THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, May 10, 1860.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 190, 10 May 1860, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, May 10, 1860.

There is no further-Intelligence from 7’aranaki. The War is to be prosecuted with vigour. “ Secrecy, celerity, and severe chastisement are the means and object to be used and attained.”

A meeting has been called by the Governor, of friendly Chiefs throughout tlie island to take place at Auckland, on 2nd July, “ with the object of devising some means for placingthe relations of the two races on such a basis as may for the future avoid such a state of things as that now existing-” The Meeting of the Legislative Assembly has been further postponed to August, the day not being yet fixed. The present force of Militia now at Wellington is to be disbanded; and after 14 days notice, 1 all residing in the down and within 2 miles of it, are to be called out for training, but not in the meantime for service.

7’he ; Auckland Militia is placed on a similar footing. Militia officers who are also in the employ of Government otherwise, are not to receive pay. It is now believed that the JJaikates will remain at peace. > The natives at Ahuriri have given assurances to the-same effect. Some of them are strenuous supporters'of the King movement. Mr. Fitzgerald'has been elected at Ahuriri for .the General Assembly in room of Mr, Ferguson resigned. Mr. J. C. Richmond has been elected at Taranaki to represent the Omata-District. t-

A learned casuist relates a striking case of a “ person who was carrying a large sum of money iu bis pocket, to restore it in obe-

and' who; stepping. into. ’% -r - sliop- by The way, if, tljerq . waa vanything new ; when the bppkseller’.showed; him a bo.bk on moral theology recently published ; and, turning over ttie .-leaves carefully and without reflection, H|: lighted, pri a passage, describing [ his own case,, and saw that he was under no obligation tc> .make restitution ; upon: which, relieved front' the burden .ef his scruples, he returned home with a purse no less heavy and a heart much lighter . than when he left it.” And the reverend narrator continues “ Occidents of tKiV lurid are with God‘the effect of his providence ; witli the. guardian angel, the effect of his good guidance.; ,and with the individuals to .whom they . fyappen, the effect of their predestination”, Jt is doubtful if Wiremu Kingi and his' adherents ,will moralise thus; but at any rate they must-pbe grateful to Mr. Fox for thq. publication .ofAthe letter., which appeared in'olir last week’s number. It will have the sariier’ effect on ' them as the moral theology had in this case of swindling. Whatever doubt they miy have had as to the propriety of their‘proceedings must now be dispelled, when not merely .a few of their mis-sionaries—-iiiclihed by their position to decide in their favour, and whose opinion in regard to secular matters is not usually, greatly to be depended their side, but when a politician and statesman •of Mr. Fox’s standing declares, after all the information he has received from' both sides, that he is in doubt, until more light is cast on the subject, as to which partyf in this .Taranaki dispute, is in the wrong, “'Y’hat he is right in reserving his opinion, if thei evidence is not sufficient to enable him cdnsoienfipusly to come,to a conclusion, evevfWrie iriiist admit, But it is to be regretted that he bus avowed his indecision so fully amFsb publicly. No doubt it is candid aiid honest tojhaye made;such an avowal, blit there was no” qUi' for it; it can do no good ; ;ind it is fitted 'to .encourage and- strengthen the rebellious , spirit -.at present so prevalent among the natives. Tqpompare comparatively small things with great, it reminds one of Mr. Bright’s .sturdy.. protest against the war with Russia. 'But the cases are different. Mr. Tirightappeaied to the intelligent public opinion of his country, and found no, response; and Russian statesmen were,too -well informed of English opinion, and too much versed in politics, to be much influenced by the opinionjativeness of a few. But Mr. Fox’s opinions [will be circulated among men incapable of [judging of English, character and British 'strength ; and..ill it, cpnfirm them in the notion ’that they are in the.right, as it is well calculated to do, it will only-increase the severity of their punishment. For that Mr. Fox’s avowal of hesitation .will influence the course pursued by the governor there is no. reason to suppose. Indeed, the. Governor cannot now retrace his ste,p;s even though he would. All the evils brought upon this country already by inefficient, government would be as nothing in comparison with • the injurious consequences that would result from now giving up the point at issue.:' Whatever be the. merits of the case—r-even 'though the. Governor lias made a mistake, of 'Which we have not yet seen the slightest tittle of evidence—the war must be prosecuted to ;a conclusion that will show which js. the stronger party. “ Justice,” it is true, “ is the great standing, policy of civil society, and eminent departure from it, under any Hrctriristahces, lies under the suspicion of he;A' no policy at all.” But it is' just as iridl. that the science-pf-.politics is one ••'of calcuTiAl hr , combinations, stud-.exceptions, according. ti. place,- time, and -circumstances ” MEETING -GF-NATIVES AT OTAKI.

[From ‘-a - Local Correspondent."]

A large meeting of natives took place on Friday, the 4th inst., in the Missionary School House, to take into consideration the propriety of hoisting the Maori;king’s flag. .✓/bout 350 natives were .assembled from the different stations in the neighbourhood, the members for and against;the hoisting of the flag being about equal.

The proceedings commenced by a very eloquent and energetic address from the Venerable Archdeacon lladfield, calling upon the assembled natives to remember that he had been residing among, them as their pastor for twenty years, appealing to them whether he had not always, during that time, given them the best of fatherly advice' 1 ■ not to alienate their lands, and ending by earnestly entreating them not to put up a flag which could only lead to trouble and confifsion, and end in the shedding t)f“blood. But, alas! the sun of missionary influence, except . when in accord with, a natives own views, has set, and the Venerable Arcluleiicbn’s eloquent and energetic address was met by ,a quiet and dogged determination,’bn the part of the supporters of the flag, to proceed with its erection. Speeches were made-by 7’amihana te Rauparalm, Martene, Hukiki, : ."and all the"more, respectable natives, declaring their hostility to the Maori king’s flag being hoisted in Otaki, and their determination to oppose its .erection by every means in their power, even I by force if necessary; and they referred to j the number of-years they had lived quietly and comfortably under The - Queen’s flag (authority), and protested against a change} which must inevitably lead to trouble,, and stating {that determineddTo-'shppoit the Queen’s authority with, all their influence. : The supporters of the' Maori king’s flag, consisting principally of The’ Roman Catholic natives in .Otaki. and its neighbourhood:, and. the Ngatihuias from Porotawhao, did not give any-reasons for adhesion to that side; but one man said, that lie had heard that it was the intention of the Europeans to make slaves of all the Maories. This idea was scouted

by-tlis Queen’s party. ; Everythin" was ,conducted'* in the most orderly manner at the meeting, and the language on both sides was mild, but determined. It broke up, each party fixed in their original view, but the erection of the flag is postponed until June, to await the return and sanction of that friendly and loyal native, Wi Tako, who we are given to understand materially assisted when at Waikato in" piocuring the flag, which is now causing so much excitement in the district, he himself returning south via Taranaki, and sending the flag, via Mokati, by two Otaki natives named Eramia and Hapi, both distinguished characters—the former ranking among the natives as a friar, and the latter until lately a native teacher under Mr- Hadfield. The general impression in the neighbourhood seems to be, that.the present feeling has been increased in great measure by the 1 proceedings, .which • took-place at Otaki, con-’ damning the steps taken by his Excellency the; Governor at Taranaki, under the sanction of a reverend gentleman not residing more than a hundred miles distant. JVe forgot to men tion that Mr. Hadfield, finding that the natives were unwilling to accept his advice, remarked, in a most feeling address, that for the future he should decline giving them advice on any subject foreign to his ministerial duties, or to meet them in publi.c except in the church—a consummation", on which we most devoutly congratulate all Europeans.