AUCKLAND, MONDAY, JULY 31, 1865. POLITICAL SUMMARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 535, 31 July 1865, Page 4

AUCKLAND, MONDAY, JULY 31, 1865. POLITICAL SUMMARY.

Almost at the closing of the mail we are m possession of the news of the capture of the wereroa Pa, by Sir Greorge Grey and the colonial forces, assisted by the native contingent and other friendly natives. In another place will be seen the despatches of Sir George G-rey himself to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, detailing the particulars of the affair. The pa was taken, it seems, by a simple strategic movement. His Excellency sent round Captain McDonnell, with a party of men, a circuit of about fifteen miles, to gain a position commanding the pa. To have taken up this position by any other route would have proved a failure, as they must have been seen by the natives in the pa. As soon as

the besieged perceived that this position was occupied, they saw that the pa was no longer tenable and prepared to clear out. Some fifty were taken prisoners by the friendly natives. This episode in the war has infused new life into the ministry. Previously to the Governor's return to Wellington on the niglifc of the 23rd inst., serious ideas of resignation were entertained by them. Mr. Cardwell s despatch had fallen amongst them like a bomb-shell, showing them the folly of their silly memorandum of the Bth April, and they feared to meet the House They have however, mustered sufficient courage to determine to face the Assembly and trust to the chapter of accidents for a successful issue. The happy capture of the Wereroa pa will, they think, go far to cover their retreat from the disgraceful position they had taken up with respect to the General and the troops. Pai Marireism is in the ascendant amongst the Maori tribes. The Thames natives have openly embraced the superstition, and setting the natives north of Auckland aside, it may be truthfully said that nine-tenths of those professing any religion at all are either open or secret converts to this horrible superstition. From Poverty Bay we have received advices of an engagement between the friendly natives assisted by a few of the colonial troops and the Hau Hau fanatics, under Patara, or Butler, in which the latter was killed, together with nineteen

of his men. The Hau Haus nevertheless hold all the important positions and have the command of the district.

At a recent engagement between the fanatics and the friendly natives the latter lost five men. Their bodies were taken by the Pai Marires, their heads cut off and the brains aud eyes eaten on the spot, while their bodies were cut up into joints and baked intho native ovens and feasted upon by their captors! Cannibalism is one of the fruits of the new superstition —cannibalism in its most revolting and horrible phase—and these are the noble savages of New Zealand —the proteges of Exeter Hall—the intellectual, civilised, natives to assist whom into a dominant position in this colony. Englishmen are asked for their sympathy aud support —the people to be left at the mercy of these savages being the sous and daughters of England herself !

The mission of Mr. George Graham to the Waikato, a full account of which will be found in another column, has terminated, and has been utterly barren of result except in so far as the assertion of Mr. Graham goes that the natives will maintain a neutral position until after the Assembly is dissolved, when he may be again able to return to the "Waikato and talk to them about peace. Mr. Graham is with other Auckland representatives in Wellington at the present, moment attending the session of the General Assembly. The opening of the Assembly was prorogued by his Excellency, just arrived from the taking of the Wereroa pa, until the 26th.

The news of the assassination of Lincoln was received in Auckland as it must have been everywhere in her Majesty's dominions, with feelings of indignation and horror.

The great event of the month, however, is the departure of the General, Sir Duncan Cameron, and the spontaneous burst of feeling evinced by the people of Auckland in the fulness of their kind feeling and admira tion for the man, and his services to . the Colony. A sum of money for the purchase of a sword has been subscribed, and more, to-morrow, an address, embodying sentiments which are shared in by every man, woman, and child, in this Province, will be presented. Sir Duncan cannot, we believe, be otherwise than gratified with this spontaneous burst of feeling from those in New Zealand who know hitn best. The address will be presented on his road to the wharf, where he will embark on board the mail steamer, en route for England.