WANGANUI.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 42, 8 December 1864, Page 3

WANGANUI.

Th n following, tnkv.n from the "Wanganui Clnonicle " of -2.3 id ult shows that there is consideiable uneasiness felt in that disttict, the natives Inning become initatcd by the sale of the Waitolara block * —

The Waikatos ba\e come to our borders under the leadership of the notoiious and feiocious l-Jewi. and have intimated that they will not allow the Waitotara toad to be can ied out to the Waitotara liver, to within about four miles of which it is now in couise of munition. Haie Tipcne, a chief in the Waitotara who was recognised by Mr M'Lean in 1b.58 as the head man amongst them, but who has not since been taken into account, ptobably because he was a rebel, denies that the land has been rightfully purchased without his consent, and declares that he handed it over to the King, in whom it is now vested, so that it does not belong to the Government, although it may be lemembered that the King was said to have refused to accept of the trust. Rewi, it is said, has offered him 100 Waikatos to aid in asseiting his claim, but this assistance he has declined, with what motive or for what object we have not heard. We do not at present say vvhetliui his claim has any fo ■ndation iv justice or native usage; but merely that it has been made again, as it has been made before, aud that it was recognised in the first purchase by Mr M'Lean, a man not likely to be taken in on such a point. So far as appears" fiom what eveiy one, whither acquainted with native usage or not, can see iv this matter theie is a better pretext lor contesting the validity of the sale of the Waitotara than theie was ioi contesting that of the GOO acres at Waitara. It is not the fiist time that we have txpressed our opinion of this transaction. Hitherto that opinion lias been pooh-pooh'd by the Wellington journals in the interest of the Superintendent. I\ot only so; facts—the warnings and piohibitions to piocettl given by natives to Kuropcans fiom time to time—have been point blank denied, although known to be facts by everyone bete All this has been for a purpose. The piestigc Dr Fcalherstone had acquired as a land purchaser must be maintained at whatever loss to li nth and fan dealing Had it not been for the wai m the ninth, anil its successful conduct. m:itteis would not have ltiuained so quiet in the Waitotaia distnct. But now there is the opportunity as wel as the pictext ; and if we aic to have wai m our immediate bowlers, as at pit sent stems to be appiehcnded b\ some, our tumbles will be due to the un-ati-daetni •» pm chase ol the Waitotaia blotk, and its subsequent sale.