Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 669, 6 April 1859, Page 6

Colonial.

"WELLINGTON. ' "We have papors to the Ist of April. The Independent published a summarj' for the ■outward mail on the .22th ult, from which wc.ex:tract a few. paragraphs. , - I*AND PUUCHASES. ' An important movement has recentty commenced Tin tho north,■.with a view of effecting a change in ■Aha -system of'liwwl purcimsi»g from the natives. .A section of the Aueldan'd'community are desirous •-of returning to a.-system allowed for about two yß*rs iv the ":long past days of'Fitzroy misrule— they Sesire -.thati the Crown should waive its right Of pre-Bmptionin favour of individual (purchasers. Zi'he northern public generally consider that there ara evils connected -with this cetera which would •Renderlts adoption most unwise, and ia reported to -findlittle ;of4u> favor .it' head quarters. The system, when tried^ls'years;*go did not apparently answer ctae expectations formed of it, but with its practical iAvor-kingwe do not profess ourselves acquainted; "me district comprising this Province being then wider the control of the New Zealand company, the waiving of the premptive-right did not extend -to it. . ..'■■,-. r >. v ;:; ■■

A letter has beon printed for circulation through.put the northern district,, signed by several influ■«n€ial political persons, in order to form a society 4ox advocating-wie change ahove afforded to. This letter infprm^ usithat.^ucklsuid is^being far left Behind, both in accession of population and increase of, exports, by the southern provinces of the colony, and that its land sales have dwindled in three years from £60,000 to £2,500. The enormous falling off is said to rise simply from there being no lands in the hands of the Government,to-supply an undiminisheddemand, as evinced by the'departure to the south of many capitalists who have arrived from time to time in Auckland for the purpose of settling thene, aad by- tha return of others in: hope-: lessness to. the country from which they came. /■Whether the- ebove statements are truewe have too 'means of deciding. The 'Southern Cross' maintains they are 5 the 'New-Zealander' is equally positive" "they are not. In the belief that there is " something rotten in the stateV the one extreme measures to effect a cure; but on the Rssumpiibh that the gradual sinking of the. land pulse during the last three years is only a symptom •of a return to health from the fever of 1855, the other is satisfied with things as they are, confident that there will be enough to meet every boiia fide demand, including the free, grants to tbe immigrants expected to arrive from England under the now probably disallowed regulations .elsewhere xlesrribenYV. . , . :

The statements contained 3n "this letter hare created considerable surprise, being an admission of i*';fact- strongly contested by pur Auckland friends Tierfetofpre, viz., that the seat of population and wealth is in the South and not. in the North. This •dmission, together with that of the Southern proportionate increase being so much larger than that of the Northern, is no small argument towards the inevitable removal of the seat of Government to Wellington. The letter is too long to reprint here, but as affecting the present and future position of this Province as a part of the South, we cannot do -less than auote:the introductory paragraphs, . " "Auckland, Feb 15,1859.

v" Sir, —We -invite-your serious attention to the unsatisfactory state of the Province of Auckland, which is being fast left behind, both in accession of jtopulation, and increase of exports, by the Southern Provinces of the colony, as evidenced by the valuable and carefully compiled statistics published by the General Government, from which'it is unnecessary -to quote, the information contained being equally Accessible to you us to us. , "It i« an admitted fact that many capitalists hive arrived at Auckland, for the purpose of settling, who, having been disappointed in their'expectation Jot obtaining land on which to employ their means, f jhfcve ihandoned this province for the South, or have !i%turhed in hopelessness to the country which they • have quitted." The Waikaxab District.—Positive information reached us on Saturday last of the completion of a small purchase on the West Coast. It is a strip of two or three miles of sea coast extending inland to the mountain .ranges. It is of very little value in itself, but of some consequence as being the insertion, of the thin end of the wedge, in a 1 district which would form a valuable adjunct to the agricultural capabilities of that portion of the province.

" Thb WAitotara DiSTHicT.—The natives in this district are for the first time most anxious to sell fine valuable block which 'Europeans have so long -coveted; It comprises from one to two hundred thousand acres of well watered and timbered land, and in the event of its speedy acquirement must have almost favorable effect on the commerce of the Port of Wanganui. Some disagreement about the '.King movement-in the "North has occasioned .this desire to sell, and the natives have been busy preparing for the daily expected arrival of his Excellency, on his overland journey from Taranaki to. Wellington. We sincerely trust that the disappointment which therion-arrivalof his Excellency will' •te sure to create may not impede the a»le, but that Mr. McLean, who it is believed is still coming on, will be aijle to make terms promptly and effectually. If this is accomplished-the prestige of the purchase of Waitotara will greatly facilitate Mr. McLean's -acquisition- of the Mnnawatn, on -which several settlers are running their flocks, in opposition to .the law. PITBMC "WORKS. .'Public Works, regarded as subservient to public convenience, naturally excite a general interest, not onlj- rtlmrnglKMat the community but amongst those who in Australia or England are anxious for -information relative to the advantages" offered by ■-tJie various provinces. We may therefore, be allowed to state that the various public works of this province are being pushed forward with the energy which lias hitherto characterised them, and 'which enabled us,-in «ur last month's summary, successfully to challenge our sister provinces in amicable rivalry, to equal the comparatively great ■extent of V 27 miles of well-made macadamised roads, which we then showed we possessed. The, •department, however,has not relaxed in its activity and this niontli witnesses the completion of the Tlirpe Mile Bush Road, -in -the Wairarapa District, 'hitherto so groat an impediment to communication, •:fciit whioh now, owing to the jjudioiows adoption of n system of pmall contracts, is finished before the 4)rri vhl »f winter can renderit again thealmostnmpas•Kible series of mud-holes and stumps it usually became in tliMt «e&s<m.

Thp -Featherston portion of the Te Kopi Line as :.nhn just complfted, y/lii!e tlie contracts on the *W;iihinga, a portion of«tlve «ame route, are fa'voura"bly progressing; and since our last summary an ■•important.extension of the Qhariu Valley Road has "lieuo finished, and the HtUtßridge, one of the greatest thoroughfares in the province, again opened for -traffic

The three^ large .and important bridges over the Wanganui. the Wai-o-Uini, and tlie Turakini

xivers are alio in hand, at an figgregate et)st of _, .nwirly- £10.01)0. Of these, the ■WaWhini bridge'; ■which forms the most.important connecting link *n the now Almost unbroken line of road, eonimnnica■tiou. .between Wellington-and Masterton, a distance -oi' 6;i miles,- i« f we axe happy to -say,-rapidly ap-■proavl»M]V-.i«»P\pietii)is,iinil -vrhen 'finished, which it iis"'&x'pijcted' to be in Msty. will ..fjrove one oi'.thc •g-re!itest'_coQvei«wici js. yet afibrded. ... ...We-, cannoi-siS; yet boast of the .raore imposing «ngineering. wprksvof railways, canals, docks, and, .telegraph^ aitrhpagl* the <la£ is fast apprpaelnng,. <dp^%aa, ..^lien* the rajudly increasing resounees,vof

imperiously demand their construction, with btho«\ facilities so general in the mother country; but.a»j no surer indication can be afforded of the extentVi ! a country's trade, or even of its .advancement in I civilization, thau <tlte existence of good .and>uffl-, cicnt mean* of internal communication, we.can,! with some degree of pride, poiut to the, important \ public works which we have just -adverted to,.and! which cannot, considering our present position and) resources, afford too much occasion jfor public "con- { gratulution/.' . I THB KA.OBI WAR AT WANGANBI. ' ' Now that peace is restored, we propose to. lay \ before -our readers (most of whom, we believe, are j wholly uninformed on the subject)) a brief sketch of! the late outbreak amongst :th'eVnative tribes at i Wanganui. .'.' „ :;.:v; v , •. „■■-■.■••,] .' ; .For many years past tho: Tijuestiqn ■<*{ -title to! land has been tlie great bone of contention with the • aborigines of this country. Nine tenths of the commotions which have from time to time occured : have been traceable to this source. Prior to the advent of the Pakeha .the question of land title was never entertained by the Maori. His wants vfrere suppliedby hunting and-fishing, and in the prose-. cution of these pursuits his only carewas to keep within those limits which would bring him into dangerous proximity with his warlike neighbours; these limits.varying according■ to. the discretion of the adventurer. ' ' : v- ; •

At a:later period, when pigs and vegetables were introduced, agricultural pursuits engaged a share of his attention. A'value now attached 'itself to such portions of land as were best adapted to cultivation. Priority of occupation established a right, which,-however, lapsedwhen,the occupier ceased to cultivate. ' ' ■ -',:'■■';' ■, /- '■■■■■-;-■. '■

-Subsequently,-some few whites, who had located themselves in the country, sought to obtain a title to large tracts of territory.arid made overtures to the supposed proprietors for the gpurchaie thereof. The astonished natives gladly availed themselves of. the offer, and, in consideration of the veriest trifles; they.'willingjy.parted with a;xisionary right to any amount of land the purchaser stipulated for. tinder this mode of purchase, large dominions came under the possession of a few individuals, whose names have often enough been paraded before;the public.

At a still later period, when the tide of emigra--tion from the mother country was directed to New Zealand,aijd the extinguishment of the native title mas -commenced .under the auspices of the NeV Zealand Company, the native territorial rights •assumed a much more important aspect. (Finding that the influx of settlers gave the land a certain intrinsic value, the of respective tribal rights to lani, hitherto ignored, now became a subject of fierce contention. Their land -Had become marketable, and each tribe was eager to appropriate and dispose of for Its exclusive benefit tire largest possible district. A hundred different plans were resorted to for establishing something like:aiplausisible title. Old tribal invasions and conquests were most frequently advanced in support 6f a claim, and under this rule many of the difficult questions brought before the Company's agents were satisfactorily adjusted. The number of these conflicting claimsis now •considerably diminished, but there are many still unsettled. : Now to our story. The right to a valuable dis-, trict of land in the Upper Wariganui had become the subject of dispute between the Ngatitflipoto and Ngatitu tribes. About six months ago the dispute had reached its climax and the con tending claimant's unable to settle the dispute amicably, were bent; on1 extreme measures. At this critical juncture the Rev. Richard Taylor, with his usual zeal and earnestness in promoting the welfare of the natives, stepped in, and succeeded in obtaining the consent of both parties to place the question before his Excel-; lency the Governor, on the spot, and accept his decision as final. This was decidedly a step in the right direction, and only -needed -to- be followed up.. Mr. Taylor immediately communicated with the Colonial Secretary on the subject. " Vexed with the indefinite answer, weary of delay,' and impatient to decide the question, Top^ine, theNgatitaipoto chief, proceeded to take possession of ■ the -disputed land. On the other band,. a small party of the Ngatitu tribe, whose cialra was thus repudiated, planned a murderous scheme of tpvenge. An opportuuity of carrying it into effect was qqt long wanting. Intelligence had reached them that Topine,at the head of an expedition, was on his way up the river. The small band of warriors immediately repaired to a spot on the bank of the river, where the enemy was expected to encamp for the night. Armed with muskets and tomahawks they, secreted themselves amongst the brushwood and awaited their approach. The canoes of Topine and his main body of fol--lowers at last appeared, but instead of landing, as was anticipated, they passed on up the river. . Not so with a small party who were some distance in the rear. They landed, fastened their cauoe, entered the Whare and prepared their evening meal, wholly unconscious of the danger which lurked so near them. While these domestic arrangements were going on in the whare, the ensconced warriors, whose position enabled them to keep a strict surveillance, primed their muskets and prepared for the dark tragedy they were about to enact. Patiently they awaited the faliof the night, knowing well that dark-ness would aid them in their plan of attack. ♦ * * Midnight found these treacheroxis savages stealing forth from their places of concealment. The entrance to the whare stood open, the central fire was nearly out, and around about it were stretched the sleeping forms of the unsuspecting victims. Sharp detonations rang simultaneonsly from the months of several muskets, and were answered by a fierce yell from within the whare. The Chief Waiata, pierced in the shoulder by a bullet, ■sprang la Ins feet, and seizing his gun, fired it in the face of the assailants, when he received another ball in the stomach, which laid him prostrate. The murderers now rushed into the wiiare, and closing with their tomahawks, fought fiercely under the glare of the smouldering fire. The conflict was short bat deadly. The assailants were repulsed with a loss of two, having butchered .five of the Ngatitaipoto—one of them an infant? and immediately retreated to a small pa, called Matniwhetu.

The mournful tidings soon : reached Toplne, and its announcement to the tribe was received with "lamentation and great weeping." '

Topine summoned together his Council of War, and deliberated as to the course he should pursue. The korero was long and animated. Various plans were suggested; and it was finally resolved that the Pa should be besieged, the supplies cut off, and the inmates reduced to famine. In the heat of his wrath. Topine determined that every inmate of the devoted Pa should perish. •

The Karere traversed through- the whole district, and reinforcements came hi from all quarters. Topine concentrated, his forces around the almost, impregnable Pa, which was defended by a brave party of about 50 Ngatitu warriors; and thus cominencd the siege of Mataiwhetu. .-The'main Ngatitu body coincided in the justice ot this movement, and many of its.members joined Topine's forces, being willing to forget their their tribal tie, and join with the injured in punishing the crime. They viewed the cruel murder of a helpless infant with unbounded 'indignation, for as they expressed it, " he could not ward the blow." Topm adopted precautionary measures for the 11611-molestation of the European settlers-; nor wore the latter at all inconvenienced, unless perhaps occasionally by the imposition of the " Tapai" or sacred interdict, on the upper portion of the river, whereby all traffic was prohibited.

Time rolled on, and the commencement of this month found the small Ngatitu party still beleaguered, and reduced to the verge of starvation. Several attempts had been made to storm the Pa, but had failed. . Several of the besieged, however, had been shot. Famine was now pinching them, and they sued for quarter. Topine, whose wrath had-consideraMy cooled, limited his demand to the ten persons concerned in the-murder of Waiata and li'\« party. This aitmuttivuw-as complied with, and the doomed ten were ..giveil up. Thus <ended the siege of Mataiwhetu. '

The--prisoners are still in the hands 6f Topine. That humane .chief,,unwilling that more blood should be spilt, ar»<i viewing the number of kjiHed,on both sides as. about equal, is disposed to receive as their i ransom a tract .of land in the Upper Wanganui district. A.large.l)Qdy bf'Jjis.twbe have coincide lin

hia plaii'of mercy, but another p*rfy are pressing for summary punishment.; f hiifijittestion of life or death U to be referred to Mj^JleXean, the chief Land iCommisffioner, on hit .arifty jljfct: Waiiganui (now dally expected), both partieVbaving consented to abide by his decision/ */