THE NATIVE CHIEFS, WALKER AND HEKE.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 194, 8 April 1848, Page 3

THE NATIVE CHIEFS, WALKER AND HEKE.

We have been informed of a circumstance t hat reflects great credit on our faithful native ally Thomas Walker. We alwa>s regarded him as a man of noble and magnanimous spirit, but we have not heard of a liner display of nobility and generosity than the following fact presents. When the Deborah was on her way to Sydney, last trip, she called at the Bay of Islands, when "Walker applied to Captain Nagle to procure, from some person in !«>ydney, machinery> &c, to the value of ;£3OO, for a corn mill, which he wished to erect at Kaikohe, the residence of Heke and bis followers, and to present it to them for their use, offering to pay for the mill by giving up the annuity he receives from Government for three years. This is a most noble and generous intention on the part of Walker, and evinces a disinterestedness and a wilingneis to make sacii flees for the peace ot his country, worthy to be placed on imperishable record. He trill thus prove to those against whom he took up arms that he did it not to secure the favoui and the gifts of the Pakeha for himself, but from a sense of justice and right; for while lie might enjoy the annuity voted him by our jLegislulwe lor his valuable services, yet he wished to devote the first fruits ofit to their inferests It Mill also eyince his desire for'peage, and. if

any old feeling 'remains in the bi easts of those who lost their friends in the war, it will very much tend to remove those feelings, and establish the reconciliation that has taken place. And if any of the chiefs are jealous of his influence and honor, they must feel convinced that he intends to share w hat he receives among them. He will draw them all nearer to himself by such conduct, and confer a public benefit on the northern part of the island, and, indeed, on the whole colony. We hope he will be assisted to carry out Ins intention. We understand that application has been made to his Excellency on the subject, as the Sidney people naitii ally ask some guaiantee for ihe money, and we doubt not that every facility will be given to carry into effect the wishes of our friend, and his countij's benefactor, Thomas Walker.