BAY OE ISLANDS.

Auckland Times, Volume 2, Issue 92, 15 October 1844, Page 2

BAY OE ISLANDS.

By H. M. Ship North Star, and by the Dolphin we have fresh news from the Bay of Islands of a very interesting character. We have many details of personal violence, of plunder (even at midnight), and of insolent threatening towards our fellow countrymen. We hear also of many persons retiring from the Colony by the Shamrock, and of more who would do so, or come on here, if they could command the means. Mr. Williams, and other missionary ministers, who have hitherto held the most commanding influence over the natives, have now taken the alarm, while the Police Magistrate, denuded of Military Protection, declares hisina bility to vindicate the law, or pvni h aggression. We do not dwell* upon particulars, because we would earnestly abstain from saying anything that might increase the embarrassment of Captain Fitzroy, at the present mo- 1 ment—and —because there is or may be a chance of the concession of Free Trade in Land (following so quickly upon the opening of the Ports in the Colony), working favourably upon the refractory minds of all classes of either race.

H. M. Ship Hazard has been despatched to the Bay in consequence of these proceedings, with what instructions we cannot inform our readers. The Chief "Protector"(how we hatei the absurd name, while we most sincerely respect the man,) has gone in her, and we hope very faintly, that good may come of the movement,—but we deprecate most earnestly these childish demonstrations of power, for the encouragement of fresh aggression. Why are not Heki and some of his associates made sensible of the supremacy of our law. We speak not of punishment but example, which is or ought to be the objecr of that process, the example in Captain Fitzroy's demonstrations are in favor of forgiveness of crime, and consequent increase of agg: Captain Hobson permitted no bugbear to prevent the legal consequences of the- crimes of Maketu,—and though humanity would regret the necessityot such a measure, applied to an uninstructed or rather perverted mind »ike his, execution followed upon the heels of legal conviction. Was there anything dangerous, anything less\tl»an consolatory, consequent upon the proceedings ? We think not. We know not! The Aborigines acquiesced in the justice of the retribution, and respected the cool and deliberate certainty of our law. Are we advocating war ? Are we advocating the perpetration of cruelty and bloodshed ? On the contrary—we are using, we believe I the only argument to prevent both, and secure the empire of mutual res-

pect and peace. It will be an additional misfortune to the Colony, if the Hazard does not bring back Heki and, some other of his accomplices, to learn byproper experience, the justice of our tribunals, and to afford an example to others of the necessity of respecting them