AUCKLAND. [From the New Zealander, March 16.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 492, 20 April 1850, Page 2

AUCKLAND. [From the New Zealander, March 16.]

We have received from a source oti which we can place the fullest reliance a narrative of some recent proceedings of the contending Waikato tribes which gives a painfully interesting view of the present position of the quarrel, and of the continued improbability of its being speedily adjusted in an amicable manner. From the pievious preparations and threatenings of the parties, there was reason to apprehend that the long-dreaded collision would take place on Wednesday the 6th instant. Aware of this, the Rev. James Wallis, Wesleyan Missionary at Wangaroa, early on the morning of that day, went over the riv,er from his residence to the pa erected by the Waikatos (Te Wherowhero's party) as a fortification. He found the natives all tatua'd, (girded and accoutred,) and armed for the conflict. They were running about in a state of great excitement, and so engrossed in their own speech-making that it was some time before he could obtain a hearing. He felt himself in considerable danger, as they were incautiously and angrily knocking about their muskets, which were all loaded. When he succeeded in fixing their attention, they told him that they were about to go up to the pa of the Waingaroa natives, but that the " tikanya was with him in reference to them (their adversaries)" — that is, that they believed that the

course they (the Waingaroa natives) would pursue would be regulated by his decision. Mr.. Wallis replied that if they would promise not to cut down the peke rar.gi, (the fencing round the Waingaroa fortification) he would engage that no one in that pa would molest them. This he was warranted in undertaking, as he knew the strength of his personal influence there. The question then arose, how near they were to approach the pa. They wished to go nearer than would be at all safe. Mr. Wallis told them that he " would be their mark," meaning that he would stand on the spot beyond which they should not go. All agreed to this, and Mr. Wallis then consented to their desire that they should fire into the earth at that spot. This being arranged, they sat on the ground resting on their muskets, while one of the leaders asked them individually, " E pai ana hoe kia mate? 1 ' — that is, " Are you willing to die 1" Each man readily replied, " E pai ana ahau kia mate!" — " I am willing to die!" — Mr. Wallis then hastened to the other pa, to inform the men of' what had passed. He found them all prepared for the attack. Some of the most turbulent and eager warriors amongst them at first refused to allow the Waikatos to come so near as the place which he had fixed on ; amongst these, Nini, and Te Aoterangi, of Rangikahu (a village on the coast) were prominent. They desired also to remain outside the pa, with a view of letting the opposite pafty see hovr courageous they were ; but as Mr. Wallis had given an assurance that nobody should be outside but himself, he required them all to go in. While be was discussing this point with them, the Waikatos were seen approaching. He then laid hold of one of those who had seemed moat refractory and led him in. The others followed, and he proceeded to meet the coming party, who by that time were close at band. With a view of conciliating both sides as much as possible, he took his stand in a position rather more distant from the pa than he had previously chosen, though not so far off as the people of the pa desired. The Waikatos then came rushing down at the top of their speed, and Mr. Wallis feared that since his leaving them their excitement had increased so much as to make them resolve to act desperately. But, while he stood with his face towards them, he was relieved by hearing their leader cry, when they got within twenty or thirty yards of him, "Xi aTe WariU! Xi aTe Warihi /" that is, "To Mr. Wallis! To Mr. Wallis!" The next moment they all suddenly stopped short at his feet. Here they remainedrFor above five minutes, without uttering a word, but keeping their eyes intently fixed on the pa, while not a movement was seen within the enclosure, nor was a sound heard that could indicate the presence of a human being there. The critical moment in the affair had now evidently arrived; — Mr. Wallis had engaged for the good conduct of the people of the pa, and yet there were a good many who evidently were ripe for fighting and longing to be let loose upon their opponents. At this anxious juncture, their leader cried Whakatika! (Rise); they all immediately rose up, retired backwards a little, and fired into the ground as had been determined. This proceeding was followed by a war-dance, which was continued for half-an-hour, and in which we are informed "they made themselves, if possible, more hideous than usual on such occasions." At the termination of the dance, the people of the pa came out in two bodies, all, of course, armed with muskets, spears, &c. Befo:e coming our, however, they had asked Mr. Wallis's concurrence in their doing so, which he gave only when he had removed the other party to a distance beyond the reach of a musket ball. He then took his stand as their mark. They all stopped at his feet, and then commenced the war-dance on the Waingaroa side. Silence.»was thenceforward wholly at an end, and general confusion prevailed. Both parties occupied a long time in making speeches of defiance, and then they returned to their respective pay. So concludes this remarkable transaction. But the dispute obviously remains as unsettled as ever. Indeed this affair only shows more strikingly what serious grounds of apprehension exist as to its ultimate issue. It is evident that on this occasion a conflict in which scores, if not hundreds, of lives might have been lost, was to all human appaaracce averted | only by the influence and exertions of Mr. Wallis. The case is one of the many in the history of New Zealand in which sanguinary collisions and other disasters have been prevented by the wise and pacific interposition of the Missionaries, whose honourably acquired and religiously exercised influence witb the Native inhabitants, in this, as in various other points of view, must command the respect even of those who do not duly appreciate the spiritual advantages flowing to the Colony through their instrumentality.