AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 360, 16 April 1856, Page 4

AUCKLAND.

We may now appreciate the value of the Superintendent's warningl, in his opening address to the Council, against the coining" period of depression. It was an unpleasant truth to tf j!L and has subjected him to many unmerited attacks from those whose interest it i.s that knowledge of the actual state of things should be staved off to the last. But he had a duly to perform—to advise every man likely to be affected by the change to " put his house in order,'' without delay. Time has consequently been gained; and time, m this, is everything. The consequence is, that difficulties may be expected to pass away, with loss indeed, but, without, serious result, to the Province." An increased "■ tightness in the money market" lias been admitted, we believe, upon all sides. But it was assumed that this would be cured Ay the coming in of the crops. The disposal of our agricultural produce, in the neighbouring colonies, was to sec all to rights. And of this, the chief item is potatoes, now lying ready for export. But, by the last, accounts from Melbourne, potatoes there are now at only five pound ten per ton. Deducting- flight and risk of loss from this, how much are they worth in Auckland? We have consistently endeavoured to impress upon the public) that the general dependence upon agricultural produce for the advancement of the Province, must inevitably end, sooner or later, in disappointment;

hat the neighbouring colonies—large consumers for a while, on account of the sudden influx of population —would soon be capable of supplying themselves ; whilst we, on the other hand, appeared forgetful of the rapid stride in advance (so far at least as agricultural pursuits are concerned) that is being made by the native race. Owing to their mode of living, their numbers, their natural propensity to turning up the soil, and their unlimited supply of the richest land, it is hopeless endeavouring to compete with thsm, for cheapness, in the long run. Our attention should have been long since turned more carefully to stock. Tallow, hides, and wool, are certain exports, that can never fail us. To these let us add the Auckland staple—flax. So surely as we irrite, the cultivation of the Phormium tenax —so long and so often urged upon our settlers —will at last be treated as one of the most important elements of our future prosperity.— Southern Cross. THE ORIENTAL BANK. Our readers will remember the announcement we recently made, on the authority of one of our Wellington contemporaries, that the Directors of the Oriental Bank were about to take steps for opening- Branches of this well established bank in Auckland, as well as in that city. We, at all events, have a vivid recollection of the excitement and gratification that were caused throughout the district —and of the numberless inquiries that were made as to when we should have any more authentic information to afford on a subject which was rightly deemed of such vital importance to the future prosperity of this City and Province. Such further information we now are enabled to lay before the public. Among the passengers just, arrived by the " William Denny, "~ is C. J. F. Stuart, Esq., Inspector of the Oriental Rank. His visit is one of personal examination and investigation with respect to the capabilities of the Province for the efficient support of another banking establishment. * * *

Of the result, of such inquiry, we cannot permit ourselves to doubt—even though Mr. Stuart has arrived here so soon after the prophecy of " depression " in the opening address of the Superintendent.— with respect to which our opinion lias been so strongly echoed by a thoroughly impartial observer in the Sydney Empire. We will therefore only now say, that Mr. Stuart will have an opportunily of judging of the inherent])' healthy commercUi condition of Auckland, by the firmness with which it has stood up under that prophecy—a prophecy which is generally believed to have had its inspiration in the back-parlour •four only Banking establishment.

We trust that Mr. Stuart's visit, will not \ be unproductive of good to the City in other respects than in its enfranchisement from a local politico-monetary despotism. It is also proposed, as we said, to establish a branch of the same bank in Wellington ; and we think it not improbable that increased ' postal and commercial intercourse with the sister Province will be one of the early benefits accruing from the advent of the Oriental Bank. Still further, we tnut that a local movement for the establishment of steam communication with Melbourne, mny he. the consequence of the interviews which our merchants may have with Mr. Stuart; for witl) his enlarged knowledge of the various items which contribute to the commercial prosperity of a young country, he i'i-.nnot but fail to be struck with the fact that there is but one port, between which and Auckland there is steam communication, it is, indeed, high time that a movement was made in this direction. A golden opportunity was not long since sadly missed by us when the Hellespont steamer was in t»o market. And as if to rebuke us for our

apathy, by the same vessel which brings the Inspector cf'lhe Oriental Bank to this city, we have received a communication from a valued correspondent at Melbourne, urging this very point, both in connexion with the new postal arrangements now proposed by the Lords of the Treasury to the Australian Colonies, and ».h<j important opening thus made for extended commercial and social intercourse with Melbourne.— 3. Cross. THE MAORIES. Feud am-ongst the Natives. — The Kaipara district is at present the scene of much warlike preparation, between two native tribes and their respective allies. The one party is the Ngatiwhatu tribe, the chief of which is Paikea; the other the Parawhao, the chief of which is Tirarau. The former has been joined by the Hokianga natives, and those along the shore towards Cape Maria Van Diemen : the latter by the natives of Whangarei, Bay of Islands, Waimate, and Ahuahn. The scene of operations is a disputed territory on the Wairoa, in the Kaipara district, where war pahs have already been erected on both sides. Both parties are mustering their forces from all quarters —the Oraki natives, for instance, in our immediate vicinity, having left to join the tribe to which they belong—the Ngatiwhatu. When all collected, it is anticipated that each side will number 600 men, fully armed. Of the dispute which has given ris : to this feud, we do not know the exact nature, but it is connected, we believe, with the boundaries of their respective territories. It has existed for the last twelve months, and has been gradually incrensing in virulence, until it has arrived at a formal declaration of war, accompanied by extensive preparations to carry it on with vigour. Mr. Fenton, the Resident Magistrate at Kaipara, arrived in town a few days ago, with the object of bringing the state of '.natters more prominently before the notice of the government: and we are informed that his Excellency has taken steps to open a negotiation with the belligerent chiefs. We are not aware whe-

thrr these proceedings will operate injuriously on European interests, but. settlers in the vicinity represent the conduct of Tirarau as imperious and overbearing.— Southern Cross. Feb. 26.

Another Native Fkud.—A feud'of a very serious nature is now raging at Tunapah ire, Bay of Plenty. The contending parties are the Ngaitai. the chief of which is Puliki : and the Whanunapanui. the chief of which is Tiketikeiranga—the former numbering about 100 righting men. the latter 140. Both parties have erected war piths—the former at Tunapnhire. and the latter at Maiaenui. Two engagements have already taken place between these tribes, in the first of which 7 men of the Ngaitai and 3 of the Whanunapanui fell ; in the second the loss was much heavier, the latter having lost. 17, and the former 1. The feeling of deadly hostility had not lessened at the date of our communication, and no prosp-ct appeared of an amicable arrangement. The cause is said to be disputed ownership of land.—/A/rf, Fftb. 29.

lii our last issue but one, we had oefnsion to mention a cast* brought, before the Resident Magistrate's Court, by Air. Ohilman, to recover a. pair of oxen forcibly taken from bis land by the natives, in whieb judgment was "•ivon for the plaintiff. It will be remembered tbat the cattle had previously injured some crops belonging' to the natives, on unfenced yround. The dann^e ditl not; extend over more than one quarter of an acre, for which they demanded £10, and about which amount some diH'-rence occurred. They refused to submit the damage to the Resident Court for assessment, and made veprisal on the cattle, which they retained in spite of all remon-

strance. We regret to hear that the authorities declined to permit the judgment in thi.sj case to be enforced against the wrong doers, and have compromised the matter, by repaying them their excessive and unjust demand, in preference to asserting against them the Jaw they had denied and defied. It is notorious that a like course has been for years past adopted in this settlement in cases of the same character ; and the reason given heretofore was that, it was neither prudent nor possible to enforce the law against them, without some force to back the civil power. But surely it might be expected, with a well appointed garrison of 250 military, there is now sufficient strength to compel a few savages to observe and respect the laws upon which the security of the person and property of the settlers depend. And it may well be asked—lf not now, what probability can there beofeman-

cipation from this deplorable state of things ? How this humiliating practice has served to provoke and increase the lawlessness and cupidity of the natives, the frequency of the impositions practised on the settlers, sufficiently evidences ; and the time has arrived when the continuance of the system should be peremptorily and emphatically denounced as degrading British authority, and offering- a premium for extortio*,

outrage, and perjury. A short time since, by a;iike act of violence, a settler on Bell Block was defrauded of£2oforthe recovery of a horse said to have killed a coit, the Cc.rcase of which was nowhere to be found, the whole matter resting on Maori evidence. And since then a demand was made against another settler for the value of another foal said to have been killed in like manner :

but, in this case the carcase was found, and tie evidence -riven by the natives as to the injuries which they swore had occasioned

its dpath was satisfactorily disproved by one who had examined the aiimd. and by other evidence, and a verdict was found "for the defendant. The natives in this last case omitted to detain the mare, which ihey affiraied had killed the colt, or it is now pretty clear thur, notwithstanding the verdict.

they would have had their demand paid by the Government ; or. perforce, by their victimised owner for the recovery of his properfy. Be sure they will not make the satr.e mistake again. It cannot be supposed

that these men have anything1 like a proper apj r-ciation of the force and solemnity of an o ith ; you would not think yourself

justified in punishing them were they eonvic'e lof the grossest perjury ; and yet witli a knowledge of all tin*, and of their strong ! acquisitiveness and cupidity, their unconfirmed testimony is received in all pecuniary differences between them and the. settlers in a court where the proceedings are final. And as might be expected from such laxity, the woist p.irt of them seem intent upon driving a profitable and extensive trade on the facilities unwarily afforded them. The honi r of British rule and the respectability oft! c administ. ation of the laws cad luudiy fur a (ii>continuance of a practice disreputable t ) I'Oih. and compromising the sacredness of property as well as the security if the. settl- in. Mit, which may some day be suddenly jeopardised by violence arising out <?f such transactions. The occurrence, of the same proceedings is ooimvained of a S aloiiii" the coast south to Whnnipmii. Not a flock <>f sheep, or herd of cutt'e pass, but some are detained under dishonesr prerem-es. released only on the payment of the most e\irava<raut demands. Xor doe- the st-.ue of things in Auckland appear to he much better. W > have copied iivm the "^ n them Os- 'of the 8tl; ul\. a:i ace ••::i; o the steps taken by the Go\ eminent to brinir notorious oifeuders coiio^rn-d m tiu- recent attack upon Mr. Snfto:« in justice, and liie result, forms a melancholy commeu'-.v-'y on our thirty years' endeavour to claicUai.ise

and civilize the Maori, the success of which is so frequently lauded. It is to be presumed, that further steps will be taken in this matter, but of what character remains to be seen. — Taranald Herald.