THE ESCAPED PRISONERS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 210, 6 January 1865, Page 3

THE ESCAPED PRISONERS.

(From the Southern Cross's Correspondent.

Ararimu, Dec. 13. At length there is offered a fair prospect of the great problem being solved—How to dispose of the escaped Waikato prisoners P Readers of the Southern Cross are already cognizant of the' recent mission of Paul Tuhaere and Hemare to the runaways; but they may not be equally aware’ that his Excellency sent at the same time a missive to the Ngatiwhatuas, residing on the West Coast between Kaipara and the Manukau, asking permission for the rebels to pass through that district unquestioned and undisturbed, if they should so decide, to their homes on the Waikato. The letter of the Governor, unaccompanied by explanation as to how or when the visitors (hereditary enemies, be it remembered) were to be expected, and whether they were to bo armed or unarmed, of course caused some little excitement amongst the Ngatiwhatuas, who have ever been the staunchest adherents of the pakeha, which excitement was enhanced by the doubts of the Governor’s policy, and. the little reliance they placed upon his word. That has, however, subsided on the receipt of intelligence from Paul himself, which was yesterday (Monday) circulating through different villages Of the district. It is out of my power to give you either an exact transcript of the letter, or an authentic translation, but. the substantive matter you may depend upon. It was to this effect:—The Koperonui Waikatos would come in peace and amity to the pah of Apihai, and then settle down on land to be set apart for them, if the Governor would permit; -or go from there to Auckland, and surrender, if the possessors of the soil refused them an asylum. Now, Apihai and his people profess themselves willing to receive them on these terms, and to hold themselves bound for their good behaviour, as long as they remain on their land, and to give immediate notice ofltbeir departure, if at any time .they should be inclined to pureue their pertgriaations. At

the korero that took place on the" receipt- of this letter at Ropironui, it was well remarked by Wireinu te Whenua that the district would be for the rebels a prison much more secure than the Kawau, and so far removed from the European population as not to be a menace and a constant source of apprehension. Much talk, fro ■ and eon., and in which almost every point of doubt and difficulty connected with tin.project was mooted, resulted; but it was finally unanimously resolved to send messenger into town to further impress Paul with the desirability of the settlement of the escaped prisoners at the point indicated, and to support him in his application to his Excellency to that effect. The only arriere pense which -gave a tone of hesitation to their proceedings was the doubt a» to whether the Governor would keep his word, provided he pledged it, not to molest the wand-r----ers while under the protection of the chief, Apihai. Your corpi s.jondent, therefore, was asked to pledge himstiir. th%t the Governor would keep faith with them in the matter, and that having given his word hp Vquid iipt at a convenient time come with his soldiers and retake his former prisoners. Every assurance that could possibly be given was given them. -

So now if *ll the other villages agreed to adopt this course, we may consider the matter settled, always suppposing no one loving crooked ways or no one-idea-possessing individual at head-quarters pulls the wrong string. There need not be the least alarm amongst the European population, since-the VYaikatos will bo located nine or ten miles from the nearest house of a white man, and anfidst'a native population devoted to our inter ests, who will give a timely notice of any symptoms of even threatening of disturbance. If the hereditary enemies of the Waikatos, who at vuri at times have submitted to slaughter at their hands, amounting-almost to extermination, are willing to receive them' and give them such pledges of good faith as they- profess themselves ready to do, I think, and I believe you will cordially agree with me, that the .Government will be'much to blame if they refuse such.au offer; an offer that will prove a happy eonclusipn to the farce of the -l Kscaped Prisoners,”'which farce had neatly become a tragedy, and may yet so become if matters aie not more wisely conducted than has hitherto been the case. Apilmi will hold a great korero when the visitors arrive, supposing the proposal acceded to, to which he has specially invited your correspondent, when he will explain to them his promises on their behalf, and tell them, if they fed that they cannot live in peace witli the pakcha. to go and not to remain with him. You will in due course receive the news from me of the result of this talk.

Everything else here is quiet, and matters go on in their old wav.