Untitled

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 30, 23 January 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

Much feasting preceded the inarch of the troops —feasting among the Maoris—and speeches were made by native chiefs at the Waiuku and Kahuno-a gatherings, to which his Excellency replied. The result of the Kohunga meeting was the order for march ; and the natives greeted the pioneers of the 14th with smiles and exclamations of agreeable surprise, which soon changed into perplexity as they saw the main body, fully armed and equipped, march past on their road-making campaign. A circumstance we have been told, on reliable authority, in relation to one of these feasts illustrates the avaricious nature of the Maories. At Waiuku the puddings were remarked to be all but innocent of plums which the Maories love, although a supply had been forwarded to the natives by the colonial authorities before the feast -. and contrary to all expectation also the tea was short. An order for an additional nupply of congou was therefore given on a respectable store keeper, which was honored to the satisfaction of the Maori bearer ; but a few days alter the feast plums wore offered for sale by the Maories for _d. per lb., and the tea was sought to be disposed of in bulk at 2s. per lb., to the store-keeper to whom a much higher price bad been paid by the “ flour-and-sunar” executive. This reminds us of another anecdote we were told respecting this singular people. A very worthy man, whose life is devoted to doing good, was some time since proceedingon his journey, not many miles from the scene of the banquet* when he unhappily fell into a ravine, and getting jammed, he was unable to extricate himself. The only eye-witness of the accident was a .Maori, who having satisfied himself that the fallen Pakeha could not move without'assistance, inquired with stolid composure, in reply to (ho call for help, “ how much and his cupidity was satisfied before he would extend a hand to relieve a fellow man from an uncomfortable and perilous position. —Southern Cross, Jan. 7,

The “ Grace Darling” and the Natives at Kawhia.—The following particn'ars of the treatment received by the master of Hie cutter ' trace Darling from the natives at Kawhi a. has been furnished by us Captain (’on ins :—fhe Grace Darling left Taranaki on the 16th of December for Kawhia, for the purpose of procuring a cargo of wheat there from the natives. She arrived on the ISth, when a number of natives came on board the vessel, who appeared to be friendly disposed, and such as bad wheat agreed to sell it to the Captain. Two days afterwards a number of natives came again on board, and told the master that they had received a letter from Taranaki which informed them that the Grace Darling had been engaged, during the late war, in conveying wounded and dead natives from Waitara to New Plymouth, and in bringing back to Waitara munitions of war ; that while engaged in this service, a native chief was sent on board of her to be conveyed to New Plymouth from Waitara, who was harshly treated during the passage ; that the visit of the vessel to Kawhia was for no good purpose, the pretence of trading being used only to conceal her real object, which was that of a spy. Captain Cousins wont on shore to consult the missionary stationed there, but was informed by that gentleman that his prudent course would be to sail at once, for, if he did not do so, (lie natives would probably seize the vessel. Subsequently, the natives consented to allow the vessel to remain in the river until the wind was favourable to her leaving, but interdicted the Captain from making any purchases on shore for trade. Afterwards they expressed a willingness to let the vessel remain unmolested until they could hear something of her character from the Governor, or from Mr. Parris ; but, as this would have led to a long and unprofitable detention, prelered to leave, and came on to Nelson, 'the Grace Darling was not engaged in running between Waitara an 1 New Plymouth.during the war, having only recently been purchased our of the trade between Nelson and Wairau in which she had previously been engaged. No doubt the natives at Kawhia bad been duped by some persons or other but whether by Europeans or natives is not known, nor the object that led to it. The occurrence has entailed a severe loss on Captain Cousins, who is an industrious man and ha I just purchased the vessel for the purpose of trading with bet on the coast.—• Eefson Ex amine,', dan. I. The New Zealand D;fficti.tv. —The ’’Maoris were petted and pampered a< a wronged jv> inlo and allowed to play at having a king. The result has verified the prophecies of the colonists, who have been lately most unjustly charged be' numbers of the t hurch party with fostering the very movement they alone condemned. It has been asserted that they desire the extermination of the native race, than which nothing could he more opposite to their feelings and even self-interest. It is the colonist who would gladly throw down the barrier kept up by the clergy, and treat the Maori as a brother-subject of a glorious ( onstitution, and this is what the Protection Society so vehemently oppose. The Maori would then be absorbed in the flood of emigration ; his nation would become an historical roh’c bis la '.gunge a dead letter. The whole policy of keeping them a distinct people would be rendered vain, and the incalculable labour and expense the mls dona vies had been at, by translating the .Scriptures, unnecessary. So, according to the missionaries, the Maori must have separate laws, language, and rights.— Once a Week. The Revenue.—The total return of the Customs Revenue for the several ports of New Zealand, during the quarter ending 3f:th of September, 1861, is £66,91-1 16s Sd ; corresponding quarter in 1860, £ 15,780 10s Gd. Increase, £21,1 M 17s 2d Total value of imports for the same period of time, £586.118 ; corresponding quarter in 1860, £417.165. Increase, £165,h53. Total value of Exports for same time. £130,P00 ; corresponding quarter in 1860, £40,785. increase. £90,115. Number, tonnage, and crews of vessels cleared outwards for the same period of time, vessels 85, tonnage 29,933, crews 1858 ; corresponding quarter for 1860, vessels 77, tonnage 25,390, crews, 1201. Increase, vessels 8, tonnage, 4,523, crews 157.