TARANAKI.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 170, 27 November 1868, Page 3

TARANAKI.

The Wellington Independent of Nov. 24, publishes the following from a correspondent : — Taranaki appears to be getting tired of the " piping times of peace," and to be rather desirous of plunging again into the excitement of "war's alarms." Some of her settlers have been at the old game of driving their stock upon the more luxuriant Maori pastures, and their conduct having elicited a rather strongly-marked expression of indignation from the native owners, and an excellent opportunity has been afforded them of raising the cry of " a feeling of insecurity as to the future." This again has been eagerly laid hold of by his Honor the Superintendent (of course a Richmond) as a plea for summoning a meeting of megistrates, to take into consideration the defenceless state of the province. That sapient body accordingly met on the 7th inst., and with only two dissentients (Messrs Scotland and Halse), agreed to two resolutions, recommending the raising of a corps of bush-rangers, of from 53 to 100 men, to be stationed in that part of the province for a period of not less than twelve months. In vain did the former of those two gentlemen raise his voice in favour of moderation, and deprecate the idea of enlisting a force of a nature calculated to arouse the suspicions of the susceptible Maori and endanger the continuance of peace. Evidently the worshipful representatives of tenantlesihouses, depreciated mutton and beef, as well as undeveloped (and alas ! unpaid) military talent, were not met to favour moderatt views, so the two resolutions were voted with an unanimity worthy of a better cause. Thi:precious proposal is now before the Government for its consideration, and we are rathe* curious to learn the result. Low as is ou) opinjon of the present Ministry, we yet givj ihem credit for a greater share of sense thai to commit themselves to a scheme which cai' by no .possibility be productive of good,

while on the other hand, it might, and probably would, result in the utter destruction of the little that remains from the wreck of 1860. ■