THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1865. RE-ASSEMBLING OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 794, 6 June 1865, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1865. RE-ASSEMBLING OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The Council of the Province after a month's adjournment re-assembles this evening for the despatch of business.

SURRENDER OF THE MAORI KING, OF WILLIAM THOMPSON, AND OTHER CHIEFS.

Impobtant news from Auckland was received by the mail brought by the Egmont yesterday afternoon. William Thompson, the King-maker and the master mind of the natfoes, has, along with five other chiefs of note, surrendered himself to the authority of the Queen and the Colonial Government; and in making his own submission, he has also given in that of King Matutaera. It is said that the condition of Thompson and the chiefs was very pitiful and thoroughly submissive at the interview which took place between them and General Carey, to whom the surrender was made, and it appears that many of the natives were in great extremity and lacked food. Mr. George Graham, of Auckland, had first had communication with Thompson, and it was through him that the interview was arranged; but this was not the first movement towards peace, for some ago a native was sent down to Onehunga as the bearer of a pacific message to the Governor, who was then at Wellington, and did not see the messenger.

A salutary effect on the natives still in rebellion at Taranaki and Wanganui may, we think, be looked for from this submission; although Rewi, who is a friend of Thompson's, and is believed to be in the Taranaki district, still refuses to submit, and will hold no communication with the Queen's representatives. It is probable that Thompson who has long being known to be desirous of peace, and who never took any active personal part in the war, has delayed thus long in laying his "taiaha"* at the feet of the Governor's representative, in the hope that Rewi would be induced to take" part with him in the act, and finding at the eleventh hour that he could not prevail on that Chief, who stands next to Thompson in influence with the natives, he has himself come forward, ere the last days of- grace allowed by the Governor's proclamation had expired. ! We may hail this as the first substantial victory of peace; and hope that before many weeks elapse the natives at large, seeing that ifc is now hopeless to fight longer, and that the war is only hastening their own extinction, will follow the example of their King, the King-maker, and his friends who made submission on 27th May, four days before the expiring of the period allowed for submission by the final proclamation of the Governor. * Implement of war.