DRURY.

New Zealand Herald, Issue 12, 10 December 1863, Page 4

DRURY.

[FEOM OUH OWN COHHESPONDENT.J Oth December. Tin: present weather may be unfavourable to hnymaking, but. a more beautiful season for vegetation has nut been known, as our pasture lands and cultivations suiiiciently indicate. A irrcat deal of doubt is entertained as to the peaceable intentions of the natives, and it is thought that the overtures of two or three chief's cannot have the ell'eet of putting an end to the rebellion now existing amongst them. The natives, tun, are so deceptive, evasive, and full of stratagv, that they will be too ready to put a different construction on what is required of them. There is only one safe course to adopt, and that is to cany out with unflinching stringency the policy laid down by the unanimous voice of our ruling power, to compel the natives unconditionally to lav down their arms bciore the Oeneral. ll' Thompson and the King are willing tu have peace tl.oy knt.w liow to obtain it, and those who art 1 not so disposed must be dealt with in such a wav as our able Com-mandcr-in-Chief well knows how to adopt. Our i military movements and supplies are going on as j usual, and apparently there are. no peaceful signs in ! camp hero. We continue to send on reinforcements j to the additional posts, and others are arriving to ' take their places. | _ A movement takes place at the York Kedoubt to-dav, I 50 men ol the oOth Kegiment who have been placed j there go on lo the (Queen's Kedoubt, to relieve those of the IHlh, going further en, and lliev are to be relieved bv ;i similar number from the same Kegiment here ; 2.)0 rank and tile of the oOth are expected to ! arrive here to-day from Otahulm ; other companies j of the "Waikato Kegiment of Militia are spoken of as j to arrive. i A .special Magistrates" Court was hold at Papakitra yesterday, when a case of theft was tried in a summary way, against a private of the Waikato Militia, for stealing bonks and a fowl from a settler of the ! name ol Johnston, at the AVairoa. The prisoner was j convicted, and sentenced to two months' imprison- j ment, with hard labour. Another of those dangerous freaks which so fn - quently take place amongst ""armed drunken men, j occurred her" yesterday. Three men of the Waikato I Militia v.-ere on their way from Ithodes' Clearing to j Papakur; . Tht y had got some distance past Diury, j when they quarrelled amongst themselves, and to j settle disputes, determined to try the effectual wav of shooting at one another. They had exchanged some ' eight or ten shots, when a gentleman, on his -wav to I lJrury, interfered, and succeeded in putting an "end o the dispute. An escort which arrivod from Auckland took the p.alius p.isoners, and gave them over lo the camp authorities here. It would be well to put. a stop to men carrying their rifles with them whilst on pass, as many eases of the improper use of them have occurred. a . ! 3 1. " Titin P I hear that tho General has reached the Km?, place without opposition, and that the Queen -Hoc now waves there. This dcwb will have Auckland with more particulars than I can furuiin.