WANGANUI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1691, 14 January 1862, Page 3

WANGANUI.

{From the Wanganui Chronicle, Jan. 9)

The Wonga Wonga, whioh arrived from New Plymouth yesterday, does not bring any intelligence from the north of a' definite character. What there is agrees with tbe native rumours, in regard to the Upper Waikatos having rejected the Governor's terms. It was rumoured at Taranaki, wben the steamer left, that 2000 troops bad gone into the Lower Waikato. If this is correct, the movement has been made, no doubt, with the consent of the Lower Waikato, and is not in itself any indication of the probability of hostilities, although no doubt the King natives would at first be inclined to regard it in that light — hence the rumour tbat hostilities bad actually commenced. Sir Geo. Grey had returned to Auckland, and was about to come south by Hawke's Bay, leaving Taranaki as the last plaoe to be visited. The 65th are to occupy Mahoetahi and the other outposts at Taranaki. " Native Reports. — While reports from the Natives are not to be fully relied-on, there is generally some foundation for them, and they are valuable as an index of native opinion, if not as a correct statement of facts. A native from Patea, who was in town this week, gives the information^ that the Ngatiruanui are desirous when the Governor oomes to Wahganui, that he should go to New Plymouth overland, and if he will do so, they will escort him on his journey. Before he left Patea two Waikatos had arrived, who said that Sir George Grey had held a large meeting in Waikato, at whioh William Thompson and other natives were present— we presume they referred to the meeting which was to be held at Archdeacon Mauusell's. His Exoellenoy informed them that he required them to pull down their flag — about the king himself he did not care a great deal. The reply from William Thompson was that thefla^ could not be given up. The Governor who also asked payment of the houses they had burned at Taranaki, and to this they agreed. He did not ask restitution of the plunder.

The Wanganui River Natives intimated to the Resident Magistrate here* that on the anuiversary of tbe raising of the King flag at Otaki on the 12th March there is to be a large gathering tbere, at whioh a considerable number of them will be present. They go armed, and as they intend passing through the town, iv order not to alarm tbe outsettlers, tbey wished to know if he had any objections to their doing so. He replied that he would think of it. The Ngatiruanui and Nagtiawa also propose sending armed deputations, who will pass through this settlement.

The flag whioh we mentioned last week y as having been brought t© Kahinibiui by - the deputation that had been at Waikato was given to them by the king himself: with the appropriate quotation, " Silvei and gold have I none, but such as I have y . give I untojthee." He enjoined them ndt ii y to hoist it in the immediate neighbourly; hood of the settlement, as that might 'givkjJJl offence to the Europeans, and notnewr&tJy^ than Athens which is 12 miles di^a^yi from the boundary. The River ;ohl|fspf^; however, offended at not having been|^|ii|; oonsulted, and anxious to avoidvgi|mgi^i any offence, have resolved that ti ?lli§lJ§3t not be raised. " y '■'•■' ■'-y'PJJ^MI^MIt Gaoioaiq-AL- SuRVBY;- ; ---We*n)SS|i^^§s last week that^the^Hdh^;M^^iw|^p^^ had not been sucoessful.m^i^£ainin^[i^^^ objeot"- of- hia -ekpeditioii'^iipj^hel^^^^B This was prinicipatiy to 'explore '^^SS^B

of the Tangarakau, a tributary of the Wauganui, which is supposed to have its source neßrthat ofthe Waitara, und joins the Wanganui about 40 miles iv a straight line from this, and ut more than double that distance by the Wanganui, From the Tangarakau spec:mens of coal have been brought, which look well, but it is impossible to say of wbat quality it may be throughout without seeing the seam ; and it is said that there is copper iv the same valley, which, however, is very doubtful. On Mr. Crawford's reaching Utapu, a pa distant by the river 80 miles from this, ha was informed tbat the Tangarakau valley was lapu to the King, and tbat he could not be allowed to proceed further than its mouth. Tbe following day a message was received from Pehi, prohibiting his proceeding further than Utapu; but the natives overruled this interdict, and were quite willing, not only to take him to Tangarakau, but up that stream, if he paid a toll of 30s. at ies moutb. Mr. Crawford reasoned with them on the absurdity of this exclusive conduct, showing them that if he discovered minerals, it would be for their own interest chiefly; but they remained obstinate; and he, unwilling to set a bad ! precedent by giving in to their demands, and conscious that the toll might be repeated in any part of tbe stream tbe natives choose for its exaction, resolved to return. He arrived at Utapu on the 28ih, having taken a week to go up from this, and came back on the 3 lst, in twe days. The river consists, for the most part, of a succession of rapids, with read-bes of deep water between, and of cjtfm§e here is both difficulty and del^yin ascending some of the rapids. The valley of the Wangauui, and these pt some of its tributaries, bear marks of disruption by earthquakes, &c, but seenjf principally caused by the cutting of the streams iuto the ground — what is called denudutiou. In the bed of the Wanganui, there does not seem to be any gravel brought down from its source, the stones in it having apparently come from the drift through which it has cut its way? They consist chiefly of portions oi ingenous iock, trap, lava and basalt; but probably a tenth is crystalline saslastone. These stones are for the most part traversed by quartz veins, but only one boulder was found of the slaty rock, with iron pyrites through it, which iajthis country seems to indicate the presence of gold. In the whole course of Ihe river the strata lies quite horizontally, •id resemble the section which is visible on various parts of the sea-beach to the north of its mouth. There, a bed of sand 50 to 60 feet deep lies on the top, in which are found Moa bones ; below is a bed of forest trees mostly lying horizontally then comes 20 feet of drift gravel, below w&'ch is four feet of yellow sand-8-fjbne, and below that again 60 to 70 feet pf blue slate, containing marine fossils, ostr«a, pecten, involuta?, terebratulata, ice. The horizontal position of the strata throughout the whole course of the river up to Utapu has made it quite impossible to discover what deposits there are beneath. But it is possible that, owiug to tbis featuce of the country, the coal which is said to crop out at Tangarakau may be accessible by sinking much nearer the thest improbable, it may be sought for iv the neighbourhood of Wanganui. For present, if found only in or near the Tan. garakau valley, it would be of no value, as the expense of bringing it down the river would be too great. The exploring party speak very favorably of the natives honesty, and civility, the latter characteristic becoming more marked the further they went up the river. They were also struck by the p.opulousness of the Wanganui valley, and by the number of canoes in the river, carrying produce and goods from one place to another. The temperature was hcaraveraging 100 p to 120° Fahrenheit, and they felt none of the high winds which prevailed here during their absence. They found a lemon tree at Ohinemutu with a large quantity of ripe fruit on in and maize was growing in all the cultivations. Ploughs and harrows are used, and cows regularly milked, at all the pas, but the, system of cropping is wretched — the land being completely exhausted, and a new plot of grouud being then cleared, to be dealt with in the same way. We understand that a full detail of Mr. Crawford's observations is likely to appear iv the Government Gazeltte, He started on yesterday morning for the Rangitikei district, and we await with much interest the result of his ■* exploration in that quarter.

Thb Roman Catholic Church. — This Cathedral-like edifice has lately been greatly improved in the interior. The workmen only left it a few days ago after haviug been engaged at it for about 3 months. The whole edifice has been lined throughout. Tbe roof has beeu painted in blue, lighted up with gilt stars ; where the arch of the roof springs from the sides, the lonic cornice with its frieze runs along both sides of the building and all round the sanctuary, except immediately behind the altar where the corresponding cornice is of the Corin thian order with its frieze and architrave. The three stained glass windows behind the alter have beeu lifted up from their former positiion to near the ceiling above the cornico, where they have a much finer effect ; but the principal object in ruisiug them was to make room for intended decorations behind the alter, on each side of which we understand Corinthian pillars are to be plaoed to complete the design, according to which the cornices have now been made, In addition to these improvements the gallery for the choir has been greatly enlarged, by means of a lantern-like pro-

jection which is quite in harmony with the design of the building and is an additional ornament to it. At the end of each of the aisles, near the altar, a sidechapel has been railed in, the front of which is protected by a red curtain. One of these chapels is dedicated lo the Virgin Mary. The other bas uot yet been appro priated. Altogether ihese improvements reflect great credit on the tasie aud energy j ol the Rev. Mr. Pezant ai.d his congregation. They have been made at an expence of about £220.

The Census. — The returns bave now been completed. We learn that in the town aud suburbs there are 278 houses which required Schedules to be left in them, which allowing four persons to each house, would make tho town population 1112 souls. This is do doubt a small number to allow per house, but as 64 house 3 ar<3 occupied by the military, who are not taken along wilh the civilians, aud a good many of our residents are absent at the Otago diggings, the estimates will perhaps be found pretty nearly correct, ln the country district to the north of the river there are 9a houses, wilh a population of say 372, which makes the whole European population on the' right bank of the rivbr about 1500.