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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 114, 11 May 1863, Page 2

By the Lord Ashley, which arrived on Saturday from Auckland, we learn that, although no blow had yet been struck at Tar-

anaki, the aspect of affairs generally both there and in the Waikato country was very ominous, and that hostilities might commence at any moment. Our contemporary in his issue of Saturday, stated that “nothing seems to have been known of the rumoured departure of a war party from Waikato but the following extracts will prove to the contrary. From the Southern Cross Monthly Summary, for April, 1863. Last month we brought down our summary of events to the 6th of April, at which point we are now to take up the narrative. The troops were then about to take possession of the Tataraimaka block, which has since been done, without any hostile demonstration being attempted by the natives. But it by no means follows that the natives approved of the occupation. The latest intelligence ’we have from Taranaki is contained in “Our Own Correspondent’s” letter, under date 21st April, which appears in another column, and which should be read by all who wish to understand the true state of affairs. When his Excellency returned to New Plymouth, after taking possession of the block, he is reported to have expressed himself as satisfied; but a circumstance occurred since then which is of a very significant character. We give it in the words of our correspondent:— “I told you that the Taranakis threatened to take it as a declaration of war, if any attempt was made at mending the road which runs through their land, connecting Tataraimaka with Omata, or at putting a new bridge over the Tapuae. They have now repeated their warning a little more plainly. The crossing over the latter stream is bad, now that the bridge is gone, and -will be much worse as the winter comes on, and the troops therefore had been improving it a little by paring down the banks ; they had also collected a quantity of stones for macadamising the approaches to it. On Sunday night a party of thirty natives, headed I am told, by Pariuga Kingi, came up and quietly threw the whole of the stones back into the river. Maories are not very fond of practical jokes —pulling off knockers and unhinging gates is not much in their line, especially just now, and this thing requires another and more serious interpretation. Apart from the political bearing of it, if the troops at Tataraimaka are to be kept there and supplied throughout the winter, either the road will have to be mended, or some new system will have to be devised, and communication by sea (if we are reduced to that) is not very certain at this time of year on an open coast.” The mail steamship Airedale, bringing this news, arrived in the Manukau on the 23rd, and among her passengers were the Lieutenant General Commanding, and the Hon. the Native Minister. We believe it was not General Cameron’s intention to return to Taranaki when he left New Plymouth, but the intelligence from Waikato which was received in Auckland about the time of his arrival, induced him to return on the 25th, by the same vessel. The news was substantially this —that a large tana (war party) had left Waikato for Taranaki, headed by Bewi and the notorious Wiremu Kingi; that the magistrates and Europeans had received a warning to come into Auckland in time; and that the puppet King of the New Zealanders was powerless as a child for good. The Native Minister, Hon. Dillon Bell; Mr. Gorst, the expelled magistrate; and Mr. Fenton likewise took passage in the Airedale, for Taranaki, where his Excellency the Governor still remains. Subsequent intelligence confirms the worst features of the Waikato nows. Bewi and Kingi have returned to the Waikato, where they are actively engaged in organising armed opposition to law and order. Their followers are gone to the south, to the number of several hundreds —some say 200, others 300, and others again state that Bewi started at the head of 500. We do not, therefore, know the exact numbers, but our information leads us to conclude that 300 is about the truth. The native educational and industrial establishment at Te Awamutu has been broken up ; and the European women and children have already conic to town. The missionaries most likely will come in: in fact, it is only a question of events, as news may come any moment of an outbreak at Taranaki, when it would not be safe to remain unprotected among the Waikatos. The position of his Excellency is one of great difficulty at this moment; and we are sure he has the sympathy of every rightminded colonist, whatever may be the private opinion regarding the wisdom of the policy upon which he has acted. The natives are in a state of unbridled anarchy. There is no controlling power to check them; and such being the case one can readily perceive the difficulties that surround the movement

for reinstating the Taranaki settlers on their former holdings. The professions of friendship which Thompson and some other chiefs make are of little use: and we see no probable end to the present state of things unless British law and authority are established throughout the island, or until the natives shall have ceased to exercise any political influence owing to their natural decrease. Perhaps an extract from the last number of the Maori Messenger , a Government paper, will not be read without thought by those who wish to understand the bearings of native affairs. We quote from the publication of the 20th instant:—

“The intelligence from Waikato is calculated to depress the minds of all who are interested in the well being of the native race. It was supposed that Matutaera, the principal chief of the Waikato, possessed sufficient influence and authority, to suppress anarchy and outrage; but it would seem, that he has no power to deter his people from committing open violence, nor power to punish them. In vain has Matutaera issued a declaration commanding that all offenders shall be brought to justice—in vain has he stereotyped the motto of his late father Potatau TeWherowhere, ‘Pieligiou Law, Love,’ —the people regard him not, nor do they give heed to the voice of the Eunangas summoned at Ngaruawhia to devise plans for the peaceful solution of Maori difficulties.”