WAIROA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 973, 21 March 1871, Page 2

WAIROA.

[from a cokeespondknt.]

March 17. I send you notes of the inquest which took place on the body of Jones. [These were published in our last.] Jam glad to say we are seeing the last of our friends the Ngatiporous, who start this morning qn their excursion in quest of Te Kqoti. They certainly must have made up their minds for a spree when they came down, by the way they went in to the liquor department. For about two days it was a perpetual drink, the fighting was, as u>-ual, pretty brisk, but confined strictly among themselves. The Ngatikurupakiakas (although giving very tall talk before the arrival of Ropata) fortunately for themselves did npt put in an appearance till the liquor was finished.

There lias been an unfortunate dispute about Renata, which still remains in abeyance. It appears that when Ropata met the Uriweras, he made some sort of promise to them that any person giving themselves up would be pardoned, and instanced several cases to that effect. This statement was made in answer to a speech from the Uriwera chief that the Government were only misleading them, and that when they got all the tribes to give themselves up, they would punish, or do what they pleased with them. Ropata, in consequence of this, is very anxious to have Renata given up, as lie says that of course the Uriweras will immediately say that the Government is breaking faith with them by keeping him prisoner. Whether this dispute will be the means of breaking up the expedition I do not know, but I sincerely trust not, as I believe they have a reasonable chance now of, if not of taking Te Kooti, at least of inflicting such damage on him and his people, as to render him harmless for the future.

Captain Porter has certainly a wild lot to deal with, but if ever the right man was in the right place 1 think this is an instance. He has three great requisites, namely, great physical strength, combined with any amount of coolness and pluck. A very striking proof of the way he manages tliem toqk place the other day. One of the '* swells" (I won't mention names) being slightly in a state of beer ? tried the high hand over Captain Porter, and even went «o far as to make an attempt to strike him. Captain Porter drew back, and with a s f out walking stick he had in his hand administered such a dose of sugarcane that the dark swell was soon obliged to sing very small, and went off home as quiet as a lamb. Everything being taken into consideration theyhav e behaved themselves pretty well, but notwithstanding I am not sorry tp see their backs once more.