WANGANUI

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 188, 19 May 1847, Page 2

WANGANUI

We have received from a correspondent at Wanganui the following account of the causes which led to the murder of Mr. Gilfillan's family, and which have been the occasion of the late disturbance. The Putiki chiefs in arresting these murderers have endered themselves obnoxious to the vengeance of the taua : but for the exertions of these chiefs, the perpetrators of the foulest murders that have ever disgraced the most savage people would have escaped beyond the reach of justice, like Petomi and the murderers of the Gillespies and Rush : — "Wanganui, May 6, 1847. " The natives on their trial in an answer to a direct question from the Court, instantly replied, that the murder of Mr. Gilfillan's family was as utu for the native whom a young naval officer accidentally wounded. The chief John Williams in his examination also directly stated the same ; the prisoners both before and after their trial also persisted in this assertion. On Friday, when the accident happened, some principal Putiki chiefs, Geo. King, and others, were greatly excited, and loudly declared on the beach near my house, that unless Mr. were surrendered to their tender mercies, they would shed some other European's blood, in payment for their wounded man. No one who heard their speeches on that occasion would doubt the ultimate fulfilment of their promises. My own opinion (and 1 believe it is generally entertained by others here) is this, that the savage murderers were instigated to comm t the deed by the inflammatory speeches used on that occasion At the same time we must recollect that these speeches were made during a day of great excitement, — and that the very chiefs who uttered them were Lremost in apprehending the murderers. Their activity and instaut pursuit therefore claim our admi- ; ration, and exonerate (hem from a suspicion j i which would otherwise have inev tably been attached to them. Mr. Matthews, formeily a church Cdtechist'among the natives along our river, has just returned from the tc.ua, and j gives us moit clear and positive information ot j their position, numbeis, &c. T^b.e following is liis account: — The men number about 300, j all armed ; about half with guns, and tlie others wuh tomahawks, &c. : they are on the right bank of ihe river, and about half a mile above Tutihika, about three and a half miles in fact from the Stockade. They, expect directly large reinforcements from the interior ; and Mr. M. says that all Taupo and the Ngatimaniapoto people are to come, and join them ; he also says that Mamoku is expected down, and they are all anxiously waiting his arrival. When Mr. M. saw them a few hours since the men were most busily engaged in cutting a clear and open track about twelve feet wide down the river bank ; all were very sulky, and he would have certainly been killed had not two natives, named Richard Itaua and Nicodemus, conducted him in safety through the taua; but they plainly told him, that if hewere seen again within gun-shot, he would instantly be killed as payment they would have for the four men hanged. Richard Itaua canine down here about eight years since with Mr. M. wl en he left the Bay of Islands for this distiict. Mr. M. also states, that he recognized and spoke to numbers of baptized natives among the taua; Josiah and James, chiefs, and for some years since principal native teachers at Pukahika, were hard at work, clearing ths road, as also the native teachers from the ]jft opposite Pukahika, named Patiariro." m In a postscript written the same evening our correspondent adds :: — • IC P.S. — Sunset. The advanced fires of the taua are distinctly seen from the stockade, and not more than two and a-half miles distant from it.* The road they are cutting is, we bear, to go along the back of the town to the sea beach ; we have also heard that Mamoku was yesterday at Pipiriki with 50 men, and Te Hiki with 60 more : if-this is correct they may be expected here to-morrow. I must confess, that this coalition of rival tribes is a bad featuie, and indicates too plainly a general enmity to Europeans." « We are glad to learn that Mr. Gilfillan and his daughter are considerably better and are likely to recover from the effects of their wounds. A report was brought to the stockade the evening before the Scotia sailed, by some natives who had arrived from the interior, that the Rotorua and Taupo tribes were at war with each other.

We have very great pleasure in inserting the following acknowledgement from the Wanganui settlers, who were passengers in the Scotia, to Mr. J. Jones for his generous assistance in enabling them to remove themselves and their families to a place of safety, and to Capt. Ward for his care and attention to them during the passage :—: — To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, 18th May, 1847. gIRg 1Rj — The Families who have arrived passengers by the Scotia, from Wanganui, are moat anxious to express their gratitude publicly to Mr. Jones, the owner of that vessel, for the very kind manner in which he has afforded them a free passage for themselves and such part of their property as they could bring with them ; and also to Capt. Ward for tbe ready manner in which he gave them every accommodation in his power. In the name of all concerned, I beg to subscribe myself ' Your obedient servant, S. Pakkes v _

The Scotia, on her passage through the Strait on Sunday, saw a vessel making for this Port, which is conjectured to beihe William Hill.

Another new vessel of thirty tons, which has been built to the southward, arrived on Sunday evening from Port Cooper, with sheep and dairy produce. She is to be called the Jlgnes Hay, aud promises to be a valuable addition to the coasters belonging to this Port.