WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 665, 27 August 1864, Page 20

WELLINGTON.

(FROM THE DAILY TIMES CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, 18th August.

The present mail will convey to you the result of the conference at Tauranga. You will have already learned that some 200 natives had made their unconditional surrender, placing their arms, lands, and bodies at the control of his Excellency. You will also have received the report of the first day's conference, at the close of which the Governor informed them that he would next day make th^m acquainted with the conditions he intended to impose. Your Auckland correspondent uill by i this opportunity tell 50U fully what took place on the eventful morrow ; how his Excellency, with the concurrence of his Ministers, told them that he should accept only one fourth of their land", and that as soon as their ultimate location had been decided on he would supply them with seed potatoes, so that they might at once begin again to cultivate— the locations to be as far as possible of their own selection, and secured to them by a Crown Grant. William Thompson was not present, and whether the result will induce him and his followers to make their submission seems to be a moot point, still strong hopes are entertained that it will do so. The Governor has returned to j Kawau, but Messrs Fox and Whittaker remained behind to arrange details. The conditions impesed are certainly most favorable, and will find great favor with a very large section of the colonists, with all those who are usually called the peace-part}', and with all those who whatever may have been their opinions at one time now wish to try a policy of reasonable clemency, if so be it will but restore the colony to a state of quietude. The condititions will, however, sadly jar with the notions of the "vigorous" party. I told you long since that the scheme of making the confiscated lands a paying speculation, as was proposed by Mr Treasurer Wood in his last budget, has for some time been regarded as moonshine, and that the views now entertained at head quarters were veiy far frem realising that idea. The •war has lasted longer than was anticipated ; the chain of military posts that was to stretch across the island is found totally impossible of accomplishment, from the want of the men and the inability to commissariat them; and how to prosecute the war further into the interior without converting the troops into an army of bullock drivers, was a sore puzzle to the General — so sore, that the only way of handling the troops with any show of aggression or advancement towards punishing the rebels, was by opening an entirely new campaign in the Taranaki and Ngatiruamri country — so sore, that the possible concentration of the Waikato tribes in the neighborhood of Taupo, was ■considered to be tantamount to a suspension of hostilities on our part, from the declared impossibility of the General advancing so far into the interior after them, the beef question absolutely preventing the army moving to any greater distance than at present. Under these circumstances, influenced also by the ever-growing dislike <or rather disgust) of the troops to the continuance of the war, the Governor and the Governor's Ministers are too thankful for any opportunity of being able to show their clemency, and would indeed be most happy if other tribes would put it to the test. Thus, at the Waiuku lately, they confiscated only one-half, and bought — paid handsomely it is said — for the other half. Now at Taurattga they confiscate only 100,000 out of 400,000 acres, and give Crown Grants and seed potatoes ad libitum. As a sop to the " vigorous" party we are told that this is not to be repeated. Of course not. At Taranaki they will do very differently. My belief is, that if the opportunity offered at Taranaki to-morrow, the Government would be only too glad to make their clemency as conspicuous there as at Tauranga; indeed, the transactions at Tauranga are but an advertisement to induce submissions elsewhere, by fostering the belief that the submissions will be similarly treated. It is to be hoped that the advertisement will draw, and that the Government will take no heed of the disappointed " vigorous" party, but continue in the course they are pursuing if they have reason to believe it will lead to the pacification of the country. I wish, however, to draw your readers, notice particularly to one point. It 13 this : The " vigorous" party have always gone in for entire, subjugation and confiscation — no peace until the natives were utterly subjugated, and then, only on the confiscation of the whole of their lands, which lands at L 2 per acre, were to furnish some portion of the wherewithal to liquidate the three million loan. In the Assembly and out of it, men threw up their hats and cheered lustily at this very capital policy, as though it had only to be enunciated to be carried on to completion. Without doubt this was a popular policy in the Colony, and in this island especially, and it is no mean help towards being able to

carry out a policy successfully, to have it thoroughly popular. The moderate party, variously styled as the peace party — the peace at any price party — the missionary party — the philo-Maori party, declaimed against the popular policy ; declared it could never be carried out— thai to subjugate the rebels would be a work of years — and that an entire confiscation of rebel land would exasperate — would prolong the war. The moderate party urged that war should be conducted with a view to peace — that while the war was pushed on resolutely it should, at the same time, be impressed on the rebels that it was their submission and not their lanl that was wanted, and that they would be only mulcted to a limited extent. This policy was very unpopular — of that there can be no question. The vigorous party were exalted and the moderate party decried. The one got all the colonial halfpence and the other all the kicks. But the moment the vigorous party attempt to put their policy into action they find it unworkable, it colhpses, and they are obliged to adopt the policy of the despised moderate party. They fear to carry out their confiscation scheme, their scheme that was to pay off the colonial debt, and seek to end the war by clemency in preference to the sword. The moderate party have their way at la^t, and the Government is obliged practically to confess that the vigorous policy i 3 unworkable, and that the policy of the moderate party is the only one that is likely to induce general submission. Meanwhile the mischief that has been done at home is immense. The gravest suspicions have been fostered, the Imperial Government pnts up its back, and the foundation is laid for saddling the colony hereafter with a very much larger capitation contribution for the assistance of troops, &c. The vigorous party have applauded themselves for professing to do what they cannot do, while the moderate party have the satisfaction of knowing that though to a large extent they have been scouted, circumstances have proved that true wisdom has been found of them. j

The Seat of Government Commission have been in Wellington for nearly a fortnight. They went first to Auckland with a view to get a commission issued under the great seal, in order to give the utmost validity to their decision. Being totally unexpected no accommodation had been provided for them, and they were detained for several hours in Mr Whitaker's office ere rooms or even beds could be procured for them ; every place was so full, and Auckland hospitality (never at a prpmium) being, so far as they were concerned, at a discount. Last week, the first of their arrival in Cook's Straits, was spent in taking evidence. Many of our nervous townspeople were afraid that as no Committee had been organised to secure evidence, it might fail when wanted, but there was no want of evidence when the Commissioners asked for it. Sea Captains testified in shuals as to the accessibility of the port, its ccntrality, and its safety. Medical evidence as to the sanitary condition of the town, and the healthiness of the climate, owing in a great degree to " the constant current of atmosphere" to which we are exposed, was all that could be wished, and military men in uniform and out of it demonstrated unquestionably the superior ease with which our one entrance could be defended against a foreign foe over the two entrances to Picton. Evidently the Commissioners had been led to expect that there was not country enough over which to spread a pocket handkerchief, and so i they resolved to visit the interior and judge for themselves, as far as practicable, of the truth of the statement that they now for the first time hear, that from Paikakariki few miles north of Pouriru) a railway could be carried on a level to Taranaki, and from the lleinutaka (bounding the Upper Hutt) another could be carried to Hawke's Bay. The Superintendent had an engagement to vistt the Manawata natives, some distance up that river, today, and the Commissioners accompanied him when he set out last Monday, acting as an escort to the L 12,000 that was required to pay for the newly-acquired block. From thence the party will proceed to Wanganui, to which place they had been specially invited by a memorial from the local magistrates. The Rangatira will go thither to bring the party back next week, after which it is at present intended to proceed up the Wairarapa. It does not become me or any one else to anticipate the result of their experience in this Province, but the massing together of so large a body of such decisive evidence has in no way lessened the opinion which Wellingtonians have always entertained of the justice of their claims to be the new capital. The following extract from the Independent of the 16th, explains itself, and is no less true than amusing : — " A very amusing incident occurred in Wellington during last week. It appears, from what we learn, that three gentlemen here on a visit — some uncharitable people would call it " a spree" — envying, we doubt not, the exalted positions of the

gentlemen who represent the Colonies of Victoria, New South "Wales andTasraania, in the all important Seat of Government question, determined to enjoy the popularity so justly a earned by the real commissioners, and proceeded at once to appropriate the names of those gentlemen, and engaged a " one -horse shay 1 ' to convey them to the Hutt. Arriving at the tollgate, Mr Gill, who is always at his post, handed a ticket, expecting to receive in I return the usual fee for passing through. The young gent who was personating Mr Gunn, turned to Sir Francis (a distinguished ' bung' from Ahuriri) and suggested that they should leave so paltry an expense to be defrayed by their Secretary who was behind them — a long way. No sooner had the talismauic name ' Sir Francis' been uttered than the gate flew open as if by magic, the hat was raised from the head of the confiding Gill, his face brightened, and with a bow that would have done honor to au Eastern potentate requested 'Sir Francis to pass through.' This innocent ' sell' was so cleverly worked that they determined to proceed with the joke. "Arrived at Host Clapham's these thirsty souls sought to refresh the inner man, and alighted from the trap, threw the reins to a bystander, and assuming an air of regal greatness proceeded to the bar — not of public opinion — but of the Ngahauranga Hotel, where the quiet Docker (represented by a certain commercial traveller, Mr H— — ) proceeded to suggest that ' champagne should be the order of the day,' but the matter-of-fact Sir Francis ruled (rather vulgarly it must be admitted) that that beverage was 'too d d cold' and suggested that glasses of his country's favorite drink should be served to each, and charged the waiter to bring them three glasses of ' the dear ciatur' and remarked that a ' shmall dhrop of warm water might be a sleight improvemint.' Quickly they tossed their glasses, talked of the beauties of the magnificent harbor before them, and mounting again proceeded to the Hutt. Arrived at Host Valentine's, they introduced themselves as the 'Simon Pures,' drank a glass of— history will not tell what — and received all the information they required from the ready lips of several settlers — a canny Scot amongst the number. These 'choice nuts' then proceeded to the school house, wandered through and through the building, congratulated the schoolmaster, compared the boy 3* copy-books, remarked on the improvement of the school, expressed satisfaction at the progress of education in the Valley of the Hutt, shook hands with the master, who was all smirks and smiles, and who later in the evening, declared ' that Mr Gunn had not altered at all since he last saw him in Tasmania' — invited him to dine with them, and having inquired the nearest way to Bloomfield, paid a visit to to that hospitable house. Here the beauties of the garden, the excellent breed of pigs, the cleanliness of the dairy, the rosy cheeked children— all attracted the attention of, and elicited praise from, the hon. commissioner?. Unfortunately a slight accident occured here — the 'great gun,' who whether it wa9 the strength of the whisky, the heat of the water, the saccharine qualities of the sugar, the exhilarating ride, or all four combined — stumbled, and brought down with him a dish of ' standing milk' bespattering his friends slightly with the contents. This was considered a finishing stroke, and the gentlemen notwithstanding the heavy rain drove towards Wellington, where they arrived safely about seven o'clock, and proceeded to entertain a ' select' party at the South Sea, with ' the story of their day's life.' Shouts of laughter followed the recital, and the gentleman being overcome by their exertions took up their quarters for the night, and ' addressed themselves to sleep.' In the morning early, the house was roused by spasmodic cries of ' brandy-and-sodas,' the necessity for which is too well known by our male friends to need explanation from us."

Picton and Nelson will not take so long for the Commissioners to '• do 1 ' as this province. At Picton you can drive to Blenheim, and that is all ; and a day's ride out to the Waimea will be about the extent of land travelling at Nelson. A cruise about the Sound, Pelorua, Blind and Massacre Bays, complete all there is to see in those provinces. Much as it will go against the grain of Otago readers, Icanonly advise them to make up their minds at once to Wellington becoming the Seat of Government, if they wish to avoid being disappointed with the decision when it is given.

Wanganui has gone in for separation, under the New Provinces Act. On the 11th inst., a large meeting was held in that town, and. from the strong feeling in its favor, I cannot doubt but that the petition will be sufficiently signed. The Act gives the Governor no discretion as to whether he thinks it desirable or undesirable to erect into a new province any district legally claiming it. He can alter the boundaries proposed, and that is about all, I yet he must not so alter them as to reduce 1 the area to less than three millions. The

purchase of the Waitotara and the Manawatu have improved the Separation movement. About two years ago an agitation. was attempted, and fell through from the sheer impossibility of imagining Kfrw to raise a sufficient revenue, now it is thought the land revenue will be very great. Much of the Manawatu on which they calculate for immediate treasury purposes is, however, within sixty miles from j Wellington, and is clearly beyond the pale lof the proposed province. There are jwho think that the Governor will not : grant Separation because of the (presumed) inability to accept the security of the new province for the large sums voted under the Loan Appropriation Act of the last Assembl>, but I very much: fear that all such suppositions will prove fallacious, and that in a very few months Wanganui will make the tenth of our New Zealand Provinces— mores the pity. The Wanganui Chronicle has had a series of articles showing the injustice that has been done that district by filching its contributions to the revenue and applying them to work* in other portions of the Proviuce. These statements have been most preposterous, the truth really being: that for years — for all the years that Weirlington has been a Province — more has been expended on the Wanganui district than it has contributed from all sources. Its land revenue for the last live years hay ouly amounted to L 9500, yet it calculates on at least L 15,000 a year in future, i. c. t so soon as it gets hold of the new purchases, all the old ones being exhausted. The entire revenue from 1853 to 1864 contributed by Wanganui was L 46,737. while the expenditure thereon baabeen L 53,462, or an excess of L 6725, and during the session only closed last month there was voted for the ensuing financial year no less an exces3 over the revenue from Wanganui than L 5778. The rooverof the Separation resolution professed to do so on the groHnd that he was opposed to Provincial Institutions, and hoped that Wauganui's separation might be the last straw that would break the camel's back, and introduce a Government by municipalities. A resolution affirming the desirability of Separation was carried, and & committee appointed -to prepare the petition. The Wanganui Chronicle some few years ago enunciated the doctrine that political gratitude meant gratitude for favors to come, not for those which were past, and the doctrine is bearing fruit a hundredfold.

I mentioned lately that a native had confessed to seeing Tricker at Raynestk house on the day he was murdered. The Inspector of Police is now in the Sangitekei district making inquiries. Meanwhile we were last night startled at hearing that a special messenger had arrived, bearing news of a native having confessed to himself being the murderer. It turns out to-day to be only that somebody had heard somebody tell somebody something that led him to suppose something of the sort.

We have heard nothing of the doings of the West Coast natives since Wi Tako'a submission. All has been ' remarkably quiet there. Preparations are being made for a great meeting at Waikacae, to hear his renouncement of Kingism. Renata, from Hawke's Bay, and many other notables have promised to attend. The flagstaff is to be then cut down, and the celebrated flag "Taiuui" is to be sent to the Governor.

I believe the N.Z.S.N. Co. have itnade arrangements for the purchase of the s.s. Ahuriri, now on her way to Napier ; and, Mr Duncan, the manager, has gone up thither to arrange the details of the amalgamation of the Ilawke's Bay Company with the N.Z.S.N. Co.

Dr Hector was very much pressed when he was here lately to accept an engagement, whenever he could leave Otago, but he has since his return south declined it, although he hopes to make a holiday exclusion this way. A report of Mr Coutts Crawford, published a few days ago, alludes to Dr Hector's examination of some geological specimens, aad he strongly advises the exploiation of the Upper Hutt— the region from which the numerous golden gizzarded ducks have come.

One of your Government engineers, a Mr Morel, has, I see, accepted an appointment iv this Province as the head of the Engineer's office here, pending the arrival of a chief engineer applied for from England.

Public Busin ess : an Adroit Trick. — A f tory is told of a King of France who told his Minister that complaints of justice deferred had become clamorous tbat he was determined for the future to look iuto the aflairs of the State himself. Next morning, his Majesty, looking from Ms bedroom window, saw six huge waggons, from which bundles of papers, duly , red-taped and ticketed,, were being discharged. On asking the Minister who accompanied the papers what this meant, the reply was that those waggons contained a small instalment — the rest were to follow — of the papers which his Majesty, in following out his praiseworthy determination to attend to business himself, would require to examine. The King countermanded the waggons, and the Minister, as before, was left to manage the State as seemed tohim best. ' .. ,