PORT NICHOLSON.

New Zealander, Volume I, Issue 49, 9 May 1846, Page 3

PORT NICHOLSON.

[Fiom the Wellington Independent, April 25, 1846.] Oil Fiiday last, the 17th April, 11. M. S. Calliope, H.M. Steamer Diiver, and the hired transpoit Slams Castle, returned to port from Porii ua. The ships experienced the full effect of the late gale, being prevented from landing the troops and stores for five da\s. The troops were landed on Thursday, and encamped near Tom's fishery, on a neck of land abutting on the bay. The place can easily be rendered one of great strength, and when the breastworks are completed, a few soldiers will be found sufficient for its defence, so that the majority of the force will be able to prosecute the war, with vigor, against Rangihaeata. Since the landing, the troops have been busily emplo)ed throwing up intrenchments, under the superintendence of Captain Marlow, of the Engineers. On Friday, a detachment of the 99th regiment, under the command, of Lieut. De Winton, departed for Poiirua by the road, where they arrived the same evening, On Saturday, the Slams Castle got under weigh and proceeded to Poruua, having on board stores and other requisites for the force stationed there. Oa Mouday, a letter arrived in town stating that a body of armed natives, from Pawatanganui, the Pah of the rebels, were preparing to hill on the Hutt. The same night, the district south of a line drawn from Wamui to Cook's Straits, to Castle Point on the East Coast, excluding the Town of Wellington, was proclaimed under Martial Law by his Excellency Capt. Grey. The loadb, pieviously stated by us as about to be formeu, aie to be commenced immediately by the military, under the superintendence of Capt. Russell of the 53th. The Government Sui vejor, T. Fitzgerald, Esq., has received instructions to lay out the necessaiy lines. On such roads, the armed' police will be found of the greatest utility. The road to Porirua will be earned round the shores of the Bay, thus putting an end to the piesent nuisance of ferries for passing the^cattle. It is also proposed to catry the line through the Pukiiua bush to Wainui, where the hard sandy beach road to Manawdtu commences, thus opening the coast line. The effective force which will be left in this district on the departure of his Excellency for Auckland, will be nearly 500 military of the 58th and 99th regiments, under the command of Major Lastj 100 militia, and fifty armed police. H.M.B. Calliope also remains to protect the settlement. We hear that it is intended to station H. M. S. Racehorse, -At present in the north, on this station. Lieut. Col. Hulme, of the 90th, and Brigade Major M'Lcrie, of the sSth, returned to Auckland in H.M.S. Castor. The detachments of the 96th, have received orders to hold themselves in readiness to embark on board the Slams Castle, for Auckland. The inhabitants regret exceedingly the necessity which is about to separate them from Capt. Ey ton and his party. However, it may be some little gitilicalion for them to know, that whereever it may be their fortune to be stationed, the gallant officer and his men beai vvitu them ,the wishes of the whole of the settlers for their futuie welfare.

[From the Wellington Spectator, Apiil 25th.] On Monday last, a party of rebels visited the Hutt dislrict'and earned away a quantity of potatoes from Mr Mason's section, just above the spot where the camp formerly stood. On Tuesday another party robbed a settler named Lever ton of potatoes, and three pigs which they killed and carried away. They also took away his blankets and other property. A party of militia under the command of Mr. Watt followed on their track, hut it was night before they came up uith them, and as they wete ignorant that Martial Law had been piocJaimed they refmmed from firing. At daybreak on Tliuisday Major Durie went up the Hutt v\ ith a patty ot Police to scour the valley and co-operate with the Militia m the necessary measures for the protection of the seitleis. The ldst advices from Porirua state that the natives, had not been seen near the encampment. The entrenchments weie proceeding very rapidly and it m as expected that the defences would boon be in a very advanced state. In consequence of further evidence obtained since his trial, establishing an alibi (the delence set up on Ins trial), his Excellency has been pleased, at the recommendation of his Honor the Judge, to grant a free pardon to Kumete, who was foundguilt) at the last sittings ot the Supreme Court, of having been concerned in the lobbenes on the Hutt, and sentenced to ten ye<us' transportation.

Private letters from Sidney state that the companies of the 58th and 99th Regiments, now in New Zealand, will shortly return to Sydney, and be replaced by the 65th and 2ith Regiments, both of which, it is expected, wtil be stationed in this colony. Another Commander of the Forces is expected at Sydney to relieve Sir M. O'Connel, and a Deputy Adjutant-General and Deputy Quarter- Master -General will be appointed, and a Brigade-Major will also be appointed at Auckland. It is reported that three thousand troops are to be sent to New Zealand.

During his Excellency's late sojourn amongst us, every opportunity was eagerly sought by him of obtaining information of the wishes of the settlers, and the requirements of the settlement. — In due time we may expect to receive the benefit of the information thus obtained in salutary reforms, and in wise and judicious measures tending 1 to establish the peace, to develop the rescources, and to advance the prosperity of this district. — First among these, and as an earnest of further benefits and future impiovement, we may rank the establishment of an efficient Police Force, and the projected roads to be executed by the military under the inspection of Capt. Russel. — And among the objects which occupied the immediate attention and engrossed the solicitude of his Excellency previous to his departure may be mentioned, the institution of the Savings Bank at Wellington for the benefit of the woilcing classes. So deeply was his Excellency impressed with the advantages to be derived from its establishment, from a knowledge of the piactical good effected among the working classes by the Savings Bank at Adelaide, that he has generously ottered to guarantee the Interest on the Deposits at his own expense, if a Savings Bank were established in this district. Mr. M'Donald, the manager of the Union Bank, lias also kindly consented to receive deposits and to rrundge tue business free of expense, until the institution shall be placed on a firm basis. Nothing therefore remains but that the working classes should add their co-operation, by availing themselves extensively of the benefits of this institution. ,It may be deemed hardly necessary to point out to them its great advantages in giving a stimulus to industry, in diffusing habits of forethought and economy, and in helping those who are disposed to help themselves. The smallest sums are received, and remain to accumulate at interest until by successive additions, they are of sufficient importance 10 ca-iry out some plan which may secure the comfoit or add to the mdepcnddtice of the depositoi, who receives thearaouutof hts deposits ihe moment he chooses to demand it. — Many hard earnings have been wasted in small sums in this settlement, because no opportunity existed for securely and profitably investing them, many a family might have received a material help if they could have availed themselves of the boon of this Provident Institution. Now that the opportunity is freely offered, we are bure that the intelligence and ptudence of the woiking classes of this district will not be slow in shewing, by tlieusc they make of it, their just appreciation of its value.