WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 149, 19 December 1868, Page 5

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

(From our Chon Correspondent.)

December 12, IS6B. Ttif, latest advices received from Hawke’s Bay bear a most hopeful tone. The people of Napier, who distinguished themselves so highly once before at the celebrated affair of Oamaranui, seem to act with decision whenever there are any chances of the enemy getting near their doors. If self-reliance anywhere exists in reality, it is among the inhabitants of that Province. The arrival of "Whitmore with his 350 armed constables created the greatest surprise, as well as disgust; and everyone seemed to have at once condemned the step thus taken by the Government. Mr. Donald McLean, the Superintendent, had lost no time to provide for the emergency ; and some twelve hundred friendlies from various parts of the coast, assisted by a number of Europeans, were upon the enemy’s track, and “ at them,” before Whitmore had effected a landing. The Napier Militia furnished a number of their men, and the cavalry volunteers of the town offered their services to a man, and proceeded to the front. Amongst them might be counted lawyers, sheep-farmers, artizians, and, in fact, representatives of all classes; and too much praise cannot be awarded to the Hawke’s Bay Province, as well as to its Superintendent, who thus united in the undertaking of dealing single-handed with the foe. The contest is taking place within the limits of the Auckland Province, but no assistance yet, in any form, has been furnished by its inhabitants or Government. It is expected that Whitmore will return to Wanganui, where he has left things in a pretty mess, to move at enormous expense to the East Coast, where he was not wanted, and where neither whites or friendlies would obey him, such is the strong feeling against that officer in the district. Many people in Wellington daily exexpect to hear of an attack having been made by Tito Kowaru upon Wanganui, and as there are many family ties between a large number of the inhabitants of the two towns, _ it may well be understood what a growing feeling of alarm pervaded the community. The Government organ, the Advertiser, in articles written by the Secretary for War [?], Mr. Haughtoh, M.H.R., and other Government officers, calls every one who who does not look upon the course of events with a smiling countenance as alarmists, who do much to destroy the confidence of the people. But the fact'remains, that with a force twice as numerous, better armed, disciplined, fed, &c., than Tito’s, we have abandoned the' whole of the beautiful open country that General Chute traversed with a handful of men, capturing pas one after the other, without hardly any loss. Of the success of an attack upon Wanganui, no one can reasonably expect. The Charybdis is_ now anchored off the mouth of the river, and, if needed, will materially assist in an" emergency; while two companies of the 18th Regt. are within the

town. There is little doubt, however, that ’lito Kowaru will make a raid upon it; and as things now are, it may be argued that nothing better could happen, as without a doubt never shall we have another opportunity to inflict a crushing and perhaps decisive —blow upon him, than if he measures his strength with our forces in so open a manner as an assault upon Wanganui. The (Jharybdis can land some 150 men and marines with rockets, and with our field Armstrongs, and the armed men within the town, by far outnumber the enemy. ... The interior of the Island is quiet so far, and the fear that a general rising might be expected appears unfounded. Latest news from the Waikato and the Bay of Plenty is satisfactory, and nothing indicates the approach of a storm. The war on the East Coast, if left in the hands of Donald M‘Lean, will soon be over. The enemy has lost heart by the last defeat. Some 1(K) old warriors have been destroyed, and the remainder are making their way into the back country, glac to escape from their pursuers. Our troops are, however, endeavoring to intercept and destroy them, and with the assistance of the friendly tribes, so well kept to our side by Mr. M’Lean, it is only a matter of time when the rebellion in that quarter will be stamped out, unless Whitmore’s interference is again allowed by the Government. Mr. J. C. Richmond is now at the Front, and actively endeavors to assist. Verily, Ministers must have a sorry time of it, and their’s is not, just now, a bed of roses. Haultaiu is so extremely unpopular, that the mention of his name on any public occasion is the signal for a volley of execrations; and there is no doubt that—far from having any policy—the unhappy team allow themselves to be guided by circumstances and Tito Kowaru. Poor Sir George Bowen is in a sad plight. His responsible advisers (?) have little comfort to offer him, and his utter ignorance of New Zealand, the Maoris, &c., renders him over anxious. He is glad to ask the opinion of almost every one who come in contact with him, and doubtless shows his good sense in doing so. His barber, the other day, while attending to his duties upon the person of your correspondent, expatiated at great length upon the numerous queries his Excellency was in the habit of making, while undergoing his habitual morning manipulation. “Poor fellow,” said the artist, he asks me what the feeling of the people is, and of course he knows I can answer him that with accuracy.” The Governor was hugely annoyed some days ago, when perceiving in the Summary for England, per Rakaia, of the Wellington Independent, a paragraph clipped from a Wanganui paper in which Sir George is stated to have slept on board the Sturt while visiting Wanganui ; the inference, of course, being that his Excellency considered it not safe to repose on shore for fear of Tito Kowaru’s vicinity. A good many people in Wellington have seen with satisfaction the efforts made by your enterprising townsman, Mr. C. Redwood, in endeavoring to procure speedier communication between Blenheim and the Empire City, by providing that smart vessel, the Falcon, with a steam tender to accelerate her transit up your river. The entire traffic of passengers and mails will doubtless now be in the hands of the owner of the Pal con, and it will undoubtedly prove of much convenience to people on both sides of the Straits, that a small subsidy might surely be given to Mr. Redwood.