LATEST NEWS FROM THE NORTH, j

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2177, 9 March 1865, Page 5

LATEST NEWS FROM THE NORTH, j

By the s.s. Lord Ashley, which aniveil on J Thursday, we have our usual files fiom Auck- j land and Napier to the 3rd and (ith i lists. Dr Knight, tlie auditor of public accounts, with Mrs Knight and family, and the Very Rev Bishop Pompallier, were passengers to Welliugton. We subjoin from the papers received a resume of the intelligence. AUCKLAND. HOSTILE RUMOURS. The Southern Cross of the 2nd inst publishes the following rumours, which do not, however, appear to be of much consequence :— It seems like old times to refer to " the Front" again as the scone of danger ; for we have been so accustomed to look upon Waikato as completely conquered, that a further outbreak has appealed, if uot impossible, highly improbable. Intelligence, however, has reached Aucklaud which we cannot shut our eai'3 to, and which, without wishing to create unnecessary alarm, we feel in duty bound to m&ke our readers acquainted with so far as it lies in our power. It is this, that William Thompson, liewi, and the King are in the neighborhood of our most advanced outposts, and, havo threatened to recommence hostilities in Waikato. Alexandra is named as the source from which this news comes, and it is reported that so much credence is given to it by tiie military authorities there and at Te Awamutu that preparations had been made to receive the enemy at any of the outposts or settlements likely to be attacked. We must say, however, that while the news has a serious aspect, it does not coincide with reports received from other quarters, in proof of wbich we have only to refer to those of a pacific nature from tbe Thames, and which will be found elsewhere. We may add, too, that communications have been very recently ieceived from William Thompson which go to disprove his hostile inlentious; but it is nevertheless quite possible and probable that this arch intriguer may be playing a double game, aud that, seeing that the General's attention is now fully occupied with the Wanganui rebels, he deems this an opportune moment to strike a blow or at least to create an important diversion. IMPORTANT NATIVE MEETING. The same journal gives an account of a native meetiug, held at Kauaeranga, at the mouth ofthe Waibo (Thames), the former mission station of the Rev Mr Laufear. About 1200 natives attended *, all the Thames aud Coromandel natives, and some fugitives of Ngatiporou, being present. The meeting commenced on the Bth .February, and lasted until the 15th, during which time there was, as usual on all native gatherings, a great deal of feasting. Duiing tbe entire proceedings the uatives conducted themselves in au orderly manner. The iufiu- I ential chiefs Kitabi le Tnnewha, Puteue Puhata, I Moauanui, Rawiri te Ua, Taraia, Ngakapa. Whauaunga, Haira Tipa, Pita Taukaka, Tamati te Otatu, and several others were present. At the serious part of the business a line was drawn dividing those who were for peace from those who were for war. All the natives, with the exception of four, remained ou the peace side ; the lour who stopped acioss the line qualified their declaration of war in this way: They said that so long as W. Thompson remained at peace they would remain quiet, but that as soon as Thompson left for the war they would follow bim. The resolution of the natives was to this effect, that on uo account would tbey leave their own district to join in the war against the Europeans. If the troops came into their district, aud attacked them they would fight ; but not otherwise. One poiut of some importance gained was the open and abject submission of our old acquaintance Taraia, " the last of the cannibals," who has given more trouble and anxiety to the authorities duiing this crisis than any othei chief in the Thames district. Taraia laid himself at full length on the ground before the Civil Commissioner, in token of submission. The influential chief Ngakapa Whauaunga, who led the rebellious portion ot the Thames natives, expressed his determination to abide by the law in the future. He handed over to Mr Mackay the dogskin mat scut by Wi Tako to William Thompson as a robe for the Maori King. This dogskin mat played a very important part in the election of Potatau tbe Fust; and it is said, and we believe with truth, that it was fringed with foreign fur, supplied by a gentleman who bas held the highest Executive office in tbe province of Wellington for years past. The mat is vow without the fur, having passed through several hands befoie being laid at the feet of the Civil Commissioner, in token of its possessor's submission to the Queen. W. Thompson presented tbe mat from Wi Tako to the King elect, who gave it to Witinei Taiporutu, who was killed duiing the first Tarauaki war, we believe in the assault on No 4 redoubt, Wetini leading tbe Waikatos on that occasion. On the death of Wetini, the mat reverted to Ngakapa Whauaunga, who, on the brcakiug out of the war in Waikato, joined tbe rebels to avenge bis kinsman's death. Ngaknpa was some time ago a decided war advocate, aud openly expressed himself that, as soou as war began in the country, he would join in the fighting. He now says that he has had quite enough of it ; that he has lost his land in Waikato, and is content that this should be so; but that he will not bring war into his own district. Ngakapa is for peace, therefore, because he finds war a losing game, and this is perhaps, the best guarantee we could have of bis loyally. About fifty of the Pai Marire professors were present, and seemed rather uncomfoi table at first. It did uot appear clearly what they wanted, but Mr Mackay told tbem that he had nothing whatever to do with their religion oi their souls, so long as tbey conducted themselves properly. He explained to them that there were two laws, — the law of God and tbe law o! man ; and his duty was to see that they did nol transgress the latter. They might hold wbal religious notion they preferred, so long as they did not break the law ; and on matters of faith tbey would be talked to by missionaries or othei ministers of re'igion. After some discussion ii was resolved by the fanatics that they woult practise their parirau karakia (wing religion) in peace in their own district, and thut they woulc not leave for Wanganui to join the fanatics ir that locality. Mr Muckay put it plainly tf them, that if any transgressed tbe law, he woulc bave tbe offender arrested, tried, and punished Tbe natives agreed to allow v gold prospect ing party of Europeans to go through thi Thames district ; and then, should the pros pectors be satisfied ol there being a payable gold-field, they will make terms with the Go vernment for working it. Oa the whole, this native news is impoitan and assuring. There were about one-third o the entire of the Thames natives engaged ii the Waikato and Tauranga campaign ; and al of those, or nearly all, who survive, have sur rendered. From the results stated we shouli soy that Mr Mackay deserves the approbatioi of the authorities for his successful dealiug with the natives. DISCOVERY OF GOLD AT RAGLAN. Tbe Southern Cross of the 2nd inst., says :— *' Gold has been discovered in the district l Raglan, and under such favorable circutn stances ns to cause a claim to be made for tin reward offered by the Provincial Governmeni Our authority for tbis is Mr R. Todd, distrie surveyor, Raglan ; who under dato February 1( makes a formal report of tbe discovery to hi Honor tho Superintendent, and, on behalf (

the discoverer, a native, requests information as to whether a reward will be paid. Mr Todd, it appears, wrote in the first place to the Colonial Secretary, forwarding a specimen of the gold-, and he now writes lo the Superintendent in such terms as to lead to the belief that be is fully convinced of the value of the discovery. Tt would appear, however, that the old appropriation as a reward for the discovery of gold has lapsed, and that, therefore, no eh-iin can be mado successfully for it. His Honor the Superintendent, however, -has informed Mr Todd that if tbe discovery is a genuine one, be will endeavor to secure the payment of a portion of the reward offered, and he invites that gentleman to furnish bim with further particulars ou tbe subject." REINFORCEMENTS FOR WANGANUI. H.M. s.s. Brisk sailed yesterday with further reinforcements for Wanganui. She hauled alongside the wharf at 7 a.m. aud at 8 o'clock five companies of the 2nd battalion 14th Ragiment marched down tbe wharf, and embarked. I About 200 ofthe men had come in from Ouhuliu that morning, and the remainder had been stationed in the Albert Barracks. Tlie only company of the 14th Regiment left in barracks marched lo Otabuhu, to lake the place of those who have gone to Wanganui. The total number who embarked was 31/3 rank and file, 4 subalterns, 2 captains, 2 staff officers, and 9 sergeants. The following are the officer's names: — Staff: Lieutenant-antl-Adjutant Butler, Dr Carte ; Colonel Trevor, Captains Vivian and Bryce. Lieutenant Keogb, Lieutenant Swauson, aud Ensigns Churcbwaid and Boyes. THE CENSUS. We hove been favored by Mr R. B. Lusk, the Enumerator for the Province of Auckland, with the results of the last census, taken on the 2ud December, 1864, from which it appeals that, exclusive of the military, both Imperial and,colonial, and their families, the total population of the province on the above date was 37008 souls, of whom 15,357 were females. The number of acres feuced was 128,705. There were under cultivation 87,147 acres of whicb there were in wheat 856, oats 3,394, barley 154, maize 754, potatoes 3,458, ie garden or orchard 1,855, in sown grasses 75,680, and in other crops 995. Of live stock the province contaiued — 7,233 horses, 111 mules and asses, 42 120 cattle, 73145 sbeep, 3,273 gouts, 12,936 pigs, and 101,564 poultry. The numbers of military settieis and their families in the province of Auckland were, males, 4.035 ; females, 1,089, — total, 5,124, making the total population of the province when the census was taken — ma1e5,25,686; females, 16,44.6,— t0ta1, 42,132. — Southern Cross, 2nd inst. COMPENSATION TO SETTLERS. Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M., has been appointed n commissioner to iuquire into the claims of settlers for compensation for losses sustained during the rebellion in the Province of Auckland, and we understand that a court will be immediately opened for that purpose.— Ibid, 2ud inst. CIU^ :.X • - [|ml