WAIKATO.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 318, 6 November 1860, Page 3

WAIKATO.

Our latest advices from the Waikato confirm our statement of the 9th instant, concerning the war tarty to Tarana^i, with thi* diife«iice, that the

party was not actually en route at that dal They (Upper Waikato,) started on the lltl when joined by Ngatiruuniapoto they will oumt 500 men, or upwards. Ti Ori Ori has joined the King party* ] has not gone to Taranaki, as was surmised; I part of his tribe are gone. When they left ] hikihi on the morning of the 11th, they nu bered from 200 to 300 men. It is said tl they will return in December, and that a frc party will then take their place. On Sunday morning a strong sensation \ created in Auckland by a piece of news hrouf in, that a native had been found dead at Pa mahoe, murdered, as was supposed by a wl man. As this, if true, would probably unite Waikato tribes, and bring them down upon considerable uneasiness was felt. The Goveri was sent for out of church, and the Native i cretary wenfc off without delay to make enqu on the spot. '■ No accounts that we can implicitly rely up have reached Auckland as yet, although as usu there is no laok of idle stories. From all tl we can learn, however, it seems tolerably de that no European had either art or part in i that the murderer was a native, and that a native feud was the exciting cause. If so the truth will soon come out; mean while, the natives are loud in outcry, attributing the deed to Pakeha agency. Answering for no particulars, we may state that about a dozen natives had gone out to shoot cattle at Patumahoe; that after awhile, or after returning home, they missed one of their number, a man named Eleazar. Returning to search, they found him dead, shot through the body. A further account goes on to say, that his gun was taken away, also his trousers; and that the fingers of one hand had been cut off. It is said that jealousy, in regard to a question of cbief-J tainship, between two very near relations, was at the bottom of all; but the story as we heaij it, is so repulsive that we must decline fstatingl any further particulars until more positive inforj mation shall arrive. I Perhaps the best course to have adopteol would have been to have sent down the coronel at once, with instructions to empanel a nativl jury. Whether the coroner would have heel found willing to go, is another matter; he migbl not unreasonably have objected to trust himsefl among natives who, in their present state <M mind, might take hasty vengeance upon himselfl without awaiting the result of his enquiry. Wl are also told that they have refused to allow thl body to be seen by any European. 1 The chances are, that this affair will pal quietly off; but it is another reminder to us Jrl the dangerous condition to which the Northern Island has been brought. One may sit on a I barrel of gunpowder for twenty years without taking harm, always provided that no fire falls I into it. But when sparks are flying on every I side, it needs good nerve to keep one's seat. I Since writing the above, a letter has been re-l ceived, addressed by Katipa to the Governor! He says that many believe that the deceased! was slain by a Pakeha; but that he himself il of opinion that the man killed himself. If an J movement worth mention should take place, hfl (Katipa) will write up and inform the Govern-! ment. The Native Secretary has sent up J message, to the effect that there is nothing nevl to tell. This is so far satisfactory. ■ (From the New Zealander.) *' ™ TEN BODIES WASHED ASHORE ON THE WESI! i .' COAST. We have received from the hon. Colonial Secretary, for publication for general information, the following letter addressed to him by Mr. Heaphy, Provincial Surveyor,' respecting the washing ashore on the West Coast, between the Waitakeri and Kaipara Coast, of the bodies of ten seamen, whom the Natives of that coast have buried. It is to be hoped that Mr. Heaphy's communication will lead to an examination of the remains, with a view of discovering to what vessel the poor fellows can have belonged. Auckland, Ootober 15th, 1860. Sir.—l have the honor to inform you that the Natives of Muriwai and Ougarahu on the West Coast, whence I have just returned, reported to me that about three weeks or a month since, ten bodies of meu, nine apparently of Europeans and one of a Black, were washed ashore on the beach at those places. The bodies were of men dressed as seamen usually are, in pilot cloth jackets and trousers, and some with high boots, and they were all of them young men, and were but little decomposed or mutilated. The Natives, who have a repugnance to handling a dead body,, made no examination under the clothing, or of the pockets, They say they buried at once in the sand hills, the bodies as they found them. The Native idea is that some vessel has overturned and foundered off the coast. I may mention that there is no debris of a wreck about the place where the bodies came on shore. ; . The position of the wreck of the ■" Union" schooner is about 20 or 25 miles south of the spot, amongst the reefs and cliffs of the Hikurangi; and at the Piha, fragments of the wreck, rigging, &c. ? are on the beach. The mutilated remains of a human body were there found near the pieces of the wreck. I have, &c, Chables Heaphy. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary.

Consecration of St. Barnabas, Parnell.—This neat and commodious edifice was duly consecrated for divine worship by his Lordship the Bishop of New Zealand, assisted by the Venerable Archdeacon Kissling, and the Eevs. B. Y. Ashwell, and F. Gould. The congrega-

tion was a very crowded one, and nearly a huudred persons had to go away unable to obtain eeat-room. The building looks much larger inside than it does from without; and when it receives the proposed additional length of 30 feet, its proportions will be very good. Even now, we believe, it will seat about 300 persons; but looking to the great increase which is taking place in the population of ParnelJ. and Newmarket , it does not appear that this seat-room will suffice. With the consent of the incumbent and congregation of St. Matthew's, Mr. Joseph Brown, organist, and the choir of that Church, attended in the morniug, and, in addition to the Psalms and responses, chanted Tallis's Service ia F, The collection in the morning , exceeded 4QI. and the e^ning collection made the total amount close upon 50/.

Coroner's Inquest.-—-Aii inquest was held at Onehunga, on Monday last, on vie w of the body of 'William' Bowles aged 28 years, who died on the 2nd instant at Otahuhu, mider circumstances which were regarded by his fiiends as suspicious. Deceased was driving Hunt's vao, running between Auckland aa i Drary, and

are a fine people, but they require great firmneSß and determination, with scrupulous honesty mi dealing with them, whether individually or on the part of the authorities. It is above all things sincerely to be hoped that this partial rising will be put down with a very strong hand, as any compromise of principle will only lead to the same thing again at a future day. ! And now, before I finish these remarks, allow me to say a few words to those who have been thinking of going out to New Zealand, but perhaps hesitate in consequence of present difficulties. There is no difficulty, lam sure. It must be vemembesed it is only partial. . Vast numbers of natives are sincerely attached to us, and would be very sorry indeed to see the white men leave their country. The soil of New Plymouth is magnificent, and as to the climate, I cannot speak sufficiently in its praise; I do not think anything in Europe can approach it. There are streams of water in almost every fifty acre section; very fair main roads, splendid timbers for building; but the great difficulty hitherto has been the want of land. I cannot recommend any one to buy bush land, as the labor and expense of clearing would not compensate, if given for nothing. From informa- ' tion lately received, I understand very large purchases of land have been effected by the Government, and are waiting for the necessary surveys to be sold to settlers. It seems to bs the general impression in New Zealand, that though most disastrous at praient, particularly to the out-settlers, eventual and great permanent good will result from this disturbance. The natives will know and appreciate our strength, and are quite sharp-witted enough to see that though they may for a time be successful in comitting wanton acts of de&truction and pillage, it must end in their discomfiture, if not annihilation. Gentleness with firmness is the best treatment towards a native, no- bullying or rudeness will! do, they are too proud a race to endure it, and will certainly resent it, whereas they are amenable to kindness, and can perfectly appreciate.honesty. They readily distinguish a |gentleman from a blackguard, and never forget to despise a person who has once cheated them. . It is not a little singular that the house where I resided with my wife, was within pistol shot of the place where the battle of Waireka was fought. Yours, &c, ■*•.'■'■ ARTHUR REMINGTON.