THE Wellingtion Independent. "Nothing extenuate: Nor set down aught in malice." TUESDAY MORNING, 14th JULY. ON THINGS IN GENERAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1894, 14 July 1863, Page 2

THE Wellingtion Independent. "Nothing extenuate: Nor set down aught in malice." TUESDAY MORNING, 14th JULY. ON THINGS IN GENERAL.

Jest now there are so many topics of interest floating in the public mind, that however much we may endeavour to note them separately, we may still make a running commentary with advantage. What does the calling out the Militia at Ahuriri; Wellington, and Wanganui mean ? The mere calling it out for training two hours a day on an »verage of once a week for three months, i 3 not very burdensome and does not portend anything very serious, especially at such a time as the present. But tbere are those who say it meau« more than meets the eye ; — ' that if it does not imply a prospect of war all over the island, it will at least afford an answer to the Duke of Newcastle, that we are not depending only on Imperial troops, but are preparing for our own defence whenever that may be necessary ; besides which, it is said that it will liberate the troops stationed in quiet districts for movement into those which are disturbed. The inexplicable movement at Turanaki is, however, the topic on which most tongues and probably most minds run. We have been so used to strange and unaccountable movements in that quarter, that scarcely anything may be said to take us by surprise; but without doubt, the abandonment of the Tatara Block a second time to the rebels, has surprised erery oueofus. It is not peace there It is not an armed armistice. It is war as much as ever so far as the natives are concerned ; aud yet redoubtsareabandoned, troops removed, the little prestige we had gained thrown away, aud the prospect of "re-iustute-ment "indefinitely prolonged. Connected with (he Turanaki movement, and toaccount for it, come reports of risings by the Waikatos one week only to be followed by the gravest assurauces of quietude during the next, — such quietude that Thompson has even been seen nuising a baby, or eijgaged iv some other equally anti-warlike operation. Simultaneously we read of a modest Tusmanian maid having been forced to allow the iron to enter her very soul and become envenomed as a " sand-fly." Mysterious hiuts are borne about, emanating from no one knows where, of discovered plots and aggressien among the natives, and of a» aggressive war and proclamations of general confiscation of rebel property as about to be issued by the Government. It is even said that refuge from the impending dangers is to be sought for in the consultations of what the press calls the " Great Council of the Stale," otherwise known as the Genera! Assembly; the short prorogation to 27th July being pointed to us a proof. Men's minds seem permeated with something big about to huppen ;an indescribable feeling that something more than ordinary is near at hand ; a general expectation that the '* first shot" wliieh Governor Browne predicted would be the signal for nil the provinces to be on the alert, is about shortly to be tired. Whether this be so or not; whether this general expectation is merely the result of attempts to rationally account for what is passing in the North, is for the moment involved iv doubt. The Colony has so often made " guesses at truth," and they huveso often turned out as wide of the inaik as guesers generally ilo, that we may be excused hazarding an opinion — and yet we are bouud by our duty to the public to express our conviction that General Cameron and the Governor are not moving iv the dark. Independently of what some ot us thiuk of the Governor's astuteness, General Camero.j has a military reputation to sustain, and we may well believe that he did not vacate Tataraimaka and leave Taranaki almost as it wus when he took the field, without having a definite something before him. When the time will be ripe for action he is too good a soldier to let any of us know ; but before that time comes we may expect tosee some preparation made everywhere for the impending struggle. On the preparation made will depend the issue. If this Province is placed in a state of defence, we may hope to pass through the struggle that will go on in Waikato, more as interested spectators than as probable participators in any similar one. Most people are sanguine that Wairarapa and Wellington, wiii continue free from disturbance; and at Wanganui, where the volcano crust is supposed to be thinnest, there are at least as many who think there will be nothing more than a passing excitement as there are who think to the contrary. But, however, much they may speculate now, all their speculations are idle, except as they lead us to ward off the evil, for we take it that none amongst us would willingly bring it on. If we look upon the peace of tbe province as probable or possible, the best encouragement is afforded to maintain it ; but if we look upon peace as hopsless or faintheartedly despond, then tbe greatest , step towards its destruction may be considered as taken. With this feeling, vre always endeavour two look on both sides and just now nothing can be more cheering than the actual completion of the purchase of the Waitotara Block by the Superintendent last week, and the lody. ing by tbe natives of so large a sum of money as £1900 in the Bank, for three months, to allow absent claimants to come in and share it. This is clearly not indicative of a desire or intention to go to war.