WANGANUI.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 82, 18 August 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

WANGANUI.

We take the following items of news from the Chronicle of the 2ord inst. : —

The Natives. — The Ngarauru and Ngatimanui natives have nearly all returned homo ; only two chiefs of any rank (Hori Tipcne and Peheraana) and a few others belonging to the former tribe remaining at Tataraimaka. Suspicion of their allies and particularly of the "NVangarmi natives (whom they passed by stealth) has led to their return, and the Ngarauru seem to be anxious to trertwith Mr White through the agency of the Paknraka people. One of the sixteen who first returned waited lately on Mr. While to know if he Mould receive them again as Queen natives, and on what terms; and we are informed that lie replied, that the first, proceeding must be the delivery to him of their arms. That done, they might come and go as friendly natives till the war was ended, when the Governor would have to say what penalty they should pay for having taken up arms against the Queen ; and thtr the amount of the penalty would no doubt depend greatly on their conduct between this time and the termination of the war. Mr. White further forbade those who have been at Tataraimaka to come on this side the Waitara river.

About thirty Wangauuis have returned from the war, it is said that Pehi and Topini have determined to join their friends at Warea, where about 000 Wanganuis and the stragglers of the Ngarauru and Ngatiruanui, are awaiting the return of troops to Ta-taraimak-i. Vchi and Topini intimated an intention of going during an interview with some of iJr. "White's native

Nine months ago the Kingh.cs did not hesitate to cuter the pahs of friendly natives to seize and enforce payments of fines from those who owned allegiance to the Queen. The saddle is now on the other horse, and a circumstance which has just occurred up the river shows how far the Kingite power is broken. An assessor, named Rewi, inflicted a fine of ;C1 on an old woman for an assault, and she agreed to «ive a pig of that value as payment. Some of her relatives (Kingites) refused to allow it to "be o-ivcii up, and llewi therefore sent to Pehi and Topini on the subject. They sent a Kingite magistrate to seize the animal, but the woman's friends would not yield. Pehi then wrote^ to Rewi to say he would not interfere further, but would leave it entirely in his hands. llewi then asked what Pe'ni would do if he (llewi) seized it, and if he had to use force in doing so, and to both questions Pehi replied, " Nothing." Kewi thereupon took some policemen with him, and the pig was given up without further trouble.

Who's Most Aimiaid ? — Hy way of commeaiorritinsr «-l»« lnarriaue of the Prince of Wales the; settlors round Auckland lighted bonfires on the hills. This terrified the Maories, wlio looked upon it as a signal for a rising of the

Pakehap to destroy them, and they accordingly fled to the bush, where they remained skulking for some dayi>. This in turn alurmed the settlers at Waiuku and elsewhere, and the women, and children were sent post-haste irito Auckland for snfet}'.

The Militia. — In reference; to the Militia proclamation and notices; in, .our, paper to-day, it may be well to call attention to an alteration of the'Mititia Jaw as embodied in the new Act. Formerly a man liable to serve, but neglecting to enrol himself, was liable to a penalty of £5, but escaped service for the year. Now, any one failing to enrol himself will have to pay the fine and serve to. The Volunteers, who for some time past have been subjected to a merely nominal amount of drill, will now see the advantage of their position, as the Militia, owing to the length of time that has elapsed since the issue of the Governor's proclamation, will, have to be drilled twice a week till the beginning of October, a consideration which may help again to fill the ranks of the Volunteers.

SuDDEtf Death.- — An inquest was held on Saturday last, at Davidson's Steam Packet Hotel, upon the body of Mr Thomas Shields, late of Wangaehu, who died suddenly at his own residence, on Thursday, the 16th inst., from the rupture of a blood vessel on the lungs. The body was brought into Wanganui on Fiiday, and the funeral, which took place on Saturday, was attended by a ia,r£e number of the deceased gentleman's friends and neighbors, by whom he is much and sincerely regretted.