TAHITI.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 36, 14 June 1845, Page 4

TAHITI.

By the Ann schooner, which arrived on Tuesday, we have received news from Tahiti and the adjacent islands up to the 3d March. , Queen Pomare was still residing at Raiatea, and the French still in possession of Tahiti. The French Protectorate Flag was hoisted at Papeete, the principal port of the island of Tahiti, on the Bth January, being a few days after the -sailing of the schooner Coquette, which brought us the last accounts in the early part of February last ; similar flags were also hoisted on the adjacent islands — at Raiatea, where the Queen, as above stated, was residing, at night, by the commander of the French steam erPhceton; and at Huahine. The natives at Raiatea and Huahine pulled them down and burnt them ; that at the former island was burnt at daylight the following morning, and that on the latter, two days afterwards. H.M.S. Talbot, 26 guns, Captain Sir T. R. T. Thompson, Bart., arrived at Tahiti on the 1 lth February, from Valparaiso. Governor Bruit was ill at that time, and the next officer, the Captain of the French frigate Uraine', went on board to enquire for despatches; the Captain of the Talbot had none. He was asked by the French officer to salute the Protectorate flag ; Captain Thompson said he was ordered by the Admiral to have no communication with the French. The French Government then ordered a man-of-war's boat to row guard between the English sloop-of-war and the shore, to prevent the officers and crew from landing. The English inhabitants at Papeete were allowed to pass from the shore to theSalamander,andthence to iheTalbot, but no direct communication was allowed to the Talbot from on shore. The Talbot was towed to sea by the Salamander after five days' stay, taking the Consul (Miller) and Vice-Consul (Sea) from the island, leaving another Mr. Miller to watch the movements of the French during their absence. It was rumoured that these two gentlemen were proceeding to Oahu, fpr the purpose of holding a council of war, relative to Tahitian affairs ; at which place it was also rumoured that H.M.S, Collingwood, 80, flag-ship, Rear- Admiral Sir G. F. Seymour, G. C.H., Capt. H. Eden ; the America, 50, Capt. Hon. John Gordon ; the Fisgard, 42, Capt. J. A. Duntze; and the Cormorant, 6, st. sloop, Com. G. T. Gordon, would meet for a like purpose, before proceeding to Tahiti. • A iftw was promulgated while the^Talbot was there, by Governor Bruat, to the effect that all foreigners should give eight days' notice of their intention to leave the island, otherwise they would be detained during the Governor's pleasure. The following is a copy of a passport given by the police after this proclamation : — Mr. James Wilson is authorized to take his passage in the schooner Ann, for Sydney. (Signed) P. Clouz. The British Consul and the Vice, although they left before the expiration of the eight days after the issue of the proclamation, without any attempt on the part of the French authorities to stop them, a carpenter named Marshall, who was desirous to leave in the Rifleman, London whaler, was taken out of that vessel and brought ashore — although he had made every preparation to leave prior to the French Governor's notice. Pomare was living in a miserable hut at Raiatea. The Europeans are considerably harassed by the French authorities, and after 8 p.m., no person is allowed to be out of doors 1 without a light. A British schooner (the Union) arrived at Papeete, with the crew of a wrecked American whaler (the AverickJ, and having

landed them, the captain of the schooner 1 demanded hie clearance, which the French refused to give liim, until Capt. Hamond remonstrated with the Governor. This p^teeeding detained the schooner four or five days. The captain of the London barque Cimlah (Crawley), -^ras put into the watch-house, during the stay of the Talboi, on suspicion of his being an officer in disguise, from H.M. Ship, and he was not released before his identification by the British Consul. The port (Papeete), was filled with aboriginal prostitutes, attracted by the French soldiery. The loyal subjects of Pomare were encamped about ten miles from this port, at a place called Point Venus, from which place they can observe the movements of the shipping either coming in. or going out. The natives keep quiet, but being encamped on both sides of the town, are ready for an attack should any assistance be rendered them by the English. There are two fortifications at Raiatea, capable of a firm resistance, should the French attempt to molest them.