ARRIVAL OF COBB'S COACH FROM WANGANUI AND THE WEST COAST.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2433, 27 October 1866, Page 5

ARRIVAL OF COBB'S COACH FROM WANGANUI AND THE WEST COAST.

Coßtf'a doAC'it arrived in Wellington last night at 7 o'clock, bringing Wanganui papers to the 24th mat. The rivers on the coast were heavily flooded by recent rains, but in consequence of extra coaches having been placed on each side, Cobb & Co. contrived to reach town and deliver the mails in time last night. The papers contain no further intelligence of the recent fightingnear Keteramai, aud the Chronicle of Wednesday, published a day after the steamed Wanganui had left for Nelson, does not mention Captain McDonnell's death: It will be remembered that the Advertiser of yesterday stated that he was dead on the authority of a telegram from Nelson. We trust that the telegram was false, and have reason to think so from the fact that nothing has been received to show that such news had reached Wanganui before the steamer left for Nelson. The Times of Tuesday, the 23rd inst., three days later than our previous advices, says : — . ! Major McDonnell met his Excellency the Governor at Patea on Saturday last, and they both proceeded that evening to Ketemarai. It is doubtful whether Capt. M'Donnell will ever again be fit for active service, certainly not during the present campaign. In Captain M'Donnell and Captain Boss the force has — at least for some time — lost the services of two of its best officers. Major Brassey proceeded to Patea, overland, on Sunday last, and we shall not be surprised to hear of him taking the place of one of those officers, at least during the Governor's campaign. We call this " the Governor's campaign," because we believe that he left Patea on Saturday night with the full determination of putting an end to the rebellion injthose districts by carrying out a short, sharp, and decisive campaign against the rebels. Very few of our readers will think as we do upon the subject, but we can't help that. Sir George Grey is now in possession of the news from the East Coast. On his arrival at Patea he found that the rebels at Ketemarai were in force, and, instead of that submission which was tendered some time ago, they had determined to fight it out. This places his Excellency in a position from which there is no retreating. We do believe that in such an emergency, and with the recent occurrences at Hawke's Bay before him, he will not flinch from the performance of a duty which he owes to himself and the colony. We are in hourly expectation of a despatch, and until its arrival refrain from further speculation. The Chronicle of the 24th inst. says : — "The s.s. Ahuriri is expected from northern ports this evening or to-mor-row morning, and will leave for Wellington soon after arrival." The s.s. Wanganui sailed yesterday eveuing on an excusion trip to Nelson ; at which place, during the stay of the passengers, the steamer will undergo a thorough overhaul. The weather, when the Wanganui started, was beautifully serene, and has continued so since, thus affording the excursionists everything that might be desired for enjoying the trip to Nelson via the Erench Pass. The excursionists numbered fifteen.