THE NATIVE WAR.

Southland Times, Issue 1065, 30 November 1868, Page 2

THE NATIVE WAR.

The following northern intelligence is taken from the Qtago papers : — ■WELLiIfGTON, NOV. 24. The Auckland Press are discussing the propriety of holding a public meeting. The ' Southern Cross' deprecates it, saying that no part of the colony doubts their sympathy with the sufferers, and their indignation at such a massacre as that at Poverty Bay. Mere declamation might only embarrass those in authority ; and suggests as something new and practicable that a number of the | attendants at any such meeting should volunteer to join in the work of punishing aggression and restoring order. There is nothing decisive from the "Waikato. War has not so far come upon us there, but danger is threatening. A large number of Natives have been assembling, but why, is not known. Mr Serancke, E.M., telegraphs from Alexandra— lmmense excitement amongst the King Natives beyond the Aukati or King's boundary, in consequence of the present state of affairs, but a strong party deprecate any disturbance at the Waikato. Hetit, a settler who has long lived within the King's boundary, has been warned off. More than half a column of the latest issue of the ' Southern Cross ' consists of exciting information, and an attempt at proving that the information cannot be true. The steamer Tauranga had visited Tauranga and other portions of the East Coast, having been chartered by the Government for the conveyance of Mr Mackay and others on a tour of inspection. At Te Papa^ the old redoubts have been put into repa ; r, and garrisoned by a few Militiamen. At Tauranga, consequent on the fewness of the men, the redoubts have been reduced in size. Mr Mackay has held meetings of the Chiefs, who expressed their unabated loyalty. On the recommendation of a deputation from the settlers at Grate Pah, 20 men have been placed on pay to garrison the redoubt there as a place of refuge in case of attack. The force at Tauranga now consists of 21 men at the Monmouth redoubt ,• 20 at Gate Pah ; and 12 at Pye's Pah ; total, 53. It is believed that these, together with the Friendly natives, will be amply sufficient to prevent a repetition of the Mate Whero tragedy. Lieutenant Grundry has enrolled a force of 50 Arawas for service at Wanganui, j and it was deemed quite safe to take them ' on to Auckland eft route. The steamer proceeded from thence to Opotiki. That settlement has been visited with a disastrous flood a few days previously, and 20 men had been placed on pay to repair the damages occasioned. The Natives everywhere were quiet, and there appeared to be no indication anywhere of immediate danger. Both at Opotiki and Turanga the inhabitants were in blissful ignorance of the occurrences at Poverty Bay. It is inteuded to keep the Arawas at Auckland for some time, for the purpose of drilling them and afterwards to send them to Patea, or wherever they are most required. The new from Taupo and the other inland settlements is reported to be satisfactory ; but the Hauhaus are said to have driven off a lot of sheep from Captain St. Gfeorge's run. In fact, under-lying all the safcisfacfcosy reports there is more or less a feeling of uneasiness. Thus the very latest in reference to the Waikato states that 25 Constabulary had been dispatched to Hamilton by Oobb's coach and by steamer. "We have been informed," says the c Southern Cross, " that the sending of this reinforcement to the Waikato is only precautionary, and that no immediate fears are entertained of an outbreak, Prevention is better than cure ; and as the Natives are just now in a very unsettled state, and are likely to be elated by their recent success, it is as well to be prepared for a sudden attack. The only thing we have heard of which makes us feel apprehensive is, that Louis Hetit, who lived on the VVaipa all through the Waikato war, and has since been living within the Aukati. has been warned to leave. It is said, however, that this has been done because Hetit had had some disagreement with the chiefs of the King party." And, again, it states : — " The district to which we believe there is the greatest danger is Opotiki. Two or three days would take Te Kooti and his men from Poverty Bay to Opotiki, where there is but a small force. What renders it most likely that Opotiki will be the place to which the natives will turn their attention, is the fact that the TJriwaras, whose assistance To Kooti has doubtless obtained, have claims on the land that has been confiscated there. A small force of Arawas is now stationed at Ohuira on confiscated land, and we believe there is great danger of an attack there." It is openly stated in town to-day that the purport of the despatches from Colonel Haultain to Mr Stafford, received on Sunday, was to inform the Government that the reports brought in by natives and others had led to the belief that a general rising was imminent. Mr Williamson has been on a visit to the Upper Thames, endeavoring to have it opened to miners. The natives were insolent, and snubbed him. The latest news is that the Raparas cut down the Queen's flag, aud hoisted the King's. The Hon Dr Pollen writes with reference to the massacre at Poverty Bay as follows :— " It is a fact that Mr Eichmond personally warned Major Biggs of impending danger, and some days before the attack was made, Major Mair, E.M., at Opotiki, sent an express to warn the j

officer in command of what ifaia " • tended. 1 ' . . 4«; v The .' Southern Crops' says :— •* The war party who were s.aid to have assembled near the Waikato, ate reported to muster over 1000, hut very likely this is an exaggeration. It is pretty evident that the more violent of the Kingites are attaining a degree of power which the King himself and Tamati Ngapbra cannot control. This is a great crisis, and the next news may he that the settlers have been driven from Kihikihi or Te Awamutu. We helieve that Dr Pollen has taken every possible measure that can be adopted in-th? eniergencf to giy/S security to the Waikatbs. it is significant of the state of affairs that although, the 300 recruits for whom the Government called some time ago have been obtained and despatched to the seat of war, recruiting still goes on, and there , appears to be a demand for a body of men equal to, if not in excess of the numher who may offer. Testerday. we observed bills posted in various conspicuous places about the town, calling for more recruits, the terms heing the same as those offered to the men already enlisted, viz., 5s a day and a suit of clothes. It is not at present known for what place these men are required. Probably a good many more recruits might be procured at the Thames, should the authorities deem it advisable to continue to enlist men there." Mr M'Farlane and Mr O'Neill have met their constituents. The meeting was a very disorderly one, and a motion, approving of Mr MTarlane's conduct was proposed, but the following extraordinary amendment was finally carried :— " That in the absence of any political organisation of electors of the Northern [ Division, whereby they could indicate to their representatives the course they ought to pursue on any special constitutional question affecting the interests of this Province, this meeting deems it tindesirable on the present occasion to express by vote cither praise or eenstlre" upon the course their repfesenta'tiyeS thought it their duty to pursue during the last session of the General Assembly." The Albatross, which has just arrived from New Caledonia, reports that on the 7th ult. six soldiers were murdered by the Kanakas, and that a party had gone in pursuit of them. The native lands court was held at Cambridge, Waikato, before Judge Bogan. The * Southern Cross' says that "before the proceedings were brought to a close, Tana Te Waharoa, William Thompson's second son, who has all along identified himself with the King's party, appeared, and in the name of the Maori King, protested against the Court dealing with certain lands. The protest was, of course, disregarded, and the business went on. Whether in the present state of matters, the protest may lead to anything further, or whether its is merely a formal intimation to be put on record, pending an appeal to the Court of Last Eesort, we do not know. The Native Lands Court is doubtless a great blessing to the country, but we have often felt its action in the Waikato tended to widen the breach between the Europeans and the Maori Kingites. Tor instance, certain lands beyond the confiscated boundary are pub before the Court to adjudicate to whom the title should be issued. It is well known that in many cases the owners of these lands are living amongst the Kingites, and that others who put lands in Court have only comparatively slight claims. But the Kingites will not compromise themselves by coming before the Native Lands Court, and state besides that they are afraid for their eprsonal safety if they come to our towns. In the absence of great owners, the land is grantedto others, who sell it ; and the next thing that the real proprietors hear is that some Pakeha is fencing it in. Seasoning even from our own feeling we can easily believe that the Maori does not feel particularly amiable at this tidings.'* The Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand met at seven o'clock last evening. There were present — Eevs. John Moir, Wellington; William M'Gowan, Hutt ; James Patterson, Wellington, Elder ; Alexander Sinclair, Thomas Norrie, Papakura ; Eobert M'Kinney, Mahurangi ; George Morice, Napier, Elder ; James Anderson, Patrick Calder, Nelson ; William Sheriffs, Eiwaka ; Alexander Souter, Picton ; Andrew Stobo, Southland ; and William Watt, Missionary to the New Hebrides. The Moderator, Mr Calder, opened the meeting by preaching from John xviii, 38. The discourse was marked by vigorous thought and eloquent treatment of certain prevailing phases of error. At the conclusion of the service, the Eev. Thomas Norrie, of Papakura was unanimously elected Moderator for the ensuing year ; and after he had made an appropriate speech, business was proceeded with. The Otaki settlers write to the 'Independent,' expressing their thanks to that journal for its exposing the evils inflicted by the policy of the Government on the country districts, and expressing surprise that no public meetings have been held in Wellington. 525 of the first-class Militia were sworn in to-day. The Volunteers have been set to garrison the barracks, place sentrieß over the powder magazines, &c. The Defence Offi.ce is in a state of bustle. It is reported that numerous small block houses are to be erected throughout the disturbed districts. It is noticeable to-day that there are a good many more Natives in town, which is attributed to the swearing-in of the Militia. News received from W airarapa states that it is very quiet, and that scarcely any difference is perceptible from the most peaceable times, except by the conversion of buildings here and there into stockades. «'■" The telegraph survey party for the

line to Wanganui report that the route from Masterton to the Manawatu coast presents only one difficulty, which they hope will be overdo'me on further exploration. An alarm was created at Napier on Saturday evening. About 10 o'clock, a trooper named Groom, who was on his way to the North on official duty, upon reaching Meanee Spit found the inhabitants there in a great state of alarm, in consequence of large numbers of natives having assembled at a small fishing whare about half a mile from Benkers. They were believed to be Hauhaus. Benkers, Ins wife and family, came over with $11 his boats, and together, with this Grtfom returned to town. , He galloped lip, Shakespeare road, and informed every one that 400 or 500 Hauhaus were on the Spit, coming to attack Napier. That he Lad himself seen tbem there, and that, therefore, there could be no doubt of it. The effect of such an alarm may be easily convinced. The streets were at once crowed with women and children, who flocked to the Militia office and other central places, mounted orderlies galloped furiously between Napier and the Spit, and Militia and the Volunteers, together ( with Captain Turner's mounted troop, ! might be seen in all directions hastening to the parade ground, although an alarmgon was not fired, the effect of which would have been that the women and children and the third-class Militia should at once repair to the barracks. There was an excellent muster of civilian soldiers in a very short period of time. Captain Withers estimates the number at 300. The men seemed in good spirits and prepared to meet the foe with courage and determination. The several companies were formed, and were despatched in various directions. The cavalry were employed as scouts, and proved themselves to be a most useful arm of the service, and just the thing for an emergency such as had apparent^ arisen. The 18th, too, with the exception of 20 men left to man the barracks, were out within a quarter of an hour of the alarm being given, taking their station at the.^Mill, quite prepared to give the enemy; if they appeared, such a reception as they did not count upon. The big guns, it turned out, were never fired. It was proved, alter a short but painful period of excitement, that the party that had caused so much excitement, consisted of Mr Norris and a number of Tangoro natives on their way to town, and that their number did not exceed 30 or 40. The following are extracts from a private letter, containing the latest news. It is dated November 23rd. The writer has been on service to Poverty Bay, and is in great hopes that the rebels, who are in great force, say 500 strong, and encumbered with women, children, and loot, are now in a fair way of being caught between the powerful, well-armed, and well-provisioned bodies — say, 400 natives from Poverty Bay, and 350 from^ the Wairoa. The only thing that may spoil this is, that Major Lambert at the Wairoa acted in opposition to Mr M'Lean's plans, and refused to allow the force to stait, and the scoundrels may again get to their stronghold at Puketapu. When the writer left Poverty Bay last night, the enemy had shifted camp, leaving quantities of provisions behind them. Cobb's coach, from Wanganui has not yet arrived.