POLITICAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1815, 10 January 1863, Page 3

POLITICAL.

Under this head, in the absence ofthe daily expected mail from Auckland, there is little fresh fo record. In our last' summary we expressed a regret that tbe summer season should be ollowed to pass wiihout a resumption of road- ' making o»a larjre scale; butsince then we bave gleaned from a late Dumber of the New Zea- ' lander tbat ?« the main body of the Military are still camped at Otahuhu, and in garrison in Auckland. A large detachment from each corps is at Point Chevalier, a few miles north of Auckland on the Waitemata, familiarising themselves with the use of the rifle. The arrangements are such that all the troops will be under canvass at Point Chevalier tor a portion of tbe year. There are men at the front eugaged on the roads, which will be hnally completed to tbe Waikato river before the season expires. The health of the troops is good." . , „ It would be well tbat a portion of the sum of £150,000 set apart last session for road making should be expended in. other parts of this Province, and in that of Hawke's Bay, as well as in Auckland, as it would afford some guarantee to the country settlers, tbat the whole of this Island wonld in time be opened up, and communication established throughout its length and breadth. The aspect of tbe Native question does not appear to have changed .in any way. Tbe perpetrators of the outrages at Wanganui, are unfortunately still at large, antl afresh case has occurred at Clive, Hawke's Bay, where a native who had been arrested and lodged in prison for theft, was rescued by 15 Maories, who broke into the gaol to accomplish their object. It is very hard to foresee the ultimate issue of tbe present state of affairs, tbe past Ministry by their own act, are divested of all control on the great question of the day, Sir George Grey has the sole responsibility, and the sole power to deal with it, and he appears to be restiDg on his oars, and awaiting some fresh phrase of events. The little steamer " Avon " which was intended to trade on the Waikato River, and if necessary run the risk of being fired at, has not yet, by our last advices, been sent there, and neither have the troops occupied tbe Tataraituaka block. Thus political matters are still in statu quo ; however, fresh intelligence may indicate some change in their present aspect.