WELLINGTON EXTRACTS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue VI, 29 January 1848, Page 189

WELLINGTON EXTRACTS.

Wanganui. — The schooner Edward Stanley, Armstrong, master, arrived in port on Thursday, from Wanganui, which place she left the day previous. On the 29th December, a body of about 600 armed natives came down the river, desirous of entering the town, for the avowed purpose of meeting his Excellency the Go vernor-in- Chief, who was expected at Wanganui, in the Inflexible, on the 6th of January. Major Wyatt, the commanding officer, sent back word, however, that he would on no account permit them to enter the town armed, and this message had caused a division in the rebel camp. Mamuku and Te Oro, with one or two other chiefs, would not consent to leave their muskets behind, and therefore remained, we believe, at Tutiaki. Ngapara, Pehi Turoa, and some others, agreed to the stipulation, and on the following day they embarked in their canoes, and arrived at the stockades, in number between two and three hundred. The settlers, who have been for so long a period the victims of Maori craft and violence, appear to entertain no hopes of a favourable result from these movements. The native character is now but too well understood by them ; and they justly fear that this appearance of indecision on the part of Government — this pardoning of robbers and murderers, without exacting justice, will only excite the aborigines, and provoke them to the commission of more extended outrages. We trust that Captain Grey will consider the unfortunate position of the white residents. Let him make the Maori sensible that he is master, and we fear not for the future ; but if, on the contrary, they are led to estimate his conduct according to their own mode of action, blood will flow in streams, where it has hitherto fell in drops. We want not human sacrifices to appease our feelings ; we desire to see all classes dwelling under peace and amity; but under every circumstance, we trust our countrymen and their wives and families will receive that protection and assistance which they have a right to demand.— Independent, January 8. The Arrival of the Governor. — The Inflexible arrived on Monday night with his Excellency the Governor and Mrs. Grey, Major-General Pitt the Commander-in-chief, and other. Government officers, together with a detachment of the 58th and 65th Regiments. His Excellency left Auckland on the 3d instant, and proceeded to the Bay of Islands, where he remained until Friday morning, when he left for Wellington, coming by the East Coast, instead of previously visiting Taranaki and Wanganui, as at first proposed. It is reported that his Excellency's present visit will be short, as he intends visiting the Southern Island in the Inflexible, and also the Chatham and Auckland Islands. This trip, it is supposed, will occupy six weeks, when the Inflexible will proceed to Bombay to undergo repairs, and will be replaced on this station by the Medea. Ripa, and other northern chiefs, with a number of their followers, have come in the Inflexible. Te Rauparaha has also been permitted to return, and, we believe, will be allowed to go and live at Otaki. After having stayed for so many months at the North, we could have wished him to have remained there altogether, and are sorry that at this juncture he has been brought back again. It is difficult to believe that one who, through a long life, has been proverbially treacherous and intriguing, will now become peaceable and quiet ; and apprehensions may be reasonably entertained that his return may become the signal for fresh disturbances. — Spectator, Jan. 12. The Roads. — It is reported that the works on the Porirua and Hutt roads, which have been for some time past almost suspended, are by the direction of the Governorin- Chief to be immediately resumed with fresh vigour; a number of additional labourers, both European and natives are to be employed, and every effort is to be made to hasten the execution of the works during the summer. It is hardly necessary to add that this determination has given very general satisfaction. It was a aubject of general regret, that the finest part of the year was allowed to pass away unprofitably, and the completion of these public works, so essential to the prosperity of the settlement, indefinitely postponed from motives of false economy. It is absolutely necessary on grounds of public policy and economy that these works should be proceeded with as fast as possible. They are military roads undertaken for the protection of the settlement and approved of by the Colonial Minister ; their execution is consequently not a question of expense but of time — not how much they will cost but how soon. By means of these roads the force stationed in this settlement can be rendered most efficient for its defence, and

the danger of fresh disturbances In this settlement lessened by the increased facilities of conveying stores and provisions to the force engaged in suppressing them. For example, the greater part of the supplies for the troops at Forirua and the adjoining sattions is now conveyed in carts by the new road, which is completed as far as Jackson's Ferry, and thence taken by boats to Poriiua, so that supplies are now received from Wellington in twenty-four hours, and may he counted upon with great regularity, while before the completion of this road, instances have occurred when, owing to unfavourable weather, the Government stores sent by sea have been nearly a fortnight in reaching their destination. If these facilities had existed during the campaign at Horokiwi, how much would have been saved in the transport of stores alone. But if they are regarded on other grounds of public policy, it will hardly be disputed that these roads will have a most beneficial effect in extending cultivation, and in increasing the trade between the settlers and the natives. While the road is only partially finished it is comparatively useless, but let it be completed throughout, and we shall find the natives buying carts as well as horses with their earnings, and bringing their produce in this way to Wellington for sale. The consequence of this increased traffic will be a considerable improvement of the revenue, and the stimulus given to the industry of the natives will render this improvement permanent and progressive, so that it is hardly too much to affirm that these roads will in a very few years, from the period of their completion, defray the cost of their execution. It must also be remembered that nearly the whole of the money earned by the natives is spent by them either in the purchase of stock or of manufactured articles imported from the mother-country. We have so often shown the utility of these roads as a school of industry for the natives, in rendering them expert in the use of European implements of labour, that it is only necessary briefly to allude to this point. After these roads are completed, the natives employed on them will form a body of trained labourers, whose aid will be found most serviceable in clearing and cultivating land, and who will materially reduce the cost of production. — Spectator, January 15. Wanganui. — On Monday morning, the Inflexible and Racehorse returned from Wanganui with the Go vernor-in- Chief and suite, and the Lieutenant- Governor. The Racehorse reached Wanganui on the 7th instant, and the weather being fine, the Lieutenant- Governor was preparing to disembark, when, owing to a sudden change of the weather, the vessel returned to her anchorage at Kapiti. She arrived off Wanganui again on the llth instant, when the Lieutenant- Governor landed, and had an interview with some of the chiefs belonging to the taua. Here he was subsequently joined by the Governor, who arrived in the Inflexible on Thursday. Te Pehi and Ngapara had an interview with the Governor, and made their submission, expressing their desire to live in peace, and their intention of giving up all further thoughts of fighting. Mamuku, who was staying some miles up the river, in answer to a message sent him on the arrival of the Racehorse, returned word, that if the Governor came he would see him, but that he would not have anything to say to the Lieutenant- Governor. He did not come down while the Governor was at Wanganui, and his Excellency on his departure appointed a general meeting of the tribes to take place at Otaki, at which he promised to attend. The two vessels then left Wanganui on Saturday evening, and arrived the following morning off Otaki. Here Te Rauparaha, who for the last eighteen months has been either a prisoner, or under surveillance, was at length set at liberty. Te Whero-whero, Taraia, and other chiefs from the North, also landed to have a korero with the natives at Otaki, who had mustered in great numbers to meet them, and to welcome back Te Rauparaha. The Governor went on shore at Otaki, and was very well received by the natives, who seemed very much pleased to see him again. Thompson, Te Rauparaha's son, gave an entertainment to the Governor and his suite in the European style ; the table was covered with a table-cloth, and the guests were provided with knives and forks, and a very substantial repast, cooked in the English fashion, was served. Te Whero-whero and the other chiefs were left with Te Rauparaba at Otaki, where a general meeting of the tribes will take place to-morrow, at which Ranghiaiata and Mamuku are expected to attend. This meeting will be preliminary to another meeting, at which the Govenwj? intends to be present, and which it is expected will take place next week. — Ibid., January 19.