THE REBEL PAH IN THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 334, 7 December 1864, Page 7

THE REBEL PAH IN THE NORTH.

At the time when the escaped Kuwait prisoners evacuated the pah on the top of the Tamahua range,atOmahu, we strongly poin ted out thenecessity ol at once demolishing fortifications said to be so capable in the event ot' war breaking out in the North, ot oll'ering successful resistance to our troops, if taken possession of by other natives. It seems that no action was taken in the matter, and we now learn that Te Hemera, the Maliurangi Cliiei, lias arrived in town with the intelligence that sixty of the iS'gapuhi's have thrown themselves into the empty pah, and that there is every appearance of a crisis being at hand. This is no more than we have all along expected. Sir George Grey's vacillating policy will bear its fruit not only in tlie South, but in the North too.

Had the pAliey of the Assembly of 1863, been allowed by Sir George Grey to have been carried 011 1—-bad the confiscation so rmicli talked of been made something more than an empty threat— had the rebel lands been, ns fliey might Tmvc been, but a erochctty minded Governor, planted "frith J'-iiropenn settlements, and sold to enable others {■"/ occupy and hold tlie country— then disaffected Natives in the North as well as open rebels in the South, wouTd have learnt the wholesome lesson that our acts of legislature and threats of punishment are not empty bags of w ind—niere straw stuffed scarecrows. As it is. these JN atives very naively remark that the good things tall only to the lot of the most turbulent Natives that to dbtniji flonr, seed.potatoes, &c., iN atives must make themselves troublesome to the Government.

The Northern Natives have Temariicd that but once has Sir George Grey visited their districts, and tlint that once was only when the}" .commenced fighting amongst themselves near V\ ang.-h-ei. "He is," they say. the Governor of the bad Maori only, not of the, good," and that they have learned, that we only respect them when they show Ihnt fliey are able to become troublesome neighbours. 1 here is very little doubt but flint matters are in a very critical position throughout the north. .11okianga, from the Hay of Islands, from "V\ angarei, from Kaipara, from every place where we receive intelligence, and that from reliable and trustworthy sources, we lieny the same tale — there is a movement among the Nnlives which one and all say betokens no good. There is no open demonstration, but as in the calm before fhe coming storm, low ominous rumblings arc heard—words pregnant with meaning are occasionally dropped, tokens significant only to those who are accustomed to the habits of the people betray what is working beneath. The North is. in fact, ainline which wants but a single spark to explode it: when and bow that spark may fall.no one can say. Firmness and decision might have averted (he danger,but we fear that matters have gone beyond (hat point at which the}' can be controlled by pacific measures.

Since writing the above a rumour lias arrived in town to the following effect. \\ e give it for what it is worth. That there are now in the North 1170 Maoris underarms; (>OO belonging to the Hokinnga tribes, 270 to flic Hay of Islands, and the remaining 3(10 to Ivaipara. and other districts where the natives are more or less disaffected. That a party of these natives have taken possession of the stronghold at Omaha as the rendezvous for the disaffected spirits of the North, and that their design is to lay waste the country settlements and swoop down oil Auckland itself. A.s we said before, we give this rumour, asit was pretty freely circulated last, night, for what it is worth. There was just such a rumour prevalent in -July. ISG3, respecting tlie Southern natives, and it. turned out afterwards to be something more than rumour. As in that case, so in this, the intelligence is said to have been conveyed to Sir George Grey by an influential chief, whose sympathies are with the I'akeha. It is impossible, with matters in this critical state, that Sir George Grey can allow the Executive of the country to be removed 111 ni Auckland. The delay of a few hours in tal fing prompt, and decisive measures, if ever such a critical position as that now rumoured to exist should arrive, might be productive of the most disastrous results to life and proper!} - .— December G.

Til K A t'CK LAN II I'KJOt.AKKKT JU'll.niNG ANM Invt:stxiknt Sociv.ty.—\Vc have been requested to state that tlie usual monthly meeting of this society for tlie issue of sliarrs and receipt ol subscript ions, will be lielcl on Monday evening next, the first Monday of the month, nt the ollice of the society, IWr. Cox's Chambers. Queen-street. .Also that the Secretary attends there every jVlondtu' evening, from (> to 8 p.m., lor issuing shares and transacting business in connexion with the society. '.I lie best evidence ot tlie success of this society is to be found in the (•(instantly increasing number of investing shareholders, and the large number of- applications for loans. A rate of interest—](> per cent.-—which is double that given b\' savings banks, with the very best seeurity. and abilitjto withdraw tlie money at any f ime without a long and tedious notice, at once recommend the society to investors. While tlie system of borrowers being able 10 borrow tv certain amount Oil land and buildings for a specified time, at an easy rate of interest, with a provision enabling them gradually to repay their advance Inmonthly instalments, recommend it to prudent men who desire to acquire a little household property of their own, and so receive from, instead of paying to others very high rents. The permanent form of building societies—that of this society—is pronounced by eminent men to be the only thoroughly sound, safe, and satisfactory form. The expenses of management are small, and the inducements it oilers for the exercise of prudence and economy by the system of receiving payments month!}-, as low as lO.s. in a month.—December 3.

I>i:.rni ok Cavta is Tiia VKiis. —We very much regret to have to announce that the promising young ("Hirer, Captain Travers, who Mas the senior Captain of Jiis regiment (70th). and who met with an accident", some days ago on returning from near Penrose Cam] 1 , expired at about 10 o'clock on Sunday morning. He lingered from the date of the accident in the greatest agony. Jt. appears that. Lieut. Hunter, Who was with him in the conveyance when the accident occurred, leaped out as soon as lie saw that tho horse hud become unmanageable, and dragged C'apt. Travel's' child out just in time to save her from sharing Iter father's fate. Captain Travers jumped out immediately afterwards, but too late, as the wheel went over his ankle and completely smashed it. He was taken into a tent at Penrose Camp, and m< dica) assistance quickly procured. Dr. Mouatt being irninouiatelv telegraphed tor, but it was found necessary to amputate the limb, which the sufferer obstinately refused to permit. Mortification soon alter set in, and be died in the greatest suffering early yesterday. It. was proposed that the funeral should take place to-day, but it having been previously appointed for the decoration of Colonel McNeill with the Victoria Cross, at the desire of General Cameron it was postponed till to-morrow (Wednesday), when it will take place with military honors at Otalmliu.—December 0.