SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 108, 12 August 1846, Page 3

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Several collisions have taken place lately between the settlers and- natives. We have extracted accounts of some of the most recent :—: —

Affray with the Natives. —The blacks in the Mount Barker district have of late been rather troublesome ; and the very great forbearance with which the settlers have generally treated them has, as usual, only had the effect of inceasing their insolence. Lately a petty robbery was committed by them at one of Mr. Harriott's stations, and on corporal Rose proceeding with another of the mounted police to search the native encampment for the stolen property,'he was forcibly resisted and speared, and now lies at Golland'3 inn in some danger. A native was shot in the scuffle, and after a severe struggle, MuU hearne, a very active member of the mounted police force captured a native" implicated. — South Australian Gazette, May 16.

Rivoti Bay District. — Intelligence was received last night at the Office of the Commissioner of Police from the Mount Gambier station, that two affrays had taken place between the blacks and the police. The natives, it appears, have been carrying off the sheep from some of the stations, and in one iustance were traced by the police, and one or two settlers -who came up to a party of between 50 and 60 men, with a large number of women and children, in the act of killing and cooking the* sheep and lambs they had carried off. The police at once attempted to arrest some of the natives, but the men immediately commenced an attack by throwing spears, &c. Two of the natives were wounded ; and another being shoe dead by one ot the police, the whole party ran off to the scrub where pursuit became impossible. — Ibid, May 30. We regret to have to announce another skirmish with the native blacks. If appears Corporal M'Culloch, stationed at Mount Gambier, learning that some sheep had been stolen from the station of Mr. Stirling in that neighbourhood, as aiso that a box. belonging to one of the men had been broken open, and his clothes abstracted, in his search for the offender with other constables, whose names we' have not been enabled to procure, came across a body of natives, whom he found roasting a large lamb, and part of a sheep. The police called upon them to lay down their spears ; but immediately they heard their voices, and saw them approach, they nnfastened them, and began to shake them in defiance. The police, in spite of their threatenings, commenced appreheuding several. One of the police, finding himself in close quarters and overpowered, called out for assistance, which being immediately rendered, the remainder formed themselves into a body round a tree, and raised their spears, evidently for hostilities, and as onewasin the act of throwing his spear at the police, he was immediately shot in the abdomen." 'Although mortally wounded, he rose,' jhrew his spear, and then died. The overseer, at the station, who accompanied the police, shot a second, who was on the point of spearing one of the patty. A third then threw his spear, but it passed by the shoulder of the constable, whom it was intended to strike, and he immediately fired his carbine, shooting the native dead. — Adelaide Observer, May 30.

Governor Grey in New Zealand — We are glad to announce that letters have been received from Governor Grey, 'dated Port Nicholson, written" on the eve of his departure for* Auckland. He wrote in high spirits, stating that he had accomplished successfully the objects he had in view in visiting, the Southern Districts; that he had established military posts in all the disturbed district, and commenced military roads, which, when completed, would give access to them at all important points. He would thus tranquillise the country, and render life and property secure, We earnestly trust and believe that henceforth, also, he.will have little difficulty with Heki and his ,

robber chiefs. It is well known that the New Zealanders have generally an extreme anxiety to keep fair with the winning side, and are extremely avaricious. We think, therefore, that their caution and fear of losing their property will prevent the bulk of the chiefs from joining Heki.