New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, June 24, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 94, 24 June 1846, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, June 24, 1846.

The minds of the settlers are held in a state of anxious suspense and expectation, from which they can only he relieved by the return of his Excellency to Wellington. This appears to he the only chance left to this settlement for extrication from the serious difficulties which have resulted from ;the mismanagement and blunders that have occurred since his departure. Aud the absence of any information as to his subsequent proceedings, the complete ignorance in which the settlers remain from the non arrival of any vessel from Auckland at, the present juncture, most painfully impresses on them the conviction of the original injustice of

placing the seat of government so far from the great body of the settlers. It is now nine weeks since his Excellency left this place for Auckland, and all that we know of him is that he arrived there in safety. There was a general impression at the time that the rebels were only waiting his departure as the signal for renewing disturbances, and his Excellency himself seemed to be of this opinion by proclaiming Martial Law and by making such other arrangements as promised to avert the threatened danger. We have seen how soon these arrangements were disturbed in his absence by those who appear since to have been paralyzed by the consequences of their folly, and who have precitated the evils Capt. Grey endeavoured to ward off, if he could not wholly pn-vent them. With this indistinct apprehension of misfortune on leaving, it does appear strange that his Excellency should have bestowed no further thought on the settlement? in Cook's Strait. With two men-of-war and a steamer at his command, it appears extraordinary that no effort has been made to obtain any information as to the present state of the district. But information has been forwarded to him. On the 20th May, or five weeks since, the Cecilia sailed for Kaipara with the intelligence of the attark on the camp ; on the sth June the Kate sailed for Auckland bearing the same news, which was also conveyed by the Government Brig fix c days afterwards. By the latest opportunity, then, his Excellency must have received before this a full account cf the disasters that have happened, of the state of alarm and apprehension which existed in this settlement, and of the immediate effect produced by these events in preventing any settlement of the land claims at Wanganui, which seemed at his departure in so promising a train. And a little reflection must have convinced him how absolutely his presence was required in this district to restore confidence and repair the mischief which those he had left in command had occasioned. Still he delays his coming, — fresh disasters happen, the tragedy of the Gillespies is repeated, settlers are murdered, her Majesty's troops retreat before the rebels, and are shot down by them, calamities are accumulated, of which in due time the Superintendent "will have the honor to inform him." How long this painful state of anxiety and suspense is to last it is impossible to conjecture. No doubt a satisfactory exp^nation will in due time be given of this apparent neglect ; possibly his Excellency may not yet have received the disastrous intelligence, — possibly he is immersed in cares of state, is deeply engaged with the Legislative Council in repealing former Ordinances, and in enacting fresh ones. But this appears to bs so empty a form, so complete a mockery, that the settlers have long since ceased to indulge in any speculations on the proceedings of that anomalous body, or to bestow a thought on its existence. The first care of the Government is firmly to establish its authority and to afford protection to life and property. Until this is done it is useless to think of Ordinances or Legislative Councils. The enactment of fresh laws belongs to a settled state of order, but Rangihaeata and those acting under him boldly defy the authority of the Government, and if they are suffered to remain much longer unchecked, by accessions to their numbers may threaten its very existence. Nothing less was expected from Captain Grey on his appointment to the Government of New Zealand, than a happy solution of the difficulties and embarrassments which awaited his arrival. And as the fulfilment of his mission would have established his name, so any neglect or hesitation on his part will have the serious effect of perilling his reputation. His character is at stake, and the responsibility not only of his own acts, but of those subordinates whom he has left in the direction of affairs will devolve upon him only. The present troubles in this settlement will not brook delay, he cannot postpone their consideration to a more convenient season, he can only by opposing end them. The anxious expectation of all persons thefore awaits his speedy coming while there is yet time to retrieve our late disasters.

In our last number we stated we were without any official information respecting the late engagement at the Hutt. We regret this the more, as the reports in circulation are anything but favourable to the conduct of the troops on the occasion. It is uni • versally believed in the Hutt district, tnat the troops were marching along the road in a confused irregular manner, without an advanced guard or any of the precautions usually taken to prevent surprize when in the neighbourhood of an enemy, when they suddenly came upon the rebels, most of whom were engaged at the time in digging potatoes. Tlie troops were not aware of their danger until the alarm was given by the friendly native, when a halt was sounded which was immediately changed into a retreat, and the men returned to the camp so precipitately as to leave an officer and two men who were wounded behind them. So quickly was their share in the skirmish over, that the Militia from Taita were not aware that the troops had been engaged with the rebels until the next day, but supposed that the firing proceeded from an attempt on the part of the rebels to cut off the return of a party of their company who were at the camp. It is believed that if the troops had charged the enemy instead of retreating, they would have driven them into the cleared ground, when very few of the rebels could have escaped, as their number did not exceed thirty. If these reports are not correct, it is due to the troops that an official account of the affair should be published — if they are correct, it ia due to the settlers that an enquiry should be made into the circumstances. When the militia were returning to Taita, after having been engaged an hour and a half with, the enemy, the friendly natives pursued the rebels and drove them across the river, and afterwards pnshed some of their body in advance, who were mistaken by the militia (there being no mark to distinguish them) for some of the rebels endeavouring to cut off their return ; as it was growing dark, and as it was about the place they expected to meet with them. A couple of shots were fired but the mistake was boon discovered. The engagement took place in a clearing immediately close to Mabey's house, and it was subsequently ascertained that the rebels had visited the house of a settler named Burnet, and had commenced putting some wheat which had lately been thrashed out, into sacks to cany away. They also tomahawked one of his pigs intending to carry it off for food. The friendly natives are exceedingly delighted with the gallant conduct of the Militia in their late skirmish with the rebels, and express their perfect readiness to act with them on any future occasion. Whenever any of the party approach the camp for provisions or on other duty, they set up a loud shout " Kapai te tang at a Taita" and by other demonstrations give vent to their satisfaction. If advantage were taken of this feeling to enrol a hundred and fifty picked men from these friendly natives as a sort of Militia, to act with the armed police and the Hutt Militia as a separate and independent force apart from the military, there is little doubt that they would not only clear the Hutt district from the rebels, but prevent them from repeating their visits. Under the present system where nothing is attempted, the presence of the soldiers in the Hutt appears rather to proroke than to prevent the hostility of the rebels. We do not for a moment suppose that this hint would be acted on by the Superintendent or the Officer in command, but we think it would be worthy the attention of his Excellency, more especially as a recommendation of this sort was made by the Select Committee on New Zealand. The party of the Militia on duty at Taita have now been sta'ioned there for nearly three months. There are only 38 men and 2 officers, and out of this small band thirty five are constantly on duty. They are obliged in all weathers to go to the camp every other day for their provisions, of which, they have only a supply of forty eight hours at a time, and to send a part of their company as an escort. They are obliged to carry their supplies on their backs thro' a road knee deep in mud, with the bush so close on every side that it offers the greatest facl'ity to the rebels for an ambush. For the last ten weeks the men have never taken off their clothes, being always on the alert to guard against any surprize or sudden attack. It does not seem quite fair that this gallant band should have been kept so long in the post of danger, as a forlorn hope, on the most harassing duty without being relieved, while a hundred and fifty soldiers are stationed in the camp and fifty at the stockade.

Ox Monday afternoon Te Rauparaha came to Wellington from Porirua in company with Major- Arney and Lieut. Pedder. A house has been taken for Mm by the Superinten-

dent, and during his stay in town he will be supplied with food at the expense of the Government. A guard has also been placed at his house. His principal object in coming has heen a desire to see the Rev. O. H^dfield, whom he has not seen for several month?, and also to have a korero with E Puni and the other Ngatiawa chiefs of Port Nicholson on the subject of the present disturbances. Rauparaha expresses a strong desire to assist the Pakehas, and to do whatever'the Governor shall direct him, and he is anxiously expjcting his return. He says that if the rebels attack the camp at Porirua, or the Karori, or Porirua districts, or the Town, that he would immediately join against them. Without placing too much reliance on his statements, it is certain that hitherto their attacks have been confined to the Hurt district. This appears to be considered the field of battle by the rebels, because they were driven by the Governor by force of arms from this district. Hence their frequent attacks on the soldiers at the camp by way of utu or satisfaction I for their expulsion. Rauparaha says he ■was always desirous that the Hutt district should be given up to the settlers, as, in his opinion, it was a part of Port Nicholson. According to the Native version of the late engagement in the Hutt, there were only ten natives under E Oro who were employed in digging potatoes when the soldiers came upon them, and they say that if the soldiers had charged them instead of running away, they would have been cut off to a man. In their fight with the Militia two of the rebels were wounded. Rauperaha describes the late accident at Taupo, to have been a landslip or falling down of a portion of the cliff immediately over the village in which Te Heuileu lived. The accident happened at night, and a hundred persons, men, women, and children were buried by the falling mass. Many years ago a similar accident occurred at Taupo, which was also attended with loss of life.

Lamentable Accident. — A most unfortunate accident, attended with loss of life, occurred at the stockade at Taita about three o'clock on Saturday afternoon. — One of the Militia was wiping with a cloth the , '.Barrel of his musket, when the piece, which was louded, from some sudden jar or slight concussion went offhand the ball passing through the floor of the room or loft over that in which he vas standing, entered the left side of James ; Swan a Militia man who was above, and passing through his body struGk a musket ! immediately over head the stock of which it shattere I. Poor Swan died within five minutes after receiving his wound. The body of the unfortunate man was brought down by his comrades on Sunday afternoon to the Hutt bridge, near to which' a grave had been dug, where he was buried with military honours. The deceased, *'/ho was much liked in his company, was only twenty-two years of age. He has left a sister to deplore his loss. This is the second accident, both of them fatal, which has occurred from the defective state of the muskets with which the Militia and Police are supplied. These muskets have been condemned as unfit for use before they were sent to this colony, and a representation was made to his Excellency on the subject before his departure, ■when he promised that percussion muskeis should be immediately sent from the Government stores at Auckland to replace them. In the late engagement with the natives, these pieces were so defective, that in many instances they would not go off, but merely flashed in the pan. Now, to place men who have shewn how capable they are of doing their duty, in a post of danger, witli arms -on which they cannot place the slightest reliance when they are wanted for service, is little better than a piece of deliberate treachery towards them.

The report mentioned in our last number of the two soldiers who were missing after the engagement having shot two of the rebels is not correct. The report also which was in circulation some time back that some of the natives who had been armed by the Government, had subsequently joined the rebels is not correct. We are informed on good authority that none of the natives who have received arms from the Government have ever gone over to Rangihaeata.

Thb following is a list of the wounded in the late engagement with the rebels on thel 6th inst. : — 58th regt., Lieut. Herbert, severely; Lance Corporal William Negas ; Private John M'Hall, do. ; Private Henry Pollicott, do. ; 99th re^t., Private James French, dangerously. We believe that the wounded with the exception of French are reported on very favourably.

While the new road from the Pa at Petoni to the Hatt Bridge is considered to be dan-

gerous, owing to the* facilities it affords to the rebels for lying in ambush, and to the disturbedstate of the district, it appears desirable that a few rough slabs should be thrown across the creek falling into the Hutt, so as to form a rude bridge for horsemen and foot passengers. The expense would be trifling, and it would offer a safe approach to the bridge, as the surrounding ground is all clear and open.

Fourteen men of the 99th Regt. were sent in to Wellington on Saturday, under a guard from the camp at Paramatta, under a charge of mutinous conduct.

On Saturday, being the anniversary of the accession of her Majesty Queen Victoria to the throne, a royal salute was fired from H.M.S. Calliope, at twelve o'clock, and the British colours were hoisted to each masthead of the vessel in honour of the occahion.

Sale of Cattle. — At the sale of Stock ex Kestrel by Messrs. Bethune & Hunter, the cows averaged £5, Us. each, and the calves £2, 19s. each; some of the cows realized £9 ; 1 25 ewes averaged eighteen shillings a-head. The bullocks were disposed of privately at £8 a-head. Two superior draught mares sold for £30 each. The attendance at the sale was very numerous and respectable, and the prices in the present state of the colony were considered to be satifactory.

Wellington Savings Bank. — Mr. I. Hoggard, Major Hornbrook, Mr. A. Hurt, senr., and Captain Sharp the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposits at Mr. Ross's office, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the 27th June, and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 29th June.