ARRIVAL

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1990, 1 December 1863, Page 3

ARRIVAL

OF THE

"P H <E B E "

TOTAL DEFEAT OF THE REBELS AT

RANGARIRI.

FLIGHT OF THE MAORI KING,

THIRTYSEVES BRITISH KILLED NINETY.THREE WOUNDED.

HEAVY LOSS ON THE REBEL SIDE.

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-THREE

PRISONERS

PANAMA SERVICE ACCEPTED BY THE

I.C.R.M. COMPANY

Ma. DOMETTS SEAT OF GOVERNMENT RESOLUTIONS CARRIED.

[A portion' of the following appeared in an Independent Extra published on Saturday.]

The Phoebe arrived from Auckland on Saturday morning at 1 1.30 bringing the important news of the attack on Bangtriri, by which a crushing blow has been given to the rebels, accompanied, however, by a very seve*e loss to our owa forces.

Mr White of the Phoebe kindly supplied us with flies of Auckland papers, with which,

and with a Nelson Examiner Extra, furnished by his honor Mr Justice Johnston who was a passenger, we were able to issue a full Extra shortly after the vessels arrival, the extraordinary demand for which evinced the eagerness of the public to learn particulars of the very important news so unexpectedly to hand. The New Zealand Herald says " the InterColonial Royal Mail Steam Company have, we learn, taken up the Panama Route, and iatend at once to lay on a line of steamers to New JZTealand. They have already secured several suitable vessels, and are in treaty for others." The Assembly was to be prorogued about the 6th of December. Mr Mantel returned to Wellington in the Phoebe. The site in Cook's Strait for the seat of Government, was expected to be reserved to Commissioners appointed by three Australian Governors, who were to take evidence and give a final decision. The Parliamentary news is important. The resolution relative to changing the seat of Government had been carried, and led to a most serious parliamentary fracai. i&The Auckland members and the Auckland newspapers seem to have quite lost their temper and their judgment upon this question — roundly accuse the Southern members with having systematically treated Auckland unfairly, and appear to treat the subject as if of far greater importance than the loan, the war, or the suppression of the rebelliou.

The same correspondent also says : — Mr Fitzgerald has obtained leave to introduce a bill to appoint a " high commission " to enquire into the Waitara purchase, &c. Mr Weld naturally prefers to appeal to the House of Representatives, and had given notice of a motion for Wednesday last, '* That this House do forthwith resolve itself into a committee of the wnole House to take into consideration tbe despatches of his Excellency Sir George Grey on the Waitara question which have been laid hefore the House this session by command of His Excellency."

A Committee to consider the Representation of tbe Colony have reported in favor of increasing the number of Representatives to seventy by the addition of 13 more members for Otago, Southland, Canterbury, and Auckland. Mr Fitzgerald chose the Loan Bill as the subject for his great speech this session. He spoke for two hours, was very attentively listened to by a very crowded house, His speech was a master- piece so long as he confined it to finding fault with the present and last ministry ; hut uuiversally admitted to be a miserable failure wheu be came to say what be would do himself. His speech is fully reported in the Auckland papers, and evidently corrected by himself.