THE WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT Wednesday, October 14, 1846.

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

THE WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT Wednesday, October 14, 1846.

Latterly several grave questions have been pat to us, which, being unable satisfactorily to answer, we now lay the substance of them before our readers for their i consideration. At some future time we may have a few remarks to make upon them. For the present we propound them no further than to give them publicity. It has been suggested to us that the native prisoners of war ought to have been forthwith tried within the jurisdiction of martial law; that, having been brought round to Wellington, a lega 1 question arises whether they can now be tried otherwise than in a civil court; and that they are at least entitled to a writ of habeas corpus for the ends of speedy justice. It has also been intimated to us that the recent trials in the Supreme Court give the aboriginal natives a fair claim to go into Court with,a plea against the validity of all Crown Grants in cases where the plaintiffs can prove that they have been no parlies directly to any sales of land to the New Zealand Company.

We merely record these positions in the present instance as having been introduced especially to our notice, but shall defer, for the present, any particular consideration of the points at issue,— believing, and hoping, that all evils jwill work their own cure.

It was rumoured at Porirua on Monday that some secret movements were on foot in the neighbourhood of Manawatu. It appears that Rangihaeata-in person has been recruiting in lhat locality, and that two hundred troubled spirits from the several tribes residing on the Manawatu, have flocked to his standard. Further it is stated that the secondary chiefs of Ragihaeata's party are employing themselves in different districts beating up for recruits for the ranks of the rebel chief. The above statements were credited at Porirua, and the troops have been set to work on the fortifications, and every precaution is being observed, so as to prevent surprise. We confess for the safety of our own immediate neighbourhood we have but little fear, still the junction of the Taupo, Wan ganui, and other disaffected tribes may possibly induce Rangiheaeta to make a forward movement and threaten Waikanae, or possibly one of our out-stations from Porirua.