New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, August 19, 1848.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 319, 19 August 1848, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, August 19, 1848.

We regret to perceive, in the last New Zealander we have received, a suggestion seriously advanced of an address to Captain Fitzroy, from the inhabitants of the capital (?) of New Zealand — for what ? (we quote the words of our contemporary) — " if only, by its echo, to give vitality to the able vindication by Lord Stanley^ of Captain Fitzroy's honour and integrity" ! — Such a suggestion in the Southern Cross would have been natural enough, for there is nothing too absurd for the Editor of that journal, but we scarcely expected to find it in the Nei<! Zealander. We can only regard the proposition, if seriously entertained, as the expiring effort of the landshark clique. To compare the two Governors were an insult to common sense. We have neither space nor inclination to recall a tithe part of Captain Fitzroy's demerits. Think of the debentures of 11 That cutpurse of the Empire and the rule." Think of his Penny an acre Proclamations ! Captain Grey deserves the gratitude of the Southern settlers, if it be only for his determined, his manly resistance to the combination of the land jobbers of the North, who would divide that fair domain, as their peculium, expecting the Government expenditure to confer additional value on their unlawful gains. The settlers of the Southern settlements have juster views of the uses of the districts to be acquired from the natives. They regard them as a trust in the hands of the Government, the proceeds of which ought to be applied to immigration and other public purposes, and they look to his Excellency to interpose on their behalf that these funds be honestly appropriated to their legitimate objects, and not diverted to the exclusive benefit of a grasping Company, or scrambled for by individual rapacity.

The Carbon from Wanganui, (which received the news from the Fisherman from Taranaki) brought .an account of a dispute between Mr. Brown and a native of that settlement which it was apprehended might lead to serious consequences. As several versions of the affair are current, we have taken some pains to ascertain the facts, and believe the following may be depended on as a correct account of the circumstances. On Thursday, 27th July, Mr. Brown was informed by a native that a taua headed by a native woman named Epee, a sister of Etako, was coming to attack his house. As the same person had previously headed a taua which had burnt a house and stack of wheat belonging to some natives, and had attempted to burn a house belonging to one

of Mr. Brown's natives, he immediately hastened home on receiving this information. The natives, about 25 in number, had assembled on the brow of a hill, on each sfde the road called the Devon line, near the Onatoke bridge. About 3 o'clock finding they did not disperse, Mr. Brown sent a native lad to them telling them to go home, which they refused to do, and fearing they intended a, night attack, he mounted his horse and rode towards them, when they all, with the exception of one or two, ran away. Mr. Brown passed close to one of the men, and asked him if he intended to bring the taxta against him, and understanding his answer to be in the affirmative, in the heat of the moment, he struck him with the handle of his whip, and the man rolled to the ground stunned from the force of the blow. Perceiving the man" was wounded Mr. Brown dismounted, and requested Mr. Watt, who had come up, to examine the wound. The natives said he was dead, and directed some of their number to run to the pas an J tell them that Brown had killed Witana, and a boy jumped on horseback to convey the information, but fearing the consequences of their sudden excitement, Mr. Brown rode after the boy and brought him back, and begged them to wait until the doctor had examined the wound. This they would not allow ; Mr. Brown then offered to go with them to the pa and abide the result, but they refused, saying " do not go ; you will be killed." Mr. Brown then told them as he had committed the act under the impression the law intended attacking him, he alone was to blame, and that he hoped they would not injure the other white men. They answered they would leave the affair to be judged by the Magistrate, and removed Witana and went home. The next morning Mr. Brown was taken into custody and brought before Captain King the Resident Magistrate, and Messrs Wicksteed and Wilson, on a charge of having unlawfully assaulted Witana, and"was ultimately remanded until the 31st when he was again brought before a full bench of magistrates, when the affidavit of Dr. Wilson pronounced the native to be out of present danger, but that it was not impossible inflammatory symptoms might ensue. Mr. Brown was then again remanded. The natives have behaved very quietly, and have not molested any of the settlers ; they were much excited at first until they ascertained the extent of injury Witana had received, and never went beyond the Pa in which he was, and then only for the purpose of seeing him. The chiefs unanimously agreed to wait the result, and to leave the matter to be decided by the Resident Magistrate. A special messenger was sent off by the Resident Magistrate to Mr. M'Lean, the Native Protector, at Wanganui, who returned- on the following Saturday. The latest accounts state the native to be recovering, and it is to be hoped that this unfortunate affair, which, none will more seriously deplore than Mr. Brown himself, may end without any further unfavourable result.