ARRIVAL OF THE AIREDALE WITH TARANAKI NEWS TO SEPTEMBER 1.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 300, 4 September 1860, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE AIREDALE WITH TARANAKI NEWS TO SEPTEMBER 1.

(From the Tdranalci Herald.) In reporting the abandonment of the Puketakaure pa, which derives its consequence from the assault made upon it on the 27th June, we can do little more than speculate upon the fact. It is no secret now-that an expedition, such as should overpower resistance, was in course of organisation, and the rebels may have forestalled a movement they could not resist. The position of the pa, besides, had been rendered comparatively valueless as a rallying point to the rebels by the two 8 inch guns of H.M.S. Iris, which command the fortification. In another view, the^ season for planting is a.t hand, and no taste for war or rapine will induce the natives to neglect the crops on which they .depend for their subsistence. This: may likewise account for the sudden withdrawal of the southern rebels from; their extensive earthworks at Waireka. It must not be imagined, however,; that all the natives have quitted 7 the district. : forest and m,ain lines of communication with the rural districts are still infested by roving bands who pillage-arid murder as inclination ancl opportunity prompt. ' With this evidence before us that the present change of tactics1 shews no want of heart in/the struggle, it is with no small vexation and concern that we read the language in which Mr. Fox and his party refer to the war. We have not yet received the Auckland newspapers from the Bth to the 18th ult., but from those which have coma to hand we can gather the tone of the debate, in the House of Representatives. Did the opposition only effect the English community, this good'might be said of it, that it has elicited patriotic sentiments on the other side of the House of which any cause might be proud. But there is almost the certainty that the rebels will be misled into the notion that they really find counter .nancein the Assembly. They have something yet to learn of the length their civilised brethren go for political ends, and it will f be well for Mr. Fox, who broadly, asserts that the native minister (Mr. C. W. Richmond) and the settlers of Taranaki, between them managed to bring about the present war, it will be well, we say, if the consequences of his mischievous misstatements do not overtake him in his own home at Rangitikei. The war may be spread beyond its natural dimensions by such. To ourselves, matters cannot be much worse, yet we are not faint hearted. Friends laid low by foul assassination—ruin around—homes now invaded and families broken up " by authority,"—with all these to bear us down and oppress, we can pronounce the quarrel just and holy, and bid the Governor pursue it, at the risk of our own blood may be, to an honorable issue. This is the commentary Taranaki offers to an opposition which takes , neither the interests of the colonists nor of the natives into account, but seeks to attain political power out of our military disasters. Dr. Featherston has no faith in the. present men at the head of affairs. The " belt" is open to him, if he can win it, but the public form the ring and will see fair play.-"

We have been informed that the General's wish that the Royal Mail' steamers should make this port the last place of despatch, has been complied with by his Excellency the Governor. The mails will, therefore leave New Plymouth for Sydney on the 13th of every month, during the continuance of the native disturbance.

DEATH OF MR. RICHARD BROWN. Our readers for some time have been prepared for the announcement of the death of Richard Brown, who survived so long the murderous attack made upon him, that his friends entertained sanguine hopes of his recovery. This was not to be; and after thirteen weeks' confinement to his bed, much of the time.passed in extreme pain, he yielded to his sufferings on the afternoon of Wednesday last, whilst the Tasmanian Maid was bearing to his friends in town favorable reports of his state.- ; ■ . . . ■ : Prepared as we likewise have'been, the event is a suprise to us. It is ever so with Death.1 Considering Mr. Brown's c6nn|ction with the Herald some account of our lamented Editor will be looked for.- The deceased gentleman was the first merchant who established, himself in the business in New-Plymouth, where for many years he carried on an extensive colonial and native trade. When the native war broke out he (at the time a member of. the Taranaki Volunteer Rifles) joined the mounted escort in which' he was of essential service from his knowledge of the country and the. natives. On one occasion some provision carts under his charge were intercepted by an armed body of natives at Waiqngana, who had fenced across the road to interrupt communication with the camp at Waitara. Mr. Brown's firm conduct; on the occasion overawed, the natives and induced: f ;them to remove the fence they had: erected, and pass the carts which safely reached their destination. His Excellency Governor Browne complimented Mr. Brown on his achievement and conferred upon him a Captain's commission in the Taranaki Militia to enable him to raise a native force at the Waitara to act against the rebels of the district. Mr. Brown accompanied the expedition to Warea where he narrowly escaped the'bullets{of the enemy, whilst his horse was bogged in one of the many raupo swamps which intersect that part of the country. In reconnoitering the enemy, or passing through their country he had no equal.; His daring appeared to have a charm for the natives, holding them in restraint for some time. But though he escaped open and visible dangers he was ixot prqof against a«

ambuscade, and one day in May last, whils riding from Waitara towards the Bell blockhouse on service lie was surprised and fired upon by a party ,of W. Kingi's natives. Badly wounded as he was, he gallantly rode homewards, and was observed to fall from the saddle, where he was picked up faint from pain and loss of blood. ,He received the utmost kindness from the camp during his long.confinement, and always spoke to his friends in affectionate terms of Dr. Styles of the 40th Regt., who attended him with a patience and assiduity that could not be exceeded, and whose utmost skill was exercised to lessen his bodily suffering and preI serve his life. The friendly natives watched and nurstd him with, a devotion which could scarcely have been expected towards one not of their race. It is however, as a colonist that Richard Brown will be held in the longest remembrance. One of the first to set foot in Taranaki, his energies and resources were always devoted to its progress, and his influence, which was considerable, was unselfishly employed towards the advancement of his fellow colonists. He flourished with the settlement, and his death, at the present juncture, is in sad harmony with its ruined condition., . -''■ Colonel' Commanding the-.Forces, ever ready to recognise;6hivalrous conduct, has directed the burial of MrVßrcwn \vitli military honours. Sunday, at 2 p.m., is the time appointed for the [ funeral ;■ and; we are given to understand that the Freemasons, of whom the deceased was an old member, will attend their brother to his grave.—

No incident'6f the war has occasioned more comment, and perhaps more tended to shake, confidence in-.Native than the defection of the chief Waka." He resided in the town—in our very centre for 18 years, and possessing an influence over his countrymen which is often denied to men of higher rank than himself, he ever employed it on the side of law and order, and for the mutua.l good of both races. Just 18 years since Te Waka came down from Kapiti to succeed his near relation Eruini Waiti, who had just died, and whose uniform goodwill towards the first settlers had earned for him the designation of the ■". friend of the pakeha.'' And no unworthy successor .to the deceased chief did Te Waka prove himself to be. The pakeha were from that time the object of his special solicitude, and the government could always rely upon his good offices in adjusting the misunderstandings arfd disputes that cropped up between the races. In the tedious and delicate negotiations for the purchase of. land, Te Waka was invaluable to the government, always enforcing his advice to the natives to part with their surplus, land by his own example. When Sir George Grey attempted to come to terms with a factious minority who opposed the sale of land, Te Waka urged the Governor to introduce soldiers, a suggestion which, but for the presence of a body of Mokaus, would probably have cost the spe.akervhis life on the spot. -These instances, 'amongst others which could be brought forward, prove how much Te Waka was our friend; and we now proceed to show how the government* or more correctly speaking, the Native department requited him. In the years 1850 and" 1852, Governor Sir George Grey appointed native assessors for the district, and amongst the .first was Te Waka.' The Resident Magistrate's Courts Ordinance, under which the appointments were made, provides that the persons to be selected to act as assessors "shall be men of the greatest authority, and best repute in their respective tribes;" and, assuredly, no native better merited the description. Unhappily, the measure was'marred by the introduction of a graduated' rate of salary; the natives whom it wasdeemed desirable to secure or propitiate mostly receiving the higher rates. Any* difference in remuneration was especially objectionablej and it was made—unintentionally we persuaded;—particularly in— vidious to Te Waka. His services belongedi to the, '■■* pastj and the native, department,., reckoning on their man for the future, gavehim office without emolument, whilst it: lavished its favors on men who* had, wjjtHi some exceptions, yet to. prove themselves;. The error, great as it was, was attempted! to be repaired by contributions towards the construction of a timber built house in the Kawau pah, and by latterly granting a salary, but, in striking inconsistency to this evident intention to repair the previous slight, the minimum rate wss adopted, and to the last, Te Waka, tested by his salary, was of less account to the government than other assessors. H s pride was wounded. He was made to appear to his countrymen and to himself in less estimation than the other assessors. With himit'wasa(jtiestiori of personal worth, not of money value, and can we wonder that the fancied slight weaned him from us. Should we ourselves have been proof against such influences? Are; friendships amongst us so based that nothing shall shake them ? ' The government were blind to the consequences/ of their act; to the last..V When military occupation of Teira's land. was1 taken, his Excellency: Governor Browne 1 (who could have no personal knowledge of the natives) in addressing a meeting of them, said he had " perfect confidence iiv our native friends, more especially in Te= Waka and Poharama, and should be glad1 of an opportunity to prove it." Hearty and; encouraging words, which came too late,, however, to save Waka's failing loyalty. 'At all the previous meetings held by the; District Commissioner for the purchase of. this lend, Te Waka openly avowed a sympathy for W. Kingi. He erected a fortified stockade at Puketotara for the rebel Ngatiruanui, but when questioned upon thesubject alleged that it was for our protection. From this stcckade Wi Kingi has received detailed information of all that/has^