WELLINGTON, (From the Advertiser.)

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 357, 26 March 1861, Page 2

WELLINGTON, (From the Advertiser.)

THE HOISTING OF THE KING FLAG. [FftOM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT ]

Otaki, March 14,1861. Knowing that you would wish for any intelligence concerning the hoisting of the Maori King's standard here, I enclose you an account of the proceedings that took place. The account is rather long, but I thought I would give the fullest I could obtain. I have not been able to g3t Heremiah Te Tuare's first day's speech, or a list of the rules of the day, or Wi Tako's letter, as the natives are busy; I will send them by next mail, if possible 11th March.—The natives hoisted the staff, and rigged it The lower mast was brought down Irom the beach at Porotavvhae, the topmast from the bush at Otaki, and the yard from the wreck of the Valentine Hellicar, At 6 p.m. armed guards were stationed round the flagstaff, with orders to shoot any person not answering the guard. Relief guard every hour; a tribe for each hour. The night went off very quiet. 12th.—At 7 a.m., straggling firing, which lasted till half-past 8. At 9 «.m. the diffe-

rent runangas were called out, armed, and marched two deep round the flagstaff twice, when the natives, armed with spears and different native instruments, joined in, and followed in suite. The armed marched up to the N.W. front of the-staff, the unarmed N.E. front; the head chiefs standing in the ring round the staff. Heremiah Te Tuare called on them to salute the king by bowing three times uncovered. He then read the Catholic prayers for the king, after which Hapi Te Wakarawe read the prayers of the Protestant Church. When finished, orders to load with blank cartridge were given. Flags hoisted from the ground—a salute of 200 guns; half ' mast—another salute; mast hea.d—a grand salute and war dance. Speeches were then made, which were salutations to their king. Heremiah Te Tuere gave an explanation of his views in hoisting the flag at Otaki; alter which the natives were dismissed and began to divide the food for the different tribes, which lasted until sundown, when the flags were lowered with the same ceremony as in the morning. At the close of the proceedings of the day, Heremiah Te Tuere read out the rules proposed for the day. 13th.—Saluting the same as yesterday. 2 flags only hoisted, viz., the Waikato and the French; after which Heremiah dismissed the natives till 3 p.m. At 11 a.m. the friendly natives1 began to assemble from the town on the Pukefcarakara hill, all very quiet till about three o'clock, when two friendly chiefs, Katanamate Kapukai and Mamahu Tini Po'aka rushed out from the friendly mob wjih only a shawl round the loins, armed with a taidha and reed spears; the spears they ihiewat the different tribes, and one at the flag-staff. They then retreated to their side; this challenge was a signal for the kingiies to commence the proceedings of the evening. They commenced a war dance at their different encampments, and marched out 400 stiong, with fancy shirts, shawls, &c, round the loins, armed with guns, spearg, taiahas, men men, -fcc.,and took up their stations in three mobs four deep, 300 yards distant from the flagstaff. Mamahu then rushed forward and threw another reed spear at them, and returned, the Ngatiawa tiibe after him in double quick time, and the most unearthly yelling tnat could be thought of. This was repeated with the other remaining tribes, and the sham fight lasted some time; after which the 400 commenced the war dance, which was a splendid thing. Order being called, speeches were made by the principal chiefs, which were invitations to the friendly natives. Matene Te Whiwhi stood up and made a speech, inquiring the reason of the kingites dividing from them. " Tell me;" said he, "quickly, so that I may know what is the reason .of that flag. Do not keep me in suspense." Hapi Te Whakarawe (kingite) said, "Matene, you are the reason; do hot hide it, you know you are. You are a land-seller, I am a land-holder." Malene Te Whiwhi said, " That is not the reason; do not keep it back, let me know. If you cannot tell me, I must ask the Ngatikawhakas what it is; I must—a Ngatiawa chief (kingite) said it is the land-selling." He then finished his speech with a Maori song.—Karanama Te Kapukai (queenite) stood up, and upbraided the kingites for turning from them, and destroying their canoe. "You are children," said he, ." that like a new plaything." He. finished by bidding them farewell, at the same time telling them that they had taken the crooked path and would be lost. Napia Tarratoa (queenite) . stood up and said, "I have nothing to ask you; you have been questioned, but will not answer. You have chosen a king—l have chosen a church, Queen, and governor. You have chosen one; I have three. We will see who is right. One word I have to say. Our cause is broken ; you have one side, I the other. Which will float the longest? Farewell. I have one more word to say, that is, to live in peace, and not let bad come out of your laws. If you do you will all go to the sea. Farewell, farewell." — Heremiah Te Tuaro, in answer to Nepia, said "Nepia, you are right, but I have a church, king, and country. I have been wrong, but lam in the right path; you were in the right, but will be in the wrong one. All you people or the Queen, listen. I mean no wrong by my flag; do not think so. If bad thoughts come over me, I will go to Waitara; I will have no fighting here; no, never ; Taranaki is the place for that. Listen all. Look at the flagstaff; do you see the king's flag flying? No, it is down ; it is gone from the gaze of you. I said it would only see the light one day, and it is so. Am I wrong? It will not not be seen until the 12th March, 1862, and so on every year. I wish to live in peace; Ido not want war. If war appears, it will be from' the Governor, and that will not be my fault. I salute my king." Song. "I have nothing more to say; all that I require is peace with all."—The lungites commenced a song and war dance, which finished the proceedings of the day. They then fell in two deep and marched round the flagstaff, Heremiah Te Tuere leading. They saluted the flag, and then went to their different encampments, where they finished with a war dance. ' ,' .

14th.—The meeting broke up; theNgatikuhungis, Ngatiawas, Ngatihaus, and others, started homewards, leaving but a few behind. The meeting went off very quiet and s orderly, more so than most of our meetings. The Europeans that were on the giound intermixed with the natives. The natives were very friendly, laughing and joking, and enquiring what the meaning of their flags were; they seemed to be puzzled, and could not get at any definite answer. No slurs were cast on the Europeans, or any remarks passed about Taranaki. They seemed to be in a very good humor. Tho food consisted of 5 tons flour, 10 cwt. sugar, 20 fat bullocks, 1500 kits potatoes, 3000 or 4000 eels, and a, large num-

ber of pigs. Two bullocks they set fire to ! on the 14th, as they could not be used. | At 3 o'clock on the 13th there were over j 1100 natives on the ground: .