SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1013, 18 March 1865, Page 5

SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Tlic lost month has been singnSasrly deficient in matters of interest. The iutcliigence from the North as usual is conflicting. By one mail we hear that peace is on the point of being established ; by the next that affairs once more assume a threatening aspect. Discrepant accounts of this kind have teen a notable eharacterisfcic.of the war since its commencement. There seems to be no doubt that the natives at Touranga have resolved on pood behaviour. At a large meeting hiM there those present almost unanimously declared in favor of peace. Nothing authentic is known concerning William Thompson's intentions. It is the generally accepted belief thnt he is anxious for peace; but that liis free agency* is controlled! by bw followers. The Waikato district, bowever, was sufficiently quiet; to induce the Governor at last to proceed on his lonjr-promised visit to "Wellington. He first visited Wanganui and then went on to Wellington, whence he returned to Wanganui. Advantage was taken of his presence at the seat of Government Jo deal with several appointments and proclamations that had been waiting the attention of the Governor in Council. Among other business disposed of wa? the recalling the obnoxious proclamation imposing a postal charge on the transmission of newspapers. A. noticeable victory was gained by tbe friendly over the rebel natives at Wan- ; ganui. This is the tnost stirring evrat of | the month. The troops are being pushed on towards Taranaki by General Cameron, and a long and dreary war, like that at tbe Waikato, seems imminent. lit was paid the natives desired pence, anil that Sir George Grey's return to Wanganui was in order to negotiate with them. The second report was that the terms demanded were such as could no' be accepted, and that the war must go on. It will be interesting to learn, in case the tale is true, what was the nature of the terms asked. We shall then be able to know how much of the rcsiistance the natives are offering is due to the roailmaking—how much to the Waitotara purchase?. It is perhaps hardly worth mentioning that a report has gained general currency, (o the effect that the Home Government proposed investing General Cameron with absolute power—to make him, in short, a Military Governor until the war wns ended. It ia strange how such a step would tally with the proposal made by the Auckland members laut session, and which at the time was supposed to owe its inspiration to the Governor. It is likely the Assembly wilt be convened very fhortly. A most interesting occurrence to the inhabitants of the Middle Island ia a very extensive rush which is tnking place to a newly-discovered goldfield on the West Coast, witl>in tbe boundaries of the Canterbury Province. Hitherto, the western portions of Canterbury and Ofago have been looked upcin as uninhabitable. Further north, within the Nelson Province, a small goldmining population had been located for some years. But, although a considerable quantity of gold has been obtained from time to time, there was never anything in the nature of a large rush, —the difficulties of the country being of a most discouraging; character. Further to the south, within the Canterbury boundary, there now seems to have b?en discovered some very rich gullies and narrow river workings—so rich, indeed, as to compensate in the eyes of the miners attracted to the spot for the discomforts of the country. The news was not slow in travelling, aid did not want person* to actively circulate it. There wasalso evidence of the successes in the greater quantity of gold that reached' Nelson. A Rush on a large scale forthwith set in, and we are now in the mid*t of it. From Auckland, Wellington, Nelroo, Canterbury, and Otago, crowds are flocking to the spot, or rather It would be moie correct to say, are attempting to do so. The approacbto the new diggings is so difficult, and requires steamers of such shallow burden, that the means of ronveyanicc are altogether inadequate to the demand. Nelson is swarming with miners, anxiously seeking a passage to the new Dorado. A great many are attempting to cross overland from Christchurch, but the route is to difficult, that it seenifl likely but few will1 succeed. Several vessels, crowded with j passengers, have left Otago direct iior the new gold field, whilst the steamer." to Nelson and Canterbury have not wanted passengers. When aH who have f-tnrtcd get there, the new field will boast a Jarge population. Whether is is capable of maintaining it, remains to be seen. As yet nothing more is known than that a small population has been succepsful— and that thelocalitiesin which gold has been obtained are easily worked out. There is reason to fear that many will bo disappoints d, and that though the new field may be capable of rewarding a considerable number of ! miners, tbe rush will be much overdone. We anticipate eeeing the i-learners return in the course of a few weeks with as maDy passengers aa they took away. It is notorious that the Otago gold fields ore yielding well to the miners. The individual average is very high, whilst some are earning small foirtunes There are well authenticated instances of miners leaving from £10 to £20 a-week "to try their luck," their favorite phrase, on tbe new field. When the wet, bnshy and hilly nature of the new coun.try is taken into account, it is very unlikely but that a large.number of tbe miners will return to the Otago fields they have left. In tbe long ran there can be no doubt tbe rush will be most beneficial. Some will do well, and will open the way to settling a portion of the Middle Island hitherto deemed scarcely habitable. :' Since the departure *>f tha la»t mail, the Postmaster-General, Major Richardson, entertained a large audienoe at the tlfseaire with a long. address. Ho eagerly disclaimed that he appeared as a member of the Minwtryi and dealt -with the various public, questions] «pon »rmeh

he touched, rather in a jocose and superficial manner; than in one calculated to impress bis hearers with their importance. Uis leading topic was Separation, a movement wiiich he violently opposed. Ht» success may be gathered from the fact tbat a resolution was pnssed to the efßxt tbat no one opposing Separation was entitled to the confidence of tbe electoral The Exhibition thrives well.. A taiga number of persons continue to visit »£„ Gas has been introduced into the building, and st will shortly be opened ia the evenings. The Provincial Council is to meet on the 10th of nt-xt month. Many subjects of importance arc likely to engage its deliberation. The trial of Captain Jnrvcy for the alleged murder of his wife, in Dunedin, is occupying a areat deal of attention. We forbear to comment on the case as it is still snbjudice. The length to which our report of the third day's proceedings extends compels us to somewhat limit our usual summary. In the supplcm-nt, the leading events of the month will be found to be duly chronicled.