WELLINGTON. [from our own correspondent.]

Taranaki Herald, Volume IX, Issue 422, 1 September 1860, Page 3

WELLINGTON. [from our own correspondent.]

Wellington, 21st August, 1860.

I am thankful to say there is very little to make you acquainted with concerning the natives of Wellington. The influenza, to the prostrating effects of which I believe we owe so much of the perfect quiet we have experienced for the last six weeks or two months, is passing away, though the natives of the Wairarapa are still suffering severely. The recently appointed Resident Magistrate for the out districts, Mr. Wardell, has just completed a tour of the Wai. rarapa and has been well received. The natives are, ' however, shy of Government men and complain to those who are intimate with them of the marked diffeicnce with which they are treated when anything is wanted from them, to what they are when they have satisfied that want. They are very bitter against one or two of the Land Purchase Department who petted them continually while they had land for sale, but whose ear they cannot get sinee — the invariable answer to all their attempts being taihon, taihoa. lam not learned in the direct or indirect purchase systems, but it would be as well if the Governor could be looked upon in a light perfectly free from all land bargaining. Mr. Wardell, I hear, was constantly met with the remark that now there was a disturbance in the land and the fears of the Governor were excited he could send them a Resident Magistrate, but all the while there was no danger apprehended they were left to manage how best they could. Although the King flag has not been actually raised, the Wairarapa natives are thoroughly imbued with the King spirit and have the King's magistrates among them, whose decisions they submit to as much as a matter of course as we do to those of the magistrate appointed by his Excellency. There was a meeting at Greytown a fortnight ago to memorialise for stockades. It was poorly atteuded, not more than twenty or thirty persons being pie&ent. The memorial is being handed about for signatures and I dare say a goodly number will be obtained. The flockowners are averse to these proceedings, and entertain no alarm provided the natives are not wantonly provoked or have their fears goaded to desperation. The community is divided not only as to the necessity of stockades, but as to their usefulness when erected, for unless they are properly garrisoned they may at any time be converted into a totally different use for which they were intended— they may prove Maori strongholds instead of a protection for settlers. Dilettante militia, such as we have here, and such as they almost invariably are when not actually in circumbtances that absolutely necessitate their giving their whole mind to it, are not fit to guard stockades against such a wily foe ab the New Zealanders have shown themselves to bo ; and if this is true as a general rule it is especially so in such a thinly populated district as the Wairarapa, where every hour given to militia duty during the present quiet would be voted a hardship. The Hutt natives nre about moving to the West Co.ist. At present the clearing out is confined to Wi Tako's people, and will commence very shortly. They are going to Waikanae, whether they are going further neither I nor anyone cUe can say. Wi Tako says they are not going to Taranaki. He thought Kingi wrong when he wrote the Waikatos and thinks so still. In the Hutt and every wheie else they arc as quiet as they have been at any time since the old war. Last Monday week the magistrates met and decided upon requesting the Governor to call out the awhole of the militia for training, and also to authorise the election of a stockade at Thorndon, the west end portion of the Town. This request has taken the public by surprise and at first led them to fear that the times were more critical than was generally suppoied. The Independent and Spectator have endeavoured to do away with this impression, and the proposal is looked upon by most people ss an unnecessary precaution, a step calculated to excite fear, and likely to necessitate the embodying a larger

force than would otherwise be requisite. The only argument in its favor that I have heard is that it will circulate a little money. You will learn b) the papers that a proposition has been made to invite your refugee families here. It is, however, much discouraged, and I cannot help thinking that those who made the proposal allowed their sympathy to get the better of their judgment. Wellington is no place for them to come to; not that 1 would have you suppose we are guided by any such calculating motives as those which dictated Mr. Moorhouse's memorandum. There is but one feeling regarding it. It bears on the face of it a heartless appearance, though we cannot believe it was intended to he such. Your homeless wanderers should find a secure and cordial asylum in the Provinces of the Southern Island. Nelson has behaved so as to command the grateful admiration of us all, and we are sure Canterbury will feel pleasure in doing all she can. There are as large hearted men at Canterbury as anywhere, and there are numbers of sympathising women there who are prepared to make many sacrifices to help tlioso whose all has been sacrificed for the right of the colony, I know Canterbury well, and I hope your readers will fully rely on their families meeting with every attention if sent there. No province in this island offers a home for refugees. We know not what turn affairs may take and it would be folly to offer a home where we may shortly not have one for ourselves. The public meeting for initiating a subscription has been very successful in its results. £192 has been already subscribed and more has yet to come. It has been decided by the committee to send £200 in money and clothing to Nelson for the women and children, and £200 in clothing for the militia, &c, to Taranaki. Seveial ladies have been busy making clothing in addition, a small supply goes by the Airedale, but a larger one will be forwarded by the next opportunity. The Independent called the attention of the women folk to this object a few weeks ago, but the proposition hung fire for the want of a leader. Mrs Waring Taylor, the wife of the Deputy Superintendent, however, made a commencement among; her own friends, and the work of making clothing is now going on merrily. Unfortunately the war is not likely to be brought to a close immediately, and it must be months at least before the care of the refugees will cease, or I should have wished to have seen the £1000, voted by the Provincial Council here, made use of. Just now, however, help will be pouring in fiom all the Provinces and when this is becoming exhausted the above vote will be something to fall back upon, I scarcely like to do more than narrate the bare facts of what we have done lest you should think there was a feeling about it of what in England goes by the name of " Charity " — a giving to the " poor." Believe me we don't look upon anything we are doing as being done for " poor " persons. We only know that there are families of settlers like ourselves — many of them who were in affluencp, all of them who were in every way as prosperous and deserving as we are — who by the sad realities of war are destitute of almost everything but what they stand upright in j that their case may be ours any day, and that it is our duty to give of that which we are enjoying quietly for the help of those who have borne the blunt for us and the whole Island. I need scarcely say how anxiously we are looking for news from your quarter. We know there was fighting going on at Omata on Saturday week and that is all. All eyes are constantly turned towards the signal staff for the Fawn or Cordelia's signal, one of these steamers being expected here, and every other kind of vessel from the northward is quickly boarded for intelligence. X.Y.Z. The European Mails. — As much doubt extsts respecting the recent alteration of the postal service between Australia and India, for the homeward mails, we give the following from the Sydney Morn • ing Herald : — " The alteration now made has had the effect of shifting the dates of the arrival and departure of the mails. For the Australian service is now to be made to coincide with the Calcutta instead of with the Bombay line, which will throw it a week later into the month. The course of post will remain unaltered. The mail will leave Southampton on the 20th of each month, and via Marseilles on the 26th, instead of on 12th and 18th, as hitherto. The mail may be expected in Melbourne about the 12th of every month and in Sydney on the 15th. The return mails will have to close in Syduey on the 22nd of each month, and in Melbourne on the 25th."