THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, June 7, 1860.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 194, 7 June 1860, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, June 7, 1860.

There is no later intelligence from Taranaki. The Southern Cross of 18th, May gives the following information from “ private sources,” which we, have not seen in the Taranaki hewsppers. “ Mappln Maneripa, two chiefs

cf Ngatiruanui implicated in the Osiata murders, have been dismissed by the Tarauakis from their alliance, and with 75 followers have joined W. Kingi, who, it was rumoured, would endeavour to make peace with the Government by handing over the murderers as prisoners.” The Southern Cross also mentions, “It is rumoured that the friendly natives at Taranaki have been acting as a. com.mjssn.riat staff for' the supply of biscuits and other provisions to the rebels. At the same time Mr. IL Brown seems to have - fidelity, for it appears that he, Ihaiq, and a native called Big Jim, volunteered, with 80 of them, to bring in Wm. King dead or alive from his pa. The offer was not' accepted.” Probably the offer was not accepted because W : m. King is a mere name.' Whatever he may have been at one time, he is now quite incapable, from his drinking habits, of any mental or bodily exertion, and has, since the commencement of hostilities, been in safe keeping in the inland pa in the bush. So that even though lie were taken, the disturbance would not be quelled.

Up to the 20th ult. the great. meeting of die Waikatos had not commenced, and everyJiing was quiet in that district.

We beg to direct attention to the reply of his Excellency the Governor to the address sent from this place, which will be found in another column. It will be observed, that it is in quite a different style from his reply to the memorial of the Taranaki Council, which, making every allowance for the excited state of feeling there, seemed to be little less than an insult to his Excelleucy.

We are glad to observe the Wellington Independent so ably directing the attention of its readers to the right the General Assembly has to discuss, and pass resolutions respecting all matters connected 'with the natives, except the purchase of land, the appropriation of the .£7-000 set aside for native purposes, and the maintenance of native laws and customs, as regards the natives, in certain districts of the country,— : the power/to act in these matters being expressly kept in her Majesty’s hands The writer of the article referred to,—who must know what he is saying,—states, that hitfierto the Assembly, has not talsen native |affairs into consideration. And he says well, that it has been “ most culpable” in not doing so. For, those are the most delicate and important ip a tiers with which the Assembly has to do ; and., it is no doubt owing to this negligence of. our representatives that the King movement has been allowed to go on unchecked, and that unrestricted sale, of arms been permitted which has led . tc the present rising, and has enabled every native to arm himself for it, So important do we deem the exercise of this prerogative of the .Assembly, that if it could be obtained on no other we should, rather than want it, consent, to the Governor’s acting on his own authority,— being solely responsible for all his proceedings in relation to the European population,— aware as we are that he could not go far wrong without receiving a direct and effective check from public opinion,, although t]ie ; Legis : uttered a word. But it is otherwise with native affairs, any maladministration of. which, as it may not"affect the settlers immediately and directly, is more likely, of whatever importance it may be, to. be overlooked, unless exposed 1 and denounced and remedied by tliose whom they have.ap- ; pointed as the guardians of their political in-

teres'fcp. ‘Jlappily, the alternative needs not) nameA^ its of evil. will not he taxed the management of native affairs have been but for this Gordian knot which the As-jseinhly^^R^-have found difficulty in untying, "and Governor may be enabled to in an easWway than by protracted negocia* Assembly; ;if it should hold another session, will have a disagreeable as well as ail ungracious task to perform, in condemning itself, along the Governor, for not checking evils which are undoubtedly the dispute at Taranaki being merely struggle that seems now Beginning. • '