The Auckland Chronicle. Thursday, September 12, 1844.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 58, 12 September 1844, Page 2

The Auckland Chronicle. Thursday, September 12, 1844.

H. M. S. M Hazard," and the Govern* ment brig " Victoria," returned from the Bay of Islands on Friday, with His Excellency the Governor and suite together With the troops which accompanied them on leaving Auckland. The vessels left Auckland on Wednesday, the 21st of August, but did not arrive at the Bay oi Islands until the following Saturday evening. ; On the Monday following His Excellency landed at Russell, and called a Public Meeting, where he stated fully his intention of bringing Heke to a sense of his duty. On Wednesday, the 28th of August, H,M.S. "Hazard," Government brig, ** Victoria," the ship ** Sydney," and the ** Dolphin," (with stores,) proceeded up the Kere Kere river, where His Excellency expected to meet with Heke. On the vessels casting anchor, George Clarke, Esq., went on shore in order to have an interview with Heke to make arrange inents for meeting the Governor. The troops were told to be in readiness to land on the following* morning at four o'clock in order to escort his Excellency to] Heke's Pa, however, Mr. Clarke returned about 11 o'clock that night and informed His Excellency that he (Mr. Clarke,) had made arrangements with the friends of Heke to have a meeting at Waimate, (the residence of Bishop Selwyn), for the purpose of having an amicable arrangement. On the following morning the vessels set sail for Russell. His Excellency

the'.tJffv.er'nor, the Bishop, Col. Hultne, Mr. Clarke, &c. &c, proceeded in open boats to Kere Kere ; on landing the part) at once started for the Waimate, when, they found Heke«s friends were in attendance. His Excellency, through Sir. Clarke, the Protector of Aborigines, informed the natives of the cause of :leij visit, and demanded 10 muskets whirls they gave up; a long korero then took plae.e between the governor and the leading chiefs of the Waimate district; the governor explaining to the the natives the many advantages they derived by having Europeans settled amongst them ; the natives on the other hand complained that since ;he duties were levied they had i ot been able to dispose of their produce with advantage to themselves, as vessels would not come whilst the customs' duties we:e levied ; some of them also said " the governor ought to allow them to sell their land to whom, and at such price, as they pleased." Master .Hona Heke did not attend the meeting himself, but through his friends expressed his sorrow for what had taken place, and promised that his conduct should be better for the future The chiefs at the Waimate, as well as those at the Bay expressed a hope that His Excellency would open the port of Russell to all vessels, fiee of any charges or duties, to which His Excellency, with his usual wish to remove all stumbling-blocks, readily con seated, and at a Public Meeting held at the Bay of Islands, His Excellency declared that from and after the first day of September, 1844, there should be no obstacle to vessels of all nations visiting Russell, as A LL CUSTOMS' DUTIES WOULD BE ABOLISHED FROM THAT DAY J

His Excellency held another public meeting at Russell, on Monday week, at which he expressed his satisfaction at the amicable arrangements entered into with those powerful chiefs Rewa, Pomare, and Moka who promised His Excellency and the Europeans generally, every protection and assistance in case of any aggression on the part of the natives, which there is not much fear of and for this purpose His Excelledcy has appointed them as guardians over the natives. All disputes being arranged His Excellency ordered that some bags of Flour rice, sugar, &c, should be given to the natives, which they very gladly received and very soon demolished. On Wednesday week the Sydney, with the 160 men of the 99th Regiment, left Russell for New South Wales, and about two hours after the Hazard and the Victoria left for Auckland, where his Excellency landed at [9 o'clock on Friday morning, and with hia usual business habits, requested His Honor the Chief Justice,; the members of the Executive Council, together with W. Brown Esq., M. C, and S. M. D. Martin, Esq., M. C, to attend at Government house at twelve o'clock, to lay his views and plans before them. We decline making any remarks, or pointing out the very great injustice that would be done'to the merchants, dealers, labourers, but more particularly, the " dearmaories" themselves, in this district by doing away with the customs' at Russell and attempting to enforce them here, or in any other port in New until we see the official announcement in the Government Gazette.