WELLINGTON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 273, 4 November 1862, Page 6

WELLINGTON.

(from our own correspondent.)

Wellington, 28th October, 1862. Perhaps the most important news I can communicate is, that the Government intend abandoning the mail service, for which tenders have been advertised, and substituting for it, daring the next twelve months, the plan proposed by your Chamber of Commerce. *■ They have been necessitated to do this in conseI quence of the loss of the Intercolonial Company's boat Lord Worsley, and the A. S. 3ST. ; Company's boat Prince of Wales. The firstj mentioned company is unable to tender by j itself in consequence of the Worsley's loss, and the second is obliged to withdraw the assistance of the Rangitara towards a joint tender, and even take her off the New Zealand line altogether, being short of boats, and obliged to keep up the Sydney and Brisbane line, on which the Prince of Wales was wrecked. The Postmaster General will if the information thus received be correct, negotiate during his stay in Australia, for three direct lines between thence and New Zealand; Sydney to Auckland, Sydney to Cook's Strait, and two boats between Melbourne and Otago, one for the inward and the other for the outward mail. As this plan involves a precisely similar namber of boats (one for the North, and three for the Strait, and the South) as was contemplated by the service your Chamber objecte.l to, and which falls through in consequence of the shortness of boats, it is not at first sight clear how the one could be more easier established than the other; but I presume the secret is, that it will be comparatively easier to make a contract for a single trip to or from Otago per month, than to tie up the entire services of such boats as the Aldimra and City of Hobart 3 even if there were not the obstacle of having the owners to club together for the purpose. I cannot learn that there is any present intention to adopt the postal service your Chamber recommended, but if the communication is to be improved as indicated by the resolutions of the Assembly, some such plan will have to be carried out.

From Australia, Mr Ward will proceed to his home in Ireland, where his father's cure is. He is very desirous of doing so via Panama, and will choose that route in preference to via Suez. I sincerely hope that opportunity will present itself, as it will be an incalculable benefit to New Zealand to have one, so intimately acquainted with her postal wants, prosecuting enquiries, and collecting information on the spot—an advantage equally great to us all, whether we be advocates for the establishment of Monganui, Wellington, or Otago as the head quarters of a line, which we hope even old men will live to see, though some say middle aged ones will perhaps die without the sight.

Our Chamber of Commerce had a meeting yesterday to consider the proposals sent up from yours. The opportunity of direct communication with both Melbourne and Sydney, which the proposal advertised by Mr Ward presents, was too tempting too be deliberately rejected. Much discussion took place, ending in the adoption of the following resolutions: " That it is desirable in any arrangements that are made for the postal service, that on each month the steamer from Melbourne should come on to this port." "That at the same time arrangements should be made for the transmission of the English mail from Otago to Melbourne in such time as to secure its overtaking the homeward mail."

The information already communicated to you, relative to the probable failure of Mr Ward's attempt to obtain a single tender for the route advertised for, renders the present carrying out the first resolution only possible on the supposition that the mail vessels to Otago may be induced to call at Lyttelton and Wellington, by the prospect of commercial advantages. I fear the two Provinces can scarcely compete with Otago in offering inducement sufficient in that respect, and it is not likely that our Provincial"Government will add a subsidy, considering that the N. Z. S. N. Company will be prepared to receive whatever amount of subsidy it can afford,

I am happy to say that this local Company has determined on having built two good handy-sized boats of about 400 tons, the Wellington and the Auckland. May the titne come when albthe Provinces shall have representative boats in the company's fleet. The Wanganui Company expect a boat is already building on the Clyde for their use. While on steamer building I must not forget, to notice the Claude Hamilton's arrival, as that of a very superior boat. Another better still is: to be built immediately for the same (LC.R.M.) Company, for which purpose Capt. Gibson, of the above vessel, it is said will proceed to England to superintend her building. Intimately connected with this subject of steam, is that of the establishment of lighthouses. The captains of the coastal steamers have been addressing the papers here on the necessity for doing something in that direction, and as the chief marine board is now being established, and is to meet here for its first sitting about the 11th of November, I suppose that we may contemplate that no very great time will elapse before orders are transmitted to England, for the materials for the erection, on some three or four of the principal points, of sufficiently powerful lights. i There seems to be a rage for patent slips, Nelson having entered the field, spurred thereto by Captain Vine Hall. As the Intercolonial Company occasionally spend something like LIO,OOO a-year on repairs, I have no doubt that Captain Hall's letter will prove a healthy stimulus to provincial enterprise in this direction. This competition of the Provinces is one of the advantages of the system of Government we live under. The desire of each Provincial Government.to make its Province more attractive than others—or^if you will, the jealousy existing between—is one of the chief aids to development, and would be wholly lost by cutting the country up into petty municipalities under one General Government Without trenching on the sphere of your Nelson correspondent, I may call your attention to the '^Examiner of the 1 Ith mst., in which Captain Hall's and other letters appear. ,\ ■■ . ;■/ .. V/. ~ / =v v ,. ; : [ .

The little excitement, which the reported sayings and doings of the Governor and the West Coast Natives created, has subsided, and we go about our ordinary avocations as though there were no natives on the island. This is, I think, generally the" case in the principal towns of the island; it is in the country where the irritation exists, or, from circumstances makes itself more manifest—those circumstances being the scattered population, the more frequent contact between the races, and the great difference that, exists between the feat-of the magistrate which the native has in ! town, to what ne has in the country, where he

can secure the protection of his friends. Two cases are now exciting attention in the Wanganui district. On the 11th instant a girl of thirteen who was walking some distance ahead of her father, was met by a mounted native, and had her father not come up in time, he would have succeeded in his1 criminal assault. A policeman was sent to arrest him ; the native resisted and was left in the pah by the policeman, from fear of of the personal consequences. The corporal of the district accompanied by six Maori policeman has since endeavored to apprehend him, the natives of the district professing to desire his capture; Reaching one pah they are told he is at;" the next," and on arrival there they still find that it is yet "the next." Failing to capture him, Mr Buller, the R.M., has sent ten native policemen on his track up the Wangehu river, and threatened to cashier the whole of the native police in that neighborhood if the culprit is not taken. Another case arises out of a suit in the Resident Magistrates Court at Wanganui; a native having summoned a settler (Atkinson) for L 5, the value of two pigs said to have been killed. The evidence was not conclusive, and the plaintiff lost his case, but the defendant had to pay his costs, which he promised to do next day. !Next day, however, Mr Ropa na Turoa brought down fifty armed men in a canoe, and capturing a mare and filly belonging to Atkinson, returned to their pah; while Atkinson went off to the police-office to pay the costs adjudged against him the day previously by the magistrate, and to complain of the outrage just committed by the friends of the native. The costs being paid, a warrant "was issued but it cannot be executed. Meanwhile the man offers to pay the Lo for the pigs, if only he can get back his mare and filly, and to assist in getting them back, Mr White, the new native, R.M° for Wanganui has gone up the river. I presume Mr White will not countenance the offer of payment, but seek the return of the horses gratuitously. This is a sad state of things and hard to bear, but I do not hold with constantly " barking at his Excellency's heels,'* the honor of the Queen's name is in his sole charge, and while it is there I do not think it my duty to express impatience at what may appear to be a laches on his part —while we all cannot help deploring the victimising of the settlers by the natives, as in the case of Atkinson above mentioned, I cannot help thinking it unwise to hurry the Governor in his plans; we have waited so long, that a few months more or less, can scarcely make any great difference to us.

While referring to Wanganui, I may just as well notice a piece of information which the Chronicle gives us. It says, " (on what authority I know not), the King's rununga has sent to the various Protestant tribes, recommending them to become Roman Catholics, in order that as great a distinction as possible may be made between the British Queen and the Maori King. The Taupo natives are going over in large numbers to the Romish Church. The Waikato and Wanganui Protestants remain steadfast." How much truth there is in this it is impossible to say, F give it you simply as I find it.

By some one of the cattle ships you will have received, and no doubt published, Wi Tako's account of his interview with the Governor. lam told it is a very faithful translation. Lieutenant Edwards is quartered at Ota'd, and the conviction gains ground that an appointment so unfit in a native sense, must have been made for ulterior' objects. Lieutenant Edwards is a young man totally unacquainted with Maori, or Maori character, and, therefore, not the most fitted for the delicate duties which a magistrate in such a district has to perform ; but Sir George knows this as well as any man living. He has resigned everything in the army, equivalent to an income of-L360; the pay of a magistrate vavying from L2OO upwards, usually about L-100. Had Lieutenant Edwards refused it, th ; appointment was to have been offered to a brother-officer still junior.

Thatcher has been, and gone. He only sang two nights. His main reason for going was til j want of pianist ; he will stay with us longer on his return from Auckland. He treated us to some of your locals, and split our sides with some of our own. Everbody is hoping that he will take off everbody but themselves, and some who have been made fun of, are foolish enough to show their annoyance, which only makes matters worse. The best way is to do as the jackass does to the storm—turn your. back upon it, and let it quietly blow over you. Attention is being called to the necessity for helping the Lancashire operatives, but "it is very sluggishly responded to—if, indeed, it has been responded to at all yet. I hope the example you have set will not be lost upon

Such of your readersas knew the late Mr Baker, formerly of the Native Station at Otago Heads, will be very glad to hear that the General Government have given his widow a bonus of L3OO. Mr Baker u'as on his way to the North to a native district, in which he had been appointed as R.M., and was never heard of—the Pole Star, having foundered, and all hands lost. There is an Act which allows Government to give a sum, I think not exceeding one year's salary, to the widows of deceased officers, and it is under this Act that the Go-* vernment have thus acted.

Building continues very active in the town. In another year the neighbourhood of the reclaimed land will present a very creditable appearance, several new stores or warehouses being projected by established firms. The Bank of New Zealand have called for tenders. I hope the full employment of builders will not act as prejudicially on its erection as it has done on that of the Thorndon Cathedral, only one tender for which was received, L 7,000, while the architect's estimate was something like L3,0Q0; of course it is shelved for the present.

The cattle and timber trades both continue brisk. Store cattle are still plentiful, and easily purchasable, it being unwise to hold in face of the permission to import from Gipps Land. Beef will soon be getting comparatively scarce, and before the summer is over retail prices will, I fear, be much higher than present. Home consumption and export take every stick of timber the mills" can cut. The new mill at Poriwia Bay, to replace the one burnt down a few months ago, is expected to open in less than a fortnight, with improved machinery, and facilities, enabling it to supply 30,000 feet per week. It was tinder contract to freight half a dozen tripsto your port when it was burnt, and I believe most of its cutting will find its way to Otago for the present if vessels can be got to take it. The Superintendent, Dr Featherstone, has reached the- ; West Coast on his return from Raupo. after a toilsome journey, in consequence, greatly, of the wet. He is trying to -buy land at Waitotara, and will visit the Manawatu.

.The Marlborough case will come before Judge Johnston this week. The decision on the validity of the votes given by certain electors, by which a" member or two of the Gyes party were electedin preference to those of the Baillie party, will virtually settle the question. I suppose it's a shame to make cajiital out of the misfortunes of your neighbours, but I can't help saying that if PictonT'is not at for the capital of Marlboroagh, it jcertainly is. not fit for the capital of the colony— not a very logical deduction, but as logical,

perhaps, as a good many others which pass current on the other side.

I hear that a gentleman in the Wairarapa, Captain Thomas, J.P., has been appointed to the resident mrgistracy of the Chatham Islands. I believe gentlemen are much wanted down there, if it is anything like the place it was Avhen I visited it a few years ago. As such, Captain Thomas '.will ba worth something, for they have long been without a magistrate with the qualifications he possesses. The late Taranaki papers are full of news. The people there are getting more and more disheartened, seed time has come and gone, and they have no harvest to look forward to. There is another talk of moving away south. Much as they appear to look upon the gleaur. ings of Ephraim as of more value than the vintage ofAbiezer, it is only to be wondered at that those who can leave Taranaki still remain there. Colonel Warre has some large schemes of road making and rough build:ng, and there are specimens of Maori bombast ad nauseam. For particulars I refer you to the Herald.