The Oamaru Times AND WAITAKI REPORTER.

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 347, 18 September 1868, Page 2

The Oamaru Times

AND WAITAKI REPORTER.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1868.

Te Ngutu o te Manu will be classic ground in New Zealand, having already been the scene of two engagements between the Colonial forces and the rebel Natives, and will probably yet be the arena of a still greater struggle. Sfci'ong as the position has been made by its Native defenders, with rifle-pits and breastwork, and well-situated as it appears to be for a defensive position, the Maories will probably remain there awaiting another attack from our troops ; the more especially that, in the recent engagement, they certainly got the best of the encounter. Serious indeed is the reverse we have sustained at Ngutu o te Manu — the indomitable and daring Von Tempsky, and Buck, who had already gained for himself and his little force a name for daring and dash, have and Kowan — and the loss to the (Jolony is an almost irretrievable one. The Maories seem to have defended their position with skill, and, perched in the trees, their sharpshooters managed very cleverly to pick off most of our officers. Our list of killed amounts to 18, including officers, and the number of wounded is probably much greater. The Colonial forces appear to have behaved very pluckily, but there is one remarkable fact which stands out in connection with this engagement — not remarkable in the sense of its rarity, but, on the other hand, because it so often occurs — viz., that while the Maories reported fallen were carried off by their friends, so that there is no means of ascertaining what execution our fire has really done, our men had to leave their dead where they fell, probably to fall into the enemy's hands. The Natives, seeing us retire in this fashion, naturally claim the victory, and are greatly elated thereby ; and the recent reverse at Ngutu o te Manu has already had the effect of causing considerable accessions to their ranks. Such leaders as Von Tempsky can- j not readily be replaced, but the rebels must \ not be left in the blush of their txiumph to glory over the defeat of the Pakeha. At whatever cost, they must be beaten and reduced to submission. It is not easy to do this — it cannot be done by a coup de main — the Natives are too wily to meet us in a pitched battle on an open plain, with no hills or bush for either party to retire to. They know better than to do that, and the war can consequently only be carried on by a sort of guerilla system ; yet we think that much more might be done than is clone. Our troops should be armed with breech-loaders instead of the present cumbrous muzzle-loader, and something should be done towards cutting off from the Natives their supplies of ammunition. However large a stock they may have accumulated, the war cannot be indefinitely prolonged if they are prevented from obtaining more. It has been said, we do not know with what truth, that American whalers supply a good deal of this, and we can readily believe that, without blaming the Yankees, there are other men nearer our own doors who, for love of gain, will supply them with either lead or powder, and we think it would be well worth while for the Government to put a couple of armed vessels to watch the coast to prevent such a traffic. Stop the supply of ammunition and the natives must ere long give up this hopeless struggle. Bush tracks should be cut, too, wherever possible, so as to do away with the inaccessibility of Native fastnesses. It is, of course, very easy to give advice, and the difficulties to be encountered are, we know, very great, still, unless some way can be found of reducing the rebels to submission, we see no alternative but a gradual drifting into a war of races, which means the practical outlawing of the bulk of the Maori race, and the shooting down of the brown man wherever he shows his face, as was the case in various parts of America, and is now the case in Northern Australia. Such a contingency cannot be contemplated without a shudder, but it is, we fear, inevitably coming, and meanwhile it would

be the more humane course on the part of the Government to do their utmost to strike a series of blows sufficiently decisive to convince the Native race of the hopeless nature of the struggle, and thus induce their submission. Let us at least in future, when we take prisoners, use reasonable precautions to keep them, and not place them in immediate proximity to unguarded stores of arms and ammunition, and then suffer them to decamp, use these very arms and ammunition in killing our best officers, and in routing our forces, thus spreading the flame of rebellion far and wide.

Our report of the meeting of the Municipal Council, and of the lecture of Mr Brunton, which took place last night, are unavoidably deferred till our next iwue. The Rev. J. A. Taylor will (d.V.) preach the usual monthly special sermons next Sabbath, in the Wetleyan Chuich. Subjects — Morning, Conversion of St. Paul ; Evening, Martyrdom of Stephen. It is notified by advertisement in another column, that the next performance of the Garrick Club will be given in the Masonic Hall, on Thmsday, the 15th October. Three pieces are in preparation, and the cast will be given in our next issue. We are requested to intimate that the annual dinner of No. 8 Company, O.R."V. (Oamaru Rifle Rangers), advertised in our last issue to take place on the 2nd of October, has been since fixed for Tuesday, the 29th inbtant, in consequence of the day selected clashing with the monthly masonic lodge meeting. The annual meeting of No. 8 Company, O.R.V., took place on "Wednesday evening, at the Star and Garter Hotel. The reports of the internal affairs of the Company, of the Committee, and Treasmer, were brought up aud adopted. The officers for the year were then . ballotted for, with the following result : Committee — Messia Anderson, Taylor, Morton, Shepp.ud, and Stidolph. Auditors — Messrs Sumpter and Locke. Treasurer — Mr J. Page. It was reported that half of the band uniforms were completed, aud the ,payment of half the contiact sum was authorised. Arrangements were made for tho commencement of musketry instruction on Tuesday evening, at the Star and Gaiter Hotel ; and a subscription list was opened for a presentation to the band instructors. The meeting then bioke up. Copies of the address to Bishop Selwyn are now lying at Messis Livingston's and Booth Brother's, where signatures will bo received to the parchment sheets to be attached theieto. "We hope that the lists will be numerously signed. From eight o'clock to half-past ten on Wednesday evening a singular luminous appearance was observed in the heavons. It consisted of a broad vertical band or stiipe of white light, of about 20 feet appareut diameter, reaching from the zenith to the horizon m a diiection fiom E. to W. by S. It was occasionally of great brilliance, and occasionally almost faded out. It was very beautiful about 10.30, at which hour there weie also visible two luminous ii regular-shaped patches almost equidistant on either side of the band of light. The phenomenon was matched with great interest by groups of spectators, and we should like to hear of its being accounted for. The sky was blue and spaugled with stars, noc a cloud beiug visible, aud the appearauce of the loud of light was much like that of the tail of a comet or ihe trackjof an aerolite, looking like a lunnnoub mist, the stais being visible thiough it. Thcie are those who think it tLo Auioia Australia, though we have ourselves never seen the Aurora take that form ; and one strong poini, against that hypothesis is the fact that the light was strongest at the zenith, and gradually diminished to the hoiizon. ax T5>o:"i?aui"s > oiiurch, Oamaru, on Wednesday evening, the Rev. M. Watt modeiator. Tho object of the mooting was to modeiate in a call for a minister to the pastorate of St. Paul's. Theie was a laige atteudance of members and adhorouts, aud a sermon was preached by the leveiend tho moderator, after which he introduced the business of the meeting. Mr Neil Fleming proposed " That a call be moderated m favor of the Rev. Mr Alves.'' The motion was seconded by Mr J. Bee. Mr James Falconer pioposed " That a call be moderated in favor of the liev. Mr Campbell." The motion was seconded by Mr R. Hewit. There was a largo majority for the motion of Mr Fleming. Mr J. C. Gilchnst moved a resolution of dissent on the part of a portion of the congregation, to the following effect, " That this congregation, while highly appreciating the talents and qualifications of the Rev. Mr Alves, are of opinion that it is not desirable to moderate any call until further candidates have been heard." The resolution was | seconded by Mr Shennan, and carried by a large majority. "We understand that there is every probability of Mr Alves eventually receiving a unanimous call from the congregation of St. Paul's. In the Resident M agistrate's Coui t, on Monday, the Bench was occupied for some houis with a civil action, M 'Cowan v. Ross, in which the plaintiff sought to recover L10, the value of 200 fencing posts, supplied to defendant, who paid L2 3s. into Court, and denied his liability as to the remainder. Mr O'Meagher appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Allan by for the defendant. The particulars of the case weie briefly these : — On the 13th or 14th of August last, defendant met the plaintiff at the Waitaki Ferry and told him that he wanted 200 posts. Plaintiff undertook to supply these, accoiding to plaintiff' own veision, as soon as possible ; but, according to defendant's version, within the week following the giving of tho order. Plaintiff supplied defendant with 46 posts at once, in order to keep him going until tho rest could be obtained from the "Waimate bush. Of this number defendant took delivery of 43, the value of which was the sum paid into Court. When the posts were oidered plaintiff was on his way to Oamaru, and immediately on his return to the river, he wrote to the bush, for posts to complete his order. Receiving a reply from the parties to whom he had written that thoy had no posts on hand, he, within four days of its receipt, went pexsonally to tho bush and ordered them of another person. Meantime, defendant had sent seveial messages about the posts, and after waiting a full fortnight, fiom the time the order was giveD, wrote to the plaintiff stating that he had been compelled to purchase other posts, and cancelling his engagement with plaintiff. Plaintiff receiving the posts the day after tjhe receipt of the letter, took them across the river, delivered them on the south bank and gave defendant notice to take delivery, which he refusing to do, the present action resulted. After healing the evidence and the arguments of counsel, the Bench considered that plaintiff had not used due diligence in carrying out his part of the contract, and judgment was therefore given for the amount paid into Court. The costs of one witness, viz., 20s., were allowed to defendant. The Wellington " Evening Po3t" regrets to hear that the enormous expense incuired by the Government in causing an inquiry to be made into the state of the various penal establishments in the colony is not likely to be followed by any practical results. The formation of a central police dopot is objected to on the ground of economy. With that view most people will agree, but it is highly desirable that something should be done to create a system of uniformity amongst the various prisons throughout the provinces, and obviate the unsatisfactory state of those establishments. It must be born in mind that the judges, who from time to time stiongly animadvert upon the disgraceful arrangements made with regard to the diffeient gaol systems in force in different parts of the colony, were the prime movers in the matter, and that the Government acted pi incipally upon their suggestions.

The following Wellington telegrams are from the ' "Daily Times," under date, September 15: — "Mr M'Lean gave notice that he will move to-morrow, ' That this House views with alarm the conduct of the Ministry in reference to Native and Defence affairs.' This motion is reported to be mainly the result of removing the East Coast Constabulary, and the fear lest the incompatibility of temper which is said to have long existed between Colonels M'Donnell and Whitmore may lead to disorganisation on the West Coast. Messrs Vogel and Hepburn spoke this afternoon for and against Mr Fox's resolution, respectively. There is no news from Patea by to-night's coach. Much excitement prevails in reference to the position of the Ministry on Mr M 'Lean's motion." The Wellington correspondent of tho " Timaru Herald" telegraphs that in the division upon Mr Fox's " want of confidence" resolution, the Government only expect a majority of one. Many of their supporters believe the decision will be a tie. Mr M'Lean and Mr Ormond of Hawke's Bay will vote against them, besides Tareha and Mete Kingi. Whatever the result is, a dissolution will take place, and an appeal be made to the electors. A telegram, dated from Port Chalmers, September 15, reports: — Information gleaned from Tare Keteii Tekaohu, Matiu Tehu, and other Maoris, states that the rock on which the Hydra struck off Cape Saunders is well known to them, but was not made known to the Pakehas in the absence of an equivalent for the information. They say that the sea always breaks over it in a south-east gale. Stations for telegraph business have been opened on the West Coast at Brighton, Charleston, and Westport.