THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, November 15, 1860.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 217, 15 November 1860, Page 3

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, November 15, 1860.

Writs have been issued, to be returned in sixty days from the sth inst., for the election of members of the house of Representatives, so that the elections must take place almost immediately. •A considerable. amount of business was.got over in the Assembly between; the 20th ult. and 3rd inst. Dr. Featherston’s financial resolutions having miscarried In the upper house, a proposal by Mr. Gillies, that the surplus revenues retained by the General go.vernment be immediately paid, and that the Land- revenue question remain as it is till next session was adopted. Ministers were compelled to this compromise by a fear that the house would not otherwise sanction their v£loo,ooo- loan for war exnences. Mr. Fox’s resolutions on the New Zealand bill having been referred'to a select committee, have resulted in a Native Council bill, providing for a Board of not less .than five or more than three members, to advise the Governor in Native affairs, /t had- not passed by latest accounts.'

. No change has been made in tlie relations of the Council and Superintendent of this Province. A resolution moved by Dr. Monro on the 25th ult., having been carried—to the effect, that at an early period steps should be taken to prevent “ the recurrence of such a suspension of local self-government.” The excitement among the natives near Auckland was subsiding.

The old saying, that the gods first make imbeciles of those they wish to destroy, has never been more forcibly illustrated than in the conduct of the present ministry, in bringing forward three of their most important measures of this session in connexion with the present hostilities. The first was the “ Native Offenders bill,” which was on the eve of bringing the Waikatos down on Auckland, and was withdrawn, partly, it is to be hoped, on account of the arguments Used against it in the house, but chiefly in consequence of this physical force demonstration. The folly of introducing a bill, the carrying into execution of whose provisions would have excited a hundred fold more opposition from the natives than that wnicli was provoked by its discussion and caused its withdrawal is manifest. The next was the “ Arms bill,” which would have had the effect of fettering arid annoying the white population nearly as much as any measure by which'Francis Joseph of Austria, or Bomba of Naples, has dared to restrict the liberties of their long-suffering subjects. Nothing, indeed, could well exceed the arbitrariness and unsuitableness of this most objectionable bill, as will be seen from some of the descriptions given of it in the debate on the second reading. One member was “astonished to think thatthe ministry should be guilty of submitting such a bill, or that any men having respect for the principles of justice and equity could entertain it.” ! Another said, “ If the bill was chiefly intended to prevent Europeans from disposing of.arms to the natives, lie should support it; but lie denied they could find a single clause in the bill to gain such an object. The bill did not. propose to disarm the natives, but to disarm our- : selves.” Another, ‘-‘ should have preferred martial law itself to the bill as it then stood 2*he Government had called upon the house by that bill, to put feajrful powers into their hands.” Nor can it .be,.said, “ adcUdit.invaltdee robur Facundia caiiste” , On, the contrary, tlie feeble and feebly put arguments of supporters, only showed more clearly the badness of their case. And so this/ precious production,ofall the talents ” was consigned to committee /from which it came forth

so changed; in. its. more prominent features, that its parents must ;■have had some difficulty in recognising their little bantling,; whose hands, however; are still of iron, and its nails of steel, ; f

The third display of the remarkably good sense and sound judgment of the ministry was made in a Militia bill, which, had they, been the-most popular ministry that ever held office, would, if persisted in; have raised a storm of indignation against them ; from oneend of the country to tlie other; -in-the face of .which they could not have remained in their present posi-tion-held, indeed, at present, only by sufferance. . Happily for themselves, their eyes were opened by the effective opposition of Me. Fox (whose; speech we intend giving to our readers as soon as we- get a copy), and they introduced another bill, which was .accepted as au improvement on the act of 1858, VVe have not seen a copy of this bill, but the principal changes made by it will be seen by.tfm extract from the. Southern .Gross, in another column. Objections to some of the details are pointed out in this extract, and in a communication received from a correspondent, | which will be found elsewhere. These are, the retention by. the government of. the power of appointing officers, and, the obligation imposed on all within the prescribed age for service to give in their names for registration on pain of a heavy fine.- The latter clause will no doubt give rise;to numerous difficulties, and it is not easy to see bow such a fine can be rigorously enforced. -.Much has been said of “ the perils that environ, the man that meddles with cold iron but if the militia are to be employed as at 7’aranaki, this'clause will make the peril of those who, with Quaker-like instinct, shrink from having anything to do with the service, much greater than that of those in the ranks. The pains and penalties inflicted by the friendly Resident Magistrate will not be considered an. excellent ointment, but must give rise to much discontent. One grievous evil is mitigated—the militiaman is now subject to the Articles of War only during actual service.

But there seems to be a serious omission in the bill. A clause ought to have been introduced to encourage volunteering. The only favour shown to volunteers is the liberty to elect their own officers. This is something; but some compensation should be made to them, either in the shape of money or land, for the time occupied in drilling as well as in actual service. With such an inducement a force of volunteers might be kept in an efficient state; and ready at any time for actual service. Without it the enthusiasm of the moment will die away; attendance at drill will become less frequent; and on any sudden emergency the fatal result of this pemissness will be too apparent. There should also, at the * least, be some provision made by government for regular practice in ball firing. The cost of ammunition is considerable, and the volunteer can scarcely be expected to bear the expence necessary for making him a crack shot.

A Letter has been received, by the Upper Wanganui Chiefs, dated Waipa, 16th ult., and signed by 26 Jf’aikatos (including Wetini, who was killed at Mahoetahi), requesting their assistance at Taranaki. Pehi and fieri Patene, the two principal chiefs intend sending Pehi’s son to Waitara to learn more particularly the /Taikato’s intentions. On his return they will decide what course to pursue, and if they resolve on going to Taranaki will give the authorities here an opporrunity to discuss the matter with them. If then convinced that, they are in the wrong they will not proceed to Taranaki.