THE WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT Wednesday, March 4, 1846.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 53, 4 March 1846, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT Wednesday, March 4, 1846.

His Excellency" Captain Grey has acted with decision and energy, in the present distressing state of affairs, and in a manner which cannot fail of raising him still higher in the opinion of his countrymen. Throwing aside all the suggestions and remedies of timid men ; refusing to be bound down by the ilUtimed philanthropy of his advisers, he has grappled with the difficulties of his and our position, in a manly and straightforward manner ; a;.d come at once to the relief of the ill used and long suffering settlers. Yesterday, martial law was proclaimed, in the whole of the district to the south of Wainui, in Cook's Straits, about ivventyninemi'es to the northward of Wellington, and Castle Point, on the East coast. Decisive measures will no doubt be at once adopted to suppress the natives who are at present-in arms, and who have for so long a period annoyed and perpetrated outrages upon the hitherto defenceless settlers. But there is one point in the Proclamation from which we augur the most favourable results. And that is, that the country more immediately owning the sway of Kangihaeata, comes within the district which has been proclaimed under Martial Law. Thus it is evident that this meddling and ferocious chief, will soon be compelled to give an account of his conduct, and ei'her to withdraw the intruding natives from the Hutt, or else to turn out and openly declare himself an enemy to the English Go vernment. We are of opinion that Tanpo, the pah of Hangihaeata, should be invested without delay. Such a step would have the effect of distracting the attention of the natives in the Hutt, and as a consequence have a beneficial tendency on the minds of the wavering nativ/s up the coast, Our readers will find a correct summary of events, which have ocurred on the Hutt, since our last publication. The natives on Sunday, robbed twenty families living on the Waiwatu, and above Boulcott's, and since then other individuals have lost all they possessed. The fruits of five and six years hard labour are lost to them, and many of them are now in a worse situation than when they first arrived in the colony. On the state of the?e unfortunates being made known to his Excellency, he immediately ordered them to be supplied with food, and other necessaries more immediately required. But it must be remembered that the ma jority of the sufferers are women and children, most of whom are left destitute of a change of clothing. We are convinced iliat this fact only requires to be made known to rouse the leelings and sympathies of the ladies of Wellington, who have never yet been backward, when called upon, to exert iheir influence and contribute their mite towards the relief of suffering humanity. We should a-lvise that a subscripion be opened for the purpose of forming a fund for the relief not only of the present, but of all future sufferers, by the aggressions of the natives. Linen, and other clothing, with flour, sugar, coffee, &c, should be collected, and placed in some place of safety, so that at least those who may be deprived of their property during the present struggle, may be secured from the horrorg

of starvation. The inhabitant, of Welling 1 no doubt cordis respond to,nyca Ilk. «!.».-hioh -.yb.»»le to b,»- ' specially if the matter is at once .taken iv h»U, and not allowed to slumber.