PROCLAMATION.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 22, 8 March 1845, Page 3

PROCLAMATION.

By his Excellency Robert Fits Roy, Esquire Captain in her Majesty's Royal Navy, Governor and Cofnmander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of New Zealand, and Vice Admiral of the same, Whereas it has been ascertained (hat Mate, pne of the Chiefs named in the Proclamation dated Jan. Bth, 1845 — was not concerned in the outrage at MataJcana: no reward vyill be paid for his apprehension and delivery. Given &c, at Government House, Auckland, this 31st day of January, 1845. Robert' fitzroy, Governor. By command, Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary. God Save the Queen !

-♦ We insert the following statement on the authority of Mr. C. Brown, a respectable settlei' at Taranaki- Under any other Governor we should consider the Local authorities highly reprehensible in not taking immediate steps to inquire into and punish a murder so deliberate and revolting , but we suppose they act on instructions from his Excellency, who has declared it "unjust and unchristian to exact rigorous obedience to our laws from the intelligent, active, and daring chiefs of New Zealand," and therefore crimes such as these are committed with impunity, and will, we fear, become matters of daily occurence : — Some time in 1844, 'Te Paipa left his chief wife at Mokau and with his slave wife proceeded to Waimate to see her relations, who would not allow her to go back with him, and in the place of it, offered Te Paipa land at Waimate if he chose to remain with his wife among them. This was declined. On 6th December an axe and tomahawk were missed, the former of which Te Paipa acknowledged to have thrown in the ferns and a f terwards gave it up. Early in January some Mokau natires went to Waimate to fetch Te Paipa, on- which occasion as the girl would not return with him, be dragged her naked down a precipitous cliff, with brutal usuage. On the 4th February Te Paipa asked his wife (E' Motu) to go with him to see some tui's nests which he had found, in order that she might take the young birds in his absence as he purposed leaving on the Monday following. When he got her some distance iv the bush he barbarously murdered her with the stolen tomahawk, buried her with the exception of her feet which were visible above ground, and then fled for Makau which he reached iv an extra-

ordinary short time. Mr. Charles Brown recommended the natives to leave the matter to the Governor ! and arrived in New Plymouth with early intelligence of it. There is no doubt the murder was coolly deliberated on and wholly unjustifiable, and the Governor will now have the opportunity of shewing if he is really the friend, father, &c, of the natives, or whether all he has said amounts to nothing more than pretension.

We are sorry to state tha , within the last week, several animals have been shot at, and a valuable horse belonging to Mr. Tankersley has been destroyed, and another belonging to Mr. Hunter seriously injured, by some person or persons unknown. While it is doubtful whether these offences have been committed by settlers or by the natives, we forbear making any comments ; but we think it the duty of the Police Magistrate to use every exertion for the purpose of detecting and punishing the guilty parties, and of removing suspicion from the innocent. We would only remark, that if these offences have been committed by settlers in consequence of these animals having trespassed in their gardens, however great the provocation may be, it is no excuse for any one to destroy ihe property of another because his own has been injured, still less to take away the life of a valuable animal for the sake of a few cabbages, while the law provides an ample reparation from the owner of the animal for any injury the aggrieved party may have sustained.

Lines suggested by his Excellency's having made an additional payment of six hundred pounds for the valley of the Hutt to Rauperaha and Rangihaeata, who received the money and retained the land. (When lovely woman stoops to folly.) When Captain Fitzroy stoops to folly, And finds his Maori pets betray, While with the money they're so jolly,,* What art shall wash his guilt avvay? The only way his shame to cover, To ease his conscience from the rack, Ajid give relief to every lover Of justice, is — to send him back. * Rauperaha and Itangihaeata sacrifice 'iberally to the jolly god, the only god in whom they have any faith.

•Extract of a letter from Hokianga :—: — " There has been a brisk demand for kauri gum for shipment at the Bay of Islands, and as this place is situated in the heart of the kauri district, we have participated in the advantages of the trade. Several tons have already been sent from here, and a considerable quantity is in course of collection. The price for clean gum of good quality has been £7 10s. per ton, or £10 per ton delivered at the Bay of Islands. A Spanish American ship is vow in this river, she is loading with small spars for Valparaiso, which were purchased at ss. per 100 feet. The Guide, of Sydney, is loading with deck plank, the p^jfpe of which here is 6s. per 100 feet —3o to 40 feet long. Tanning bark and dye woods may be had here in any quantities."