AUCKLAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume II, Issue 127, 30 December 1846, Page 4

AUCKLAND.

[From the New Zbalandkh, Dec. 12 j| ! His Excellency the LieutenanNGovernor will shortly proceed to Welling on. Waka _ Nene, Te Wherowhero, Mohi Tawhai, and probably some other loyal chiefs of rank and influence will arcompiny him. Waka Nene and Te Wherowhero are, we understand, solicitous for the liberation of Te Rauparaha, not, we imagine, from any disposition on their parts to stand forth as. his advocates and champions, but from a desire to afford liim an opportunity of determining, by his future conduct, whether or not ho is to be considered and treated as an open and declared foe. Staunch as is the loyalty of these chief-, and devoted as is' their attachment to Europeans, and to peace, they cannot but regard the imprisonment of To Rauparaha ' faith uneasiness. There is

something in the idea of captivity so galling, and so repulsive to the minds of the natives generally, that they cannot contemplate it with indifference ; and there is a fear lest this cons'itutinnal and cdura tional feelfiiir should lead to anxious cow cent; and concern ripen into ■. sympathy j f specially if there is. reason to douhttbe justice of the and when the sufferer has been imprisoned ;!by: a people of a dihVent race.. W« knpw ;not how the Governor means to act, but we know .that he has a *cry difficult, and delicate gams to play. Te Ratiparaha's influence must not bs estimated by the opinion in which he is held by our loyal northern chieltains, nor even by the send njtonts which miny of his compeers of the South, who equally dejest and fvdr him, may express; it can only be properly appreciated by those who have seen its eff.bts, who have listened to the spirit-stirrinn, eloquence with whioh this redoubtable ohl man can urge his plans, and bend the wills of others to his purposes.. It will be recollected that we expressed some doubts respecting the consequences which might result from the apprehension of Te Rauparaha, and our opinions are not materially changed. The. public have not been made acquainted with any particulars calculated to establish, without the possibili y of a doubt, the necessity and propriety of this measure, —and most certainly the few pnblic documents relat .insr.to this transaction would seem to favor the idea that the Authorities in this instance aced precipitously and unwisely. We wait the event of his liberation with anxiety, believing it, though perhaps in dispenaably nee ssary, to be a measure fraught wi.h even greater risk thau his capture. Much, however, will depend upon the light in which his imprisonment has been received by the Natives generally ; if the majority think he has justly incurred such treatment, all will probably be well; but if, on the contrary, they think that he has been ill-treated, he may be the means of inciting them to acts far mora hopelpssly adverse to our future tranquillity ihan a'iy that hav> yet been perpetrated.