MANAWATU.

Wellington Independent, Volume II, Issue 105, 14 October 1846, Page 2

MANAWATU.

October 5, 1846. A correspondent writes a? follows--. Rangihaeata, after leaving the „e i( , h . borhood ot Otaki, remained some tim« phau,butonpursdav,tho2^lls n p r hearted at Poroutawao, a small n !t settlement between Horow.-nuaand M a watu, about three miles inland. The Xt of the natives, on this river, being pea S ably disposed, are grieved at his appro ac nevertheless there is a considerable Li n * mg of kindred spirits who are greeting him with a cordial welcome. The W/f ing native 0 f Poroutawao is known L almost every thing but his good. On , J cap.ure of Te Rauparaha, it is said c advised an attack to be made on the Ma nawatii settlers, but was prevented by the friendly natives. He lent all hi, influ! encetoMaketu and the Wanganui taua and has from the beginning, made no secret of hig being one in heart with the rebels. Rangihaeata is holding a kind of levee at preseru. On his arrival there he sent off small parties of his me,, up the Manawatu, to invite all who were favourable to him to visit him where he is a number of these have been collecting around him, ostensibly to hold a ian«n but undoubtedly to supply him with pnu visions, ascertain his situation and intentions, and assist him, as far as practicable, in carrying out his plans. Among .he numerous and confuting reports aHoat among the natives, it is difficult to'ascertain wnat he really intends to do; possibly he has not fixed on any well defined plan ; his future course will doubtless be guided very much by circumstances. It is said that he intends to remain some weeks and plant potatoes on the Manawatu, that he will next proceed to the Rangitikei river to plant there also, and afterwards proceed either to Wanganui, or el-e up the Rangitikei towards Taupo. It is. however, most likely that the Mana warn will be hi* place of rendezvous for some time at least. Some say he is very much afraid ; ot'ien speak of him as boasting most conh'denty. Both statements may be true. H« talks vauntingly at one time, it is said, of being about to throw away ail his muskets, with i he exception of a very few ; these being sufficient to put the soldiers to flight. At another time he is said to speak o"leaving his women and children on the Wanganui, collecting his warriors, marching inland along the mountains, and making an atack upon Wellington. He is evidently anxious to make it appear that he was defeated sol Jy by the Maorie*, and is laboring to impress the minds of the natives with id. as of thorough contempt for the pakehas, especially lor the soldiers. Indeed, unhappily for the peace of the community, the natives, both hostile and friendly, while they entertain the highest respect for the courage and conduct of the militia and police, seem to cherish very little of that feeling for the regular taryWhatever Rangihaeata may yt do is uncertain, but one thing is obvious, that his ruling passion—the° love of war—j* strong as ever, and every where in the di« reetion in which he is going there aro more, or fewer, who sympathize with him, and will assist him more or less. At Rangitikei, a few at least and «« men of mighty bone" speak openly in his behalf._ M<kem and Nopera are at Wanganui. '?* Karamu and his party are there also. Te Heu Heu, or lwikau, does not disguise his sentiments. f In-passing ■' up* the coast, he every where 'denounced the wakapono, belief in Christianity, as a bad thing; oe« cause, but for their being professed Christians, the Ngatiraukawa would! I' av(3 joined the rebel chief, and he cjjbsidered them blame-worthy for not 'daing^, 8 ?' , When these master spirits of misiliiot' » re

approaching one common centre, what plans may he concocted to disturb the peace of the colony it would be difficult to conjecture. Rangihaeata is the head of a depressed, but still dang rous, and m t to to despised party. The /ollowers of Rangihaeata and Karamu are all well supplied with muskets, several have two a-piece. Mokau's, or ■ Rangiliaeata'a party, and those who sympathize with them, are by far the most clamorous about the imprisonment of Rauparaha; a pretty clear evidence of their regarding him more as a friend than an enemy. The friendly and loyal naiiveg are much more indifferent about his fate. "What although heshould .bo killed "said one «f intelligent on this river, " it will be for his kino, evil; Mokau's thought and his were always one, their speaking only was different."