POLITICAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1803, 11 December 1862, Page 3

POLITICAL.

MILITARY ROADMAKING — THE WAIKATO STEAMER. A little iron screw steamer of 26 tons, pnt together last year at Lyttelton for navigating the ! river Avon, has been purchased by the Governor, for the purpose o£ running on the Waikato fiver— and the Claude Hamilton reported her some ten days ago as being offTarauaki. She is appareutly too small for any other purpose than to carry out the occupation of that river — as if she is tacitly allowed to run on it without opposition, the river may be considered open, and if opposed by the natives, she will do to be fired at as well as a larger one. However, letuV

hope, tbat notwithstanding all that is said to the contvary, she will prove the harbinger of better days for that district, being followed by the European settlement of the country along the banks of that regal river. This is the first indication which has been given us that the plans for opening up the country, to which we listened with so much avidity during the late Assembly, have not altogether been abandoned. We were sadly afraid lest they had been, for we were under the impression that no sooner would fine weather make its appearance than the troops would be at work again, in the same effectual way in which they were last year. The general expectation at the time went still further ; because some portion of the £150,000 voted for roadmaking, being intended to be applied to the hiring of natives for the sim; purpose, it was supposed that wherever opportunity offered, there the pick and shovel in the hands of both races would be actively at work. If we say that the pick and shovel are generally believed to be mightier than the sword, we do but re-iterate the belief of the Great Dnke, that roads are a necessary mean to the subjugation of a country like this, and who, therefore, on one occasion insisted that if instead of complaining of the amount which a colonial war bad cost, the Imperial authorities would devote whatever sum was requisite to render communication from end to end and from side to side of the colony not only practicable but easy, they wonld be acting a wise and economical part. The winter weather has long been over, but at present there isno appearance of road-making being undertaken on a large, or indeed on any scale. Why is this ? We have in vain endeavoured to account for it, Its importance is admitted. The pecuniary means are ready to hand, and neither Sir George nor his ministry want the will to do anything which will obviate war, or if that cannot eventually be obviated, which will do more than anything else to shorten its duration. When the quick eye of Sir George Grey saw how easily the danger to which Auckland had been exposed could be removed, he did not fail instantly to set the troops to work, and, by the completion of the road to Waikato, has rendered fifty miles around Auckland secure from that sudden attack to which the very city was a year ago exposed. That which has been done for Auckland, ought in fairness be done to other provinces. Last winter it was said that Sir George Grey was perfectly willing to commence road making operations in this province, as soon as the fine weather setln, if his ministry recommended it ; indeed it was understood to be his Excellency's desire that in all the provinces, working parties both of soldiers and natives should use tbeir greatest activity in this respect, during the present summer. Then the Ministry were to some degree responsible, and we know that the sympathies of the Fox Cabinet were cosmopolitan. Now the Domett Ministry advise without responsibility, and it is not to be wondered at if the views of tbe majority in the cabinet are on such a subject, decidedly opposed to any portion of the troops being marched out of Auckland. We begin to fear tbat the solution ofthe inactivity of our troops is to be found in this : — that if it is considered, for any reason, undesirable to commence such roads as may be deemed absolutely necessary to military defence in Auckland, Sir George Grey is hampered with " minutes of advice," tending to prevent similar works being commenced elsewhere. We trust this not the case, We trust that the Ministry will see how the safety of the whole is the duty they have to aim at, and we trust also that now, being alone responsible, Sir George Grey will not hesitate to send to this province and Hawke's Bay such portions of the troops at his disposal, as may tend to assure the settlers that all the provinces will be opened up, and thereby stimulate the increase ofthe population ofthe country. The only drawback to the thorough enjoyment of the splendid weather we have for some time been favored with, is the knowledge that the season is not being taken advantage of by the Government in the way it was expected it would be, when ample funds were voted them a few months ago. TARANAKT. The Wanganui Chronicle of the 4th instant reports that orders had arrived at Taranaki for the occupation, by the troops, of the Tataraimaka block. The intelligence had been received by the schooner Sea Gull arriving at Wanganui from Auckland and Taranaki on the 2nd. We shall receive in the course of to-day, the usual mail from Taranaki — we need not say that it is looked for with much interest, as news by coasting vessels is not always of an reliable nature. WANGANUI. We regret to say that we have no satisfactory information to report, relative to the apprehension of the Natives for whom warrants were some time since issued. The " Chronicle " however reports that the Taranakis have met with a rebuff where they least expect it. "A deputation from the Taranaki Natives, arrived at Kaiwhike (near Wanganui) a few days ago, with a request for 300 men to enable them to stop the road-making at Taranaki, should it be carried on beyond a certain point. A message was sent up the river to Pehi, asking his opinion on the matter. He replied that he disapproved of it, and that if any of them went, they might clear out altogether, as they would not be received again at Wangenui. This message checked the ardour of the Kaiwhike natives, four of whom have, gone north to inform the the Taranakis that their requisition cannot be complied with. The same paper says, " We mentioned lately that the Superintendent had been at the Waitotara district, as far as Fakaraka, where the toll is placed, and where the old chief Abraham, was at that time. Abraham persistently refused to have any intercourse with him, but DrFeatherston would speak to no other person, so that at last Abraham was obliged, with great reluctance, to come forward. At the close of tho interview he so far forgot the inimical relations existiDg between tbe Superintendent and himself as to shake hands with his Honor when he left. For this awful misdemeanour our Abraham bos been summoned before his own runanga, and been adjudged to pay £20. He owns his fault in so far countenancing a Queen's man as to shake hands with him, aud has agreed to pay the money." The West Coast Native Disteiots. — The Otaki district which, through some inadvertence, was sliced out of Mr. L, Buller's district, aud included in that to which Lieut. Edwards was appointed, has beeu restored, and Mr. Buller again takes charge of that " centre of "kingism;" Lieut. Edwards taking Porirua and Waikanae.