THE RAGLAN EXODUS

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 119, 29 May 1863, Page 3

THE RAGLAN EXODUS

[From the Daily Southern Cross, May IS.]

We intimated to our readers several days ago, that the Government had despatched the Kate, to Eaglan, to enable as many of the settlers as chose to avail themselves of the opportunity, to leave the district. She arrived in the Manukau on Saturday night with no fewer than forty-four passengers, chiefly women and children. On the arrival of the Kate, Mr. Brewer, SubCollecter of Customs, at Onehunga, came into Auckland, and at once communicated the fact to the Hon. Header Wood ; and yesterday we understand, ho had an interview with his Honor the Superintendent relative to the steps to bo taken with regard to such of the immigrants as have not immediately been able to provide themselves with places of residence.. It should be borne in mind that most of the out-settlers, when they abandon their homes abandon at the same time their means of livelihood ; and this consideration should lead to a speedy recognition of the claims of these people to public sympathy. We do not point to any individual case, for indeed we do not know any, which would require special action ; but generally, we think, something should be done, either by the authorities or the public, to make their position tolerably comfortable. Having spent so very many thousands of pounds sterling in providing “ flour and sugar,” and a variety of costly toys for the Maories, surely something might be spared outofthc public chest towards assisting through their first pressing difficulties so many families of our race and language, who have been forced to abandon home and property for fear of a murderous onslaught by these same pampered natives ? In the one case it was a prodigal waste, which failed in its object of bribing the natives into good conduct; in the other, it would be the discharge of a Christian duty. But the Government may say justly that although they warned them of that danger, they left the line of action open to the settlers, and consequently should not compensate them in any way. This reasoning would bo unanswerable, and it is precisely what wo would expect Sir George Grey to sanction. But “ blood is thicker than water,” and we cannot think otherwise than that the authorities in Auckland, both of the General and Provincial Governments, will do what their own feelings tell them will be right after inquiring into the circumstances. We have the fact before us, that forty-four souls have come to Auckland from Eaglan for an asylum until the troubles of the country are ended ; and we likewise know that they were fully justified in coming. There are severalfamilies stilfremaining in Eaglan and the out-district, some of whom will doubtless leave, if the present state ot uncertainty continues ; others will take the risk and remain. Wo have a list of the families and residents of Eaglan who have not yet abandoned their properties, but this we do not think necessary to publish. In some cases necessity and not confidence compels them to remain.

The state of affairs in Raglan is anything but satisfactoay. The settlement is liable at any moment to attack and the cause of -worry is the cruel uncertainty which prevails from day to day. Major Macgregor has done all that a man could do with the means at his disposal. There are no firearms in the place. These he has applied for, and they will be supplied. A patrol has been established, and Major Macgregor takes Ins turn with the rest. Wo hope the settlers who remain will support him in his endeavours to put the place In a complete state of defence, and thus in all likelihood ensure immunity from attack. But there is no good reason for supposing the natives will respect the property in the Raglan settlement. There are several good stores and buildings and a great deal of property; and it has been known for months that the Maorics openly debated attacking Raglan and Kawhia in the event of war. How the recent news from Taranaki may dispose them remains to be seen, but there is reason to suppose it will not be favourably. They have seen Waitara surrendered bo-

cause, as they believe six soldiers have been murdered, and naturally conclude that it is more profitable to commit outrages than to live quietly. A runanga was bold this day week, at which William Naylor was asked by the Europeans what -he thought of the state of matters, and whether the settlers should go or stay ? He replied to the effect that he would neither tell them to go or stay; he would give them no advice, as if they remained by his advice and were attacked, he would be blamed ; aud if they went away on his word and no attack were made, he would likewise be blamed. Naylor was asked whether he would give the settlers timely notice in the event of the hostile natives coming down ?to which he replied—“ They are Maories F \ou know the Maories; you know the Maories.” What Naylor would not say, however, was communicated to a settler by Watene (who opposed the Waipa road), a chief of the Ngatimahanga tribe, who joined the King-move-ment. In the former war this chief intimated that the settlers had nothing to fear as they were not going to touch them ; now, he has sent notice that he could not protect them. To give an idea of the audacity of the disaffected natives, we will relate an incident which occured last luesday. A man named Erancis, and another, succeeded in rescuing two half-caste females from the Waipanatives, whohad been forcibly detainod by them. One of the females had been abducted from Mr. Vercoe’s at Mangarei last winter, and has ever since been kept by the natives. On the day in question Pini, (a man of low character among the Maories) with two companions, walked into Raglan and attempted to take the females back again with them. Major Macgregor had no instructions from the Government, and would not interfere as there was a chance of this matter being made a pretext for attacking the settlement; but Mr. Graham induced a chief and his natives to take the women out of the house, and put them on board the vessel. This made it a Maori quarrel and preserved the peace.

The building to bo used as a court-house and prison is nearly finished. If good timber were available at once it mightbe completed in a week and the want of suitable timber alone kept it unfinished so long. It is built of solid six-inch rimu lined inside and weather-boarded, and flanked by angles loopholded for firing, so that in five minutes it may be turned into a blockhouse.

Our readers will be able to judge from this narrative what are the prospects of the Raglan settlers who remain. There are no firearms in the district in the hands of white men. Some years ago the “ friendly ’’ natives were armed by the Government, but the pieces are generally out of order, and the stock of caps and powder expended shooting pigeons. Perhaps it is quite as well so, and we trust we shall never hear of a proposition made to entrust natives with firearms again. We may add parathetically here, that it is known the natives arc manufacturing cartridges in the Waikato.