WANGANUI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 380, 31 January 1865, Page 5

WANGANUI.

;gr the ' Wanganui,' which arrived in the Blanukau on Wednesday morning, we have received a copy of the Wanganui Chronicle of the Hth inst. As yet no very active operations had been commenced. A reconnaisance in force had been made by General AVaddy to within (300 yards of 'the Weriroa Pa. The reconnoitring party was saluted with t]ic discharge of a few shots fired into the air, by way of defiance, it is supposed. AVe re'ret to notice that on the occasion of this i-econuaisance, an act was committed by the local corps, the Wanganui Cavalry, which is calculated to effect a large amount of miscliief —an act, indeed, somewhat similar to that which caused the commencement of the destruction of the settlers' property at Tarauaki, when, contrary to the emphatic protestations of Mr. Parris, who accompanied it, a detachment in command of Ensign Gold, by the order of that ollicer, wantonly destroyed .some old canoes and an old water-mill, the property of the natives. During the absence of General AVaddy, and while he was engaged in the closer examination of the enemy's works, the cavalry commenced plundering an unoccupied settlement, spearing pigs and turkeys, and committing it is said a considerable amount of wanton depredation. AVhen it is considered that the property of the outlying M?t tiers is almost entirely at the mercy of the Natives, and (hat as yet the Natives have not even determined upon war, the folly of this act will be better understood. As yet the troops have only advanced ten miles from the town of Wanganui, their progress being impeded by the want- of roads and bridges. Fatigue parties arc busy in making good the road, and then the L'4-pound howitzers and mortars lately forwarded by the ' Heron' and 'A\'illing Lass," will be sent on to the front, and further advance made towards the Pa.

A piece of that political trickery which is the peculiar characteristic of Wellington statesmen, has been brought to bear on Wanganui, for the purpose of upsetting the separation movement. Wanganui and Kanijatikei have long been anxious for provincial separation from Wellington, who has proved to those districts a liarsh stepmother Wanganui people naturally were jealous at seeing the revenue of their district absorbed in improvements in the city and liarbour of Wellington. This notorious tact, for it is notorious, and it is a fact, despite the endeavour of Dr. Featherstone, the Superintendent of Wellington. to refute the charge when made ill the late session of the Assembly, had led to the preparation of a petition for Provincial Separation, and this petition having been signed by far more than the required number of electors, had it been presented to the Assembly would, under the >"ew Provinces Act, have gained for the people of Wanganui political separation, but owing to a technical flaw in the drafting of the petition it was not receivable by the House, and now to prevent another petition from being got up the governing clique in Wellington are resorting to any subterfuge, however questionable a one. -

The people of Wanganui have long desired a bridge over their river, but Wellington necessities could not spare the funds. There is in existence, however, at Wanganui. a bridge committee, a:ad during a recent visit the Superintendent, Dr. Featherstone, has himself been acting as an anti-separation agent, and lias given the members of this Committee privately to under stand that if the petition is discountenanced, and separation not applied for during the coming session— the bridge shall be made.

Dr. Featherston is well known in Wanganui. and in Wellington, too, where he retains office solely through the powerful squatter element, himself the purchaser of immense blocks of Wellington Provincial lands, at five shillings per acre, and we are not therefore surprised to find the local press pointing out the folly of relyiug on any political promise he may make. " The question then, says th or Chronicle.,

" is not between these two alternatives:— '• will you have this bridge and 110 separation ; or will you have separation and no "bridge? That is the question the opponents of separation in the character of this " Bridge Committee, are putting to the " electors. But that is not the question the " electors have to decide in this matter. It "is this. Shall we have separation with " the certainty of a bridge, because the " matter will then be entirely iu the hands " of us who are most interested in its construction r or, shall we give up separation, " and receive for it, the pro)nine of the Superintendent to hasten this bridge—a promise; " which we cannot rely upon for three

" reasons : iirst, from past experience of the "value of such promises; secondly, because l; it has been made for a particular end, on " which end being gained there is no motive "urging to its performance; and thirdly, " because the making of the promise condi- j tionally is an act of political profligacy j which we should emphatically condemn,, by " paying no heed to it whatever." Had Wellington acted with justice towards Wanganui the settlers of that district would never have sought to erect it into a separate Province. When Dr. Featherstone sought to exonerate himself in the Assembly from neglect of AVanganui interests, as Superin-. tendent of theProvinceof which it forms aportion.liestatedand trul}' enough that more than the two-thirds of the customs' receipts at the port of Wanga*nui had been expended in the district. He forgot, however, to say whether the land revenue derived from that district had been so expended. The Province or Wellington has little resources of any kind but its land revenue, and the land hitherto sold, and that likely to be sold, at leant all of any value whatever, is situated in the districts of Wanganui and liangitikei. If there is any element of prosperity to be found in the Province it is there; take these districts away from Wellington and she has nothing left wortn calling a country behind the rock-bound strip of beach which forms the site of her city. We conclude with the following remarks from the Wanganui Chronicle, which ahow that the people of that district are not likely to allow themselves to be either cajoled or bullied by the domineering and unscrupulous political clique at Wellington, of which Dr. Featherston is the head : —" This promise in _ respect to the " Bridge has been used by the Committee,as " no doubt was intended, and it may be, sug- " gested by the Superintendent, as a means " to deter people from signing the separation " petition, or if they have signed it, as a " moans of inducing them to "withdraw their

" signatures. This tr Lad enough ; but it " is made worse by the way in which it hcis " been set about. There lias been no public " announcement of this intention; on tlio " contrary, as has been shown, the desire has " been to work in the dark ; and an agent " has been appointed to canvass the district " for signatures to a declaration, which, in '• whatever ambiguous terms it may bo " worded, pledges the signei's to withdraw " from or oppose separation because of this " promise that the sanction of the Supcrin- " tendent will bo given to the building of " the liridge if the separation question is " dropped. " It will thus bo seen that the carrying " into cffect of an Act passed by the Pro- " vincial Council in May, 18(53, then assented " to by the Governor and the Superintendent, " and in connection with which a local " Committee has been at work for a year " past, is made by the Superintendent " to depend on a condition, arbitrary and " unwarrantable." —"New Zealand Herald." January 19.

lUO AND FOUR FRIENDLY NATIVES KILLED. Tho ' Alexandra' arrived on Monday iifteriioon in the Manukau She left on Saturday, and brings important nitolligence. It appears that General AVaddy and his reconnoitring party left AVanganui on the 11th instant for the pa, i hoy were accompanied by the friendly chief Rio. a man of great- importance, and a party of his natives. These did not return to the camp, and nothing was thought of the circumstance at the time.

On Saturday morning last, a fatigue party having left the camp for the purpose of road-making, and having got to the place of ■operation, some tive miles beyond the camp, towards the Weriroa pah, discovered the dead body of Bio and four of his party, llio had received 110 less than three bullets through his body. It was also ascertained that .Bio's pah had been captured by tho enemy. xS'ews of this event was at once forwarded to the camp, and a detachment of our men sent to retake tho pah. On reaching it, however, it was found that tho enemy had evacuated it, tho only tenants being two friendly natives belonging to Bio's own tribe. The friendly natives are represented as being in a high state of cxcitcinent. They call upon the authorities to allow them to settle the matter, being determined to avenge Bio's death. They have held two meetings in the town of Wanganui, one at the market place, and the other in Victoria Avenue. They call loudly for nlu, and demand to be allowed to go in and set tie tho affair, without the assistance or interference of the troous or settlers.

Lt.-General Sir Duncan Cameron and staff arrived in Wanganui on Friday last. The General was warmly received by the people of Wanganui. lie was entertained at a mess dinner of the 57tli on Friday evening, and when he left the mess was met in the street by a display of fireworks, and loud and continued clirers. We understand that he intended going out to the camp this day, Tuesday. The road-making still progresses slowly, not yet being sufficiently made to admit of the guns and mortars being sent 011 to the front. At the time the 'Alexandra' left, however, there was a report that a new line of road had been discovered 011 which little work would need to be expended. From Wellington we have papers to the 19tli —two days' later news. The Superintendent had opened the Council on the ISth. His speech, and other local news, will be found recorded elsewhere.

Dr. Featherston, as our readers are aware, had intended to have visited England by the present mail. In his speech, however. he states, as will be seen, that he is not certain whether he can proceed by the present mail on the mission which he has been requested to undertake by the General Government. When .we couple the intended movement of this craft} - politician with the petition prepared and proposed for adoption bv the Wellington Provincial Council, and which we append, there can be no doubt as to the nature of that mission.

To the Queen's moat excellent Majesty— The petition of your Majesty's faithful and dutiful subjects, tho Provincial Council of the Province of Wellington, New Zealand, humbly sheweth— That by resolutions agreed to by both Houses of the General Assembly of New Zealand, it has been decided that the seat of Government for the colony shall be removed to the city of Wellington in this province, as most convenient to the several provinces, as most easy of communication with the different parts of the colony, and most likely to conduce to tho peace, order, and good eovernment of New Zealand.

That aa a consequence of this decision an attempt is now being made to obtain a suspension of tho Constitution and a separation of part of the Northern Island from the rest of the colony in order to constitute it a separate colony, on the plea that such a measure -would be conducive to the welfare of tho aboriginal race of thia colony and to tlieir better government. That your petitioners believe that such a measure would be fraught with serious evils to both races, that it would be destructive to the best interests of the colony, and opposed to the wishes of the great majority of the colonists of New Zealand. Thut the present disturbances in the Waikato and in the I'rovuicu of Auckland, are owing to causes entirely unconnected with representative institutions and ie?ponsible government as establiihed by the Constitution of New Zealand, and would in no way be prevented or beneficially affected by the suspension of the Constitution; that these disturbances have been repressed by the military operations undertaken by the Imperial Government, and that there is good rCEon to hope may in a few months be put an end to by the prudence and energy of the Government..

That your petitioners can confidently refer to the present peaceful stale of their province, and to the good will and friendly relations existing towards the Government and tlie colonists on the part of the great body of ila aboriginal inhabitants, of which the strongest proof was given by the defence of one of the settlements of this province by tho loyal natives against a threatened attack by the fanatical rebels, as conclusively showing that such a change is not required a» far as the natives are concerned. Your petitioners most earnestly deprecate any attempt to suspend the Constitution, and to divido the colony into separate parts having different governments, as a Berious calamity to Now Zealand, as destructive to its credit, and most detrimental to the future prosperity of tho European colonists, while it would in no way contribute to promote the good government or welfare of the aboriginal race, and would entail a very hoavv permanent chnrgo upon the Mother countiy. Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray your Majesty not to sanction any measure which may have for its object the Reparation of New Zealand into different colonies, or any alteration of the present Constitution of New Zealand. —January 25.

If the solid prosperity of a City or a Colony may be judged by the steady advance in the value of its freehold estate, extending retrospectively over a number of- years, taken moreover in connexion with a continued development on every hand of permanent improvements in the shape <3f planting,

building and manufacturing operations, to which may be added also an over rising scale of rent charges, particularly in commanding commercial localities, then it may be fairly claimed for the city suburbs and Province of Auckland that their position for wealth and prosperity at the present moment is tolerably well illustrated and established.

We know there is a class of people to be found almost everywhere on whom evidence and illustration alike would be lost on this or on any other subject in regard to which they had made up their minds " not to believe." Aml we doubt not that amongst ourselves a lew individuals of this kind are to bo found. Indeed we happen to be acquainted with more than one of our shrewdest and most successful colonists of the old school, who but eight years ago would shake their heads gravely at the mention of ten pounds per foot having been given for land in Queen-street, and who could make themselves not a little merry on the subject, as they supposed, at the expense of the extravagant purchaser. Yet some of these properties would now sell at probably ten times that amount. Even three years ago individuals amongst us whose judgment in matters of this kind by general repute wero esteemed well nigh infallablc, and to whose pronouncement on such points ordinary men were accustomed to look as they would for the sum total of pounds shillings and pence into their " ready reckoner," have deliberately assured us at that time that the best commercial sites in the city had then reached the highest figure they could ever reasonably bo expected to attain. Nay, so certain were these parties of the value of this opinion, that, without the smallest necessity for so doing, they have themselves actually parted with such property as a precautionary measure! In the three years that have since elapsed, these city freeholds have advanced in money value, in some instances, as much as 75 per cent., realising thereby a nect profit to their fortunate holders in that short time of many thousands of pounds. In saying this we understate Hie case considerably. The fact is that property, both in the city and suburbs, lias continued to advance steadily and uniformly for a number of years, while latterly the movement in this direction has only been more marked and rapid than before. The augmented val no thus acquired by property amongst us lias, from the first, been distinguished by this peculiarity in Auckland, viz., that the money invested at these advanced rates has almost invariably been made to yield an income to its owner. Property, as a ride, has not been " run up," as the phrase goes, simply by speculators with money at command calculating on still further advances in the future to cover the interest and justify the risk of present investment. Nearly all the property that has changed hands at high rates during the last three years has been taken up for immediate improvement and bona Jide occupation, and is now yielding a handsome return on the outlay. This is evidence of no fictitious prosperity. Its basis is capital, population, and industry, these have flowed in together into this Province and have created the necessity which has been and still is felt to exist for enlarged accommodation and extended appliances of every kind. The business of the city has increased proportionably, and with it our wants have multiplied and enlarged. New occupations have arisen in consequence and have created and reproduced other and divers operations and transactions, of abusiness character. And so long as population and capital continue to visit us in the same ratio this degreo of prosperity will not only be maintained, but must become vastly accelerated and increased.

Of coursc we do not calculate on this being sufficient in itself to satisfy tho ideal of absolute and permanent stability. To the commerce of a populous and improving city must be added the internal resources ot the country, to which it is but the mart and emporium, and these should bo in a state of active and efficient development. As far as Auckland is concerned, however, lier actual resources have been yet but barely touched upon. Our mineral and agricultural products, our sheep and cattle rearing, our wool and timber trade, are yet all in their infancy. 33ut though we cannot point to a large development of all or of any of these sources of wealth in the past, we must not ignore them on that account. We lookto the future. There arc excellent reasons why the principal resources of this Province have been hitherto held in abeyance. Tho impediments that have lain in our way, however, are now fast being removed, and the time is not far distant when the last of them shall have passed away.

Meanwhile, let no man say that tho prosperity we have attained is not of a substantial character. It is so most assured"}-, so far as it has gone. Capital and population have settled down amongst us, attracted no doubt by our line climate and great natural advantages, while a considerable amount of the legitimate products of the Province have been already turned to account. The same course still pursued, only with increased skill and augmented energy, toward the development of our several branches of productive industry such as we may now reasonably look for; and there will yet be realized an amount of prosperity in this Province such as the most sanguine, we believe, had never before dreamt of.

True, all is not yet smooth to ourieet, nor need we expect at any iimo lo find it_so. Tliere will be impediments always in the way. but at present, as tar as we can see, many of these are of our own making, and are at least capable of mitigation. All along we have had an immense amount of blundering to contend with, but we have not been and we must not be dismayed by these things. We have to fix our eyes steadily on those facts of our position which are incontrovertible. "Wo have here a splendid country, a magnificent harbour, a glorious climate, and elbow room. Such advantages are not to be met with every day nor everywhere. Money cannot buy them. But wo have them, and they arc needed. They are wanted just where they have been placed. Wanted by the over-populated countries of the old world ; wanted by the parched and sunburnt denizens of India, Australia, and the Cape ; wanted by the frost-bitten and benumbed exiles of Canada, Otago, Canterbury, and SoutliLmd—and equally wanted, we are sure they will be, by the terror-smitten and heart-broken occupants of convulsed an d tem-pest-tossed Wellington, and the settlements of Cook's Straits gonerally. To all these this

province offers an asylum which fhw m the South can equal. Yet not ;l!1 ~v i um onlj — a held ratlipr for enterprise and active occupfihon, jvlicre every man may, become the aidntect ol his own fortmie, or where, if he already possesses one, he is at libertv to enjoy it m his own way, after his own taste, and without let or hindrance from any man. With such advantages, we hare everything to hope and but little to fear. Already our material wealth as a community is mr ill advance of that of any other section oi New Zealand whatever. A lareer amount of capital awaits investment in our banks, or is in process of being expended on permanent improvements by private hands, than would be found in the same position probably in all the other settlements of the Colony put together. Emigration also to an unprecedented extent is now ilowiug in to our shores, and land in every direction is being thrown open for sale and profitable occupation. These, we repeat, are our prospects, and we need not hesitate to affirm that they are fair, substantial,, and encouraging.—January 21.