The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15,1868.

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 372, 15 December 1868, Page 2

The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15,1868.

A portion of the Wellington telegram published in our last issue is too remarkable to be passed over without comment. We are told that Woodall's redoubt, a strong position within a few miles of Wanganui, was abandoned by Colonel Herrick and immediately taken possession of by Tito BLowabu before his eyes ; that this outpost having been abandoned, there was intense excitement in Wanganui, and steps were immediately taken by the inhabitants to entrench the town, so as to enable them to resist the threatened assault of the rebels — that a meeting of Magistrates had been held, at which Colonel Herrick's conduct in the abandonment of the redoubt was severely censured, and that Colonel Herrick proposed, at the earnest entreaty of the inhabitants, to endeavor to retake the position. If all this information is reliable, we are presented with an enigma not easy of solution. Either the redoubt could have been successfully defended or it could not. If the former, why abandon it 1 and if the latter (seeing that it is easier to defend than to take an entrenched position), why attempt to re-

take it 1 ? Surely no officer with British blood in liis veins would deliberately abandon Ms vantage ground to the enemy if there were any possibility of holding it ; and certainly no officer is fit for an important command who, having decided that the position could not or should not be defended, afterwards yields to outside pressure to endeavor to retrieve what he has decided it was impossible or undesirable for strategic reasons to retain. We do not like to think that Col. Herrick is either a coward or incompetent, but he must be either the one or the other unless he lias received some secret instructions from tJie Government or his superior officers which have compelled him unwillingly to take the course which lie has adopted. If there bo anything of this sort in the background, let Colonel Herrick avow it, and let the country know what it is that paralyses the arms of our commanders. We do not know if there be any such influence at work, but, if there be, the country ought to be made aware of it. If there be not, then we cannot but think that Colonel Herrick's conduct has been such as he will find it extremely difficult to justify. Until now, we have always maintained that, notwithstanding the serious errors which they have undeniably committed, Ministers in their present difficult position had a right to the support of the country, but in view of recent circumstances, we are compelled, however unwillingly, to admit that they have forfeited the public confidence, and that they have shown an incompetence to deal with the Native question which warrants the expression of an earnest hope that men of greater ability and earnestness should be called upon to direct the affairs of the Colony. It is an unfortunate tiling that men new to the position should suddenly, in the midst of a terrible crisis, be called upon to preside over the destinies of New Zealand, but the Stafford Government have recently so terribly blundered that we must confess we think a change could be productive of no worse mismanagement than has already occcurred. With an obliviousness of existing circumstances which really appears to be wilful officers have been appointed to important commands in districts where they are thoroughly distrusted, and others placed in prominent positions, over the heads of experienced men, without, so far as we can see, any real qualification to warrant the distinction conferred upon them. Disorganisation and discontent, alike among the colonial forces and our Native allies, has been the inevitable consequence, and every mail from the North brings further intelligence, showing a thorough want of confidence in the Government, and an utter distrust in their ability to cope with the present emergencies. In an able article in a recent issue, our contemporary the u Sun" earnestly advocates the proposal to apply for the assistance of the Imperial tioops stationed in Australia, adding that their assistance can be at once obtained, and charging the members of the Governmpnt with refusing to adopt this course from motives of personal vanity, from a selfish feeling that the &o-doing will make them look small as having to retreat from the self-reliant position which they have hitherto so boldly taken. That journal also boldly states that the Governor is desirous of applying for the Australian troops and is " only prevented by his responsible advisers." If that be so, we heartily endorse our contemporary's statement that the time has come when the Governor should, in his duty to the Queen, and the Colony in which he exercises her delegated authority, thrust aside the advice of his Executive and act at once for the salvation of the Colony in the way which he conscientiously believes to be the best. We say that the Colony has a right to the aid of the Mother Country in an extremity like the present, and believe that by proper representation that aid could be obtained. If it were not so, then it would be better that we should ask for Independence — small though our population is — raise a standing army of our own and deal with the natives in our own way and without any interference whatever. As to the crushing of the present rebellion it can be done by the Colony alone and unaided, but to do it will involve almost absolute ruin. Taxation, already heavy, will become enoi'mous, and those who have spent their lives in founding homes and building up cities and States in this distant corner of the earth, will find that the result of their labor has been scattered to the winds, and that so far from bettering their position by the sacrifice of the many advantages of Home, and the rending of home ties, they have leaped out of a leaky ship into a sinking boat. Men did not come to New Zealand to be ruined or to be perpetually fighting with the Natives, and so long as we are under the British flag we contend that British subjects here have an undeniable right to British protection. And the time has come when that protection must be obtained, and we heartily join with our contemporary above quoted in expressing an earnest wish that every town in the Colony will at once unmistakably express its opinion, and that petitions from all quarters will be sent to the Governor without delay, praying him to take the only rational course open, viz., to invoke Imperial aid.

"We have made enquiries through the proper department as to the time fixed for the departure of the next mail for Europe via Suez. AH that we can ascertain is that " there is no fixed time, but if an opportunity occurs about from the 20th to the 25th of the month, or a day or two later, a mail will be sent by that route." The " Daily Times" says that " the half-yearly Fast Day of the Presbyterian Church falls on Thursday next, the 17th inst." We notice by advertisement in another place that the Oamaru Jockey Club have decided to hold the racemeeting for the coming year in the first week of March. The programme will shortly be published. A Moeraki correspondent says : — " We have had some unusual visitors to-day in the shape of five black swans which are gracefully sailing about the bay. If you have an opportunity of finding if they are owned in Oamaru would you kindly do so. They appear to be two old birds and three young oneB." In consequence of a resohition passed by the Presby terian Assembly, the 27th of the present month will be observed as a day of humiliation and prayer, on account of the recent calamities which have befallen certain districts of this colony, through the unhappy native war at present raging.

There must be something seriously wrong with the arrangements made for the receipt of mails at this port. "We are informed that a mail was brought from Dunedin on Thursday last by the p.s. Comerang, that the was landed at 7 p.m., and that the bags remained at the beach until the following morning ; and further that the letters were not obtainable at the Post-Office until 10.30 a.m. on Friday. The circumstance that so great a delay occurred, is sufficient to show that there is a screw loose somewhere, but we are further informed that a messenger sent from the Post Office here returned with the story that no mail had been received by the Comerang at all. In any case, it appears evident that there is some mal-arrangement or carelessness on the part of the PostOffice authorities, either here or in Dunedin. An inquest was held by T. W. Parker, Esq., It. M., District Coroner, on the body of one William Lumgair, at the Devonshire Hotel, Kakanui Mouth, on the 11th inst.The following gentlemen, of whom Mr James Knox was chosen foreman, were sworn of the jury, viz. : — Messrs Jas. Knox, Henry Reeves, John Barry, Worthy Parker, Andrew Baker, John Adams, William Jackson, Christopher Lagrant, Henry Martin, George Adams, John Boringer, Archibald Dwyer, Thomas Keenan, and George Campbell. After the jury had viewed the body, the following evidence was adduced — The deceased had been in the employ of Mr Proudfoot, contractor, Kakanui and was sent at about 9 o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, the 8th instant, to fetch letters from the Post Office at Crauford's, in going whither it would be necessary to cross the river. He was never again seen alive. About 5 p.m. the same day the horse he was riding was found quietly grazing on the near side of the river, and the saddle flaps being wet, fears were at once excited that Lumgair had come to an untimely end. On searching the banks of the river, the marks of hoofs where the horse had evidently entered the stream were found, and •within a short distance from this spot;, and on the same bank hoof marks where the animal had come ashore. It was, therefore, evident that the animal had not crossed. Where the stream had been taken was some twenty yards from the proper ford, and at the time deceased must have attempted to cross, there would be about seven feet of water at this spot, the tide then being high. Search was made for the body, which waa found the following morning in the river, at about thirty feet distance from the bank. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidentally drowned" adding a rider to the effect that it is very desirable that posts bo erected to mark the proper crossing-place. We understand that a letter has been received by the Hon. Sec. to the Harbor Woika Committee, from His Honor the Superintendent, in which His Honor accepts on behalf of the Government "the suggestion of the Committee that Mr Weaver, of Auckland, should be one of the Commissioners. A meeting of the Committee to consider the reply and to arrange further proceedings is called for Thursday, at 3 p.m., at the Northern Hotel, when it is hoped that all the members will be present. We are requested by the Officer commanding No. 8 Company to diaw the attention of the general public to the circumstance that the Company's Range has been removed to the locality known as Parson's Gully, and to warn passengers to keep out of the line of fire when the red flag is displayed at the flagstaffs. The first flag.staff may be seen from Thames-street bridge. Crown Grants for the lands and in favor of the persons after-mentioned are now ready for issue : — Papakaio District— Phillip Filloul, sections 19, 20, 22 to 25, and 60, block I. ; and sections 2 to 14, 61 to 63, and 65 to 68, block II. Otepopo District — Wni. Frame, section 12, block VIII. ; William Young, sections 54 and 55, block VI. Maruwhenua District — John Mann, sections 9, 18, 24, and 31 to 35, block I. The following Crown Lands of special value will be offered for sale at the Land Office, Dunedin at the upsot price per acre quoted, on Monday, the 28th day of December, at 12 o'clock noon : — Otepopo— section 84, block IV., 308. ; and section 21, block III., 30s ; section 47, block VII., and 48, block VIII., 21s. ; section 53, block VIII., 30s. Moeraki— section 54, 1 of 55, and 56, block I., and 36, block XI., 21s. The "Sun" says:— "So additional news as to the new Goldfield has been received, but we are assured that there is no reason to doubt the information supplied by Mr Green, the prospector, who, it is understood, was very careful to secure ground and water-rights before giving any information as to the results of his prospecting. The locality indicated is certainly auriferous ; for, as long since as 1862, when the creeks and gullies only were prospected, information as to gold-getting in them was published, [and two years ago a quantity of gold was got lower down the Waikaka than the locality described by Mr Green. He too, speaks principally of the terraces as being excellently payable ; and it seems that the new field is only one of, no doubt, many spots in the Province which may be most profitably worked, but which have remained unworked because they have "riot been fully prospected. The account which we published yesterday brought out several Btories as to the new field, all of which should, no doubt, he accepted with some reserve; One story was to this effect : — Two men were at work " on the quiet" in the neighborhood, more than a couple of months ago, and were getting from Joz. to loz. per day. They were discovered, and therefore left, intending to return again j but whether they have done so, our informant does not know. He says that these two men (one of them his own brother) got, for their best week's work, close upon 71b. weight of gold. Other stories were to the effect that a number of men were at Pomahaka on Sunday, or were met on their way there ; and that recent sales of gold, in town and elsewhere, have puzzled the buyers as to the locality whence it had been brought. The Wellington correspondent of the " Daily Times" gives the following as the tenor of the letter sent by Tito Kowaru under flag of truce, by the messengers arrested by CoL Herrick : — " After quoting sundry texts of Scripture, it goes on to say that, as in one day God made the two races, the one to live in England and the other in New Zealand, the Pakehas ought never to have ciossed the sea, and that Tito Kowaru'a endeavors. will be to exterminate them. He solemnly warns the Europeans to leave Wanganui, and ends somewhat as a judge does after passing sentence of death, to the effect that the Lord may have mercy on their souls." It would seem from the following telegram published in a contemporary, that the Panama Company have been unable to carry on. It is stated that the s.s. Mataura, which was advertised at Sydney to sail for England, is said to have been taken possession of by Mr Marshall, the agent of the Royal Mail Company. The " Sydney Morning Herald" says that the Rakaia will convey the last mail to Panama, but private letters express the hope that some arrangement will be made to continue the service. It is thought probable that the Tararua will take up the service for the present. The Claud Hamilton and the Auckland are reported to have been sold at Sydney. The "Provincial Gazette" of the 9th inst. contains a list of surveyed lands in various parts of the Province which are to be offered for sale, by public auction, at the rooms of Messrs Wright, Robertson and Co., Dunedin, on the 12th January, at the upset price of ten shillings per acre. These include the following acreages : — Awamoko, 264 acres ; Oamaru, 99 acres j Otepopo, 2665 acres, Waikouaiti, 779 acres. In the same " Gazette" appears a long schedule of road lines proposed to be closed in the districts of Teneraki, Landon, Lambton, Awanioa, Totara, Lainbourne, Incholme, and Sydney. Plans can be seen, at the Schoolhouses, Oamaru, and Herbert. Objections must be sent in to the Superintendent's office within sixty days of the date of the proclamation, which is dated the 9th day of December. We are in receipt of the " Otago Police Gazette" for December.

A ssvlo of lands situated in the Moeraki, Hawksbury, and other districts will take place at the rooms of Messrs Driver, Maclean and Co., Dunedin, on the 15th pros. Upset price, 20g. per acre. Speaking of the Governor's promised visit to Canterbury, the " Lyttelton Times" says : — " We understand that His Excellency the Governor has postponed his proposed visit until the middle of January, in order that he may be present at the Christchurch Races. A letter has been received by His Honor the Superintendent, announcing that Sir George Bowen will come to Canterbury on the 10th January. Lady Bowen being absent in the North, will not accompany the Governor, who will travel with only a small suite." Referring to the threat landslip which took place at the Nevis Bluff a few days ago, the Arrowtown correspondent of the " Dunstan Times" says : — " None of the rocky formation of this precipitous bluff has given way. the slip is confined to a Bort of heavy gravelly drift, which the floods of past ages have deposited agaimt the smooth face of a rocky cliff. The slip appears to have been occasioned by the water percolating between the earthy matter and the smooth face of the rock, causing the former to become detached and to slide gradually away. From Clyde to the Nevis Bluff, the road, in places, is in a very dangerous state, from overhanging rocks, and earthy projections, and which should be removed ere something serious happens."