WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume IX, Issue 430, 27 October 1860, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

[from our own correspondent.]

6th October, 1860.

Doubtless you will hear alarming repoits from here by this mail, unless rumours like dreams go by contrary, and as often you have lepoits where there is no foundation, now there is foundation none reach you.

The Magistrates had a meeting to-day to consider the defence of the Town neighbouihood. They decided to renew their request for pel mission to call out the whole of the Militia for drill, and the erection of a fence round the old barracks at Thorndon as a place of refuge for the women folk. This renewed request has aiisen from a statement which Te Puni has made relative to his belief that the Queen Charlotte Sound natives have determined to take up their abode at Waikanae, with a view to future distin bailees. Theie are some natives from the other side recently anived at Waikanae, and a feeling of uneasiness prevails, although we feel fully persuaded that there is often as much (more there cannot be) of exaggeration in Maoii statements as in those of Europeans.

There is talk of a war meeting being got up here — not to approve of the Governor's past policy, for the returns laid before the House Bliowing an expenditure of upwards of 4230,000 by the natives in arms and ammunition under his proclamation allowing their sale, and the instructions given to Colonel Gold with the unanimous concurrence of the Ministry and Mr. McLean, to remain inactive in his opeiations against Kingi can find approval nowhere. Of course you have received a copy of the various instructions as recently laid beforo the House and I need not further allude to them.

We hear from that Volunteer Corps are to he formed in your district from the troops, for service in the bush. Dcshous as the troops are

for active seivice, I-suppo3e they will pretty well all volunteer.

In your "Journal of Events" I sfe it is mentioned that Wi Kingi is requesting help. This n stiangely different lrom a letter received in the Wairaranu ten days since, in which he tells them that he is strong enough to fight the troops, and they had better quietly go on with their cultivations as usual. Tl.is must be a blind if your leport is true — though it is ceitain that the work of cultivation is being gone on with. Wi Tako is cultivating, I am told, very busily. The native who biought Wi Kingi's letter is said to have gone on to the Ahuriri

A large meeting of natives was held on the Ist instant at Parukino, about 24 miles up the Wanganui liver, at which theie were about 800. The object was to hear the chiefs returned fiom the conference. The Maoii King party were very numinous, but professions of a desire to live in peace with the settleis weie universally made. They want next yeai's conference lo be held theie. Wiiting about Wanganui puts me in mind to tell you that an address to Mr. Fox is being signed there piotebtin£ against the memorial condenmatoiy of oui member:,' conduct which has been lying lor signature at the Rutland. — The substance is contained in the following paiagraph :—: —

" We believe your endeavours to ascertain the " cause of the colony being plunged into a disas- " tious and expensive war to be quite consistent " with a loyal and firm support of the Governoi in "his attempt to snppress the rebellion, punish the " disaffected natives, and restoie to us the blessings " ol peace." I have nothing more of any consequence to wiite, and am busy with Ihe mail for England, but I assure you that any alarming reports you may hear aie incorrect, for, with the exception of the two reports above-mentioned, there has been no disturbance of the quiet usually experienced. lam careful thus to guard you, because reports appearing in papeis ol other provinces tiavel back and assume borne new shape here, X.Y.Z.