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Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1584, 21 May 1861, Page 4

[From oun own Correspondent.] May 6, 18G1. In my last I noticed that some of the friendly natives had gone back into the bush clearings and helped themselves to the various live stock of the settlers still remaining on the forsaken farms, siuce which a representation of the unjustness of acting in this manner has been made to the leading chiefs, and the result has been that the natives have confessed their error, and moreover have subscribed amongst themselves the sum of six pounds six shillings and pence, which had heen given over to the Native department as payment for the pigs &c, that were taken. The money lam nappy to state is to be returned to the natives with an expression of satisfaction at the acknowledge* raent of (he error coupled with a warning for the future. ! Reports arc abroad that the Native department has been warned that if the Settlers visit the bush they will be murdered. T need scarcely tell you that this report is utterly without foundation, and I write now trusting through the medium of your widely circulated paper to stay the propogation of falsehoods which, if disseminated, may tend still more to unsettle this unhappy country. On Saturday last a public meeting was held at Taranaki for the purpose of nominating a Committee to open a correspondence with the •English and otber relief fumls that Lave been commenced for the ruiued sel tiers of this Province. The object of the proposed committee was not to find fault or cast doubt upon those who had been in power, but simply to shew those who had so kindly come forward to our assistance our present position and future prospects. It appeared the unanimous opinion of those present, that whilst the inhabitants of the Province were recipients of military pay, assistance from the relief funds would not be requisite, but that there was a time coming when we shall once again return to our farms, and then pecuniary assistance will be most acceptable. How anxious one and all are to enjoy once again there homesteads is evinced by the readiness with which, on ' permission being granted, the refugees returned from Nelson, and; I feel certain so long as we act together in unity, assistance towards replacing us in our former position will not be wanting. Theve is no doubt that at some distant period from this, Government compensation will be given to the losers of property during this war. In the meantime by the kind assistance of those who have voluntuily come forward to our aid we shall be enabled so soon as peace is declared to rebuild our bouses and erect fencing on our farms. During this last week we have experienced the most inclement weather, for upwards of 3 days the rain has fallen in torrents equal^tothose of the Tropics causing the floods to rise higher than they have been known for years, whilst the winds have been so powerful that trees of long standing have been either broken or swept to the ground. In a sauitory point of of view the late floods have been of great benefit, as any accumulation of filth must have been carried into the sea by the rapidly flowing current. On Sunday the Airedale passed on to Manakan from Nelson, the weather not allowing her to call. W. I. G. Taranaki, May 15, 1861. As a recompense for the heavy rains and accompanying floods, we have for the last ten days been in the full enjoyment of the most beautiful weather, our picturesque roadstead remaining calm with scarcely a ripple to disturb its glassy surface. We are now daily drilled by the Officer Commanding the Militia and Volunteers in order to fit us for taking part in the grand military show on the 24th of this month, in honor of Her Majesty's natal day. The colors which have beeu woven in England are to be presented to us by the Ladies of Taranaki. They are chaste and pretty, both having embroidered upon them a view of Mount Egnunt enclosed within a double oval border containing the words on one, the " Taranaki Militia," and upon the other, the "Taranaki Volunteers," surmounted with a crown in gold, whilst in the corner of the flag is a Union Jack. Notwithstanding these grand colors, our unifoims will present such a varied hue that I doubt very much if our old friend Falstaff would feel iuclined to march through Coventry with us. It strikes me that most of us instead of thus wasting our time in playing at soldiers, would far sooner be engaged in taking some determined steps that would enable us to demand from the Southern natives a permanent and honorable peace, so that we could once again settle upon our homes. The thistles are now spreading so far that in another year we shall almost be placed in a worse position than those settlers who acted as the pioneers in redeeming that wilderness which but a year ago formed the gardeu of New Zealand. But this is i:ot all the mischief that is eugendeied by the present inaction, the younger branches of our community are becoming reckless and idle, whilst the store-keepers and publicans by obtaining substitutes are introducing amongst out 1 former industrious population a class of persons utterly unfitted for obtaining a living by following agricultural pursuits which with few exceptions offers the only legitimate means in Taranaki. Yesterday, May 14tb, the Ngataruanuis and Taranaki's met Mr. Parris at Moturoa, wheu the peace question was discussed. Th# chief subject was that of the murders. The natives deny that murder li&s been committed, they

say that we shed the first blood in our attack on the Lpa Another report is that Wi Kingi is abont to return to the Waitara with some few hundreds of the Waikatos; Although we have no autheutic account of such a movement, still there is a probability of an occurrence of the kind, and il will be as well for ns if we prepare ourselves so as to be in readiness if required. Many examples of bye-gone days loom forth as warnings.

W.I.G.