FATAL AFFRAY BETWEEN THE NATIVES AND EUROPEANS AT WAIROA.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 93, 20 June 1843, Page 2

FATAL AFFRAY BETWEEN THE NATIVES AND EUROPEANS AT WAIROA.

The Government l Brig arrived here on Sunday morriinjg, bringing the intelligence of*a collision between the Natives and Europeans at Wairoa, in which several persons were seriously wounded on both sides, and five or six individuals killed.

From what we can learn, it appears that Mr. Cotterell, one of the Surveyorsbelonging to the Nelson staff, was in the Wairoa district following his duties, when he was’: attacked by the Maories, and his hut burnt down. He immediately sent off a dispatch to Captain Wakefield to inform him of the circumstance. On receipt of the intelligence Captain Wakefield, Mr. Tuckett, Mr. Thompson, J.P., with about twenty other persons, started in the Government Brig for Wairoa. On arriving there, they found the Natives encamped. Mr. Thompson, Obtain Wakefield, and one or two other parties, proceeded up to the encampment, and stated that they had a warrant for the apprehension of Rauparaha, the chief, for assaulting a European, and burning down his hut. They explained to him the nature of the warrant, and told him, that as he was a subject of her Britannic Majesty he must not presume to take the law into his own hands; but, if he had any just grounds for complaint, he must submit them to the constituted authorities, who would redress his grievances. In the present instance he had disobeyed those laws, in seeking to redress by violence his supposed injuries, and therefore they were come to apprehend him. He. refused to allow himself to be taken, and was - told, that if -he resisted, orders would be given to take him by force. A canoe was then ordered to be placed across a stream or gully for the main body of the Europeans to cross over to the Maori l encampment, which had no sooner taken place, when a gun was fired by a European (whether accidentally or purposely we cannot learn) on which a general engagement ensued. After several persons were wounded on both- sides, and we believe four Englishmen killed,-the latter retreated, finding tnemselves unable to accomplish the object of their mission.

The Brig was immediately-dispatched to this port for assistance, bringing some of the wounded parties with-them to-receive surgical assistance. On the arrival-of the vessel in Port Nicholson, a meeting ‘Of‘the magistrates was convened for the purpose >of considering the steps to be taken to render efficient aid to our fellow colonists-of tlie -Nelson settlement. After taking the- depositions of Mr. Tuckett and other parties who were conversant of the facts, it was resolved that the Government Brig should proceed to the scene of action, taking on board Mr. Macdonough and -other magistrates and a number of volunteers. We believe about 70 persons sailed in the brig on Sunday morning, but were unable, on account of the strong south-easterly wind, to clear the heads, and she lies anchored off Somes’

We learn also that a Wesleyan chapel is being erected at the Motuaka, and that the foundation stone for one at the Waimea will be laid in a few days. The building at i:he Motuaka will be of wood, Wd 'the natives have bartered potatoes to supply-the materials. At the Waimea, bricks will be used, and the entire expense defrayed by the*inhabitants,'either by donations of money,‘labour, or materials.

Fixings.—Boz gives us some new and amusing specimens'of the current vocabulary of America. “ We were a pretty tall time coming that last 15 mile—that’s a fact.” “Pretty loud smell of'varnish, sir.” These are common examples; -but of all the genuine contributions of the Americans to the vernacular dictionary, the word “fix” is their own favourite. “Will you try,” said my opposite neighbour, handing me a dish of potatoes, broken Up in milk and butter, “ will you try some of these fixings ?” There are few words which perform such various duties as this 'word ‘fix.’ 'lt is the Caleb Quotem of the American vocabulary. You-call upon a gentleman in a country town, and his help informs you that he is'* fixing himself just now, but will be down-directly: by whioh you are to understand 'that -he is dressing. You inquire on board a'steam-botft, of a fellow passenger, whether breakfast will be ready <soon, and he tells you he should think so, for when he was last below they were ‘fixing the tables;’ in other words laying the cloth. Beg a pbrter to collect your luggage, and he entreats you not to be uneasy, for he’ll ‘fix it presently;’ and if you complain of indisposition, you are advised to have recourse to-Doctor So-and-so, who will ‘ fix you in no time.’ One night I ordered a bottle of mulled wine at an hotel where I was staying, and waited a long time for it: at length it was put upon the table, with an apology from the landlord that he feared it wasn’t ‘fixed properly.’ And I recollect once, at a stage coach dinner, overhearing a very stern gentleman demand of a waiter who presented him with a plate of under-done roast beef, ‘ whether he called that fixing God A’mighty’s vittles ?”' An Irish Row.--A couple of. Irish basket women, denizens of the polished locality of Buckeridge street, came before Mr. Hardwick, for the second time within the week, on a summons for assault.. Both parties were provided with the usual evidence of ah Irish row—black eyes, torn caps, and a good double-handful of each other’s hair. “ Yer wertchip, sur,” began Mrs. Cavan, “ I can’t go about me lawful Warrants widout being knocked down before me own dure, and torn to pieces every day, by which manes me life’s in danger. . Plaze yer

banner, sur, bind lier over to the pace, as I’m only a lone woman, and she’s got a husband to take her part and do for her.” Mr. Hardwick: You were both here a day or two ago for lighting. The defendant, I think,’ stated she was jealous of you. Defendant: That’s the blessed trute, yer hanner. She harbours me own husband iv’ry Saturday night till Monday morning, and so I can't.get no good of him. Complainant: Don’t spake of good in a husband. You may take half the husbands and burn them in Smithfield, and then there will be as many good ones left as before. Mr. Hardwick: But is it true, as this woman states, . that you harbour her husband ? Complainant: She can’t prove, yer hanner, that I ever took the loan of him in me life. Mr. Hardwick (to defendant): Why did you assault this woman ? Defendant: She insaulted me.fusht, yer hanner. I was coming by her place widout me shoes or stockings, when she came out to stame her potatoes, “ Hould hard, Mother Cavan, sis I, “.and me wid me naked feet.” “To blazes wid the likes ov ye,” sis she, staming the biling water over me legs. “ Do ye mane that,” sis I, giving her a taste of the quart pot over her head. “ Yes, I do, and this too.” sis she, hitting me a whack with the tater sarspan, Mr. Hardwick : Have you any witnesses ? Complainant: Call on Jerry Callaghan, the last man that sav’d me. Defendant: He’s a Buckeridge-street boy, yer hanner, and you may buy ’em all for a glass of gin. Jerry Callaghan could say nothing more than that Misthress Barnes cum along the street wid something which he never seen, and took her oath she’d either have off Misthress Cavan’s cap, or *• wash her hands in her liver before next wake.” On the other side, one Bridget Brenan deposed that she heard Mrs. Cavan say she’d as much right to Mrs. Barnes’s husband as Mrs. Barnes, and that Mrs. Barnes might “go put her head in a bag.” Mr. Hardwick: You appear to be very quarrelsome people in this neighbourhood. I shall put a fine of 7s. on the defendant, and if any more squabbles take place I’ll bind you both over to keep the yeace.