Local Intelligence.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1586, 28 May 1861, Page 5

Local Intelligence.

. We have been favoured with the following extract of a letter from a, military officer lately resident in this settlement received hy the last Mail from- England :- ".Allow ine to congratulate tbe New Zealand colonies in general, and you in particular, oriilie steps taken by the Home Government for the pacification of your chosen land. General Cameron is a master of the Art of War', 'a nil under his directions, you need not fear tb hear of 300 men being engaged at a disadvantage and unsupported bv a strong body in the im-. mediate neighbourhood ; or, in fact of any of • those blunders which, when read iu the narrative form of despatches and newspaper reports, seem to have arisen from a want of mjlitary capacity. . .The. natural plan of a campaign against the Maories will be (1) to establish a defensive cordon round the settlement itself, within which I non-combatants will be safe; but not to attempt the absurdity of defending scattered farms and holdings ; (2) to harrass the enemy by strong flying columns, unincumbered by baggage; (3) to prevent the natives from cultivating any land in the disturbed districts, and to prevent their purchasing food at the ports or from tubes friendly to us (4) the latter should be used as auxiliaries. Some such mode of operations would he pur-' sued by any commander, of one. tenth the ability of General -Cameron. Sir James lAlexr ander will ably second his efforts." When the hostile tribes are brought to terms (which will be very shortly,) should be made , to pay iu land at upset price jor the expenses of the war, or at least for the damage done to crops, hoxises, and stock. If this is not seen to, the cost , will probably fall ou the Colonial purse, as the Euglish tax payers are looking closely iuto these matters. The kind of utu suggested would he very consonant with Maori ideas of punishment. ' Bank of New Sooth Wales— The Inspector of the Bank of New South Wales was a passenger by the Lord Ashley to Nelson. He proceeded by tbe.Airedale to Auckland, td make preliminary arrangements., to open a Branch in that province, and will. next, visit Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, to establish Branches in each of those provinces. ' The Manager of the Canterbury Branches, for there are to be two in that province, one at 'Christ church and another at Lyttelton, is a passenger by the Lord Ashley. The Bank of NewiSo.nth Wales is the oldest and one of the most' influential in the Australian Colonies, having been established iu . 1.817. .It is. a Colonial Institution, and has a paid up capital of £750,000, with a reserv- fund of £212,500. The last half yearly balance sheet of the Bank of New South Wales showed a total of nearly £6,000,000, thus testifying, that this^ Bank possesses a very large, share of public couftdence iu the neighbouring colonies. We understand that an arrangement has been made 1 by which the Oriental Bank wiil retire in favour of the Bank of New South Wales. The Natives. — Mete Kingi of Putiki has received a-letter from John Williams (a Putiki chief), dated Auckland, 23rd April, in jwhich he states that the Rev. Mr. Burrowes, Church missionary, was about to visit the Waikatbs with the terms offered theni by the Governor, one> of which was the giving up of the! King movement. Jf they did not agree to; these terms, Mr. Burrows was to bid therri good bye on the part of the Bishops and Clergymen, — a phrase which the natives here understand to imply that war would immediately, commence. — Wanganui Chronicle, May 23. ; . AcciDENT.—On Sunday afternoon last, a3 a little girl named Comto,, was playing with some other Children on. the breastwork, near Plimrner's , wharf, she accidently fell off; and would certainly have been drowned if 'it had not been for the timely assistince rendered by Mr. Hugh. l)ouglas, who. immediately plunged into tho water with his clothes on and rescued her. ' »;,< ,'■-. .„„,>■• * • i . „