AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 220, 30 January 1865, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

The East Coast Natives. —Wo learn from authority which wo have every reason to believe reliable, that Bishop Williams, of Waiapu, who has gone to attend a Synod at Poverty Bay, reports that the natives all along the East Coast, amongst whom he has passed on his journey, are in the most excited state in anticipation of an immediate outbreak. Even the Christian teachers and Bible readers have abandoned their religious teachings and comparatively civilised habits, and have resumed the old Maori costume of mats, and many of the old Maori customs, such as that of tattooing, which is becoming prevalent amongst the young men. Many of them profess themselves ardent devotees of the Pai Marire superstition, and all seem to be awaiting in anxious expectation the coming of some signal event which has been predicted by the soothsayers of the new religion. The xate Fire. —An inquiry into the origin of the late lire on Messrs. J. S. Macfarlane & Co.’s premises, Queen-street, was held at the Metropolitan Hotel, at noon, on Saturday, before Dr.' Philson, District Coroner. A jury of twelve was empanelled, and proceeded to view the scene of the fire, and inspect the building. Mr. Morriman attended to watch the evidence on behalf of the insurance companies. The agents of the several insurance companies were also in attendance. Tiie evidence of the members of the firm of J. S. Macfarlane & Co., their servants, and the watchman who discovered the fire, having been carefully gone through, the jury returned a verdict to the effect that they were unable to form any opinion as to whether the fire was accidental or otherwise, no evidence as to its origin having been laid before them. TAI7RANQA. (From the Correspondent of the Southern Cross.) Camp, Te Papa, 9th Jan. 1865. The excitement is still unabated regarding the intentions of the Pai Marire devotees. Large numbers of the more influential class of their peo-. pie have left for-Rangitoto on the Waikato, on a journey of pilgrimage to their great High Priest, Te Ua; who is said to be surrounded by portions from the different tribes in this island. If these people should return satisfied with the powers which this tohunga is said to possess, there will be no telling or foreseeing the consequences which may result from even a belief in the minds of these infatuated and deluded beings. I paid a visit to the vicinity of one of their encampments a couple of days ago, and witnessed a sight which I should fail if,l was to attempt to depict or describe.. My opinion is, from what I saw and heard, that there, is some demon spirit

working within them, that if something is not done, and that immediately, to prevail upon them to renounce their present belief, that death itself will pnt an end to their existence. I am led to this painful conclusion from the fact that their countenances depict extreme anguish of mind, so much so that all I met and conversed with, being persons to whom I was well known, had undergone such a change that I could scarce distinguish them.

There is now no holding out the hand as a token of friendship, which has always for the last generation been a proverbial trait in their character, also not coupled as formerly with the hearty salute of“Tenakoe,” ah no! their friendly salutations have been overruled by their outstretching the arms and with a bend of the bands, -saying “ Pai Marine, Pai Marine.” I was anxious to engage one of these once interesting natives in conversation, but, alas, it was all in vain, he observing, after much pressing that though only a fortnight a believer in this faith, he had nearly forgotten to speak his mother tongue, for it was incumbent upon all believers to observe a gibberish which had been introduced by these Waikato or Taranaki impostors. I prevailed upon him to repeat some of their prayers, which were so ridiculous 4ft their nature that I could not understand one word of what he was saying. They have a wooden god, and go dancing about it all day, and the greatest portion of the night; in fact, they are more like demons than men. Yesterday Mr. Clarke, accompanied by several of the returned chiefs, after a long consultation with Colonel Greer, commanding the district, left the camp for the Southern Ranges, for the purpose of delivering his Excellency’s message to the Pai Marire fanatics. Mr. Rice, also accompanied hy two of these returned chiefs, left camp at a much earlier hour than Mr. Clarke for the more western ranges, and for the same purpose, and it is to be hoped that those gentlemen will be the means of bringing these misled people to a knowledge of their present helpless condition, and if persisted in, their eventual ruin. January 10. Mr. Commissioner Clarke returned yesterday from the mountain ranges on a mission to the' Pai Mariris. He has, I rejoice to say, been successful in inducing these weak-minded people to return to their homes. It is to be hoped that the other infatuated Natives who have not as yet been visited, will at once return to enjoy those blessings which they were privileged with only a month ago, Mr. Clarke reports having received communications from Mr. Rice, who informs him of his success so far as he had seen them. The Natives are reported to be very much scattered on the mountains, which renders it very difficult to get near to them. In my next I will send you up the particulars of the reception which Mr. Clarke and his friend had met, which will no doubt be very interesting to your readers. January 20th, 1865. I regret much in having to report the unsettled state of minds of the Pai Marire of this district. In my last I informed you of the return of many of the Ngaiterangi’s to their different settlements; I feel now a very painful duty in having to say that though these people are enjoying dbe comforts and privileges of civilised life, still they are as far from being settled in their minds, still cleaving to their infatuated belief of the power and truth in the Pai Marire faith.

I regret this circumstance very much, and it gives me pain in having to record such a fact, particularly so after the manner in which I wrote you in my last. The settlement of the Mata Piki, which is situated on the other side of the Papa, has always, since hostilities commenced in Tauranga, been considered the most friendly and loyal of all the other settlements in Tauranga. These Natives all left for the Pai Marire’s encampment when the general flight took place, and it was not until the Chiefs Enoka, Ilohepa, and two or three others who were in town at the time returned, that they were induced at the instance of these chiefs and Mr Commissioner Clarke to return, and I have been informed within this last day or two upon the most undoubted authority that these returned Pai Marire’s are now sorry in having been prevailed upon to return. Regarding the real number of natives belonging to Tauranga who have returned, 1 do not consider that more than one-third of them have arrived, and very many of these have only returned to afford supplies to those of their friends whom they have left behind on the mountains. I name this fact, inasmuch as I am in possession of information which warrants me in stating it In my humble opinion, a dark cloud is hovering over the destinies of these once interesting people; nothing but an interposition of providence will save them from another bloody conflict which, if commenced, will eventually end in their total annihilation.