Port Nicholson. NEWS FROM THE HUTT. [From the Wellington Spectator, February, 28th.]

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 43, 28 March 1846, Page 2

Port Nicholson. NEWS FROM THE HUTT. [From the Wellington Spectator, February, 28th.]

When we stated last week that the intruding natives had either left or were preparing to leave the district of the Hutt, we could not at the same time refrain from expressing our conviction that they had so long been tacitly encouraged in their aggresions by the conduct of the local Government, that they had been so accustomed to indecision, to a dread of responsibility on the part of the 'local authorities, that they would hardly imagine a total change was contemplated in the policy hitherto pursued. And so it has proved j for when the settlers attempted to take possession of the disputed land, they were interfered with and prevented by those natives who were still on the ground, and their numbers were afterwards increased by the accession of TaringaKuri and otbeis who returned evidently for the purpose of trying whether the Governor was really in earnest, or whether the present proceedings were merely a make believe, a piece of solemn trifling of which'they had previously experienced so many instances. On Monday, Mr. St. Hill, the Police Magistrate, went over to the Hutt district in obedience to the instructions of his Excellency, to put the settlers in possession of the land, but they were immediately driven back by the natives, and it was evident that an armed demonstration, and perhaps the employment of force woald be absolutely necessary to compel these natives to submission. Accordingly a body of troops, under the command of Lieut. Col. Hulme, "left Wellington at 5 o'clock on Tuesday morning, consisting of the following :—: — The Staff, Lieut. Col. Hulme 9Gth ; commanding the troops in New Zealand ; Major Last, 99th j Lient and Adjutant M'Lerie, 58tl), Acting Brigade Major; Assistant-Surgeon M'Andrew, 9(jlh. Captains Armstrong, 99ih; Hardy, 58th; Snodgrass, 96th j Eyton, 9Sth : Lieuts., Elliott, 99th; Leigh, 99th } Herbert, 58th; Page, 58th : Ensigns, Pedder,sBth; Master, 58th j Mundell, 96th; Servanles, 96th ; with 140 of the 58th, 60 of the 96th, and 100 of the 99th j the whole force amounting to 340 men. An advanced guard was thrown out, and the force began to 1 march about six o'clock. A gunboat was ordered to skirt the shore, for the purpose of protecting the troops from any outlying Maoiies who might be in ambush amongst the hills overhanging the Petoni Road. They arrived at the Hutt Bridge at Eight o'clock, « here they remained while a message was 6ent to Kaparetehau, the chief who has been acting under the directions of Rangihaeata, intimating the Governor's desire to see him. His Excellency finding any attempt to procure an inteiview with this chief fruitless, the troops were ordered to advam-e to the disputed ground, and they crossed the Hutt by the ford near Mr. Boulcott s barn, and encamped in a large Maori potatoe field, a short distance above Mr. Boulcott'ssection. The Maories immediately retired before-the troops, and their numbers were rapidly thinned by the desertion of Taringa Kuri, and others who had. no intention of offering any serious opposition, but who desired to try if the Government were in earnest. Towards the evening the natives retired to the hills and left the troops in possession of the valley of the Hutl,so that it was considered unnecessary to keep so large a force there, and on Thursday morning a part of the troops returned to Wellington, leaving about two hundred men in possession of the disputed land. The natives expelled from the valley of the Hutt were asmall branch of the Ngatiawa tribe, .called the Ngatitama, headed b> Taringa Kuri, one of the parties to the deed of sale to the New Zealand Company, a large party of vagrants from Wanganui, under E Maka, who had left that place in consequence of adultery with another chief's wife; and the Ngdtirangatahi. These last came originally from the upper part of the Wanganui river to Porerua. The head men amongst them were Kaparetehau, commonly called E Pare, E Horo, TeKohera, Te Arihi, Papa Ahnapa, Kore, Te Atuta, and Kakaherea'. They were all present at and took part in the sale of this district to the New Zealand Company in 1839. 1 hey were also at the Wairau Massacre, where the two first were amongtt tto

most active and ferocious, and where Atuta was killed. Kakahereadied at Poriruain 1844, and the rest immediately after |tbe Wairau massacre usurped land on the banks of the Hutt, under Rangihaeata's sanction, and have continued ever since to molest and despoil the settlers with impunity up 1o the time of their expulsion by the troops on Wednesday last. That they had no title to the land is confessed by Taringa Kuri, who, in his evidence before Mr. Spain's court, which we republish, expressly admits that these chiefs were all present at the original sale of this land to Col. Wakefield, that this was part of the land, and that they sold it for fear of Rauparaha and Watanui. The land has since been bought again by Captain Fitzroy, with the Company's money, but it remained for our present Governor to do justice to the settlers by putting them in possession of the land, and by driving away the horde of robbers and murderers to whose exactious they have been so long exposed. It was left for Captain Grey to assure to the " distressed settlers in Cook's Sti aits" protection to life and property. In this account of the expulsion of the natives from the Hutt, we have confined our narrative to a detail of the principal facts connected with the question, but we must express our surprise at the negligent way (to use the mildest i-hrase) in which the local authorities have discharged their duty on this occasion. Last week it was believed that this question was finally set at rest, and preparations were made for his Excellency's visit to the other settlements in Cook's Straiis 5 when suddenly it is found necessary to employ a large armed force, and possibly to conrm ence a destructive warfare. If the looal authorities had shewn the most ordinary diligence in obtaining correct information as to the movements and intentions of the natives, this could not have happened, and it is only an additional illustration of what we have often before had occasion to observe, that as far as they are concerned, it is more by good luck than good management that this settlement has been hitherto preserved from all the evils attending a war between the two races. We do not pretend to decide where the blame rests, perhaps his Honor and the Protectors will share it between them. Since tbeabove was written, we are informed that some of the maories still remain i/i the bush at a short distance in advance of the soldiers, and at night are guilty of various acts of depredation, stealing from the settlers whatever they can lay their hands on. A strong block-bouse will be erected on Mr. Mason's section, in which a company of soldiers, will be stationed, which will have the effect of keeping the natives in check, and preventing them from annoying the settlers. There can be little doubt that these natives are acting at the secret instigation of ftangihaeata, who is artfully directing their operations, and while he keeps at a distance from the scene of action, is the prime mover and promoter of these disturbances. On Thuisday evening a board was observed in the bush by some of the military about thirty yards in advance of their position, having a notice written in the native language, warning any pakehas, and the natives in the protector's service, that if found beyond the notice they would be shot. The board was immediately pulled down. The natives committed several robberies during the night, stealing the pigs belonging to the settlers, and whatever else came in their way. In consequence of these continued disturbances we believe the Governor will not proceed to "Wanganui until MonQay next. It is reported that Mr. Kemp, the native protector, has valued the potatoe crops belonging to the natives in the valley of the Hutt at the moderate estimate of Fifteen Hundred Pounds I ! Mr. St. Hill, the Police Magi6tiate has been directed to take proper steps to obtain their actual value, and we shall be curious to jsee the difference between the two reports. It will be remembered that Major Richmond purchased the last potato crops from these maories, when they were expressly given to understand that they were to leave on the first of last March, we therefore do not see what claim or pretext they can have to any further compensation.

We are informed from rery good authority that Rangihaeata is still at Porirua, and is in communication with the intruders at the Hutt. He says he is not desirous of fighting, and wants to have peace, but he considers that a division should be made of the land, and the boundaries distinctly marked, and if the rnaories should trespais in future, that they should be punished. He threatens that if hostilities should commence in the Hult, he will immediately join the intruding natives. Raupaiaha'is at Otaki, and disavows any part in these proceedings, and has sent to Rangihaeata informing him that if he joins these natives in their opposition to the Governor's authoiity, he does so at his own peiil, but Rangihaeata has treated the message with contempt.

[From the Wellington Independent.] The first display of England's power on the Hutt, has at length been made. For six long years have the settlers located in that valley, and the surrounding districts, been compelled to submit to every species of annoyance and outrage, inflicted upon them by their savage neighbours. But though the troops have thus far been unmolested, it must not be supposed that the natives are vanquished, or that the mere fact of a foice having been sent there, will deter them from continuing their annoyances. The fact of threatening to take the lives of defenceless women and children, is sufficient proof of the animus which prompts them. The mere fact of the maories having taken to the bush, is not a guarantee of their subjection, or of their intentions to remain for the future on peaceable terms with their white brethren. Indeed it is our opinion, that Tin less proceedings are can ied on with thai vigour which has characterized the commencement of the present movement, and which is highly creditable to the officer in command, the natives ■will not only attack the troops, but may in all probability be the means of shedding blood to a considerable extent. The force is now encamped on vantage ground. For the present we should advise that it Mould be highly advantageous pro*

viding his Excellency would issue a proclamation, tabooing the Hutt from the entire native population. Informing the friendly disposed natives that they would not be permitted in the valley, and threatening death to those natives who disregarded the injunction. We have been informed that it is conte n plated requesting the aid of E* Puni and his tribe, to drive the maories from the bush. The services of E' Puni would prove highly beneficial, we make no doubt, but we are inclined to think that he would not like to be mixed up in an affair, in which he would have to contend with Kaiigihaeata, and the influence of Rauparaha. There can be little question, now, as to the conduct of Rangihaeata. From the outset he has been an enemy to the Europeans, and he is well known as a most ferocious, vindictive, and meddling neighbour. We trust that for the sake of future peace and security every effort will be made to capture this chief. While he lives, or rather so long as he is allowed to be at large, possessing as he does such extensive power to commit mischief, no ultimate good can be effected. Secure Rangihaeata, place old Rauparaha in fear, and we way reasonably hope for the best.