Colonial Secretary, indicating a decided determination on the part of the Ministry to enforce the law throughout the Island. The disloyal natives are divided into three classes : — Ist, — Those who have~been in arms against the authorities ; 2nd, — Those who may have been at the scene of war but have not been personally engaged in the conflict ; and 3rd, — those who had done anything to counteract the exercise of the Queen's authority (as in raising King flags, contributing in money or otherwise towards the King's support, &c.) or who have refused to submit to the authority of the law. Those belonging to the first class the magistrates are instructed to seize and commit to prison for trial, but they are allowed to use their own discretion as to the steps to be taken for this purpose. The second class are to be dealt with leniently in the meanwhile, provided they take the oath of allegiance and deliver up their arms ; but at the same time they are liable to punishment either personally or by the forfeiture of their lands, when there is time to make judicial enquiry into their conduct. Those of the third class are to be warned to desist from such unruly proceedings, and threatened with condign punishment if they do not turn over a new leaf. — There is certainly abundant room for the application of some such stringent measures iv this Province. At Otaki it is well known that several Waikato natives, red-hauded from the war, are now temporarily residing, who have boasted that they were engaged in the murder of Mr. Armytage. Moreover, recruiting on a small scale has been going on at Wauganui, and many of the disaffected live in the district without the slightest fear. With settlers armed and drilled, and with the Colonial Defence Force to act as an efficient police, we are quite strong enough to enforce the law, without much chance of an outbreak. . The Superintendent is at present on a visit to the West Coast, and I learn has , been negotiating for the purchase of the Manawatu Block. The owners have long been quarrelling amongst themselves, and of late an opinion has arisen that the Governor may " confiscate " their territory. They are consequently much more likely to sell now than before. There has been another native quarrel at the Wairarapa, through one Maori having assaulted another aiid nearly finished him. The assaultant was actuated by jealousy. I only mention this because the settlers are pressing on the authorities the necessity of an investigation. A fire occurred in a lodging in Man-ners-street on Sunday night. It was burned almost instantly to the ground, the inmates barely escaping with their lives. The N.Z.S.N. Co.Vhave purchased the s.s. Queen for £8000* Mr, R. J. Dun-

can, the Company's Mauager, has gone to Dunedin to arrange for the final payment take delivery. It has not yet been arranged how she will be employed, but I think it is probable she may take the East Coast route. We are to have an election for a seat in the Provincial Council shortly, vacated by Mr. Spinks. Mr. W. Turnbull, of the firm of Messrs. W. & J. Turnbull & Co., is spoken of as a likely candidate. A great meeting has been held in Dunedin, which passed resolutions against the seat of government being removed to Wellington. It was evident from the speeches that Otago is determined to struggle for the boon herself.