WANGANUI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 53, 3 July 1862, Page 3

WANGANUI.

fFrom a Correspondent.) For several weeks past, considerable excitement has prevailed amongst the King natives in this district, in consequence of the apprehension of two of their number for theft from European settlers. The cases were brought for trial before the Resident Magistrate's Court here, and the individuals severally were sentenced for a given period to hard labour on the public roads. This magisterial decision was rejected by the chiefs of the tribes to which the natives belonged, and a demand was at once made for release of the prisoners to the King's authority, to be again tried before a select Court of his illustrious highness Potatau 11. order of J.P.’s. 01 course this demand was at once negatived by our E.M. here, and a written reply was at once transmitted to the heads of the "tribes stating that until the expiry of the term of imprisonment, the prisoners could not be given up. A puhapuka (letter) was received Irom the Natives a few days since, again demanding the unconditional release of the prisoners to the Kings Authority, capped with the additional item of intelligence, that, unless such was immediately complied with, a deputation should be sent to carry the prisoners by force. Since this threat was made the native prisoners have not been allowed to accompany the hard-labor gang of prisoners in their daily routine. For their better security, also, (our prison being but a fragile wooden building) the Military Authorities have placed a portion of their Jail accommodation in the Garrison Stockade, at the liberty of the Civil Authorities, to which, accordingly, the native prisoners have been removed. Our peace progress goes on apace as heretofore. A deputation of natives who arrived here about three weeks ago from the South, en route for Ngatiruanui, for the purpose of negoeiating for the re-openiim' the overland communication between Taranaki and this place, have again returned with the intelligence that the road shall only be used by his Majesty's subjects, and that any European found trespassing will be shot! This is cool enough ! Sic transit gloria mundi ! So much for our Wanganui affairs. Vigil. 21st June, 18G2.