NORTHERN" NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 746, 17 March 1866, Page 3

NORTHERN" NEWS.

The following summary of news from the disturbed districts is taken from the Auckland Weekly News of March 3rd: —

The main problem now calling for solution at Wanganui and Tarauaki is that ; of the occupation of the confiscated land. It is absurd to suppose that troops can \ Occupy it ; it is hardly less ridiculous to talk of the extermination of its inhabitants •while the choice of fighting or not fighting rests wholly with them. The only way in which the country can be held in reality, is also the only way in which the murderous tribes, who have so richly deserved the most severe punishment we can inflict, can be reached. The confiscation of their lands is no punishment while it is only a paper confiscation ; but it will ba a very •different thiig when they find themselves really shut out from them by fresh occupants. There is hardly an inducement to fight so long as they can roam undisturbed over the land, living here and cultivating there, and it need excite no surprise that they do not tempt defeat as things now stand. Let military settlers take possession of the rich lands confiscatea in the district, and one of two results ■jnsst soon follow — either the natives will

throw themselves against our settlements in a sort of despair, or they will give way altogether, as" those of Waikato did Either course, would be infinitely better than the present useless suspense. From the East Coast we hear of several expeditions undertaken by Colonel Lyons and his forces, with a view to punishing the rebels for their recent temerity in approaching our stations. The native Tiwai, who was known from his share in the escape of Mr Grace after the murder I of Mr Volkner, seems to have been getting into disgrace owing to his illicit communication with the Hau-hau party. This offence of his was nearly leiding to the capture of a considerable party of his new fiiends, as he was forced to lead an armed party to the spot at which he had agreed to meet them. The more able-bodied escaped, it would seem, in the darkness, but there was a good many taken, for the most part elderly people. These have been sent to stay with other surrendered rebels at a village near the coast. The stronghold known as the " Gorge" by our forces has been twice abandoned by the rebels, and twice, it would seem, reoccupied by them. It is now about to be defended by a redoubt, occupied probably by men of the Ist Waikato Regiment, so that it is not likely the natives will again return with impunity. The course of events eeem to point to the same change of ! feeling as operative at Opotiki and Wanj ganui. Formerly it was no doubtful matj ter whether natives would fight where ithey had a clear vantage ground; hut I this seems now-a-days to make but little difference, and the grand difficulty that seems now to threaten is how to bring the rebels to the point of fighting. Colonel Haultain, the Defence Minister, is understood to be now at Opotiki — it is supposed for the purpose of arranging about the location of one-half of the Ist Waikato Regiment in that district. The disbanding of the Transport Corps, which is going on very rapidly now, will place a considerable body of men at the disposal of the Government for this purpose, as the Ist Regiment supplied a large share of men for that very necessary service. As a rule, too, they are smart men, and are likely to make good settlers, especially as all of them who were steady have had excellent opportunities of laying by a little money. The sooner they are doj settled on their land the better, we conceive, it will be for themselves, the colony, and this province.