NEW PLYMOUTH.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, 3 November 1855, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH.

[from our own correspondent.]

October 30, 1855. I am sorry to find that timid counsels are prevailing, and preventing justice being done to our well-disposed, and loyal natives. The non-interference policy is it seems to be earned out ; the connexion of Government with the transaction is to be ignored, although, it i 9 notorious that Rawiri was a paid servant of Government, and was acting under the instructions of Mr. Cooper, the land purchase commissioner, and while so acting, was shot down in open day-light, with six of his people. Still it is only a " native quarrel," and as Bishop Selwyn recommends {vide Pastoral Letter) the fire must burn itself out. The Ninia natives are of course chagrined and disappointed, but I have confidence that they will still, notwithstanding, be well ordered and loyal towards the Government. But they wilfcjiever be satisfied without justice, and as Governmenfyeftiscs to give it, I expect they will take hfthemselves.'''The offers they made towards settling the dispute were, in the highest degree, fair and generous. WakaNene from Ngapuhi said they could not do more' And how did the disaffected chiefs conduct themselves while Colonel Wynyard was here? Why in a large open meeting, one speaker after another hurled defiance against Queen, Governor, soldiers, settlers, and the friendly natives. One old man, whose baptized name is very appropriate (Herod), had along pointed spear, about eight, feet long, in hand, with, a bayonet fastened to the other end. Stamping about in his fury he struck the Bpear in the ground, crying, " There's for the Queen," another furious spasm, and again the spear quivers from' the impulsive drive given to it, " There's for Governor " ; again and again,' a similar thrust, "for Wynyard,". "for the soldiers," "for the settlers," &c., the whole meeting acquiescing in the speech. Among them was' old E Puni from Wellington, who came up to lend his influence towards "settling" the dispute. He had deceived M'Lean and Sir G. Grey before — the authorities were deceived again by him. He said to Colonel Wynyard, M'Lean, and the Government officials, Let me go and talk with Wiremu Kingi and the others ; I will bring them round. The first conversation he had with them, chanting some old national songs, he cried to them, "Hold fast the land, hold fast the land.*' -The next exhibition was the public meeting as above. 'Now all this took place while the Colonel was Ijere in New Plymouth, and of course he would be correctly informed about it. In fact it wa3 believed that he went back to Auckland with views of the question very different to those with which he came. But, after all, the difficulty is, if possible, to be staved off, the disaffected natives are to be petted, the loyal ones to be snubbed, and, it is hoped, peace will prevail ! I fully expect to hear that the natives are fighting again, for I am told that after a conference with Government, finding that tLe new Governor was not disposed to do them justice, the loyal natives retired saying, "It i 3 good, it is our quarrel, we will do our own work, and make an end of it." And yet these men who have been shedding each others blood for the last fifteen months, are all British subjects ! " The 2feto Zealander of the 13th instant, "says about Taranaki, "From private sources we learn that everything wove a most 'pacific and satisfactory aspect" That report would leave here just about the time when the turbulent speeches, as above, were delivered. Lower down the column of the same paper, very likely the same trustworthy correspondent, reports that on the 22nd of September New Plymouth was visited by the severest shock of earthquake ever yet experienced — the lock-up was rent and split in three parts ! ! Great concern was manifested about the South. Were you, at Nelson, "swallowed up" that day? But seriously, it is too bad for people to circulate false reports like Eb.e above, as to our being in a " pacific and satisfactory" condition. The object of such report* is well known and properly estimated.