THE Wellington Independent "nothing extenuath; or set down aught in malice." THURSDAY MORNING, 3rd SEPTEMBER. WILLIAM THOMPSON.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 1952, 3 September 1863, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent "nothing extenuath; or set down aught in malice." THURSDAY MORNING, 3rd SEPTEMBER. WILLIAM THOMPSON.

The brief items relative to the intentions of j this chicf — the General of the Waikatoes — which we inserted in the news by the Airedale on Tuesday, will have been received with satisfaction by everybody; since everybody must rejoice to learn that the reported announcement of this chief having determined to " slay and spare not" was incorrect—that it arose from the ' friendly act he performed towards Archdeacon Brown and the settlers at Tauranga, being mislepresented. Believing that it was the intention of some natives to make a raid on the settlers there, he warned them of what he considered there danger, as well as of an intended attack on Auckland. There was ne intention to misrepresent his friendly warning; but it ! was misrepresented — his warning of what was tobe apprehended from othersbecame converted »nto a threat from him self. The warning was undoubtedly given in good faith, and the settlers were justified in acting upon it as they did The majority of the few settlers at Taurang. left within the twenty*-four hours said to have been the limit of safety; but still those who remained behind have suffered no harm up to the two or three weeks later dates from thence. Indeed it is shrewdly suspected that the raid of which Thompson was apprised, was a device got up with the view to induce the settlers to leave the harbor clear for the visit of coasters with provisions and stores- That this has been the result is evident from the following from the Southern Cross of the 25th — Supplies to the Rebels. — No small amount of indignation was expressed by peisons, whose business called them to the Queen-street Wharf yesterday, at seeing a considerable number of bags of flour being shipped in the Maori vessel the Queeu, bound for Tauranga, and now lying off the wharf. TauraDga, as every one knows, is the place from which the settlers were recently warned by William Thompson, and from which they had to fly to Auckland for safety. But a few days ago there appeared in our shipping columns the departure of the schooner Janet, from Hawke's Bay for Tauranga, with 160 bags of flour, 2 tons sugar, 2 half-chests of tea, und 100 native passengers! There has been a shipment of flour from here to the same place within the last fomight, and yesterday, as we have stated, there was another shipment in the Queen. It is quite evident tbat these supplies are not for the few settlers remaining at Tauranga. We are, therefore led to the conclusion that, although there may be "friendly" natives at that place, it is quite possible, nay more, it is probable, tbat this flour is going to replenish the stores of the rebels. If so, this is returning good for evil with a vengeance! Is there no way by which a stop can be put to this? Byall means let us not quarrel with those natives who bave as yet shown no signs of hostility ; but tbere certainly ought to be some guarantee that Auckland shall not be made a depot from which the rebellious natives can obtain the wherewithal to carry on the war to our owu discomfiture." The same jourual tells us tbat Thompson had ordered ofl home the Rangiaohia natives concerned in the Auckland murders — " that he would not have them to remain to help him in the Lower Waikato," and we are informed that he has written to the Governor, expressing his intention to use hisinfluence to prevent marauding and to maintain a fair fight. Of course he cannot control individual natives any more than General Cameron can individual soldiers but the offer of Thompson to exchange potatoes for tobacco, and the acceptance of his present to General Cameron of goats and poultry, show that let the Governor endeavour to put down " rebellion" as much aa he pleases, the leaders of tbe two forces are determined to maintain " civil war."