THE UREWERAS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 254, 19 April 1865, Page 2

THE UREWERAS.

- - {(Communicated.) Tlie TJreweras are a tribe inhabiting the ranges situated between Poverty Bay and the Bay of Plenty. It is from this tribe that the danger of invasion is to be feared by the Hawke’s Bay settlers. They are true children of the forest, and of the most savage and cruel disposition of any aboriginals at present living in this island. Ensconsed in a chain of impenetrable mountains, clothed with forest from base to summit, their wild country is entirely proof against any invading force. Among these natives the ancient barbarian manners and customs have been handed down from generation to generation till the present time. Thorough Kingites from the commencement of the land league, and all, without exception, at present firm believers in the atua ban, and bearing ’ the most inveterate enmity against the pakeha, they only want a slight success to at once raise.their banners of rebellion, and come down upon our northern frontier, carrying fire and murder to our very doors in Napier. Belated as some of the principal chiefs of this province are to the turbulent Ureweras, there is a continual interchange of information. At present there are some of them in our town—men who, having fought at Orakau, hath been defeated, the shame-of which is still burning with intense vigor.in their savage breasts, Bovenge for this defeat is openly discussed and planned at some not far distant time to be carried into execution. There are plenty of roads open to an invading force of these natives into the heart of this province, and whichsoever road they take it is through a country teeming with food ; and even though that food should be driven away before they commence their invasion, they can always fall back upon their native food of fern root, nikau, and berries. The writer has heard this invasion openly discussed in this province by travelling parties of these natives, and, moreover, their plans encouraged by the local resident natives whose visitors they were. It appears strange that oar Provincial Qovernaiant

should have been so blind at the interchange of presents, and the continual visits of these natives to those of this province; but when it is too late, something perhaps will be done or attempted. ■A coarse is open by which they may at once stop the. spread of actual rebellion and of heathenish idolatry. In the opinion of this writer it is simple enough. For instance: let a census of all the resident natives be taken, their names, tribes and ages,{place them upon a passport system, forbid tbe'interconrsfe'of -actual rebels With'Tlh'enl','arrest every stranger found travelling without .a pass .after a jgiyen warni.ng, and grant passes ,to those only who can be trusted, and have sufficient interest at stake to make them loyal. If they are found evading their pass, and having intercourse with their rebel brethren, try them by military court martial, and let not imprisonment be their punishment, but death. This sounds harsh, bat it is just, and is what eventually the colonists will be forced to do. Some of the very men who saw or assisted in poor Yolkner’s murder are at present in this province, boasting of their bloody deed. They go about as free men; nothing is said or done by the authorities, nor will be until they drive us colonists to desperation to take the reins of government .in our own hands. To think that Englishmen can bear, to be browbeaten and insulted by murderers, and these murderers, for interest sake, allowed to be at large, is preposterous. These things have; almost reached their climax. Certainly, Englishmen hate not the spirit they had of old, or they would not now be waiting in cowardly submission for the last straw to break the camel’s back. R. G. H. Carlyle-street.