Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 524, 23 April 1851, Page 3

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zea lander. Sm, — The Soutliern Cross, in its report of the unlawful assembling of the Natives in Mechanics' Bay, seemed inclined towards honesty, for once in a way, in dealing with Sir George Grey and his policy. Hut Jusiitia steps in and inoculates the poor fellow with a little of the old virulent infection, and he breaks out again, in his piper of this morning, as violently as ever. I wonder whether this Jnstilia, or bis commentators in the Cross, know more about the matter in which the Natives have been concerned, than the Natives do themselves 1 They have admitted that those of their tribe who attempted to rescue the native thief, on the night he stole the shirt, were in the wrong. They had not been made aware of the whole nature of the case until after they had removed from Mechanics' Bay. Dm ing the melee on the night in question, a canoe manned by a few young natives, started off to the settlement of the Ngatipoa, and on their arrival gave a very exaggerated version of the whole affair. The tribe and its allies immediately nrined and came into town, no dovibt prepared to try their strength with the police, and perhaps with the inhabitants, both of whom had been lepre sen ted to them by the couriers, as having taken part in inflicting injury on one of their chiefs. About two handled and fifty of them arrived on Thursday morning, and reported that a greater number Mill were on their way to join them. Many of the inhabitants felt » great deal of uneasiness from the fact of a large body of natives encamping within (lie town under such circumstances; people felt disconcerted, and their minds became diverted from their usual business— and so well they might, when they remembered the heaitburnings that were occasioned by the hostility of the Maoris ai Kororaiika. Every one looked anxiously at the movements of the Government, but the great majority of the townspeople rested in full confidence on the sagacity of Sir George Grey, whose presence at this time was most opportune. At one o'clock the Lead of the police proceeded to the encampment, and ordered the natives to leave the town forthwith, under pain of being disarmed. The natives, who, since their arrival, had become better enlightened on the subject of the origin of the dispute, at once obeyed, and dragged their canoes from high to low water mark, so as to get off within the prescribed time allowed them to disperse. They proceeded to Oiaki Bay, talked the matter over among themselves, and, before the next day closed, were very anxious to convince the Governor that they felt that they had acted improperly, and on Monday a few of their Chiefs came to him with an offering in their native way, to appease him, and to seek a reconciliation. The elder and peaceable men of this very tribe did not look upon the precautions that were taken as unnecessary — nor does any other unbiased person who has. had ex« perience of the natives' mode of seeking payment for real or imaginary wrongs — and it I am not very much mistaken in my man, this very Jmliiia, would have been glad at one time, long ago, to have seen thu display of an overwhelming force in a district not far tvom Auckland, when his house was attacked and ramacked by natives, although that attack was made upon him in {

retaliation for an net of intermeddling of his own with their mo?t sacred usages. It is nearly time lhat this little clique of mischiefmakers, who have so long heen tolerated amongst us, should be stifled. This Province, in all its interests, has been much damaged hy their interference. I make this assertion well prepaid! to fortify it with good proof, were such proof needed here, but I am well aware that it is unnecessary— a response in affirmation will be uttered by all who have watched this party narrowly throughout their career of unprincipled oppositionopposition only given to those who would not submit to their wisdom as infallible. I am Sir, &c, An Old Settler in New Ulster. April 22, 1851.