THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, June 14, 1860.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 195, 14 June 1860, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. "Vérité sans peur.” Wanganui, June 14, 1860.

The last intelligence from Taranaki will be found in another column. The party of the 65th at Waitara has been withdrawn, and 300 of the 40th regt. sent by steamer to /Faitara -—3 Oat a time. The distance is twelve miles, 1 and it must haye been thought too great a risk to send them by land. W. Kingi’s men roam over the country as they please, dig and gather their potatoes, and engage in fishing with the utmost coolness.

In a letter to the Superintendent of Wellington, the Superintendent of Taranaki returns thanks for the sympathy and liberal aid of the Wellington Provincial Council, and mentions, that at present no distress exists, and that he will not make use of the gift until the termination of the w*ar, when the time of privation and difficulty will arise, on the discontinuance of pay and rations. The result of the Waikato.meeting wifi be found in another.column. They have decided . for the ..king, but seem anxious, if possible, to avoid hostilities.

The General Assembly has been summoned by proclamation, dated 28th May, to meet at Auckland on the 25th July -at Aucklaud instead of Wellington, because “ the vrarlike ieeling of a considerable portion of the Waikato tribes has by no means abated, and it has now become obvious, both to the Governor and his Excellency’s advisers, that the eontimied presence of the Government at Auckland is absolutely necessary ”

Wt; understand that shipments of rifles have been made from Adelaide and Melbourne to Auckland ; and that so soon as they arrive a part of them will be forwarded to this place.

Under the head of local intelligence will be found a detailed statement of our Exports during the first quarter of this year, and a valuation of our Imports during the same together_wjth a return of the shipping entering 'ana leaving me pun, -amroi me passengers who have arrived and departed. This statement when compared with the returns for the same period of last year which are also given is very gratifying. A general complaint during the last six months has beep that trade was never so much at a stand still in the place before, and yet we find from these return? that so.’far as agricultural produce, & what may becalled the luxuries of consumption are concerned there has been a marked advance since last year. The tonnage entering and leaving the port has been nearly double • and whereas last year the number of persons who left was greater by four than that of those who arrived —this year we have a balance of immigrants to the number of 30-r-which shews that the peculiar advantages that Wanganui offers are beginning to be morefully and wider iy appreciated. The only cause for regret as to these arrivals is that they should so soon have found themselves surrounded by the sounds of approaching warfare. They'must console themselves with the consideration that when the present disturbance is quelled, they will partake of the benefits arising from the increased prosperity, which a return to tranI quility must bring along with it. The most noticeable features in the Exports is the large increase in the quantity of butter shipped, : which is nearly four times the weight sent offi last year. Of Hides and Sheepskins the increase has been almost eighteen fold.

Not only have our millers supplied the increased local demand, but they have also had a large quantity to export in addition ; and the shipments of wheat and oats confirm the statement that has been made regarding this district, that it is eminently fitted for the production of grain of the finest quality. It might have been anticipated, from the increased attention paid to the rearing of sheep, that the quantity of woolwould.be considerably greater this year, but the increase must exceed expectation, as it is rather more than 29 per cent., or nearly a third, on the amount shipped during the first quarter'of last year. It will be observed, that the principal increase is in those articles which the natives do not produce ; and we believe that, in regard to the wheat, which is one of their staple products, scarcely any of it has come from them, so that to more extended or more successful cultivation on the part of the settlers, or to both, must be attributed the 'augmented trade in these articles. The exports of live stock deserve particular notice, as, although not yet carried on-except on a small scale, the neces-i sity for such an outlet as the Emily Allison is affording was great, and we trust this is but the beginning of a commerce which will relieve, our stockholders of their 'surplus stock, and enhance the value of cattle (at present so low) throughout the district. It will he observed that the value of the exports is 64 per cent, more this year than in 1859. The value of the imports cannot be esti-j mated so accurately, as. the duty on a great 1 proportion of them is paid at Wellington. It is. believed that if we take the goods duty paid here as about a third of the actual quantity .mported, an approximation at least to the

total value of the imports will have been arrived at. In that case our imports have decreased 17 per cent. Considering that the Maories have been buying much less than usual for some time back, the decrease is not greater • than might have been expected, and does not go in any < degree to show a diminished ability on the part of our European population to purchase the comforts, much less the necessaries of life.

The great, and, we may say, the undesirable increase in the consumption of what may be denominated luxuries, goes indeed to prove the very.reverse.. That there should have been an increase in the importation of wines and spirits to the extent of 70 per cent, seems scarcely credible; and we must not suppose that the consumption during the quarter has proceeded in the same ratio. Stiff we must confess to .a suspicion arising from these figures, that ttetlistricfin tlie neiglibourliood of Wanganui is not the most, temperate part of the province of Wellington in the use of intoxicate ing drinks. Of the province we have no later statistics than those of 1858. In that year the imports of spirits and wines amounted to 8| per. cent, of the total imports. In JVauganui, in the first quarter of 1859, the imports of the same articles amounted to 15 per cent., and in 1860 to 25 per cent., of the total imports. Figures are stubborn things, and though we would feign not accept this as the true proportion, it is difficult to escape the unpleasant conclusion that it is correct. If it is, there is great need of a reform in this department of our domestic or personal expenditure. On the whole, then, the trade of the place, so far as these figures exhibit it, seems to have been in a satisfactory state during the first quarter of this year.

Thebe being bo ‘ Punch 5 here, into whose sympathising ear our afflicted, but keen-witted, Cornelia Caruabys may pour their complaints, and by whose aid public attention may be directed to such an important topic as making provision for those whom the impending war may make widows or orphans, it would be highly desirable that some member of the House of Representatives, so soon to meet, should bring forward some motion on the subject, to the effect that the Government should give a certain quantity of land to every family that may be deprived, temporarily or for ever, of any 1 of those who have been its support. Such a proposition can only be objected to on the ground, that the Imperial Government, as it must pay all the expenses of this war, should also give compensation to the settlers for the loss of life or limb. But, however just the, objection may be in the abstract, it is very undesirable .that, it should be urged, because, even .tnougn compensation were iuiwivtu, «,| would be so very long of being made as to render it comparatively valueless to the recipients. Besides, compensation in the shape of land, which will soon, in consequence of the numerous confiscations'which will take place, be almost a drug in the hands of the Provincial governments, is such an easy process, and one which will be so blessed—blessed both to him who gives and those' who take it—that no reasonable objection can be made to it, but on the contrary the sympathies of the whole island will go along with its being given. But not only to those who have suffered these more deplorable losses, but to all who may suffer the loss of property, ample and immediate compensation ought to be afforded It is only lately that those who suffered in the last war twelve years ago, whose claims were allowed, , received a very imperfect return foi the losses they had sustained. No such delay must now be‘permitted ; but so soon as the war is ended surveyors should mark out the allotments in the various districts which may be awarded as compensation. There is another class still for whom provision should be made. 1 Soldiers after their discharge in this island I are entitled to a certain amount of land gratis. Commissioned officers to 400 acres, non-com-missioned and warrant officers to 80, and private soldiers, marines, and seamen to 00 acres. Why should milit;a and volunteers not have similar grants made to them ? A soldier is brought out at the expeuce of government; he is clothed and fed and receives pay during hi 3 term of service ; during the whole of that time he may never be called into active service, and run no risk whatever of any mischance befalling him, and at the lend of it he receives this grant to induce/him to remain in the island to which he is already | bound by so many ties that he is not likely to leave it, even though no inducement to stay w;ere offered. The militia are only called out when active service is expected. 1 hey take their share in all the dangers of the vvar —.they only receive the pay of the soldiei, and surely, when their services are no longei required, the importance of those services ought at least to be recognised by some such grant as the soldier receives, /indeed, the circumstances of the case would render it just that the militia should receive at least double the quantity of land that is given to the soldier. And, surely, the services of volunteers ought not to be overlooked. They take up arms without expectation of fee or reward. They subject themselves cheerfully to much inconvenience and some expence ; and in the case of active service they are as much exposed to its hazards as the regular soldier- Why, then, should- some substantial mark of approbation not be given to them, who thus freely come forward to do, and if necessary to die, in the defence.of others, and for the maintenance of their Queen’s authority ? Surely their services ought not to be overlooked ! It may appear premature to bring forward.these considerations, before the war lias begun, and before the certainty of its-being commenced is ascertained. But we think the Government should ; at once set aside the

anxiety for tlieir families which a glance at the possible future may now be occasioning to many a gallant heart, and should nerve the arm so freely bared for its assistance by the consideration that the service now rendered to the state will not go unrecognised or unrewarded. ,

The Provincial government of Otago has already shown a noble, generosity, as well as a wise foresight, in offering to the settlers at Taranaki as much land in Otago free of cost as they have now been deprived of in their own province. Many endearing associations must bind them to their late homes, and probably the generosity of Otago may not be so fully taken advantage of as might be expected. But it would be wise for this province to act on the consideration, which the Government of Otago seems to understand, that on the increase of its population the true prosperity of a colony is founded ; and— that—i« —our-ease, where population is wanted in sufficient numbers to make all risings on the part of the natives hopeless, immigration should be enencouraged by the offer, at a.little more than a nominal price, of the land which it may be hoped will soon be at the disposal of the Government to a much greater extent than it has ever hitherto been.

Local Intelligence.

STATEMENT Of Shipping, and Imports and Exports, at the Port of Wanganui, for the first quarter of 1860, as compared with the same period in 1859.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

June 11th, 1860. Sir, —You decline inserting further communications on the subject of Mr. Fox’s letter. In replying to your remarks I shall avoid the subject, and confine my comments to the style of those whose letters have been published. You hope that any personalities which appear will be taken in good part; but why should correspondents become personal ? A political question was at issue between a gentleman and part of his constituents; they differed in opinion, and the subject was discussed in your columns. Those correspondents brought forward arguments to support their views, and the matter .was treated. witli-thfi-snLer-gravity its - importance demanded, without, I believe, personal bad feeling being entertained by either party.

Pingo treats the matter in a very different style ; he substitutes low wit for argument — tries to ridicule those he lacks ability to answer —brings forward no argument in support of the cause he espouses—becomes personal where personalities should be avoided —makes statements which are erroneous—and has not the manliness to sign his name thereto. Such a letter, if meant in good part, may be taken so; at all events, it will be treated with the contempt so senseless a production merits. Though differing in opinion from ‘Wanganui Elector,’ I admire his style, which is gentlemanly, serious, and. to the point. Answering Mr. Field’s letter would be going over old ground, which you forbid ; answering his first question would in no way benefit him ; before answering a letter he should read it carefully, and not assert what was not contained therein. Yours, &c. P. G. Wilson.

Kai-Iwi, June 9th, 1860. Sir,- —You have properly. closed the discussion of one subject; but there are some people who will not let. well alone, but must, for the sake of appearing in print, scribble

something about they know not what. 11. C. Field, of Tunahaere notoriety, brings to my vivid remembrance a man who, having all the good things of this life put before his voracious appetite, knows not with which to commence, being anxious to taste, discuss, and digest (if possible) all. He commences (otherwise it would not be IT. C. Field) with his high churchism, and makes this his stalking horse to a paragraph against Taranaki settlers. What connection the one has with the other I know not; unless it be that H. C. Field was seven years at ffaitotara building a mill, and' that there his philosophic eye discovered .an ■ intimate relationship between high churchism : and Maori life; at least, Mr. Field did not advance his favourite theme during those seven ■ years ; yet he built a mill, but it did not work so well or so faithfully as Mr. Field for his favourite hobby. —If.I, -and several others, think differently* from I\ll • I'OXj (Xtlll oilll our representative, we do, not require to be enlightened by Mr. Field ; and, moreover, Mr. Fox is thoroughly competent to, stand his own ground, without the help of H. C. Field. Mr. Field, listen to facts. It; was not the Stafford policy to “ arm the natives.” I believe the desire for opening this traffic was brought before the government by a number of merchants, representing that munitions of war were being smuggled to a considerable extent, and sold to the natives. If this is all you have to urge against the government, it is nothing—the protection of trade demanded it. You say the war unquestionably could and ought to have been avoided, Bless me ! Mr. Field ; who told you so ? By what legerdemain does your brain arrive at such a conclusion ? I emphatically tell you, sir, it could not be avoided; the onus propandi lies with you. The natives brought on the war—-it was not our seeking. ! was not chlli&d to be fa soldier in Taranaki, but in Wanganui; and who must pay the cost ?—not the government, surely, but the offending party, the natives. And with what can they pay?—with cattle, or pigs, or fish, or corn, or potatoes ? No, sir; for all these would not pay a tithe of our expences, Tlieir cultivated lands would not suffice, for they are not of mueh greater extent than they were years ago. Land —waste/ land—unoccupied land—is the only payment/ they can give ; and why should not the rebels* lose it ? ■ *

Mr. Wilson is an old Wanganui settler, and; after being educated at Taranaki, came backj to occupy and cultivate his land ; and be has, done so. The other Taranaki settlers done the same, to a greater or less extent/ during the short time they have been in Wan 4 ganui; and not only in the cultivating of( ”171 ceding of oieolcQ.H<I s • OpClj4> ing up markets for the same, have the Tara 4 naki settlers been acknowledged useful settlers! The Taranaki settlers were in peace during former disturbances in TFanganui. May 31 ask Mr. Field if it was Taranaki settlers! brought about disturbances then ? It was not; till the JFaikanae slaves migrated under King! that disturbances arose at Taranaki; andJ further, the piece of land in dispute is not tins only cause of the war. It is the supremacy, of these islands which is the bone of contend tion; and this becomes more evident everyday since Wi Tako’s visit to this place. MrL Field’s friendly fffaories have joined the kingj movement, and of course their half-purchase™, lands are under King Potatau by this Now, Mr. Field, you are a volunteer; takU these facts ; weigh them well—not in a straight}; survey-line-of-road fashion, but with all sense (I mean common sense) you can possibly muster independent of high churchism —anjd tell me, honestly, do not the natives deserve/a drubbing ? } I am, sir, an old Taranaki settler, l . John Treweek, Sen. /

SHIPPING. Inwards, coastwise, 1859, 8 ships, 515 tons. 1860,13 „ 926 „ Outwards, do. 1859, 9 ,, 571 „ 1860,14 „ 984 „ 1859— Immigrants, 54 ; emigrants, 60, 1860— Immigrants, 65 ; emigrants, 35. EXPORTS. Increase in 1859. 1860. 1860. Bacon 2496 1b.... 28801b.... 3841b. Butter ... 1164 4350 „ ...3486 „ Cattle ... 64 ... 64 Flour 39 cwt... 100 cwt... 61 cwt. Fruit 30cwt... 19 pkges. Grass seeds 3278 lb. ... 1000 lb. Hides 11 ... 196 ... 185 Horses ... ... ... 4 ... 4 Oats ... ... 1106 bush. Onions ... 200 lbs. Pigs 11 ... 11 Potatoes ... 18 tons 5 tons Sheep, alive ... ... 140 ... 140 Sheepskins 15 ... 250 ... 235 4A;AAA i? —i.. ....— . |J|IU ; ,1, Wheat ... ... ... 1116 bushels. Wool 56,306 lb....72842 lb. 16536 lb. Total value, £4498 £6979 11s. 8d. IMPORTS. Total value of British and foreign goods on which duty is paid at this port —1859, £2832; 1860, £2338. These figures do not show more than a third of the real importations, the greatest part of which had the duty paid on it at Wellington. Of these imports there were of— Spirits, in 1859, 895 gals., value £984 10 0 Wine, „ 242 „ „ 250 0 0 Tobacco, „ 2957 lbs. „ 591 8 0 £1825 18 0 Spirits, 1860, 1030 gals value £1141 16 0 Wine, ,, 636 ,, ,, 636 0 0 Tobacco, ,, 2115 lbs. „ 423 0 0 £2200 16 0