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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 12, 19 September 1861, Page 2

To the Editor of the Jluiche's Eat/ Times, Sm, —You will oblige me by inserting in your next issue the enclosed copy of a letter addressed by me to the Resident Magistrate relative to the conduct of certain Natives ' named therein : although neither of the three Natives named in the letter are allowed to have anything of the chief in them, but are designated by the others “ common Maories,” it is evident that they are allowed to do mischief for all that. They state that they want to raise money for a. feast, as a token of respect to the recently deceased chief Moananui, whose relatives and friends ought to feel highly honored in partaking of a feast presided over by three such fellows. The cattle thus taken belong to seven white men. The Natives make no allowance for the trespass of their horses and cattle on the lands and crops of the whites ; they boast that “ Curling dare not grant a summons against them ; but that they can get them against the whites.” Whether the statement is true or not, there is every reason to believe that if the whites acted similarly they would soon be made acquainted with the law of the case. They anticipated a large revenue from their stockyard, and so they ought, if allowed to hunt stock into it, and make their own terms of release. Their stockyard, however, is not a public pound, but to remedy that evil it is erected within five miles of the Port of Napier, which is a military station, and the head-quarters of the Province of Hawke's Bay. You will oblige me by ti’ansmitting a copy of the issue in which this letter will be inserted to the Times newspaper, London ; and I shall feel thankful to its editor if he will insert it for the sake of New Zealand, in which he appears to take an interest. I remain, dear sir, Yours very truly, Johx Mac AR THY. Petane, Napier, Sept. 14, 1861. [copy.] Petane, Napier, ... Saturday, Sept. 14, Sir, — Your letter of yesterday to the Natives at Petane was delivered to them last „ night. They stated that you requested them to “ liberate the cattle at* a fair price.” There are three ringleaders amongst them,' namely. Walker, Utuku, and Paora Tula, the principal of which (Paora Tula) replied that “ half the cattle was what he considered a fair price, and, unless he was paid at that rate, he should take the cattle to Terewera, and, if summoned, that he should not appear.” The cattle were put into the stockyard early on Tuesday morning, the 10th instant, and, up to Thursday afternoon they had not received cither food or water, and two of the ringleaders objected then to their getting any, even from their owners, —in fact there is scarcely any fodder to be got that cattle would eat about the place at this time of the year, and it is doubtful if they will survive .the present ill usage. As an instance of

their inhumanity, none of those who put them in would give them food or water, although the stockyard is built at a landing place on the bank of the river. A bag of flour and 20s. worth of provisions, &c., were offered to them on my behalf, but they would not be accepted. I would have applied to, you when the occurrence took place, were I under the impression that I should obtain any redress; but in consequence of Mr. Torr not having received a farthing for the shooting of his cow by a native, I did not expect that you would have taken the matter up; but as you have done so, I had better let it rest with you, for I consider it wholly useless for me, or any other white man here, to arrange with them. I shall feel obliged if you will have the goodness to transmit the enclosed copy of this letter to the bon. the Colonial Secretary, for the consideration of His Excellency the Governor. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your very obedient servant, (Signed) John Macarthy.