CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 20, 14 November 1861, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Handle’s Bay Times. Sin, —I beg you will allow me space to state what has transpired lately between the Natives and ourselves concerning the cattle forcibly taken by them from our stockyard. I went to see them last week about the cattle belonging to myself and my father. I called together three chiefs—Tareha, Renata, and Parakaiwaatu. I asked them what terms we could come to about the cattle, and they replied that by paying A 27 I might take them. I asked them what claim they had upon rac, and why they were keepingnine head of cattle that had been recently brought from Mr. W. Cooper's, belonging to me, making 2G head in all. I told them I would pay them A 27 in a month if they would give the cattle up ; which they agreed to take my note of hand for. After making this arrangement with the chiefs, two other natives stepped forward and said the cattle should not be given up till the money was paid down. They asked why I wanted to take away the cattle before paying the money, and I told them it was to save the milch cows from being ruined, and that I wanted to sell part of them in order to pay them their demand ; but they refused to give them up. The chiefs then told them that they would have nothing more to do with the cattle, as they had gone against their decision ; and they would give them no assistance whatever should any difficulties arise in consequence. The chiefs ordered them to take the cattle away from Tareha's pa, which they did, and are now milking them about 300 yards away from our stockyard. On Sunday last, the cattle found their way across the river towards home. Mr. Bousfield who was in conversation with myself and my father at the time, assisted us in trying to drive them into the stockyard, when fifteen natives crossed the river and prevented us from doing so. They were armed with long poles and pieces of wood, with which they struck violently at Mr. Bousfield and his horse ; but by the activity of himself and his horse he got clear of them, with only one blow on the arm. As he was riding away from them, several told him to look out for himself, as they would do him some injury. They took all the cattle back. This is how the case stands, and I have thought it my duty to let the authorities and the public know it. We are i n near every night we go to bed, and are without arms or succour should anything happen. Henry Shirley. November 11, ISGI.