WELLINGTON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 614, 5 December 1863, Page 10 (Supplement)

WELLINGTON.

STORMING OF RANGIRIRI

185 PRISONERS TAKEN,

REMOVAL OF SEAT OF GOVERN-

MENT,

PROPOSED AMALGAMATION" OP THE INTERCOLONIAL AND N.Z. STEAM COMPANIES.

Wellington, 30th Nov., 1863,

As the Star of the Squth is to sail this evening direcb to Of ago, I forward my communication by her in the hope that it may reach you earlier than if sent by the Phoehe, by which latter vessel I presume you will receive your regular Auckland correspondence. On Satnrday, when the Phoebe rounded Point Halswell, she ran up a signal at the fore 3407, and no sooner was this known to indicate " very important news" than you may be sure our b.'ach was i ■ a great state of excitement. What was the news—a great fight, or the removal of the seat of Government. Our last accounts spoke of the Improbability of the former, an the probability of the hitter. Both would indeed woull be "very important news" to us, but which would be coasiderpd the most so, it would be ■ difficult to say. As the PLosbedrew near the-Wharf, the passengers were peered amongst for the Southern members, who wer« expected to return in her if the House was up. Only Mi. >fante!l could be seen, so we at once concluded the House was still in Session. Then as the vessel came within hailing distance, " What'd the ne*Ts" was shouted, and the answer listener! for in breathless silence. ci A great fight" was the response, and in a few minutes all other questions were aborbed in the eagerness wit!) which we drank in the utterly unexpected intelligence of the storming of Kangid, and the taking of so many prisoners. But when we found in addition theroro that resolutions hal been moved by Mr Cornett relative to the necessity ior changing the seat of Government and had been carried, we could scarcely help repeating ■ "And are ye sure the news is true,"

being totally unprepared for so much good news by one mail, and it, was with a feeling something akin to satisfaction that we found the scat of Government question was not un fait accompli,, but depended greafc!y upon the succ-ss of an address to the Governor, which Mr Fitzgerald was to move on the evening- of the Phcebe's sailing. It will be recollected that after the evacuation of Mere Mere. General Ca~eron visited Auckland. What was the result of that visit is not known, hut it is said that the necessity for action was mo.=t forcibly imp-esstd upon him, and silso that the overcautiousness to r.'>ve life was really resulting io its destruction. because, although in a rush troops might Buffer and the number appear large, yet the gradual day by (Jay casualties which were happening- were realty producing as great a loss uselessly wilh'but effecting pom!, but leading the natives "generally to_ suppose that they were (Wing us greater i? jury than they received themselves. y For the sake of humanity, therefore, s-omething dashing- wss most necessary, if thereby a stop could be put to the petty kind of'warfare frliieb-has so long been going on. I cannot of course vouch for the truth of these reports, but certain is that the General has turned over a new leaf,- inflicted a heavy bow on the rebels, done more in,a day towaruVthe restoration of quiet i ban has ever been done before, and is believed to be under strong- pressnre to'induce him to push on without delay, (o"Ngarua Whiia^ the possession of the few huts and flagstaff, of-which it is composed, being said to b? symbol cal to .the natives that le JRoi est mort. ,•■'"' . On Friday the 20th, the General marched towards Eangiriri with.-a force of JIOO men viz :— ■„•'""■ Officers. Rackfe file. Royal Artillery .. .. 3 ... 51 Royal Engineers ... .. 2 ... 13 12th R giment .. .. 5 ... ICB 14th Itaiimnt 9 .. 175 40th Kegiment 19 ... 4(0 _j>sth Regiment 10 ... 398 Or at a total of 5 field officers, 11 captains, 24 subalteras, 8 staff officers, 46 sergeants, 21 fifes and drums, and 1078 rank ai\d file, exclusive of the naval brigade.. About 700 of these marched and the iemrinder were conveyed in the steamers and boats towing at the stern. The 6oth were told off as the storming party. They are a fine set of men. When they came here very many years ago mo-t of them were k<!s, but now they have so far done credit to the climate py coymng. more ground than any other rrgiment in the service ; they are a fine stalwart set of men, and during their long re&ielence in Wellington were remarkably well conducted, having in Colonel Gold a very strict disciplinarian. The march from Mere Mere to Raxgariri is about fifteen miles, theougi) a gcod dval of fern, but the enemy was nowhere to he seen utAil the position was reached. VS hen the movement of oj,e bedy has to depen<! on the movtment of another- a hitch more or less to be regretted gererally occurs ; hut r-n this occasion the land and sta forces timed their arrival to a nicety. The piintoats were made to support the Armstrongs in the field ; and whilst, the 40th were Ffnt to the rear to cut off the retreat, the pits were shelled, ai;ri then the charge of the t'sth took place, dislodging the enemy from their first iii:V of rifle pits, which lehig traversed cculd not be raktd' by the steamers guns :.s had been planned. The defenders ~in the r< nr appear to have soon tired and got away, among-t whom was the Msoii king; but the 65th vbad tougher work. rJ he first position having been taken jit the print of the 'bayonet, the second was attempted to be taken in like manner, the 65thl having bteti supported by the remainder of1 the' force. The re- | doubt to w.liicb. the enemy retreated, was surrounded

by a ditch G feet, with a parapet to be scaled of 21 feet. The entrance was by a narrow opening, through which only one could enter at a time; and how the defenders cf the pit managed to get in so quickly after they had be E un to retreat, causes surprise. All did not; may of them esenperl to the swamp several being shot while in it, and the river leading to it. Thro« times rare the tioops repulsed, the officers leading sbot down ; and after the Naval Brigade had been sent lorw rd, maf'e a-vigorous butunsucc ssful attack, it wa; dftermined, to mine the redoubt no scahne ladders being at hand. A mine was founl impracticable, from the soil falling i n ; so the night being moonlight the place was shelled, the troops hemminer all round so as to prevent escape But WilU ra Thompson and a small party did nevertheless escape during 'he night night, evidently with the intention of getting rein foremen ts. At half-past five next morning aft>r returning fire all night, a wh.te flag made its appearance and an interpreter was asked for. They surrendered the General.complimented them on their bravery, and half an hour after they and the soldiers were shattering together aa though they had been friends all their life time. There were 18i prisoners taken, inc'uding a few women, some *re chiefs of great 'note. Kaniera, Ti-ori-ori Te Ran, Reihana, and Tnrahawaiki are all of the highest rank, and especially Ti-ori-ori and Re Rau. the latter owning more land than any other man in New Zealand. The murderer of Mr Meredith is taken, and f learn that Mr Fox has decided upon giving hi ra up at once to the Supreme Court; but wha* is to be done with the others is not yet decided on, except that fothe present they shall be kept in a hulk at Auckland. Thompson, who escaped during the previous night returned shortly after the surrender with reinforcements to the number cf. about 400. Thsy sent a white flag and an interpreter went out to them. The conditions of surrender was what they wanted to know, and being told that they vere unconditional, they rteclined, Thompson sending his whalebone mere to the General. This is thought to indlate an in tention to submit eventually. The Io a of rho rebels is 41 bodies actually found; how many more were shot whose boJies cannot be recovered from the swamp is of course unknown. It was first, supposed (hat their loss w-is 200, but half tint cumber must be tlie very hiyb^t we ought to reckon upon. Our loss consisted of 2 officers killed an-1 13 wounded,' 35 men killed and 85 wounded. Sinr-e then Captain Mercer, R.A., and Captain Pbslns 14<hRpgt, have'died. p'

It is thought that this will be a blow which will work wonders, if followed up quickly. You will see that General Cameron complimented the rebels on their bravery, and certainly they showed fight su-h as will astorish most people. It has beceme the fashion lately to dfspise the ensmy, as if it is likely that when pitted against an overwhelming force they will choose to stay and be shot if they can escape. The gallant Major Nelson thought it no disgrace t^ retire at Pnketakauere (Waitars) before overwhelming numbers (when Colonel Gold failed to coma to his support), although he had to leave his dead and wounded on the field ; and the natives on tbis occasion weuld certainly have fled too, if the way had been open. So that we get the victory we nerd not mind how great the force the General employs—the greater the more hopeless must be the desire to resist—but still there is little room for the crowing, which some of us are so prone to irdulge in. I see the Southern Csoss has had the courage to take the lead of the Press, in giving credit to the enemy for the way they fought, and I am glad that General Cameron was brave enough to admire the pluck manifested duririg the resistance. Nothing is gained by thinking les3 of their prowese than we ought to think, bub very much has, on several occasions, been lost thereby. I enclose you a translation of the account, printed in Maori, for circulation, which, when you have a spare comer, you can publish. Last Saturday afternoon there was a grand Militia Review here. From 400 to 500 men went skirmishing over the hills, and at the close, they drew up into line, presented arms, and gave loud cheers for General Cameron, anl all of us being elated with the news of the victory, the cheers were loud indeed.

The following address was mov d in the Hou^e of Representatives on the 25th, and carried by 24 to 17. I presume, therefore, that there can be little doubt about the transfer somewhere to Cook's Strait. The pairs were—• FOR ME ADDREfS. AGATNST IT. Featherston Atkinson Saunters Hendeison Mantell . Nixon ADDRESS. We, the House of R°pre>entaf ive3 of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, desire respectfully to ex-pre-s to your Excellency our strong conviction that the time has arrived when it has become imperatively necessary, for the gooi government of the whole colony, and for the mainte/jance of its unity, that the] permanent position of the seat of Government shouldf now be finally settle d. .■' We _ are of opinien that the just claims and varied necessities of all parts ot the colony require that the seat of Government should be placed in a central position, that is (o say, somewhere on the shores of Cook's Strait-?.

We desire that the actual site of the capital should be submitted to some independent tri'runal, by which the interests cf the who'e colony may be impar ialiy considered, apart, fioni those loral claims which are sure to be asserted by the several settlements of Cook's Strait 3, in the discussion of a question so important to their respective interests. Such a tribunal would, in our opinion, be best formed by commissioners having no interest in, or relations with, any part of the colony, and whose higii social and intellectual standing would guarantee a full enquiry and an impartial decision, founded eoleiv upon a consideration of the advantages which the different sites in Cook's Straits present for the andnaiuistration of the Government of the whole colony.

We venture to think that the Governors of the neighboring- coloni s would, if moved thereto by your fcxcallency, readily lend their aid in the selection of such commissiorers. ■ >We therefore .respectfully pray that your Excellency will be pleased to request, their Excellencies" the Governors of New Wa'es, Vici.ori», and of Tasmania, each to appoint one Commissioner of the character, aad for the purpose herein referred t'»; and that your Excellency will be pleased to submit, to the consideration of the commissioners so appointed the quesiion as to the be?t site for the Seat of Government within Cook's Straits.

We further pray, that immediately upon receiving the report of the conimissiomrs so appointed, your Excellency will be pleased to cause the necessary steps to be taken for procuring the site recommended by them, acd for'erecting the buildinas required for the residence of the Governor, ths officers of Government, and ihe meltings of the (Jeneral AsEembly. Impressed with the conviction that continued delay in the settlement of this question will only tend to keep alive those feelings of rivalry and jealousy, between different parts of the colony, which seriously impede the fiction of responsible Government, and which threaten ai no distant period the dismemberment of the colony; we respecrfully but earnestly pray that your Exci-lleucy will cause no time to be lost in carrying into effect ihe measures now submitted.

Captain Ehorfes, at the late meeting in Auckland, is reported t > have said—" The N, Z. S. N. Co. is now -possessed of four steamers, two hulks, and three sailing vessels, and an amalgamation with anrther company hfd been proposed, and they ha ' arrived at a very near appronch to it. That amalgamation was with a large company nt Dunedin, and it only remained to be ratifiei by the respective directors jm Otagoand Wellington. 'ihe tago company had two very powerful v< ssels, of 750 tons burthen, now building at home, and the New Zealand Steam Navigation company had a vessel t uilding of 550 tons I The Wangauui Steam Navigation Company intended to hand it? vessel over to the new company, and the d;rertors of the Hawke's Bay Company had intimated tnur intenton to do the same. He mentioned these facts to show that the wish was to get up a company on a largo scale, to which there should he an unanimous feeling of support all over the colony." I quote this because of Mr Secretary Cargill's denial iv your columns, though ss there were Otago membeivs present et the meeting, I can scarcely think they would have allowed Captain Rhode's statement to have been made without correcting it, if it were an error. The chairman of the Wanganui Company has, however, in the last Chronicle, followed suite to the Otago secretary thus:— .-.,.. ..» - (To tfie Editor of the Wanganui Chronicle.) November 24,1863. Sir,—At the meeting in Auckland, on the 11th of this month, of the New Zealand £bam Navigation ■ 4mn,? ny" Ca Plain Khcdes is reported to have said— II V aupanwi Sttam Navigation Company intended to baud its new vessel over to the new Company, and the Directors of the Hawke's Bay Compariy had intimated their intention to do ihe same. , ' * He mentioned these facts to show Kri*1 to Bet up a c°mpany °n a iar se ■ Will you oblige the Directors by'letting the publjo Know, through, your columns, that the Wanganui Company co not ii^er.d anything of the sort. • uch a thing-hss never been cor.teniplatcd even by any of the. Directors, nor^ as ' far' as tiiey kmw, by a-ny of the s-bareholders.' The Company was formed in order that this community might have'1 a boat or boats, Bt its own eervfee and under its own control to do the carrying trade of tl.-e dSstriet in live stock and goods ; tnc', with its first steamer probably pretty close at band, and Ihe experiment untried, it is not veryhkdy the Directcrs wou|d >co defect tie'very ol ject tley had n vk-v., after all'the tiouble they navebetn at. in gettk'g a steamer which they arc

advised possesses admirably all the requisites for carrying out the wi>h*s of the Proprietary, and making the setil.-ment independent in a great degree of other compan-l s. Uni-'tain llhndes has either be?:n misreported or imposed up'iu by the iv tions of sen* vh'ss "wi>h was (pe:hapsj father to the thought/

lour obedient servant, Thos Waters, Chairman Wansauui S N. Co. There is news from Auckland relative to the inclination of the Intercoloi.ial Company to amalgamate. A Mr. Hudson, one of the directors, hid visited Pydney and endeavored to effect an amalgamation with a Company there, but failing to do so, has gone to Auckland, where he has been in preliminary negotiation with Captain Rhodes, Mr. Taylor, &■;., who are directors of the W,Z.S.N. Company. He is expected down here shortly. Tlw Intercolonial find the disadvantage of a direction so far removed as London is from the field of operation, especially as it is being subjected to the prospect of a close competition by the Company formed in the colony. The Intercolonial are anxious to arrange for the Panama line, stveral steamers having been some little while in building with a view thereto.

A Bill to enable tbe N Z.S.iV. Company to buy some beach in Evans' Bay is before the Assembly, ths obj ct being to construct a patent sli p. Wellington is eertaioly looking up.