AHURIRI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 507, 12 September 1857, Page 3

AHURIRI.

A correspondent of one of the Auckland papers throws a little further light upon the cause of the Maories' quarrel at Ahuriri, a reference to which was made a few days ago. We fiud the following paragraphs of si letter relating this and other occurrences, dated August 2nd: — In the political calm preceding the forthcoming storm of the election, the _ only object of much public interest here is the "sayings and doings" of our aboriginal friends. The rumours of wars which were rife at the arrival of the Argonauts, have since then gone a little beyond mere rumour ; and, as for as we can safely speculate upon the future doings of so eccentric a race, it looks very much to me like the near approach to a collision.

Moananui's party, who, when you were here, and until very lately, have been the most bouncible,—investing the only bush from which Hapuka could get firewood with an armed party, and, in a measure, beseiging him in his pa, have now, since a recent gathering of Hapuku's forces, seemed ed inclined to " sing small" and are at the present moment all but suing for peace. Hapuku, however, says, "No ; I have been a long time hemmed in by these people, and have borne it with great patience, keeping, back my men with considerable difficulty, in the hopes the others would see their folly and make some amends for their insolent conduct. Now, I can no longer restrain my people, and we shall see whether I cannot pay my enemies off their past insolence." He has accordingly taken up a position at a distance of about a quarter of a mile from Moananui's stockade, and as a temporary truce, which was arranged three days ago, will expire to morrow, I expect a scrimmage will ensue. As the parties are encamped at at present, there is a sacred pole, erected by Moananui's party, standing about midway between the belligerents. Of course to molest, or even approach the pole, will be sacrilege, and a sufficient casus belli for proceeding to hostilities at once; and there is where I expect the row to commence. Tlie said pole is of course a terrible eyesore to Hapuku's people, and some of the wild old warriors express in the most determined way their intention of cutting it down. This will, try the pluck of the others. If they resent the insult, the war begins: if not, peace will be made immediately. Of couise opinions differ very much as to what they will do ; but I confess that from all I have heard, I entertain no sort of doubt that a scrimmage must soon occur. Indeed, onty three days ago a collision between two parties who met at the said pole was only prevented, I hear, by Messrs. McLean and Cooper galloping in between the belligerents (who. with guns cocked and presented, were barely twenty yards apart) just in, lime to prevent their firing. You must understand that all these rows are exclusively confined to the natives alone —the settlers are not, nor is there any chance of their becoming, in any way mixed up, or their position endangered by the quarrel to whatever length it may extend. Notwithstanding all this, the land purchasing operations still go on. Mr. Commissioner McLean's money bags have done wonders, and altogether he and Mr. Commissioner Cooper have got something between 250,000 and 300,000 acres already, tvith not an unreasonable prospect of completing the half million.