THE PANAMA CONTRACT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 666, 6 May 1865, Page 4

THE PANAMA CONTRACT.

We are glad to hear that Dr. Featherston reports favorably of the disposition of the Government and leading men of Sydney to support this line, and that Queensland also is likely to join in the contract. This is satisfactory, as it will lessen the cost of the service to this colony, and at the same time probably increase its efficiency by necessitating a greater speed. — 'Herald,' April 15. + On Thursday last Major Atkinson, with His Honor the Superintendent, the Provincial Surveyor, Mr. Parris, and other gentlemen, rode down to inspect the land on the other side of the Waitara, and to choose a sight for a military settlement there. After crossing the Waitara by the Hurirapa pa the party proceeded to Waihi, and then turned inland and went up to Tikorangi, a hill on the right bank of the Waitara just opposite Te Arei. It is here, we believe, one blockhouse will be placed, the position being a commanding one. The hilly bush country which is several miles distant from the sea at Tikorangi and Te Arei, gradually approaches in going northwai'd till it meets the beach at the White Cliffs. The triangular district thus inclosed between the Waitara, the hills, and the sea coast, is a valuable piece of land and suitable in all respects for a military^ settlement. It is exceedingly fertile, well watered of course, and with patches of bush in the^ inland part of it. No doubt when it is occupied another post will be taken up at the northern end of it, at Pukearuhe, or elsewhere in the neighborhood of the White Cliff, and intermediate ones in appropriate places along the hills. The possession of the White Cliff is very imI portant as stopping all communication from the northward by the coast, and therefore will be an effective check against any incursions of Ngatimaniapoto ; so that the occupiers of the block, s jme of whom will no doubt be friendly natives who have possessions in it, will not only be able to enjoy their own in comparative quiet, but but will give great additional security to the settlement generally. We are exceedingly glad that a move.is to be made in this direction. The news from Whanganui shows that decisive action is necessary, and at the same time is likely to produce the most beneficial results. The Wangaivui Chronicle calls attention to the good effect which the occupation of Pipiriki has already had, a large portion of the natives at Wereroa, the fighting pa on the Waitotara, having already made proposals of peace. But there is another piece of news which is also likely to affect the " native mind," that is, that a large number of troops are to be sent home at once — three regiments it is said — and we see no reason to doubt the truth of the report. It is to expected when the natives hear of this their hopes will in some degree revive, and if nothing is done to undeceive them, they will be buoyed up with the vain hope that we are about to give up the object we have been fighting for^nd that by a little more obstinacy-they will gain their point. It 'is not only more politic, but more merciful/ an( 3 in every way better not to let them get hold of such a notion. And therefore we say that now is the proper moment for striking effective blows — not one now and another in three months — but in rapid succession, for then, the force of them is cumulative, and not scattered and lost as under the present system. The occupation of Pipiriki was an excellent beginning ; if that is followed by the occupation of the posts indicated to the north of Waitara, and by the clearing out of Kaipikari and Kekewa, a main step will have been taken towards securing the peace of this place, and an important one towards securing the peace of New Zealand.— c Herald,' April 22.