PORT NICHOLSON.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 75, 12 August 1843, Page 299

PORT NICHOLSON.

The following is a copy of the correspondence between Colonel Wakefield and Mr. M'Donogh, respecting the misstatements contained in the address of the latter gentleman to the British Settlers in Cook's Straits :—: — Wellington, July 13th, 1843. Sir — My attention has only this moment been called to an address, published by you, to the British settlers in Cook's Straits, relative to the late affair at Wairoo, in which you declare your conviction that " the affray was not the result of premeditated design on the part of the natives, but that, on the contrary, they sought by every means to avert it, and did not fire a shot until five of their party had fallen, including the wife of Ranghiaita, who at the moment bore his own son in her arms."

As you have now* received- authentic information, from the depositions taken by the magistrates at Cloudy Bay, in corroboration of Mr. Tuckett's evidence, which you then had, that " after an accidental shot from a white man, a volley was discharged from each party," I trust you will. s«e fit to correct the statement in your address. Sanctioned by your official character, it is calculated to have weight with the public in England, and to greatly distress the relatives of our unfortunate countrymen who have fallen, and who, it is distinctly proved, had- no intention of commanding an unprovoked .attack upon the natives, as implied in the -.passage of your address which I have quoted. . . I have the honour to be, sir, , Your obedienthumble servant, (Signed) . W. Wakefmld. To A. E. M'Donogh, Esq., Police Magistrate. , ■ ' , Wellington, July 14th, 1843 Sir — I do myself the honour, to, acknowledge the receipt ofyqur letter of yesterday's date, calling upon me to correct that portion of my address to the inhabitants of Cook's Straits relative to the late melancholy affair at Wairoo, in which I stated, as being my conviction, that " the affray was not the result of premeditated design on , the part of the natives, but that, on the contrary, they sought by every means to avert it, and did not fire a shot until five of their party had fallen, including the wife of Ranghiaita, who at the moment bore bis own son in jber arms."

In answer to which, I beg you clearly to understand that, at the time I published the above address, it was my firm belief, from all information I had then been able to collect, that everything therein contained were facts. However, from, the depositions taken by the magistrates on the spot, which documents have since been placed in my charge, I find, from a careful perusal of them, that

I had been misinformed on the following points, namely — that five of the natives had not fallen previous to their returning the fire, neither does it appear at what period of the conflict Ranghiaita's wife was accidentally shot, who, it is proved, had not at the time an infant in her arms. I likewise find by those documents that no order was given by the Europeans to fire on the natives, but that the general conflict originated from an accidental shot from one of the European party. Trusting that the above communication (which you have my full consent to give publicity to) will in some measure alleviate the grief of the relatives of our unfortunate and ever-tO-be-lamented countrymen who met so untimely a death, I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, (Signed) Arthur E. M'Donogh, Police Magistrate. Colonel Wakefield, Principal Agent of the New Zealand Company.

We extract the following from the Wellington papers : — '

We have just heard a report of the death of Ranghiaita, which we are informed occurred at Otaki on Monday last, in consequence of the wound in* his foot. From the inquiries we have been able to make, we feel convinced of its truth. This event has certainly removed one main obstacle to the settlement of this part of the country. Ranghiaita might be considered as the type of the New Zealander before the race were brought under the civilizing influences which have for some years past been at work among them — violent, reckless, and uncalculating. Happily the present number of such men among the natives is but small, and as they die off they leave no successors. — Colonist, July 21. Ranghiaita. — The report of this individual's death, which was given in yesterday's Colonist, proves not to be true. A gentleman who arrived last evening from Otaki, assures us that he' is neither dead nor dying. He had been unwell, and shut himself up in his pah, but there does not appear to be any reason for believing that he is likely to die. — Gazette, July 22.

In yesterday's Colonist, we notice one short-arti-cle which requires a single word — that, namely, in which the editor attempts to dispose of our comments on the document which appeared under the Police Magistrate's name, by adverting to a single point of our many objections. We ask our readers to remember that our, main objection was, that Mr. M'Donogh, with Mr. Tucket fs evidence before him, suffered a document to appear, under his aqthority, in which no notice of Mr. Tuckett's evidence was taken, but a totally different account was given, resting on Maori authority, as is believed ; that this remained uncontradicted long after it was known to be untrue ; and that the fact of its being put forth in the teeth of Mr. Tuckett's evidence has not been attempted to be accounted for. Can Mr. M'Donogh's secretary find an answer to this ? — Ibid.

Died, on Wednesday evening, July 19, at his residence, Willis Street, George Hunter, Esq., J.P., mayor of Wellington, aged 55 years. Mr. Hunter was among the earliest settlers in the colony, and he had secured the regard and esteem of the community by his kindness, intelligence, and probity. His loss will be widely and sincerely regretted. — Ibid.

We are given to understand that Mr. Jackson is building a small craft of about fifteen tons on his section on Lowry Bay. The one hundred and twenty ton vessel, which' we reported as building at that place some weeks back, is in a very forward state, and we believe will be launched in a short time. The facilities for ship-building in our extensive harbour are great,' and the qualities of our timber have been tried and found to answer extremely well, and we doubt not but that, in the course of two or three years, Port Nicholson will become known as a first-rate place for supplying good and low priced vessels.— /fo'tf.

The Mechanics' Institute, we are glad to hear, is slowly but surely progressing. The benefits of the library are becoming appreciated, and newspapers of the mother-country, as well as boolitte are now lent out to the members. The school is in a flourishing condition, and we trust the working classes will encourage this branch of the institution by sending their' children, who will derive the benefit of a good and exceedingly cheap education. — Ibid.

We are happy to see that the schooner Black Warrior has been laid on as a constant trader to the River Hutt, which seems to indicate the increasing trade in that unrivalled agricultural district— Colonist, July 28. . We have been informed by the Richmond, from the Chatham Islands, that three whales-had been caught at the fishery there, and that a sperj* whale had been thrown upon the beach. , Notwithstanding thejjopm which has so long hung over us, yet, from t^pheerful accounts which are generally being brought hi of the almost unprecedented success prevailing in this very lucrative branch of our commerce, we may hope that that crisis will be averted which has so often' been predicted as likely, if not certain, to happen to our infant settlement.—is»rf.

We understand that a' party proceeding with a herd of cattle,- belonging to Captain- Daniel, to Mr. White, of Ohou, who is about to establish a station at that place, had been obliged to return on account of Rauparaha refusing to allow them to proceed. — Ibid. t - • \

We have been favoured by a gentleman with a sight of the New Zealand Colonist of August 1 . it appears in a suit of mourning" for its own death. ' The Editor., in his parting addresß, sayB — ' ,

" Had the amount of money received been as satisfactory as the list of subscribers, we should have, long continued our publication. Owing, however, to the depressed condition of the colony, which was first seriously experienced shortly "after the establishment of this papier, and which has since become gradually worse, until it is obvious to all that we are on, the eve, at least, of a crijtjv.the amount of money received has been ipcgFflcu cient to meet the expenses of the paper, feuf It has been found impossible longer to «otitnw* it* publication." • : -