TARANAKI.

Otago Witness, Issue 663, 12 August 1864, Page 5

TARANAKI.

(from thb daily times correspondent.)

Taranaki, July 28th, 1864. Should rumour be correct in her surmises, thismay be the last letter void of interesting incident that I shall for some time have to forward you. It is reported that the General, with reinforcements, will arrive in Taranaki during the ensuing week. This may be the case, provided the disturbance between the Governor and his Ministers does not check proceedings. The report here is to the efiect that Sir George Grey bad s«nt for the Ministers, to whom he presented the conditions of peace to be offered to the natives, they at once refused to ratify them, on which Sir Qt orge coolly sfated that he was about to leave * uckland for three days, when on his return, if the ministers still persisted to oppose his wishes, it was his intention of afc once sending home four regiments ; all this quibbling tends not only to disturb tho native mind, but to check all endeavours that might be made by the settlers towards re establishing themselves on their farms. Of native news there is little or none to relate, the expected Maori Kins has not yet arrived on his visit to William King ; although Colonel Warre has sent out an Armstrong, and strengthened the fort at Sentry Hill by reinforcements of the 70th in readiness for welcoming his rojal Mnjesfy. The head-quarters of the 70th arrived by the Wellington on the 19th.

A general parade of the militia is ordered for Saturday next, with the idea of reorganising the force This has been attempted so often as to leave upon one's mind the same impression so beautifully expressed by Young when speakin g of man who —

" Reforms— re-forms, and dies the same."

The Provincial wiseacres are still sitting—involving the future prospects of the Province by their foolish and reckltss voting of money. They appear to be going on well towards another session of twelve months' duration.

The excitement caused by the arrival of the Cardweli despatches has given place to a slight madness on the subject of railways. It is how proposed to carry out a line of communication between here and Wanganui ; considering that the country through which the line is to pass is stiil in the hands of an unconquered enemy, it appears full early to bring the scheme forward. The grand obstacle, so far as the country is concerned, will be found in the extensive swamps that intersect the level flats ; but by judicious draining a twofold object may be obtained, first, the railway contt actors will be enabled to economically overcome a great difficulty, whilst the land around will be rendered more available and of greater Value. Through the Hue the average width of really good land will be about five miles, and 118 in length. Let ns hope that the scheme will be curled out, and not like all Taranaki undertakings fail ro the ground from the want of intelligent men to complete the detail.

Sickness is greatly on tho decrease. Should the General arrive, I will write early next week, in time to catch the outward steamer.

Another blockhouse has been completed, and will be sent out in sections to its destination on the northern bank of the Waiwakaio.