THREATENED WAR AMONG THE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 172, 4 June 1862, Page 6

THREATENED WAR AMONG THE

NATIVES IN THE NORTH. We take the following from the Southern "Cross, of May 24: —

" War is now raging in the north of this Province, among two rival sections of the Ngapuhi tribe, one cause of quarrel being the old. land sales in the district. The scene of conflict is at Waitomotomo, within eighteen miles of Wangarie ; and so far as we can learn the facts, they are these : — " The chief Matiu having set up a claim of ownership to certain lands in Tirarau's block, in 1856, a dispute arose between them, which has continued up to this present time, but did not assume any very serious aspect until about three weeks ago, when Matiu went down on the land for the purpose of survej'ing it. He at once commenced to build a pah on the block. Tirarau, on being informed of this proceeding, went up to the block, and took up a position in front of Matiu's encampment. They continued fronting each other for some time, while endeavours were being made by the Resident Magistrate, Mr. Aubery, Manihere, the native assessor, and the Missionaries, to induce them to retire to their respective settlements, and leave the final arrangement to the Governor. This proposal was acceded to by Tirarau and his party, but peremptorily refused by the other party; and what made the matter worse was that Arama Kreke, one of the newly-appointed native assessors, joined Matiu, and who, on being asked why he^ a Queen's magistrate, embroiled himself in the quarrel, replied, 'I don't come exa tly to fight about the land: I come to fight about old quarrels.1 From' the remarks of Matiu and party it was seen that a pacific solution could not be come to, and a line was drawn between the two encampments, it being agreed that neither party should cross it except as a declaration of war.

"On Friday last some natives of Matiu's party crossed the line, were seen and immediately fired on by Tirarau's people. This commenced the actual hostilities, and a battle ensued in which five men were killed and a number wounded of Matin's people, .and three of'Tirarau's were wounded. Since then, up to the date of our latest accounts, there has been no more fighting, but they are posted fronting each other, and ready at a moment's notice to renew the conflict. At present the parties are pretty equally balanced, lirarau has 200 meu in his pahs, and Matiu had 180, but was receiving reinforcements. A number of the Hokianga and Bay natives have gone to the Kaipara battle-field, and taken sides, and larger reinforcements are expected. We should further mention that Matiu before taking up his position, went to the settlement of Hamiora, and took away his entire property of horses, pigs, cattle, and household effects. Hamiora was a man noted as being an ally of Kawiti in Heke's war. On hearing of this robbery, he at once started to Tirarau's pah, and on his arrival there took to his bed and died, as the natives say, ' through grief pf the outrage.' This, we understand, lias greatly incensed Tirarau's people and others. " This statement of the dispute at Kaipara shows the fallacy of the peace policy, now being carried out in New Zealand. 'Non-in-tervention may be a very wholesome doctrine for civilized nations to hold; but it would be ridiculous to maintain that, because the foreign policy of .England is based on non-interven-tion, the crown should not interpose between belligerent subjects within British territory. Yet such is the practice in this instance. The Resident Magistrate, Missionaries, and a native assessor talk to hostile chieftains ranged in order of. battle, including, as a leader in the strife, a native assessor,- who is the key-stone of the new policy in the north; but these

pacific ngents are powerless to prevent the effusion of blood. Mere words will not do. Matiu and his people do not merely claim the laud presently in dispute : their claim extends to all the land Tirarau and his people have ' been selling to Europeans for the last twenty years, and which is now thickly settled, and on which above £100,000 has been expended by the colonists. Are our settlers to pay for this ltmd and improvements over again ; and having done so, by virtue of the new policy, what security will they have that they shall not be called upon to repeat tiie purchase a dozen years hence by some other marauding chief and paid Government official ?" The New Zealan'der of the same date, sij's: — "We have.to announce, with regret, that a • long-standing feud between native tribes in the North, has burst into actual hostilities. A tight took place in the neighborhood of the Wairoa-river last week, between the party of Tirarau and that of Matiu, in which five of [ the latter were killed and several wounded, the former having four wounded only. Within the last six years, we believe, the Go- ' vernnient have endeavoured unceasingly to bring about an adjustment of the land-ques- ; tion'in dispute between the contending parties, ■ but without success. Not long since, we i learn, Matiu expressed his determination to : come down in force and survey his land; '[ Tirarau, thereupon, marked a boundary, and ! declared that he would shoot the other if that I line were crossed, and thus the fight was i directly brought atom. Happily, amongst the ' killed/there is no man of importance, but the ' fend may, nevertheless, if unchecked, assume \ dimensions of very serious character. In our next issue, we propose to give full particulars '■ of the circumstances which have led to a collision so much to be deplored."