AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 601, 7 May 1851, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

[From the New Zealander, April 19.]

The offence taken by the Ngatipoa natives in consequence of the affair between them and the police (which was detailed in the New Zealander of Wednesday) excited apprehensions in many minds which, we are happy to say, have not been justified by the event. The natives, however, did make some demonstration in the case. On Thursday morning they, to the number of two hundred and fifty, landed at Mechanics’ Bay, where the chief in whose person they thought they had been insulted, met them. All came supplied with arms and ammunition. There are various reports respecting the particular kind of “satisfaction” which they had intended to demand ; but the fact of their having assumed so hostile an attitude obviously prevented any such concession as a friendly korero for the settlement of the matter, and the Governor-in-Chief judiciously resolved that they should be commanded either to give up their arms, or to leave the town. Immediate and efficient measures were adopted to be prepared for any contingency that might arise; the 58th Regiment, the Sappers and Miners, the Artillery, the Pensioners stationed at Onehunga, (whom Major Kenny in a remarkably short time had marched into Auckland,) and the guns of H. M. S. Fly, were all in readiness for action, if unfortunately there should be occasion for it. Captain Beckham, Commissioner of Police, communicated to the natives, through Mr. Johnson, Interpreter to the Native Secretary’s Office, the decision that only two hours would be allowed them to go away, unless they surrendered their arms. They eadeavoured to obtain a qualification of this order, wishing to be permitted to send their arms away by some of their own number, or at least to be allowed to remain until the evening tide. But the mandate was peremptory ; and—although evidently much against their will—-they dragged their large canoes down the beach all the way, rendered necessary by the circumstance of the water being more than usually low, and before three o’clock they had entirely removed from Mechanics’ Bay. After this they proceeded to Okahou Bay, the settlement of the Chief Kawau, where they remained during the night. Yesterday morning they were re-inforced by about one hundred men from the direction of the Thames, who not knowing what had taken place on Thursday, were on their way to join them at Auckland. In the course of the day, a Native Teacher named John White, from the Wesleyan Native Institution, visited them ; and, it being Good Friday, invited them to engage in religious worship, which, on their concurrence, he conducted amongst them. He took occasiou to address them on the evil and danger of insubordination towards the Queen and her. Representative here, and urged them to return peaceably to their own settlements. After the service, they held a consultation, the result of which was that they made up their minds to go home and resume their usual occupations. One of them said, they should do so immediately, as if they did not gel away before the arrival of old Taria (a Native chief at the Thames), he would be very urgent with them to continue the quarrel. At the time when our informant left Okahou, (about four o’clock in the afternoon) they were preparing to leave, and only waited for the full tide. The judgment, decision, and knowledge of the native character evinced by the Authorities on this occasion, cannot be too highly appreciated. Even a little mismanagement might have swollen the affair into a serious disturbance, which it might not have been easy to repress : but, as it is, the Natives have no doubt been impressed with a sense of the uselessness of attempting to resist the Government, —-while in many other instances they have had ample reason to know Sir George Grey’s determination to maintain their just rights, and his paternal regard for their real ■ welfare.

We are happy to be able to report that the anticipations expressed in our last of a speedy and favourable termination of the apparently hostile movement made by the Ngatipoa natives have been fully realized, and that the threatenings of disturbance which, a few days since excited so much alarm in the minds of the timid and apprehensive, have passed away without leaving any evil result behind. Even on Friday, while hundreds of maories were assembled at Okahou, they were convinced, and willing to acknowledge, that the step they had taken was wrong, and that it could not issue in any good to themselves. On that day we are informed that the Rev. Mr. Kissling, (who, for several hours, was amongst them exercising that invaluable influence by which the missionaries have, in so many instances, proved the best peace-makers and peace-maintainers in this country) left them entirely disposed to submission, and most anxious to “ shake hands” and be reconciled with the Governor. This spirit was satisfactorily manifested on Monday, when their principal chief (in company with the Rev. Mr. Maunsell) came to. town, laid their men's and a spear at the feet of his Excellency, and afterwards departed to their homes with, as we have little doubt, not only feelings of amity towards the authorities and the Europeans, but also with impressions* both as to their own proceedings and as to the manner in which they were treated, which are calculated to exercise a permanently beneficial influence on their minds. — Ibid, April 23.