RANGITIKEI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1966, 6 October 1863, Page 3

RANGITIKEI.

(from our own correspondent.) 30th Sept., 1863. All continues quiet in this district. His Honor the Superintendent passed through on Friday and Saturday to Wanganui, and it is understood, made arrangements, while here for quarters for a portion at least of tbe Defence Force, who by this time ought to be at Wanganui. It is rumoured tbat they will be quartered at Mr Hammond's. Several attempts at Stockade building have been made in this district of late; one near Mr Keir's in the lower district, which originated in what we call " Cud's panic," and two or three more nearer to Turakina — one in that village. They seem to have been undertaken without much military knowledge. One fell dosvu before it was finished ; and tbey generally cousist only of a ditch aud bank, without any iv- . ternal buildings. That at Turakina is on a j hill ; but commanded at easy musket range by a ■higher bill ; and with numen.is scrubby gullies (leading up to it. But tbe principal difficulty «of these stockades is, who is to garrison them ? The settlers would look rather foolish if when they ran to them for shelter, they should find tbem full of Maories. The only stockade worth ; sixpence to my mind, is a fortified bouse, inhabited permanently by a family large enough to hold it for a time. This, I believe, is the idea of both Colouel Logan and Major Rookes ; hut we have some among us who consider themselves much greater generals than any in [ her Majesty's service, and no doubt it is to 1 1 them that we are indebted for the ingenious I man traps alluded to.

The whole population of this district has beeu subjected to a very great inconvenience.connected with tbe inquest on Mr Rayner, and all who are concerned in the administration of justice suffer from it continually. A year ago the General and Provincial Government's agreed jointly to erect a Court house, aud proper police buildings on Land belonging to Capt. Daniell, near Bull's accommodation house. For some reason or other it has never been done, and the community is subjected to the intolerable nuisance of having to attend the sittings of the Resident Magistrate, coroner's inquests, and other Magisterial proceedings at a bush public house, without one spare room. During the- inquest 70 or 80 persons were constantly on duty there as jurymen, special constables, witnesses, &c. Tike weather was fearfully inclement, and actually, when witnesses were ordered out of Court, they had to take refuge in the bush. With whom the delay in the erection of these buildings rests, we cannot find out. It seems not to be with the General Government whose contribution of £100 I see is carried to account in the last balance sheet of the Provincial Government. I don't know where the fault is ; but whoever is the cause of it, had better not come up here till he has ascertained that there is neither tar nor feathers, uor a good dirty horsepond in the district—for a whole community suffering from colds in their beads and other maladies incurred by exposure in consequence of somebody's neglect, might not be very agreeable to encounter. I wish you could find out aud let us know who the delinquent is. Ist October. The Jury was shut up all last night to cousider their verdict, and this morning delivered it — "Murder, by person or persons unknown." Some hearsay evidence third or fourth band, about some Wanganui natives being mixed up in it, was adduced yesterday, but it was not conclusive. Your correspondent's remarks last week seem to bave operated beneficially on the Coroner,] who no sooner read them than he went to work j and finished up the business. lain told he is very anxious to know who your correspondent is ; perhaps being desirous of committiug him for contempt; though as his Court is now closed, I presume he must limit his operations in that line to "committing himself." I hear Dr Featherston is to be at Mr Fox's to day, and that tbe Defence Force is on their way out.