RAGLAN.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 130, 10 July 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

RAGLAN.

CTromltbe Correspondent of the Daily Southern Crow.] The Ngatimaniapoto having asked for Raglan, and Governor Grey, the sole authority in native matters, having done everything he could to take settlers away and nothiug whatever to encourage them to stop ’ and further, the said tribe has been wroth that that unmitigated ruffian Aporo has been apprehended in Auckland for house-breaking at Otawhao, which lies within their “ dominions,” have determined to attack Auckland. They say they will write three letters, each being a repetition of the demand “ Homai Aporo ” —“Give up Aporo,” and unless their demand is complied with, they will march upon Auckland. Of course this is bounce. The natives here, when they heard of Aporo’s apprehension, said that four Ngatimaniapoto’s had gone to Auckland with pigs to invite or provoke the Government to apprehend them ; but as we heard nothing of this ruse till it was all over, I can only set it down as one of those numerous ingenious devices by which Maoris try to account for everything to set their friends in a favorable light. The word Aporo means “ Apple,” so perhaps we have returned to the classic times of barbarism, and are on the eve of a war which will end only in the destruction of Ngaruawahia, and the extermination or expatriation of the Maori race. If so it is to be hoped that our Homer will be some more trustworthy historian than either the native office or the New-Zealander can supply, for it wants- only the touch of your contemporary’s magician wand to convert truth into a lie. It is, no doubt, wholly owing to the Fenton-lie tole by “A Waitetuna Settler” about eighteen months ago, that Governor Grey has failed to “ obtain the confidence of the natives,” and that he is now obliged to give up this troublesome settlement to the tender mercies of the wicked. As for the periodical snails in which the New-Zealander newspaper indulges at your Waipa and Raglan correspondents (the last snarl within a fortnight,) these manifestations of editorial discomfort can only be attributed to a disordered state of the digestive organs. It might have been expected that since their medical man gave up politics, he should have had more leisure time to spend in his laboratory.

Samuel Ngarori, a respectable settler from Whatawha, was here last week, and said that he had been exerting himself to convince the Upper Waipa (Ngatimaniapoto) natives of their folly in contending with the Governor, and that no tribe (citing India and elsewhere) had ever gained anything by opposing British power. He said they were “very bad” (kanui kino), and were determined to have an attack on Auckland, unless their man Aporo were given up. Truly, if these natives are so farjErom the centre that they cannot be governed, it might be well to issue a proclamation, forfeiting the lauds of all tribes guilty of any open rebellion or riot. Such a step could do no harm,, even if the proclamation remained a dead letter, but it would probably deter some who might be wavering from joining in an insurgent movement ; for many, many, Maoris are as wholesomely convinced as is the aforesaid Samuel of the power of the British nation. Samuel tells us, also, that William Thompson is busy on every opportunity trying to persuade the disaffected Maoris into a better state of mind, but they treat both him and his arguments with marked indignity, which, being more Maori, will not bear to be detailed to ears polite. Although the Government continues to supply ns with a means of weeding ourselves out of our farms, secured to us by Crown Grants of little value in the present aspect of affairs, the Executive have as yet given us no positive advice whereby we may smell any necessity for playing our last card; we shall keep Mr. Header Wood’s “ safe card” to the last, and not use it so long as we can do without abandoning the settlement. Of course, the police case which took place at the Auckland Court-house this day week, affected not merely the personal liberty of Aporo himself, but the peace and quietness and security of all Auckland province south of the capital—the settlement of Raglan among other places ; hut we are now so dwindled away as to be scarcely worthy of attack. During the last three weeks our colonist population has been reduced from 162 to about 126, about forty having left, and four, who had been some months absent, having returned home to assist in “ maintaining Raglan as a European settlement.” * * * *

The Ngatimahanga Lave been clamoring for office, as a police guard upon this position. They have asked for rifles to keep in their homes, but Honi te Oni (John Jones) of Kawhia, a Government Assessor who happened io be over here, has told them that they

must leave all the guns in the Magistrate’s hands here, and only have them when they are called upon to use them in Government business, just, in fact after the manner of any Militia force. It is high time that some account or muster were called for of the firearms and ammunition so injudiciously supplied to the Ngatimahanga and their friends about three years ago. lam able to state that some of those very pieces with the crown upon them, were used by hostile natives at Waitara against the Queen’s loyal subjects. Should this fact come under the eye of his Honor, Donald M’Lean, I hope his peace of mind may not be ■wholly destroyed, as he has hone a very great many good things, and no outsider can tell who is responsible for either giving or yielding to irresponsible of responsible advice. If it is really determined upon to embody a force here of “ friendly” natives, by all means let them not be paid for idleness, from which mischief is sure to arise, but let them be employed in public works, such as keeping the newly-made road in order, and be ready wffien called upon to take up arms in defence of the British occupation of New Zealand.