MANAWATU.

Wellington Independent, Volume II, Issue 133, 20 January 1847, Page 3

MANAWATU.

[FltOll OUR CoitRKSI'O.VDE.Vr.]

January 13. -Rangihaeata ad his followers are still residents on this river ami its imra-d'ate neighbourhood. They have been since, their arrival here, actively and constantly employed in the profitable and praiseworthy occupttio-i of planting potatoes. For the time being iron has yielded to wood : the w (musket) has given place to the ko, (native spade) and tiu weapons of war have surrendered the precedence to the implements of peace. The bulk of ihe rebels have acted towards the settlers with the utmost civility and respect. It is certainly their wisdom to be quiet, and their strength to sit still but a'as! tha< which is bred in the bone can with difficulty be eradicated from the flesh. There are a fotv of them closely allied in spirit to the viper found by the countryman amon./ the Bimw and placed before his blazing hearth. Whenever they have power and opportunity, their voice is still for mischief. Te Ahi the chief of Poroutawao and Ids men seem to he worse, however, than even Kangihaeata and his party. Some time ago a of Te Aid's men broke into a house at Oturoa, in the a'> senco of those occupying the house, carried away a considerable amount of property, and drove away a number of pigs. Your readers are nlready acquainted with the robbery of Messrs S'dlarsand Sett at the Kangitikei river, and the stopping of Mr. Dun's sheep on the beech between Horowenua and ManaWatu. Last week the path on the beach was again laid under an interdict, and two drove of pigs were turned hack, the one belonging to Mr. Ook, the other to Mr. Burr. It is gratifying, however, to know, and it augurs w> II for the future peace of ihe district, that these robberies have been rather the personal acls of individuals, than any authorised system of aggression sanctioned by the rebel chiefs, and the countenance and support they recive in I his and tho surrounding districts, is generally becoming less. Wo are informed that through tho influence and exer ions of Taratoa and some others, the pigs taken by Ahi's men at Oiuroa, were restored to tho owner. Taratoa and Ihakara, a young chief of high promise nnd fried fidelity, promptly assisted Mr. Dun in getting Ids sheep safe to Wanganui. Two of llangihacaia's men aud a native of Ragilikei wore concerned

ia the robbery of .Messrs. Sellers and Scott, but as soon us Kawanti the chief of li«»«i- r----tikei, .heard of it he despatched a jiart/of men to apprehend tho robbers. These secured the Kangitikei native and brought him to the pah. The chief stripped him of his share of the plunder, and sent it afterwards by Taratna to Manawatu to Mr. Best, to he by him forwarded to the owners, llangihaeata's men esnipod, it is thought jo Wanganui, hut it is supposed the articles that were in their possession havo been hid somewhere in the sand. As soon as Thomson and Marten at Otaki, hoard of the road being interdicted on the head), they sent off kangihaeata's sister to cause' him to lea-'Q the road open, the remonstrance was effectual, and this week the road is traversed daily without fear or alarm. Rangihaeata mid the most ol his followers held a consultation last week, whether they should proceed to Wanrranui i 0 assist Karamu.i'i the event ol his b-incr at lacked by the military, but they have, i°appears, ab.tndun.-d tin- intention and res-d ved to remain where they are in peace. The captivity of Te Rauperaha is the reason a-signed fo their recent beaches of the peace, and all the na-ives both hostile and friendly, declare that if Te ilaupeiaha were released, all ui-t nbauces would be at an end They say thai Itangihaeata's heart is dead and his i-i gone, it is bis 1 ye a : one lor Te Rauparaha that make.- him incdin d for war. Tlur.i are no fears entertained among-Nt the settl rs or natives, of any immediate disturbances in this neighbourhood. Th - road along the bt-aih is perfectly open. But it mig it be prudent for persons iraveiling along the coasi, who are ignorant of the iocaliti-s, and of the native language, to take along with them a trust-worthy naive to prevent by his explana ions any misunderstanding that mighi arise wi:h unfriendly natives.

The weather has been warm and beaulilul for the last mondi. The wheat is waving yellow, and harvest is at our very dnor. Indeed it is . ln-ady begun. On Monday the llih in>t , Captain Compion, who cinducts the model firm on th.' .Manawatu, c iinmenct-d reaping a field of the fine>t and ripe wh-.at on the riv.-r, or p rhaps of any part in this colony. Potaltoe planting is nearly over, and the first crop is now fit f>r dai y US". A very quantity has been planted ids season, the wh.de of which loo'c uncommonly well, the deep a-llavits! noil ha-suffered no it-jury from >he dry weather, and the grub which ha* been so destructive i : i rome districts is here un known, a birg< quantity of p;tito>s as Will as wheat w id-b • available for exportation.

Owi g to to ihn warm weather and the absence nf those high winds that purify the atrao-tphero, there have been more sickness among the Europeans, and more sickness and mortality among the natives, especiallf the children during the last two months, than have been experienced for more than twelvemonth, first from inflamation ofthe eves, nest sore throat, and influencea, and finally a species of fever ; but still nothing to through any doubt on the genera! salu brity of the climate, and a few thunder storms, heavy rains, and sweeping »usts of wind that have occurred of late, will do more than all ihe sons of Escahpius to establish the public health.