Copy of a Despatch from Governor Grey to Earl Grey. Government House, Auckland, September 3, 1847. (Received January 3 1848)

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 245, 4 October 1848, Page 3

Copy of a Despatch from Governor Grey to Earl Grey. Government House, Auckland, September 3, 1847. (Received January 3 1 848)

My Lord.— Adverting to my Despatch, No. 88, of the 20th ultimo, enclosing a report which I had received from Captain Sothehv, R.N., commanding H.M. sloop " Racehorse." detailing the results of his visit to theBay of Islands, I have now the honour to enclose the copy of a further report from that officer, which was this day forwai'ded to me by the senior naval officer at this station. From this report it will he seen that Captain So'heby has visited all the principal northern ports, and that generally matteri bear a much more settled aspect than they recently did. Indeed, I have no doubt that, with the necessary precautions, continued tranquillity throughout the island may now be maintained. I have, however, to request your Lordship's attention to the following facts as detailed in Captain Sotheby's repbrt :— Firstly. The rapidity with which (lie report that tlie British Government intended to deprive the native chiefs of all lands not under cultivation had circulated through the northern part of the island, and the dissatisfaction which this report had excited even in the minds of those chiefs who had hitherto been friendly to the British, and had always fought on our side. 2nlly. The farts of the tresspaoses committed by herds of cattle kept by the Missionaries and their children, beina; still regarded by the natives ai a most serious grievance. And l^tly. The circumstance of one of the principal chiefs in th» northern district, begging that the Government would insist upon the boundaries to the different claims to land being accurately and definitely defined, and requesting that I would send some competent person to investigate the claims of the Europeans, in order that the precise boundaries of the lands awarded to them might be known. These complaints, and the request for the investigation of claims were made in the districts in which the Missionaries are the principal land claimants ; and your lordship will see that Captain Sotheby states, that »ome of the youner men spoke in the most determined manner, and threatened to take the law into their own hands. Captain Sotheby's observations quite accord with all the information which has reached me from other sources ; and I can only trust that my being able shortly to conclude some definite and amicable atrangement with the land claimants in the north may fur ever set these exciting questions at rest. I have, &c, (Signed) G. Grey, The Right Hon. Earl Grey, &C. &c.

H. M. Sloop " Racehorsp,"at Set, off the Poor Knight's Island, New Zealand, August 31, 1847. Sir,— ln compliance with your directions to me id my sailing orders of the 6 li instant, I have the honor of transmitting to you a detailed account of nay proceedings since I left Auckland I trrived at the Bny of Islands on the afternoon of the Bth , and anchored off the settlement of Koronreka, and communicated with the Resident Magistrate, Major Patience, informing him with the object of my visit, and who acquainted me that matters were quiet in ihs north. Nene Waka and Rippa being absent in. the country, I depatched the Interpreter (Mr. Meurant) to beg they would visit meonboird the following day, which they did, and expressed much satisfaction in being visited by a man-of-war. Through Mr. Meuraut, they acquainted me th 't affairs were very penceable in the northern dist:i:ts, and no con plaints to make ; but said there had been a great deal of excite* merit on the part of Kiwiti »nd many of the native! owing to a report, very widely, circulated, that the Government intended taking possession of all uncultivated land, and that more trjops had arrived to put such directions into execution. Pievious to my arriving, Kiwiti had come down with about 30 follower* to Waka, to know if such was the case, as he considered it to be in open viol itiun of the Treaty of Wai. tanghi, and in direct opposition of what had been the view of his Excellency the Governor; but Waka eased hit mind by telling him there was no truth in such report, and which I most fully corroborated. They suggested to me (without seeking it) the propriety of issuing circulars in the native language to contradict it, as it was widely circulated into the interior, and parts of the country not vi'ited by men-ot-war or official persons, and where there are many Europeans only too ready to raise dissatisfaction among the natives. I \uA the honor of forwarding a letter tv yju relative to this matter on the 10th instant. Waka, after some little time, acquainted me that he thought it was very likely there would be some fighting amongst the nativei, but without any ill-w 11 towards the Governor, a-t it hnd been foretold by their native priests, who are constantly trymg to embroil the tribes, owing to petty quarrels respecting women and pigSt and they apparently place the moit implicit reliance ou such persons. I inquired what Heke was about, and learned from Waka that that chief was outwardly qu'et, but allowed few people to know what hi* intentions were ; ha had turned his mind to agricultural pui suits, and was very busy wilh his people on his laud, having sowed much moie extensively than in former years In order to keep up his dignity amongst his tribe, he had frequently inquired when his Excellency the Governor intended paying a visit, but had no intention of showing him the same courtesy. f No whale ships had been here since the kit visit o H. M. sloop c> Racehorse," in the beginning of March last, and the chiefs acquainted me they thought no arms or ammuni ion had been landed, as the promise of half the line to the informant had stimulated the natives to keep a good look out ; but I gathered through a European that a native had informed kirn that some quantity ot powder had been landed. I called on the Archdeacon, the llev. Mr. Williams, who said affairs were quiet, except the anxiety produced by the report of the spiliation of ihe land, but none had asked his opinion on the matter. As Wdka acquainted me he had some spare time, I accepted his invitation to accompany me to see the chiefs in the north. I thereloie fc«uled on ihe 12th instant, and arrived it* the harbour of Wangaioa on the 13ih. I desired Mr. Meurant to acquaint the nauvo 1 chieis, Tupc and Kururoa, ot my aimal, and beggmg

they would i' 1 ! 1 ' 1 " ()tl l>o<n«l the ship the following morning, which the foimci did, and who, I lcgiet to say, appi aifil m.l veiy piccaiious slate. He expressed iiVhpli sitislnction that his Excellency the Governor had scut .t man-ol wai to visit them, particularly at the present lime, as ho wished lor information to know whether thoie was any tinth in the rcpoil that the Government claimed all land not undo tillage, which had created much uneasiness and anxiety on the paitot'the natives. In the piesence of Tomali VV.ika, ihiough the interpieler, [ q »ye him to understand, upon the autht>nty ol his J'lVcollcney the Govcrnnt, such was not the intention or even the wish, if pradieable, ol the Government; and that no land would he taken excepting with the will and consent of the chiefs, and then gianting 1 hem a pension, but which Kind of lemuneiation the natives don't seem lo iindmtaud. lie said if land was lequived it must be p. i id '01, but several limes exjnessed his wish to live peaceably, and was much gmtified to hear it was the intention of his Excellency lo pay the not them chick a visit, which is most earnestly wished for by all whom 1 have seen : he wjs also much pleased when I made known to him the wish ol the Government to maintain Ihe dignity ol the chiefs. 1 then inquiied if he lived on peaceable terms with his' neighbours, and especially the Hhnopcan setllcis: he icphed that was liis,andall histiibo'sinostaiiAious wish, but thntthcy had much icksou to complain, in consequence ot the Irequent acts ol ticspassingof l.uge herds of cattle and houses over their small patches of cultivated land, thereby destroying their crops: and though sometimes payment was- oflered, yet such tcmuncration, even if equivalent to the loss sustained, did not leiscn the annoyance. I then asked him why he did not fence in his enclosures, which fie said was nearly impossible, as the mns weie veiy extensive, the cultivated patches weie "scattcicd, and n fence sliong enough to keep out iliaiighl bullocks, bulls, and wild hoises, would be expensive and laboiious to make ; and as they only cultivated the same gionnd loi a limited lime, it would be a constant woik. The chief Kuiuioa, thiough indisposition, was not able to come on boiul ; 1 therefore vihited him in his native village, and found him with many ufhisfullowcis; the result of my interview with him was much the same as with thefoimer chief; the fust question was respecting the hind, and the only complaint was on account of the trespassing ; they both feaid they hoped the Government would take immediate steps to put a stop to the repetition of such an annoyance, and though they themselves could peihaps arrange mutters with the proprietors, yet some ol their joung men would take the law into their own hands, and destroy the cattle, if they persisted in thinning their crops ; indeed, some, in my pi escnee spoke in a most determined nnnner. I then called at the missionary stition, where I found the Rev. Mr. Shepherd, who informed me that afFaiis wore a peaceable aspect, though he had heard theic were reports among the natives respecting the land, which gave them a great subject for convention. As I understood he or his sons weie the piincipal pioprietors of the large heids ol cattle, I immediately asked him il he was awaie of such acts of his tiespassing over the native cultivations; which ho admitted was the case, but that they were amply repaid for the loss or injury sustained, but agreed to my suggestion oi meeting the natives half way in fencing in their land, which 1 believe, if practically carried out, would be agreeable to them ; he spoke of the trouble in piocuring heidsincn, but if amply rapaid — from the information I could gather—they would not he so vciydillicult to obtain. If some measures are not speedily taken, such as the adoption of herdsmen, strong cattle fenceb, or lCMdentmagisti ate to adjust differences, or levy fines, I cannot help presuming to obcrve, that I consider some veiy disagreeable disturbances may take place between the two laces ; but it is impossible lo anivc at the tiu'h when the views of the panics are so totally different — when tbcic appears as « uch ill lecling on one side as the othei. Tupe also acquainted me, owing to so much land in scatieied paits being •sold to different individuals, it was very difficult to know the precise houndaiies, and hopei his Excellency the Governor would send some competent person to investigate claims, hy whose decision th«y weie most willing to abide. The following day 1 went to take leave of Tupe, who seemed lo appicciate the ship's visit very much, and also sent to Kuiuioa, to know if he had any communication to make to his Excelleucy '.he Governor ; and they expressed agrtin their desire to see him to settle about the trespassing, and make them certain of the security ofthcii land. I could not learn of any arms or ammunition having been landed, though I inquired of the different natives and Emopeans in the harbour; but it would be no difficult mattei where there arc many whaling nhip'j Lying there in so extensive an haihour, where there is no magistrate or customs' officer. I sailed from Wangaroa on the 15th instant, and arrived at the anchorage at Manganui, the following day, and wai immediately viaited by the chief Nopera, who informed me that he had juit been made very uneasy hy the news which a schooner had brought the previous day fiom Auckland, reporting tliatthe natives were to be deprived of all unoccupied lund, and vx pressed, several times, the greatest satisfaction when 1 contradicted mch a statement : he was much pleaiud, as was also the other chief's, of Nene Waka'd visit to the north ; his presence at this peculiar time, I consider, has been of much importance ; the only complaint he Lad to make wan, that no Europeans came to dwell with them, and that he had been expecting a visit fr >m his Excellency the Governor, for a long time, and had received no answers to two letters he had written several months ago. There had not been any whale ships for four monthi ; but here, us there are frequently many vessels lying at the same time, arms or ammunition may be barteied alongiitle, without the knowledge of anybody, there being no omcia 1 peruon iv the vicinity. I was hero informed there were several chiefs of some importance on the opposite side of the island, distant about 32 tmlen ; I therefore proceeded across the country, slopping at the missionary station. Kaitaia, where I received the greatest civility and assistance from the Rev. Messrs. Matthews and I'uckey, who accompanied me to the valley of the Wairo, to visit the chiefs, Busby and Ford, and others in whose neighbourhood there is an extensive population. I found them most truly delighted with a visit, particularly as they hud heard the same repoit respecting their land, which ap. pears to have been circulated in every direction. They told me they only required peace and a clo-.e intimacy with the Europeans ; and expressed much lurprise that more did not come to live in such a rich and fertile ptrt o f the island ; they were all most busily employed in farming, and had grown more wheat than f irmerly, which was looking most promising, but expressed a fear that there would be no market for its s de. I also saw some other native! of influence, who hoped his Excellency the Governor would pay them a vi&it, but here i received no complaints of tresspassing. Huv.n^ returned to Manganui, and receiving a farewell vuit from Nopera, left on the evening ot the 19th, and returned to tbe Bay oi Islands shortly after midnight on the 20th instant Whilst working in abcui four miles distance from the anchorage of Kororareka, Mr. Bateman th« harbour-master of the port, in company with an armed native canoe, came alongiide, and reported to me that there was an English wbaling barqut

j standing out of^tlic haibour, which bad been detected in selling arms to the natives, aud that lie had attempted to bung her back by boarding, but without success. I immediately hoisted out the boats, and, discovering the 'uil, tucked to near her, having brought her to by firing a shot across her bows. I despatched Lieut Henry jiii charge of the boats, and who took possession of her, sending the master and half the crew (12 men) on board, according to my directions, and brought her to mi anchorflge off Koruiareka. On the forenoon of Saturday, the 21 ht instant, the resident magistrate, Major Patience, came on board and stated ns there was no g'H v l on shore, requested me to detitin the muster rs u pusonur, and to pi event the crew from leaving the ship. Suspecting there might be arms on board for tiaflic, I ordered Lieutenant Bland, with a party, to thoroughly search the said barque, lie found in the customary arm rack in the cabin ten musket, eight bring loaded with small shot, and two others overhead, where the muster sleeps, and six small eannistci's of powdir, which I do not consider more than the usual number for the safety of the ship, and for his own protection against, he stated, a very mutinous crew. She proved to be the ♦' Macquarie," of Hobart Town, of 134 tons, four months out, but without uny oil: Willimn Campbell, master, and Mr. Watson, owner. — Her log, upon inspection, appeared to me to be accurate ; and on mustering the ship's crew, found them to consist of 24 men aud boys. I detained the master on board 11. M. sloop, under my command, as a prihoner at large, but permitted the rest of the crew to repair on board their proper vessel. I took the precaution of unbending her sails, and plnccd a guard, with an officer, to prevent the ciew from deserting, and the ship from leaving the harbour. On Monday and Tuesday, the 23d and 21lli, the master, William Campbell, was tried before the resident magistrate, Major Patience, and justice of the peace, Mr. Clendon, and found guilty of disposing of a musket to a native for a pig, he was fined .£lOO or three months imprisonment, and the vesiel declared forfeited to her Majesty, and was also fined £100 or three months imprisonment for leaving the port without papers, of clearance and £100 for threatening the harbor master in attempting to come alongside in the execution of his duty. I was again requested by the resident magistrate to de'a'm tha said William Campbell as ft prisoner on bomd for conveyance to Auckland, and to take possession of the barque " Macquarie" and send her to the same port as property of the Crown, which leport I had the honor of forwarding to you by the " Maid of the Mill," which sailed last Friday, tha 27th. On my arrival here Nene Waka appeared somewhat concerned, owing to a letter he had received from one of his tribe, requesting him not to be visiting over the country, as he was induce! to believe from the conversation be had had with Heke, that that chief intended rising against Waka, nnd had been consulting with his priest. The latter (Waka) appeared to place some truth in such reports, but the friendly people who hate arrived since from Hokianga and its neighbourhood, have said they have heard nothing to that effect. The last accounts from the Rev. Mr. Davis were, that Heke had gone further into the countiy, and was apparently peaceable in his behaviour, as fur ay we could ascertain. On Friday, the 2/tli, I went up the Kawa Kawi river with Mr. Meurant, the interpreter, arid saw the chief Pomare, who informed me that he thouuht the roun'ry was quiet, and, that for himself the only wish he had was to live on good terms with Europeans and natives. After much inquiry, I was given to understand that Kawiti vr»s living near the pah at Kuaptkapekn, I therefore, in company with seveial of the officers and Mr. Mcuraul, went to seek an into view with him, but could not find him. 1 afterwards heard he had gone to Wmigari ; but he is busily engaged about hu laud, and living very quietly. I intended also paying a visit to Rawa, but the date of the weather did not permit me. I hear his heatlh is in a very bud Rtate, and no symptoms of improvement. The time that you were pleased to limit my stay in the north having expired, I left the Bay of Islands this morning, the 31st, in company with the baique*-' 1 Macquarie," in charge of Lieutenant Henry, and a parly of marines and seamen, to proceed with hef to Auckland. I am sorry to relate, the natives are in most places in a very destitute state ; owing to the failure of potatoes and the late war, they were reduced to fern root. In conclusion, I must take the liberty <o observe, that Mr. Meurant, the interpreter, has been most zea'ous in all duties I have bad occasion to entrust to him, and has rendered me the greatest asHistance. I hope you may be pleased to acquaint his Excellency what a valaable person he is when sent on this service, I have, &c. (Signed) E. S. Sothkby, Commander. Captain J. B. Maxwell, H. M. Ship " Dido.'' Senior Officer at New Zealand. P. S.— By late arrivals of natives and Europeans from Wnngaruru and Wangaroa, I have ascertained that all is quiet there and in the neighbourhood. E. S. S. (True Copy.) J. Coates, C. C. Secretary's Office.

A Priest doing Pknance.— Father Birmingham, of Borrisokane, the author of the celebrated letter preaching blood and slaughter, and who was very properly mspended by his bishop, hai mounted the stool of repentance, and in an abject communication addressed to the Evening Post, the or(?an of the Irish Government, makes an ample retraction of his errors, which, it is to be presumed, will entitle the rev. firebrand to the benefit of full absolution, and, what it nearly as good, be a ready pasiport to the restoration of the snug benefice, the fundt of which were in a fair wiiyof being directed into the pocketi of some brother of the cloth less prone to deeds of war than the correspondent of Mr. Meagher of the Sword.

New White Paint. — The new while paint, of which a temporary mystery was lately made, formed the subject of a paper read by Mr. Forrest, the discoverer, at the Liverpool Polytechnic Society, when he announced his intention to make a present of it to the public, intimating that it consisted of white oxide of antimony, (argentine flowers as it used to be called by the old chemists,) and that it had many advantages as an excellent body paint, superior to white lead, and much cheaper, inasmuch as antimony might be obtained in abundance for about dCI 2 a ton, while lead costs £21< 10s. He also pointed out its greater pei» manency of colour, and its greater capability of being spread over a much larger surface, than an equal quan» tity of white lead. Indeed, it is not only lighter, but m.iy be made moic subtle ; and it was its superiority in these and ctlier lespects that led us to regard it as a likely substitute for lead. It is rather singular too, that the old chemists used to call antimony their lead; maintaining that, in some of its properties, it bore a near affin-ty to lead,— Builder.

Good Oitni.ii. — Good order is the foundation of nil good things. To be enabled to acqu re, tlie people, without being Bcrvilc, must be tractable, un<l obedient. The magistrate must have his reverence, the laws their authority. The body of the people must not find the principles of natural subordination by art rooted out of their minds. They must respect that properly of which they cannot |iai lake. They must labour to obtain what by labour can be obtained ; mid when they find, as they commonly do, the success disproportioncd to the endeavour, they must be tauuht their consolation in the final proportions of eteinnl justice. Of this eonsoliii>n> whoever deprives them, deadens theirf industry, and stiikcs at the root or all acquisition as o all conservation. lie that does this, is the cruel oppressor, the merciless enemy of the poor and wretched ; at the same time, that hy luh wicked speculations, he exposes the (riiitg of successful industry, and the accumulations of fortune to the plunder of the negligent, the disappointed, and the unprospeious. — Burkc's Reflections.