Wanganui Chronicle, and TURAKINA & RANGITIKEI MESSENGER THURSDAY, 12th NOVEMBER, 1868.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 947, 12 November 1868, Page 2

Wanganui Chronicle, and TURAKINA & RANGITIKEI MESSENGER THURSDAY, 12th NOVEMBER, 1868.

The Suez mail came in on Tuesday evening. There is no English news of any importance. Everywhere there is a vast stir about the coming elections and ilttle else engages public attention. Mr Disraeli is providing for his followers in case of danger. Mr Pope Eennessy, Lord Belmore, Mr Ducane, and Sir James Ferguson, have either left or arranged to leave England for the colonies ; and others are spoken of as about to follow their example. Lord Mayo has been mentioned by the Ministerial journals as successor to Sir John Lawrence in the Gover-nor-Generalship of India. This last appears to be an utterly indefensible appointment. Speaking of the elections, the great point on which candidature turns is the Irish Church, and the question, already well worn, yet seems to have stirred the heat and brain of England in different and widely differing schools. The amount of speaking and writing—.worse still malice and uncharitableness —on the subject is wonderful. . ♦ Every one is deeply interested in our proceeding at the Front, and we need therefore make no aplogy for the large space occupied with the subject. Having been unable to dislodge the rebels from Okotuku, Col. Whitmore found that a fresh disposition of his force had become imperatively necessay, and he proceeded to have it made at once. Accordingly on Monday morning, the No. 6 Division A. 0. that is, the men who so rcently arrived by the s. s. Wanganui, under Sub-Inspector Roberts, to which column Sub-Inspector Coll McDonell was also posted—lso men ; and the 3rd Division under Sub-Inspecter Goring—about 30 —received orders to march for Nukumaru. A. heavy baesrage train accom. panied the column and did much to retard its movements. On Monday evening the column halted at Wairoa. During the afternoon the rebels showed a bold front on the ranges towards the east, about 2000 yards distant, some few of them ventured almost within rifle range and burned a couple of houses. They also fired a few shots at a party of Europeans who went out to watch their movements. Towards evening Colonel Whitmore and his escort started for Nukumaru. Next morning the column under, Capt Roberts resumed its march, and reached Nukumaru by the afternoon. Here, in one of the paddocks adjoining Mr W. Handley’s house, the Camp was fixed, tents pitched, and other arrangements for a stay made. It is contemplated to throw up a redoubt, which by this time, we dare say, is in progress of constructio. Head quarters for the present are at Nukumaru. So much for the movements of the colonial force. Those of the rebels are equally interesting after another fashion. Tito-Ko-waru has also moved, and yesterday afternoon he was reported to be within a mile of Wereroa redoubt. Matters look very serious. Should we not have the aid of the Imperial troops in the present crisis ? Should not every soldier in the colony be put in requisition ? If the Governor has the power to do anything in this matter, he should hesitate no longer to exercise it. Wanganui is a centre of population to be defended not only for its own sake, but as a strategic position for checking the advance of the rebels into other districts of the country.