AUCKLAND.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 406, 13 September 1861, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

' (From the New Zealander.)

WAIKATO. The news from this district continues to be on the whole encouraging. The natives in Upper Waikato are applying themselves generally to labor, and a very considerable extent of land is being sown with wheat. William King himself is engaged in this peaceful pursuit. In those places where there is less industry, the natives make excuse for their idleness by saying that as it is probable that they may soon, be killed cultivation is a waste of labor. The general temper appears certainly more peaceful than it has appeared to be for some time, and whilst on the one hand there is a growing disposition to give up the ' flag,' there is upon the other a very firm determination to resist auy attack, aud if need be *to fight till all are killed,' a contingency which considering the military force which may or can be employed against them they begin to contemplate as possible. It is pretty well known, and it tends to encourage the disposition to be peaceable that the munitions of war are not in abundance. Powder is becoming scarce and caps are at a premium. The attempt to mauufaeture gunpowder has not

been successful, the article being of a very inferior description, of low explosive power, and unsuitable for the rifle or fowling piece, the most common native arm.

Comparatively few of the chiefs or people of the upper Waikato now visit Auckland. In a letter written recently by an intelligent resident of that district, we have seen this circumstance accounted for thus:—' a feeling of distrust exists in the mind of some of these people, caused by mischievous fabrications and evil reports which have been industriously promulgated for some months past by certain natives of lower Waikato, for the express purpose of deterring the natives from other parts from bringing down produce for sale, a bit of commercial policy by which they hoped to secure a readier market and a higher price for themselves.' The tricks of trade are not unknown in Waikato, and two or three schemers squatting over the embers in a Maori hut can often devise a little plan of ' riggiug' the market which would not discredit the ingenuity of a higher civilization. Pending the arrival of Sir George Grey all approach to the settlement of the native question may be said to be barred. The majority of the natives themselves secretly look forward to that event with hope and satisfaction; they are, however, cautious aud vague in their expressions, and skilfully display an apathy aud indifference highly diplomatic. The King, Potatau, is said to be kept in seclusion, or under strict surveillance, at Ngaruawahia, and all communication on his part with Europeans, except in the presence of his Native Ministers, is jealously prevented.