TARANAKI. (From our Taranaki Correspondent.)

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 222, 15 September 1847, Page 2

TARANAKI. (From our Taranaki Correspondent.)

The sudden departure of the Katharine Johnstone, on the 31st ult. prevented me seudfag a letter I had written to you. She returned \ esterday after a month's absence. The Carbon arrived at the same time, 16 days from Nelson, bringing Mr. W. G. Bell. The settlement continues dull, or rather becomes more so. The market is well supplied with goods, and a considerable quantity of last year's grain remains for exportation, still there seems no prospect or hope, of improvement. It is said land is all but secured for the Company by the Inspector of Police, on behalf of the Government, but not that paid for in 1840. For several reasons it must remain a useless acquisition, if ever got. It is without roads — out of the direction of Waitara — and bearing in mind the irritable state of the natives, not merely as regards us, but as letween themselves in -every question of land, no man could think of embarking in the duties of a farm in Taranaki in the year 1847. A dispute between the tribes of Taranaki and Puketapu has, unfortunately for us, come to nothing beyond the demolition of the pa at Omata, and the slaughter of pigs there at payment for an injury inflicted^on a native of Taranaki. The Puketapu tribe were merely squatters and the disputed land was abandoned without a struggle to the rightful owner*, who, besides bad the advantage of numbers. Under the impression, however?- that the latter were to receive payment for land south of the Sugar Loaf Islands in which' is iricluded Omata ; upwards of 100 armed Puketapu natives came into town yesterday to demand recompense for their pigs. The day of payment was adjourned, and the Puketapu mob returned home taking Mr. Cooke's fara on their way, of which they seized foui acre* fenced and cleared, and forming part of his farm. The prospects presen: and to come' of this settlement may be easily understood. The Carbon will probably go to Auckland with flour to-morrow morning. '- August 31, 1847.