LATEST NEWS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume IV, Issue 814, 25 March 1870, Page 2

LATEST NEWS.

tTOPINE JOINING THE GOVERN-

MENT:

It-will be remembered that Topine, who lives at the head of the Wanganui River, opposed the passage of i opia : and Kemp by; the river 'route, j when they set out On the expedition ! after Te Kooti. Topine was then a Kingite, with, it was said," strong! leanings towards Te Kooti Since then it has been more than once rumored that he had joined Te Kooti, with the whole of his followers. This, we now know, was incorrect; but it received a coloring at the time, from the fact that when Topia and Kemp persisted in going up by the river, Topine vacated his village "with the whole of his people. During the time that has elapsed between then and the present, Topine has evidently been, reflecting on the state of affairs between the races, for he has made up his mind to attach himself to the side of the Government, and has given notice to the King of his intention. The King party could not retain him against his will, but told him that he would soon regret joining the Government, for he would be destroyed I like another native whom they named. Topine sent his wife d_own the liver with the intelligence that he and his, people were anxious to come over and be Queen natives, and she had arrived at Pehi's place a few days ago. Topine requested that he might bring his people down the river in Pehi's and Topia's canoes, and wo understand that Pehi has granted the request. The Wanganui river, from the source to the embouchure, is now in possession of the friendly natives ; and this is a consummation all the more to be valued, as six months ago no one could have expected it. The Government will find themselves in possession of a mighty [. power, in the undisputed right of the watershed of the V\ anganui liver, with friendly allies along the whole of its course. -The information we have given is of the most ieliable kind, and in a short time Topine may be expected in, Wanganui, where he has .many old frieifas amongst the settlers, who knew him in early times, and who have formed a high opinion of his character. '"Wte have heard several of these settlers remark, when it was said ; , that Topine had gone; over to the enemy, that they' would never believe it. The accession of Topine and his people to the cause of the Government, will be worth a thousand soldiers'; for if Topine had been on our side from the \ beginning, Te Kooti could not have located himself on the J. anganui after his defeat at Porere. The area of smouldering rebellion is gradually' becoming reduced, and kingism is not the all-absorbing thing it was supposed to be.