WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 504, 2 September 1857, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

By the Cossipore, which left Wellington on the 29th, we have Wellington papers to the 26th ultimo. The Cheetah had arrived from Sydney on the 24th, having news from Sydney to the 7th August. We take from the columns of the ■Wellington papers the news from Australia and the New Zealand Provinces which will be found elsewhere. The following is the news from Wellington. The Wonga Wonga.—A report has been circulated in town since Sunday evening, of the .stranding of the Wonga Wonga at Ahuriri. The report which was brought by the Clara from Porangahau, has, proved, we are happy to say, only partially correct. Captain Scott, of the Shepherdess, who arrived in harbour yesterday afternoon, having left Ahuriri on the 23rd, informs us that the steamer got on shore in going out of Port Napier on her way to Auckland, and remained in that position during several days. After everything had been discharged to lighten her, she floated off with little or no damage, and left Auckland with a cargo of sheep on the 11th instant. Mr. McLean went passenger in her, but intends, we believe, returning to ■ Ahuriri with the "steamer on her downward tyi^.—lndependent, Aug. 26. The theatres have been very^ meagrely attended in consequence of the continuous drenching rains, and the awful muddy state of the beach. Churches, especially in the evenings, suffer from the same causes. One mustered a congregation, last Sunnay evening of IJ, viz., an old woman and a child. The clergyman, who takes all these things with the utmost sangfroid, cut down his sermon at once to suit his hearers, and in five minutes the assemblage were wading their way home to their respective places of j abode.— Spectator, Augl 26. The schooner Emerald sailed yesterday, crowded with passengers for the Nelson Dig • j gings, and the Maria Elizabeth has sailed today with the like cargo for the same place. A few weeks will determine .the likelihood of these diggings affording profitable employment for a large population-— lbid. The following account is given by a correspondent of the ' Wellington Independent ' of a ■quarrel among the Maories at Ahuriri:—Clive, August 18, 1857.—1 am sorry to have to announce to you that actual hostilities have this day commenced,' between Hapuka, and Moananui and the confederate chiefs. I have just returned from the scene of action (8 o'clock Tuesday evening), arid am about to start for Port Napier, for Dr. Hitcheris, the natives having consented, at the request of Mr. Joseph Rhodes, to' a truce for one day (to-morrow), to attend to the wounded and bury the dead. I heard the first shot fired this morning, at my house, some three miles from the field, which the natives call PukQe Plains, being that portion of the" flat between the large bush and the Ngararuru river, where the river approaches nearest to the bush. The parties met at a post j some half way between the contending parties, ! Hapuka's people being camped on the open plain near the bank of the river, and the other party nearly opposite, at the edge of the edge of the bush, in a strong stockade they have recently erected. In the course of half an hour I was on the j ground, and approached "as near as prudence would allow, arid eventually made my way into Moananui's Stockade, where I found that the ! first volley iri the morning, when the men were in a comparatively compact mass, had done most of the mischief likely to ensue from the desultory style of firing which they were then carrying on and continued to do so during the remainder of the day. There were about ten men wounded and two dead on Moananui's side, at this time, 10 o'clock in the morning, and I subsequently learned that most of the damage on the other side occurred at the first volley, which was a very close one. At 4 o'clock, p.m., a. white flag appeared advancing from the Hapukas camp, and the firing immediately ceased on both sides, the concealed warriors on either side sprang out of their hiding places among the fern, in some case's, iri very startling proximity to each other, to their mutual surprise, and quietly shouldered arm's, arid marched away to their respective rilain bodies, carrying their dead and wounded with them. As far as I could see myself there were five dead and four mortally wounded, six seriously and 15 slightly wounded, making 30 hors'de combat in all. Mr. Rhodes took advantage of this flag of truce for gathering their wounded, to urge upon both parties the necessity of ceasing firing for at least a day, ii they wished an English doctor to visit their wounded, many of whom must have perished without such assistance. The names of the dead and wounded of Hapuka's I had not time to stop and learn, but will further inform you to-morrow if the Shepherdess has not sailed. One chief of Hapuka's who is badly wounded is Te "Waku, of Te Aute, the Mission Station, and the two men I saw buried of Moananui's wereTe Hira, a very tall, powerful, good natured fellow, and Nihi a native doctor. Eenata shot through the wrist, arid the other names I did pt stop to learn, the natives making such an incessant noise with their war dance, in good earnest, that they' frightened my horse into fits and he broke away from me. So I borrowed ■another from the natives arid started away for the doctor, much to their satisfaction and mine. Mr. McLean has gone to Auckland in the steamer, some few days ago, and Mr.'Cooper is away somewhere in the interior, as was also Mr. Williams. This latter gentleman and Father Reg&ier have been indefatigable in their endeavours to preserve peace for some weeks past. Some fortnight ago, while Mr. McLean was still here, the natives were very nearly coming

to blows, and I believe would have done so on one ,'particular occasion, had not he and Mr. Cooper ridden in between the contending tribes and got them to put it off for a few days. Just before Mr. McLean went away however, the contending chiefs met and rubbed noses, so that no doubt Mr. McLean will report in Auckland that all is right here and no- fear of any outbreak—at least the public impression is such. There has been a large flagstaff set up for some months past, whereon is a witten notice by the confederates, warning Hapuka's party not to cut wood in the big bush. This morning it appears that Hapuka despatched a party to cut wood in the said bush, and the confederates fired upon them, so that Moananui's party have fired the first shot, contrary to expectation, and there is no knowing where it will end. A very generally signed Memorial to the General Governmentwas sent some 12 months ago last April, warning them that the natives were in a very disturbed state here at that time, and asking for protection for the Europeans. There may be no immediate danger from them, but if a number of strange turbulent natives arrive here from other parts, as at present is talked about, who shall answer for their good behaviour towards the whites ? P.S.—August 20th.—I wrote you particulars of the battle here on the 18th, per favour of Capt. Scott, and was on the ground early yesterday. Dr. Hitchirigs was there also, and I find very little further information to add, save that three of the mortally wounded died during the night, and one cannot live another night over, so that the list now stands as under:-— Moananui's Side.—Dead: Paora Temuri, Haira Waiwairoa, and Naihi. Mortally wounded : Hohaia. Wounded: Eneke Raniera, Renutu Kawepo; Tiopera, Potatu, Hotene, and three others, slightly wounded. _ Hapuka's Side. —Dead: Piakas Paoru Tuari, Peraniko Turahia, and Pataromu Temano. Kino Kino, brains oozing out, mortally wounded. Wounded: Maika Ewi Kateu, Erota Porehua, Matiu Kawhe, Paturiki Taweawea, Mohi Papaharua, Tahuanu Tewetu, Awahu, Paora Nonohi, Matiu Hopara, Tamihana Materoa, Pipimo, and Hemi Teora. Mr. Cooper and Tiffen, from inland, and Mr. Curling, the Resident Magistrate, and Mr. Harris, clerk to the court, arrived on the ground in the afternoon of yesterday, and were made acquainted with the names of thr casualties, so you will have a second version from the Government officials in time for the mail, as I see that the Shepherdess has not yet gone. Firing has not yet been resumed, the truce flag still flying, and Hapuka's people are decidedly low-spirited, and unwilling to renew the engagement to-day, but the other party are all in high spirits, busy making up cartridges, and have sent for reinforcements to Wairoa and Taupo, which may be expected here to-morrow or next day, and they say they then intend to begin in good earnest—so you see we are likely to have a nice irruption of turbulent strange natives into the district, and where it will end or when no one can tell, The natives on both sides are perfectly friendly to the whites as yet, but setting aside the danger of murder and robbery from strange and, lawless tribes, what do you' think of the conduct of the General Government in the policy it pursues in these native quarrels ? Ought a couple of small and insignificant tribes in an open country, and called (nominally, I grant) British subjects, be allowed to butcher one another quietly in detail, for in detail it will be. Neither party will ever advance and stand up in the open ground, they will creep up to one another under cover of grass or fern and fire pop shots, occasionally killing an odd one now and again, move by accident than otherwise. In this manner it will go on for months until both parties are starved into cultivation again." Warning was sent to the General Government 15 months ago, but no notice has been taken of it, and I don't suppose there will be of this.