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Taranaki Herald, Volume XII, Issue 611, 16 April 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

The accurate reports which we give elsewhere of the interviews of Mr. Fox with the natives in the country to the North of Auckland, will be read with interest all over the Province, and especially by the settlers in the districts visited. Mr. Fox's objects, as explained in his addresses, were — to give the natives correct information of the course of the vrar in Waikato, to explain the operation of the Native Lands Act, and to introduce Mr. Rogan, who has been appointed Resident Magistrate at Kaipara. Since the commencement of the war in Waikato, a good deal of restlessness has been shown by the northern tribes, chiefly due to the circulation of lying reports of great victories gained by the rebel. Maoris. The General Government seem now resolved to do its utmost to counteract this nrschief Several of the leading chiefs of the extreme North, are at the Front, accompanied by Mr. W. B. White Resident Magistrate at Mangonui, to see themselves how matters stand. We hope that these measures may have the desired effect, and that the signs of insubordination which have been lately perceptible will be subdued by the European officials aud the well-disposed chiefs. The news that the Government have refused to ratify Mr. Crotbie Ward's contract for tbe Panama mail service, will be leceived by our teadeis with • perfect equanamity. Even Wellington will not refose to bs comforted ; for, not being pleased with every point in the contract, the people there seem to have grown snspicious and lukewarm as to tbe whole matter. Communication with Europe by way of Panama is, however, an important matter for many reasons, and we will have it at some time aud the sooner the better. — D. S. Cr oss, April 9.

PROMOTIONS IN THE COLONIAL FORCES. The following promotions appear in Saturday's General Government Gazette : — Colonial Defence Office, Auckland, April 9, 1864. The names of the undermentioned officers belonging to the Colonial Forces having been specially brought to the notice of the Governor for distinguished services in the field, during recent engagements with the enemy, His Excellency has been pleased to direct that they shall receive the following promotions, namely : — IN THE AUCKLAND MILITIA, Lieutenant-Colonel Marmadake George Nixon, of the Royal Cavalry Volunteers, and Commandant in the Colonial Defence Force, to be Colonel. Date of commission, 21st February, 1864. Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Minet Haultain, 2nd Regiment Waikato Militia, to be Colonel. Date of commission, 2nd April, 1864, Captain Charles Heaphy, Auckland Rifle Volunteers, to be Major unattached. Date of commission, 11th February, 1864. Captain Walter Vernon Herford, 3rd Begiment Waikato Militia, to be Major. Date of commission, 2nd April, 1864. ' Captain William Jackson, 2nd Regiment Waikato Militia, to be Major. Date of commission, 3rd April, 1864. Captain Gustavus Ferdinand Von Tempsky, Ist Regiment Waikato Militia, to be Major. Date of commission, 4th April, 1864. Ensijm Harry Berkeley Rogers Harrison, Auckland Muitia, to be Lieutenant. Date of commission, 2nd April, 1864. IN THE TARANAKI MTXTTIA, Captain Harry Albert Atkinson, Rifle Volunteers, to be Major, Data of commission, 26th February, 1864, T, Russell,

Wanganui Natives.— Marked Change in their Behaviour.— The Wanganui Chronicle of the 2nd of April fays : — "For some time past the natives in these parts have seemed to be getting died of the war and inclined to submit. With respect to the up-river natives we may mention, that, soon after their return from Taranaki, Pehi stated that they would take no further part in the struggle at Taranaki, Waikato,or elsewhere, and would only fight if they were themselves attacked here by the palcehaa; and although he, Topini, and some others have aince gone to Waikato, it is probably rather with the view of ascertaining the real position and probable issue of tbe contest there, and thus judging what terras they raaylook for themselves, than with any intention of taking part in the itruggle. This conclusion is favored not only by the smaller number who went (only about 30 influential men), but also by tbe fact that Topini's people appear to be settling down again, if we may judge so from the fact that they have lately engaged a millwright to erect tbe mill for which they purchased machinery in July 1856, and a party of them came down on Thursday to pay the balance of the purchase money for this machinery, and "convey the remainder of it up the river. In our more immediate neighbourhood a feeling of disbeartenment amongst the natives seems in the ascendant. About

a fortnight since Mr. White, R.M., went to Waikupa at the Wangaehu respecting some subdivision of that reserve among the native owners ; but as these owners could not agree as to boundaries, the matter stands over for the present. When on this business Mr White was asked by the Matatera and Raungaroa natives to visit their pas, but declined on account of their harbouring Wirihana Terangiao, the native who attacked a girl in this neighbourhood in Oct. 1862. Upon this the natives said that Wirihana was willing to surrender himself, and they to give him up ; and it was arranged that Mr. White and Col. Logan should go out to confer with them on the subject. On these gentlemen going out accordingly, Aperahama Tipai, Kawana Paipai, Tamati Puna, and other Ngatiapa chiefs pledged themselves to deliver him up at Turakina, and yesterday morning Wirihana himself wrote Mr White a letter stating that if he would meet him at Turakina that day at ten o'clock he would give himself up. Three king natives of Kaungaroa who have been shelteringhim also wrote that they would accompany him and deliver him up to the authorities. Mr. White could not go yesterday, but we believe goes out to-day with police to take the culprit into custody," "On Wednesday last Col. Logan and Mr. White accompanied by Adjutant Cumming and Mr. Standish, with several of the native police in attendance, went to the boundary of the Wanganui block beyond Mr. Peat's place at Te Rapanui, to meet Ruka Hawhauru, a leading Patea chief, and one Kereti belonging also to the Ngatiruanui tribe, who had expressed a desire to surrender. Ruka fully admitted his participation in the war at Taranaki as a leader although he said he had not himself killed anyone, burned houses, or plundered, and he enquired how be would be dealt with if he sunendered. On learning that he would be placed under the surveillance of the Putiki natives till he could be tried and his punishment determined, he objected to being put under the care of per sons between whose ancestors and his own a feud had existed for centuries, but with respect to the forfeiture of his land he was aware of that being one of the terms from tbe Governor's Proclamation a copy of which he produced. Ultimately he agreed to surrender himself with his wife and child, to-day, at TeAhu. Kereti agreed to do the same. While the conference was going on, Mr Standish recognised a fine draught mare as one that had been carried off from Taranaki, (we be lieve from a Mr. Greenwood,) and as it appeared on enquiry that he was right in his conjecture, Mr. White demanded that she and foal should be given up at once. The natives complied, and she was brought to town by the police."