WANGANUI.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 171, 19 January 1848, Page 2

WANGANUI.

In another part of our paper will be found an extract from the Wellington Spectator, containing some interesting intelligence from that place. It is stated upon the authority of private letters, that some of the rebel chiefs have had an interview with the commanding officer, bad expressed themselves desirous of peace, and that an arrangement or agreement had been made, which awaited the ratification of His Excellency, Lieutenant Governor Eyre, who was expected to visit Wanganui about the first of .Tunuaiy. If this be true, as we certainly hope it is, no lime will suiely now be lost by the Government in availing themselves of this honorable loop-hole to withdraw the troops stationed in that locality; and finally abandon at. The war at Wanganui has terminated precisely as it might have been foreseen ; ■where a handful of soldiers how brave soever, or however skilfully commanded, are pitted against an army of savages, in a difficult and ■wild country without roads, cut off as Wanganui is, except under peculiar and raie circumstances, from communication with the other settlements. The natives have decidedly had the advantage : all that has resulted to our troops has been loss, fatigue, privation, danger, a blockade of several weeks in their defences, and some notice in the despatches of Lieut.-Colonel M'Cleverty. We have always had difficulty in understanding why or how it was that the prayer of the inhabitants of Wanaanui, made to Governor Grey for means of removal elsewhere, on the failure of his negociations with the natives for the purchase of the land, was not complied with, or why instead of a ship to transport them to some place where their lives might be rendered secure, and their labour made useful, — a fow troops were sent io mamfAln po<isession of a place, which was allowed on all sides not to be worth keeping, and to provoke by their presence and weakness, aggressions which they could neither prevent or punish. It was said that an unwillingness to incur the displeasure of the N. Zealand Company, by attempting to break up one of its settlements, operated with the authorities here, in the steps taken on that occasion ; but now that the settlement is virtually broken up, and that all chances of making money by the sale of town or other allotments in that district is lost to the Com* pany, there will be, we presume, no further delicacy on the part of the government, in dealing with the matter, and that we shall «oon have the pleasant intelligence that the troops have been withdiawn, — the settlers removed, — compensated for their losses, and located in some district where they may hope to eat in security at least, the bread for which they toil.

The Auckland Races. — We are £)ad to see preparations made with such spirit for the amusements of the approaching anniversary. The managing committee have extended the sporfs to two days, and from the number of supeiior horses lately imported into this colony, we think our old favourite '• Haidee," will have her work to do, if she would not lose her laurels at this meeting. We trust that the liberal support and contriluitioua of tlio public on this occasion, will enable the committee to ofFer such prizes as will tempt parties to import superior cattle from the neighbouring colonies, and also be an inducement to our fanners and graziers, to give greater attention to the impiovement of the breed of their horse stock. Crops. —We have this week been favoured with some specimens of wheat and barley grown on the farm of Mr. W. Hart, sen., at JKpsom, which for size, weight, and quality cannot be surpassed. The ears measure from five to six inches in length, and are well filled and heavy in proportion. The produce is expected to be about fifty bushels of wheat to the acre. The wheat was put into the ground in September last, and the ground was only just then reclaimed from a state of nature. Queen Street. — From the unusual alacrity lateiy displayed in clearing away the rubbish which obstructed the passage of this street, just beyond the Court house, we had some hope that this summer would see Queen street advanced at least half way up the hill ; but at the snail's pace the work is going on with tU present, we cannot look for much palpable progress for the next twelve months to

come. To be sure, much caunot be anticipated from the united achievements of one oveisecrand two labourers, — work how they will ! Programme. — On Thursday, Jan, 20th, at 4 o'clock, on the space of ground opposite the Council Chamber, the Band or' (he ,78th Regiment will perform the following pieces of music : •— Overture—" The Fair Maid of Perth,,".. .. Waddell. Cnv: — Op, " Belsario," , Donizetti. Melange Op. " I Lombardi," Verdi. Cnv:— Op. " Amu Bolitia," D >nizetti. Waltz— "O'sja." or" Princess," Juliien. Quadrille — " Semiramide," Jullien.