The Invercargill Times TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1863.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 92, 22 September 1863, Page 2

The Invercargill Times TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1863.

The inquiry into the loss of the Highland Lassie terminated, as similar inquiries frequently have done before, in an unsatisfactory manner ;—unsatisfactory, because the impression remains on the minds of those who read the statements made before the " Interim" Marine Board, that the case was not thoroughly gone into — that, in fact, more remained to be told, before a just decision could be arrived at. Undoubtedly, there was a great deal more to be told ; but we cannot see how the socalled Marine Board could have entered more fully than they did, into the matter, seeing that their powers are very limited, or, to be more correct, that they possess no power at all to make such an inquiry as the one in question. We do not wish for a moment to say a word against the present arrangement, looking upon it as a temporary one ; but until an Act shall have been passed by the Provincial Legislature of Southland, and the assent of the Governor received, there can be no Marine Board, properly so called, in the Province. There are circumstances, which came out at (his inquiry into the loss of the Highland Lassie, that may legitimately be made the subject of remark by the journalist; although, for the above, and other reasons, the Board, took no notice of them. On turning to the statement made by Captain Lamont, we find, he says, that '* About noon, Pilot Scouller signalled the pilot station for advice, a light breeze having sprung up again. The answer was ' Wait for orders.' Another signal went up about three or four in the afternoon, but we could not read it. It was not in my signal book. The number of the signal is not in my book, which is an old, uncorrected edition of 1851. The Pilot said he thought it ivoidd be' a signal for tes to go in." On the strength of that supposition, the vessel was taken in, and brought to an anchor, just above the pilot station. Now, we by no means wish to enter into the nautical question as to whether the Highland Lassie would have been in a safer position outside the bar during the night of Wednesday. We have the opinion of the Marine Board before us, which leads us to suppose that she would. We are told by the Board that the whole matter rests on three questions — the first of which is, ought the pilot to have brought the vessel in on Wednesday evening, when it was clear he could not get beyond the indifferent anchorage off the pilot station ? The answer which the Board gives to that question, and the two following (which w? have no intention of discussing) — is, " That the event proves that a course different to the one adopted would have been better, but looking at all the circumstances, as they presented themselves to the pilot, toe cannot attribute any blame to kirn. If he erred at all, it was in ..an .over-anxiety to get the vessel in ; and the risks run were opportunely so slicht, that although the event was

so unfortunate, toe cannot convict htm of '< serious imprudence. 1 ' t We may here remark' in .passing, that it would have been better had each question been answered separately. As it is, the three, are jumbled up together in a rather puzzling manner. In one place we are told that no blame attaches to the pilot, and further on, that he ctvnnot be convicted of serious imprudence. By implication, then, the pilot does, in the opinion of the Board, stand convicted, to a certain extent, of imprudence — one of the gravest offences of which, in the performance of his official duties, he could be found guilty; but whether he was imprudent. for having brought the vessel inon Wednesday evening ; or for getting under weigh on Thursday with an ebb tide to contend against; or, again, for not^ having anchored as soon as the wind fell too light; or, whether, in the opinion of the Board ho tripped a little at each step he took, it is quite impossible for a non-nautical man, or indeed for any one else, todetermine. "We will say no more on that part of the subject, but return to the fact that the Board thought the vessel would have been better outside the Heads on Wednesday night, and that circumstance, taken in connection with what Captain Lamont stated in reference to the signalling between the vessel and the pilot station, surely furnishes food for very serious reflection. We have been accustomed to look upon a pilot in charge of a vessel, in the daylight, a* a man placed peculiarly on his own resources. At night he may have light-houses. He should, before he was permitted to undertake so great a responsibility, have become thoroughly acquainted with the harbor into which he professes to be able to take a vessel. He should know each bank ; he should be able to tell the state of the tide, and the consequent depth of water he has to depend on ; he should be a good seaman ; and, above all, he should possess confidence in himself. These are the qualities which go towards making a £ood pilot, and, if a man possess them, he will have no occasion to siynnl the pilot station on shore for advice, which his own knowledge and common sense ought to supply. We will suppose for a moment, however, that it is usual and necessary for a pilot corring into the New River to ask advice by means of signals from the shore. We have here, then, in the case of the Highland Lassie, a pilot who not only did not feel confidence enough to take a brig of IGO tons into the New River without such advice from his station, but who actually was at a loss to understand a signal when it was hoisted for his special benefit — a state of things which appears to us even more, serious. We find, turning once more to Captain Lamont's statement, that he and the pilot consulted the pages of an ancient book of signals, 1851, for the purpose of determining the "meaning of a flag flying at the New R'ver Heads pilot station in J863 ; and, further, that not finding the necessary information in the Well wor.i and venerable volume, the pilot did what many a man has done before, — he trusted to his luck, or to use a slang term, he " chanced it." If we are wrong in sayinjr, that serious blame resto with some one in this affair our excuse must be that our remarks are based on the evidence taken before the Marine Board at the inquiry. Had Pilot Scouller been questioned by the Board about this signal, he might, have been able to set himself right in the eyes of the public, but he could not J have done so without giving the Captain of the Highland Lassie the "lie direct." The " Interim " Marine Board proposed to themselves three questions which they answered in a mauner that must have given them great satisfaction ; we will also ask three questions and leave " whomsoever it may concern " to answer them. Firstly, is it usual for a pilot bringing a vessel into the New River to ask from the pilot station advice as to how he is to proceed ? Secondly, if that be the case, does a better pilot than the others remain always at the pilot station to supply that advice? And, thirdly, do the Pilots as a rule understand the signals when they see them from the deck of a vessel ? We will not follow the unfortunate Highland Lassie during her last trip up the New River, but we certainly hope that the next time Pilot Scouller has charge of a vessel whose anchor has fouled he will leave the Captain, with the mate and crew to clear it, whilst he occupies himself with those duties which more nearly belong to his profession. The abandonment of the Waitara by the Government is a transaction into which the further we enquire the worse it appears. It would be well, indeed, for the credit of the present Ministry if their proceedings in connection with that miserable blunder could be buried in oblivion. In no single point can a word be said in defence of the course they pursued. The bare act of renunciation, was of itself a fatal mistake, even supposing that no other considerations were involved in it. But when we remember that it was done at a time when'the slightest act of the Government was invested with great | importance ; — when the natives "were j "eady to interpret any act of concession as a sign of fear, the policy pursued by the Government, was, in every sense, opposed to ordinary prudence and calculation. But it is not in its impolitic and shortsighted light that the abandonment of the Waitara Block appears in its worst phase. It is in the unblushing, unscrupulous, and audacious disregaid of truth with which the Government sought to justify the act ; and the miserable nature of the ■nraiovt in wliir»li flip transaction stands

forth" sOstrilcihg'i memorial of stupid blundering and in capacity. The proclamation announcing: the abandonment of all. claim to the Waitara, stated as the reason for the step, that recent investigation had resulted in such discoveries, as to render it unadvisable "that the- purchase should be completed. Of course only one interpretation could be placed on this vague announcement. If Liere was any truth in the statement, it amounted to an admission that the colony had all along been etogaged in an unjust war; that Wiremu Kingi had been right, and Governor Browne wrong. All the careful and anxious investigations made by the Government concerning the legality of Teira's title, had been thrown away, and either these enquiries had been defective, or Teirahad been guilty of deception and swindling. There were, however, incredulous people, who refused to believe one thing or the other, and who held the opinion that from motives of expedieucy the present Ministry had chosen to place such an interpratation on well known circumstances, as would most conveniently afford them a loophole to get rid, tempo rarily, of a difficulty they did not possess the ability or courage to contend against. Probably had not the act of abandonment raised such a general outcry, the Government would have allowed the matter to rest quietly, and never afforded any explanation to the colonists. Hut fortunately there is in New Zealand a power which neither Governor nor Ministry can ignore — public opinion; and the Government were compelled to publish indirectly, what they ought to have spontaneously and frankly announced — the mysterious revelation which had induced them to commit so palpable an ;ct of folly. Following out the half-concealed statement in the proclamation, the colony was told, by means of the New Z^alander, that it had been ascertained that Wire'nu Kingi had really possessed a title in the Waitara land, and was perfectly justified in opposing tlie sale tolhe Government. While the colonists were vainly endeavoring to imagine how that claim could be made out, the Press published an authoritative statement on the subject. We were told that Mr. Dillon Bell had, duiinar a conversation with Teira and Ihahia, drawn out from Teira an admission, that Wiremu Kingi had really a sufficient claim in the Waitara land, to warrant his opposition to the sale. This was certainly a startling statement, and one which, if true, placed the matter in a very different light. However unsatisfactory it might be to find we had all along been engagod in an unjust war, it was consoling, however, that Teira's confession clearly relieved Governor Browne and the late Government of responsibility. We were carefully told, that no blame whatever attached to Colonel Browne, and that his Government had acted according to the best information they possessed. So far, then, the present Ministry appeared to have justice on their side, if not propriety, and the abandonment of the Waitara was received with considerable unction by the Exeter Hall school. But what shall it be thought when it turns out, not only that the renunciation of Waitara had been decided on by the Government before the alleged conversation between the Native Minister and Teira. but that no such revelation or confession as the one ascribed to that Chief had ever been made ! That such is the case we think there can now be no doubt, in the face of the testimony of Teira himself, and a comparison of dates and circumstances. For this exposure we are indebted to the Taranuki Herald, which has published a translation of a letter written by the two Chiefs, Ihahia and Teira, giviug an account of their interview with Dillon Bell. The story concerning this conversation had reached the ears of the two Chiefs, and, indignant at the statement, they drew up an account of the conversation and sent it to the Governor, with a request that it might be published. It does not surprise us to learn that the Government suppressed the document, but fortunately the writers had preserved a copy, which they sent to the Taranaki Herald for publication. Before we proceed to notice this letter, we must observe that there appears to have been an attempt made, prior to Mr Bell's interview with the Chiefs, to tamper with Teira, and induce him to make a confession not only convicting himself of rascality, but casting on Governor Browne and his Ministers a charge of the gravest character. It is said that in March last Lieut. Bates, acting as interpreter for Sir George Grey, asked Teira "if he had not received £150 from Governor Browne as a bribe to offer the Waitara block to the Government."* This query evidently referred to the instalment paid to Teira on account of the land. Teira has naturally felt aggrieved at this implied accusation, against his honor, and he indignantly repels the insinuation, and asserts, what the Government knew to be the fact, that the money was a l)ona fide payment on account of the £600 he was to receive for the land. He adds, that Governor Browne told him, that had not Sir George Grey been coming out, the whole of the purchase money would have been paid, to him. We will now notice Teira's account of what he did say to Dillon Bell concerning Wiremu Kingi'? interest in the Waitara block. It will be seen he gives precisely the same version of the reoccupation of the land by the Ngatiawa as was elicited by the investigations of the Government in 1859, when Wiremu Kingi, although repeatedly invited to prove his claim, if he assumed any, could, not and did not profess to have any real right in the land. We will let the letter tell its own tale :

When in migrating Irom arrived at Tangalioe, Hone Hira stood up; in the evening and s*aid : <: When we arrives: at Waitara -y\-e will give .one side of it vtb-^tlie Governor, in accordancVwith the understand^ ing he came to -with- William King at Waikanae." But Tamati Tarepa (Teira's father) said : "It will nou do to do this while we are still iv the water (on the journey); when we have got to the bank, arid our legs are dry, then we will settle it." William King re>pudiated his agreement with Governor Grey. We arrived at Waitara in November, 1849 (1848), and the heads of our migration consulted together about a place of safety for the women and children lest they should be killed by Waikato or Nagatimaniapoto. William King said it would be better to build the pah for them on the other (north) side of Waitara, but Iharaira te Tuki and Patara te Huia said, Let them remain at Te Kuhikuhi, Te Huriappa, and Werhoi, that (we) may be near Puketapu, in case the enemy should appear. William King stood up and spoke inquiringly to the chiefs and people. " Listen, Oitcoplel The decision concerning (the occupation of) this land is not with me, but with the men to whom the land belongs. It is not intended to make a permanent dwelling-place, but only a temporary residence until ice shall have heard that the fire is reduced to ashes (I c., till the anger of Waikato has died out.) For we are now living in one body ; do not let us be separated ; so that if the enemy should mmc we may be all together. When we are safe we will disperse each to his own kaianya* Upon this, Tamati Tarepa and lhakara Herewaka consented that they should all live there for three years, and then go to their own places. The land was by no means given them to live on always, but temporarily, for fear of Waikato. At the end of the three years they went to Pukearhue, to Mimi, Onaero, Urenui, Turangi, Pukerangiora, and (the places of) Ngatiniciru. In the third year, 1852 <1851), they all went to their own places, William Kincf alone remaining on that piece (Teira s block.) Teira expressly insists, that Wiremu Kingi was only permitted to reside on the land for a certain time, as a place of safety against their mutual enemies, the Waikatos. This permitted occupancy was always known to the Government and always considered as implying no right in the soil, either | legally or according to native usage. And yet out. of this statement, repeated to Mr Bell by Teira, the present Ministry trumped up the absurd story of | " further evidence." Dillon Bell knew beforehand, everything Teira told him. And besides, the fact remains that the Government, according to their own confession, decided on abandoning: the Waitara, a month before the Wairau massacre, that is about the 4th April, and Mr Bell's interview with Teira did not take place before the 11 th cf the same month ! The real reason of the abandonment was fear, and a hope that it might pacify the Waikatos, concilate Wiremu Kingi, and put an end to a difficult question. Have any ot these results occurred ? Wiremu Kingi is still in rebellion ; The Waikatos have declared war to the knife ; Teira is justly offended, s.nd the Waitara question still remains to be settled. A pretty example of the fruits of Ministerial responsibility truly.