BAY OF ISLANDS.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 17, 27 September 1845, Page 2

BAY OF ISLANDS.

What is a Blockade ? — We are not versed in the doctrines and rules of our Admiralty Court in England, which has been so long the admiration of all maritime nations, for their perspicuity and justice, more especially, as defined and enacted, during a long series of years, by that most excellent Judge of the Court, the late Lord Stowell ; but, we think, that common sense would conceive a strict blockade to be prevention of admission to the restricted port of every vessel, without reservation, unless with supplies for the blockading squadron. T he-Bay of Islands, as is well known, has been declared, for some time past, by proclamation of the Local Government, to be under blockade ; but vessels have been, we know not by what influence, furnished with permits, or passports, from the Government, to break the blockade. The unfortunate consequence of this silly conduct has been, that munitions of war, and supplies of every description, have been at the'command of the Natives of Heke and- Kawiti, by purchase— increasing the wealth of a few favored individuals, at an exhorbitnnt price to the Natives, while, at the same time, it has completely nullified the intent of the blockade, as well as stultified the Local Government in the opinion of the rebellious Natives — How long will this temporizing policy exist ? H. M. Sloop of War Daphne, arrived on Friday from the Bay of Islands, and the Albert schooner on Thutsday. The troops had not arrived from Sydney, and no hostilities had re-commenced. , Our ally, Waka, had been joined' by large bodies of Natives, from Kaitaia, and others would follow shortly, from the same district, so that there will not be less than' from twelve to fifteen hundred Natives, ready ' to concert with the troops when they are further re-in-forced. We have heard of rumours of peace ; but, under such circumstances, we consider, the least concession would be most disgraceful to British honour, as it will most certainly be fatal to the future peace and prosperity of the Colony. The Thistle cutter, in her passage from Russell, put into Wangaruru, in consequence of a gale from the southward, and for water for the horses on board. Three natives came on board, one of whom acquainted Captain Cains that the Waikeri tribe intended to attack and take possession of the vessel. three natives took each a blanket, and- likewise a pair of trowsers from the master, who remonstrated, reminding them that he was well known to them as being long on good terms in trading on the coast ; but they replied that circumstances were now altered ; that the Maories were at war with the Europeans \ and as to his wearing apparel, it would not be required, as he would never reach Auckland. — Large bodies of the Natives were seen coming over the hills, and assembling on the beach ; but the wind increasing, the sea was too rough for the canoes to be launched, which enabled Capt, Cains to get under weigh, and beat out of the harbour, in a most tremendous gale.

The Thomas schooner has arrived from Wangarei, at which place it seems that the Natives are, in some respects, making reparation for their former outrages towards Europeans, They have restored considerable portion of Mr. Mairs property, and he was enabled also to bring away ten head of cattle. The Natives belonging to Heke and Kawiti, frequently visit "Wangarei. They had brought over six horses to that district, two of which they had reserved in payment for land, the others they had taken from Europeans ; but, on its being explained io the chief of Wangarei that, by his haibouring such stolen property, his own land might eventually be confiscated, he compelled the rebel natives to remove the animals.

Police Court. — On Monday last, Edward Rose, John Cotton, George Jay, Charles i Brown, Frederick Miller, James M'Guinesss, and George Bottomley, were charged with 'having committed a burglary on the dwelling house of Mr. Alfred Jones, on Sunday afternoon, and stolen therefrom considerable sums of money, with various other articles. After the examination of Mr. Jones, and several other witnesses, who had observed the prisoners on and near the premises, between the hours of three and five on Sunday after noon, — the Magistrates discharged John Cotton and Charles Brown, and the remainder were remanded until the next day. It appeared that when Rose and Bottomley were taken into custody by the chief constable Smith, and their rooms searched, that other property was found and on Tuesday, these two prisoners were charged with a distinct separate offence of robbery, from theh6use of Richard Webb, who stated that his house was entered on the evening of Thursday last, by means of false keys, and various articles abstracted, and identified the property brought from the prisoners' apartments, as his. They were fully committed for trial. The other remaining prisoners, Miller, Jay, and M'Guiness, were again brought up on Wednesday morning, and remanded for further evidence until Saturday, the 27th inst.

Ordinations. — On Sunday morning, last, at St. Paul's Church, Rev. William Bolland was ordained, after divine service, by Bishop Selwyn — And, on Sunday evening, the Rev. Gideon Smales will be ordained, at the Wesleyan chapel. Inquest. — An inquest was held on Monday morning last, in the Wesleyan Chapel, on the body of the Rev. J. Skevington, of Taranaki, who so awfully and suddenly expired during divine service on the previous evening. After hearing the evidence of the Rev. Thos. Buddie and Mr. H. Lawry, who were near the deceased in the chapel, the jury returned a verdict of — " Died by the visitation of God." On Tuesday the interment took place, in the Dissenters' burial-ground. The body was borne to the grave by Natives, some of whom had accompanied Mr. Skevington here from .Taranaki, and was followed by the Missionaries, and numbers of the most respectable inhabitants, and others, of the Wesleyan congregation. — The burial service was very solemnly and impressively read by the Rev. Walter Lawry, at the conclusion of which, the Rev. J. Whitely offered up prayer, m the Maori tongue, with the New-Zealanders who surrounded the grave, several of whom seemed to.be deeply affected. The funeral sermon will be preached, at the chapel, by the Rev. W. Lawry; on Sunday evening first.