AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 107, 8 August 1846, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

Meeting of Purchasers of Land from ' the Natives. On Thursday last, a" numerous and highly respectable meeting of the residents of Auckland and its vicinity, interested in this question was convened at the Exchange Hotel. The history of this meeting, as we gathered from the statements of one of the speakers, is as follows ;—; — After the publication of the Government Gazette, Mr. Hart, one of the late land purchasers, waited upon his Excellency, to point out certain grievous inconveniences that would result to the settlers from his Excellency's notices published therein. Mr. Hart very justly remarked that the mere announcement in the Gazette of another Land Commission, with its vexatious delays, and, (if like the former commission,) its expensive impositions, was enough to damp the spirits, and prostrate the energies of the entire population. His Excellency, in reply, stated it to be bis con-

viction, that the unrestricted sale of lands was a concession, wrung from his predecessor, by conspiracy and intimidation ; and in support of this opinion, he read a despatch from the. late Governor to Lord Stanley, in which, he considered the fact was implied. His Excellency seemed to mis-conceive the motives which induced Mr. Hart to deprecate the formation of a new Land Commission — and intimated, that the public had better not attempt to contravene his measures by agitation, or intimidate by conspiracy — if they did, he would leave Auckland. Mr. Spain, formerly Chief Commissioner of Land Claims in New Zealand, left Auckland July 2d. for Sydney, with the view of practising his profession in that colony. We have heard it rumoured that Mr. Tucker and Mr. Henry Clarke are about to be discharged from the Public Service, and that Ensign Symonds.is to Jbe Protector and Secretary for the natives. — New Zealander, July 4.-

Surveyor-General. — This officer has returned from Waikato, having arrived in town on Tuesday evening last. We understand that his mission hasproved wholly unsuccessful; he has not been able to reconcile the contending Tribes, by effecting a purchase of ihe disputed land. When he arrived, in company with a party of Ngatitipa, Ngatieata bid them defiance, and hoisted the red flag as a challenge to the combat. Such being the animus of the disputants, of course, Mr. Ligar had no opportunity of trying his peace persuading powers. We confess that we were apprehensive this effort would fail, as we could discover no indication of a yielding spirit on the part of Ngatieata and Ngatipou ; and when we were told that Mr. Ligar had gone in company with some of the disputants, we felt certain that he would compromise himself with the other party, — appear to them like a partisan, and render his failure inevitable. Ib. July 18.

Native Feast at Matamata. — By alettei bearing date June 21, 1846, from our correspondent in the interior, we are enabled to give the following particulars respecting this festival : — On Tuesday the 16th, 4,000 baskets of potatoes and kumeras (sweet potatoes) were served out to commence with. On the 17th, the greatest part of the day was occupied by Archdeacon Brown and Rev. T. Chapman in assembling rhe natives in their respective classes. About 900 were thus pleasingly engaged, the remainder were bystanders. The 18th was the great day for the food. 8,000 baskets of potatoes ami kumeras, half a million of &As t 900 pigs, 10 casks of tobacco, aod-a^quantity of European clothing, an account of which I was unable to take, were all served out in Lts ! The length of the pile which was formed of these articles, was 200 feet, its width 8 feet, and its height 5 feet : the eels, and the tobacco, which was cut up in portions for the respective tribes, composed the 1 uppermost layer of the whole. I forgot to say, that on the aiter part of the day, on the 1 7th, peace was formally made between the tribes of Ngatihaua and Ngatiwakaue ; a sight which afforded us much interest and pleasure to behold. These people were engaged for eight years in a bloody war ; and had it not been for the influence of William Thompson, (Tarapipipi, the master of the feast), the son of the great Waharoa, whose name to this day conveys terror to the southern tribes, perhaps they might, instead of sitting and mingling with each other on friendly relations, have been still engaged in their warlike pnrsuits. About 4,000 natives were present; a small number compared to what was expected : but this may be accounted for by the winter season ; and the Taupo tribes were prevented from coming in consequence of the melancholy accident, attended with great loss of life, which took place about a month ago. Mr. J. Johnson, son of Dr. Johnson, who is now on his return, informs me, that he has visited the scene of this awful calamity. About fifty human beings were all in an instant overwhelmed by a landslip. This took place in the dead of the night, and none escaped to tell the dreadful tale. While Mr. Johnson was there, they were busily engaged in getting oat the bodies j and amongst others were those of the principal chief of Taupo, Heuheu, and his son Taraati Waka, and their families. — New Zealander.