TARANAKI. [From our Correspondent.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 286, 26 April 1848, Page 2

TARANAKI. [From our Correspondent.]

In No. 274 of the New Zealand Spectator of the 15th ultimo, appeared the particulars of Governor Grey's last visit to this settlement; on which occasion, at the request of the landowners, his Excellency gave permission to Mr. Bell to negociate with the natives for any land within the limits of Mr. Spain's award. As that is the first instance in this settlement in which such authority has been delegated to the New Zealand Company, it is material that this communication giving an outline of the first practical result of that per*

nission should be taken in continuation of the report contained in the number of the Spectator referred to. Ths new purchase previously calculated at 1000 or 1200 acres, including land belonging to three of our settlers, comprises about 2000 acres, commencing near the Hua pas, and runuing eastward in the direction of the river Mangoraka, and bounded on the west by the set. The extent of the land is so small in comparison with the total quantity contained in Mr. Spain's award that at first sight it may not appear of much importance. But the real importance of it is not in the extent of land acquired, but in any land at all having bten acquired from the Puketaj v tribe. It was not obtained without much disagreement and dispute among the natives themstlves. When Mr. Be 1 proceeded to cut the boundary lines, the fight of words was exchanged for real trials of strength between the sellers and their antagonists. Af^er a certain point the ground was fought fur inch by inch. Fences crossing the line were cut down and destroyed by the line cutters, and quickly replaced by the opposing party, while the former were hastening onwards with their work. The combatants carefully avoided using on each other the sharp side of their tomahawks, contenting themselves with occasional blows with the back part of them to rescue their friends from the rough treatment received on each side. All these struggles ended in the hostile party overcome by numbers, and the doubtfulness of their cause, jielding the ground, when tangis and feasts settled all differences. But by far the most important result of this recent contest for the land was the successful resumption of authority over their people by the old chiefs Paora, Ringaringa, Taitua, &c, without loss of blood. The conquest of the district by the Waikato, the great slaughter j of the natives, and the captivity and escape by flight of nearly all the survivors, had broken up the different tribes, and destroyed their power. The few, comparatively speaking, who in after years found their way back, dispirited by deleat, paid little or no attention to native rank. It had lost its utility and attraction and fell into decay, and no effort was made to exercise it. They likewise disregarded native boundaries, and indeed there was little need of them for the small remnants of the once populous tribes who on their return found themselves the sole occupants of such large districts of land. The principle urged by the missionaries for the avoidance of war and espoused by a large majority of the natives themselves, had likewise uo small share in destroying chieftainship among their ranks, and bringing the members of each tribe as nearly as practicable to one common level. Hence following the colonisation of this district by Europeans under the Company, and the unfortunate policy by which the councils of the Local Government were directed arose large and general claims by such men as Katatori, who up to His Excellency's visit in February, 1847, led all Puketapu by his oratory and example. Paora on that occasion refused to meet or hold any communication with the Governor, although sent for. But when he afterwards willed that the Eupopeans should have land, it was elicited in ' Komiti' that the native boundaries and right to land could only be defined and claimed by the old men. So Paora and the other chiefs favourable to us, asserted their claim of right by birth and other qualifications recognised among natives to deal with the land, which after the hostile demonstration mentioned, was submitted to by those opposed to him with the conviction of its justice. For Katatori, the open and consistent enemy to our occupation of any portion of Pcketapu for nearly six years, has, notwithstanding his opposition to the Governor last month, ceased to be formidable, and given bis consent to the boundaries of the purchase ; while other junior members of the tribe finding their claims unheeded, now ask that small detached cultivations may be secured to them ; but Mr. Bell refuses to consent to any but single reserves for the use of the different tribes. These are a sample of claims by natives to land which the Government of New Zealand for years encouraged to such an extent that the efforts of Governor Grey to arrange them amicably have been wholly unavailing. Claims in the other districts in the settlement will henceforth be decided by the old chiefs, the only men really qualified by native custom to deal with them. A precedent of this nature laid down only a few months earlier, might have secured our lands from the Waikanae natives, who wil most certainly complicate the difficulties which have impeded our advance. Yet in preference to the ruinous consequences of war, which an attempt to recover the land by force would entail on the settlement, His Excellency is exercising great prudence and consideration for us in attempting to patch up a treaty surrendering to the natives of Waikanae land at Waitera which they have been determined on occupying at all risks.

It is to be believed that the fear of the consequences of a division of the tribe was the secret cause why the Government did not take steps to acquire the land. The result of a trial has been not only to prove that even about questions of land the people of the same tribe will not willingly fight amon£ themselves, but to demolish the opposition to sales generally, and thereby lay the foundation of others on a larger scale. When, therefore, it was intimated to his Excellency that land was to be gut between Waiwakaiho and Waitara for the trying, the landowners were correct ; for it will be remembered that one month only has elapsed since the Governor's visit, wiihin which time Mr. Bell, with the history of the last seven years before him, made his first experiment on the most uncompromising natives in the whole settlement in the matter of land ; succeeded in making every important arrangement for the sale, and with the aid of sixty natives, including all the principal chiefs, that none might hereafter say they were not parties to it, cut the lines after the first skirmish by almost general consent. The purchase may be said to be perfectly safe, and we may go on the land as early as we please ; and the sooner the better, as the natives are earnest in their request that we will cultivate the land at once ; and they have parted with it under ihe impressic n that it is really required for our use. But so long as it remains in its present wild state, the natives will never believe in our outcry for land. With respect to the land itself purchased by Mr. Bell, it fortunatt-ly happens to be all good and available. There is a lair proportion of wood, and the land is well watered by two small streams, the Mangati and Waitaha; while to make it more acceptable to the settlement, the back portion of the block almost entirely consists of lands unsold by the Company ; so settlers wanting land may at once without waiting for fresh purchases have an ample choice for their occupation, which would not have occurred if the block had chiefly consisted of sections held by absentees. The other purchase includes the farm of Mr. Cooke, J.P., at the Hua, and some land adjoining, to the cultivation of which the natives have already given their consent. We have had several importations of cattle t\ is year, but the high prices are not affected. The Siar of China landed from Sydney the Bth February, 31 horned cattle, 71 sheep, and 1 horse; and returned on the 4th instant, 9| days from Sydney, with 36 heifers, and 5 mares. She has gone to Nelson to return in about a week an<? load with potatoes for the Sydney market. On the 31st ult., 43 heifers, and 9 horses, arrived overland, being the remainder of a herd of 140 heifers, and 20 horses, which left Wellington 17th Feb., in charge of the owners Mr. M'Donald, and Mr. Wallace; 95 heifers and 9 horses were sold on the line of road to Europeans and natives, and those brought into the settlement disposed of a few days afterwards. The cutter Fly arrived yesterday four days from Wellington ; and the schooner Mary Ann, this morning, from the same port ; the last vessel was previously reporteJ here by the Supply, which left her in Port Hardy. The market is full of goods, and owing to the absence of rain there is no flour for return freight. The grain has been accumulating for some time, but the mill, from the low state of the river, can only grind for home consumption. April 17, 1848.