LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 356, 13 August 1863, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

July 28, 1883. Sir, —Perhaps through your columns you will allow me to pass a few remarks on the late inquest held in Wanganui, and concerning which the public feeling: is considerably excited on account of the removal of the body of a gentleman found dead in his house to a distance of some eight or ten miles, to and for the purpose of holding the inquest, quite contrary to the law, one of the earliest aids of which state, that “the Coroner, on receiving information, shall proceed to the place where any he slain nr suddenly dead ”to hold the inquest. That by the 25 Geo. 2, c. 20, the Coroner is to receive mileage, clearly indicating that he is to go to the body, not that the body shall be brought to him. Aud by the l Henry 8, c. 7, the Coroner is liable to fine and imprisonment for neglect of duty. By the same act authority is given to the justices to inquire into such default. It has generally been the custom to impanel the jury amongst the neighbours; and in this particular case threats had been held out by the natives against the gentleman, the fact of which had produced such an effect on the mind of the deceased that lie had written to a magistrate on the subject. In the impanelling of a town jury this fact was not known to them ; the verdict might, and would in all probability, have been the same, hut it would have caused an investigation with regard to the threats, and given more satisfaction to the public.

I don’t pretend to know the Coroner’s motive for the removal of the body ; no doubt it was a good one, but perhaps he will inform the public on that point as they consider the act most unwarranted. Yin rex. August 12, 1803. Sir, —What I would recommend at this time is, to give the natives no just cause of quarrel, and avoid as much as possible all kinds of disputes. Then, if anything does liappeii, we shall not have ourselves to blame for having occasioned the quarrel. I believe we shall find no greater difficulty than partial loss in drifting through the present storm, if we only adopt careful measures ; and no one can blame us for acting in such a manner as will secure present peace to the district, and more particularly as the Government cannot find troops at the present time to carry on war in every place at once successfully, whilst the great battles are fought elsewhere, which will cause law and order to he respected here, as well as - where the battles are fought.

In adopting a peaceable maimer we sliall be able to furnish supplies to the other districts that may lie involved in the war, which will be a great advantage to both us and them ; and I have no doubt if we do succeed in steering through the present storm, we shall find at the end of it a good supply of stock, and everything in a thriving state comparatively to what would have been the case if we were to carry on war witli an inferior force ; keeping peace will give us a good prospect after the wav is over, and the (Government will be aide to keep its forces more united, and‘by .that means bring the war to a more speedy and satisfactory conclusion. John J.acksox. August 7, 18(53. Si r, — After seeing : the account of the affair at Mr. Harrison’s iu the Chronicle yesterday, we take the opportunity of sending you a true account of the transaction. About seven o’clock iu the evening of Monday, 3rd inst., the family of Mr. Harrison was alarmed by seeing a fire in the vicinity of his house. Mr. Harrison being absent at the time we considered it necessary to take precautionary measures, and decided on placing a sentry outside the house; when, shortly after being stationed, he was fired upon by some parties whom we have good reason to suppose were Maories, on account of hearing the word ‘tenei’ seVcral times. Immediately on hearing the shots fired, the sentry returned the .fire, the men inside went out, and immediately another shot was fired on them, the sentry crying "but, “I’m shot.” Upon examination it appeared that the missile had passed through his blue shirt across his breast. Mr. Harrison returned about this time, and shortly after he, along with his men, saw tliree men along the side of the scrub close to the bush directly in front of his house ; the men then challenged them both in English and Maori ; not receiving an answer the men fired on them and returned to the house ; the Maories immediately returned the fire, and no more was seen of them.' In the morning Mr. Harrison sent in for an escort to bring his family to town, and accordingly 30 of the 57th, under Capt. Stewart, were speedily there ; the volunteer cavalry were on the ground previous to the arrival of the troops, and escorted the family into the town ; the troops returned in the evening. It is the intention of the settlers to apply to the Government to erect blockhouses throughout the district for the protection of property ; up to the present time we have not heard anything more of the affair ; the settlers, generally speaking, do not feel alarmed, hut judge it necessary to take precautionary measures. Hoping you will insert tliis, we remain, yours truly, Joseph Jones. Tiios. C'has. Lowrey. W. Boniface.

NEW ZEALAND INSURANCE Co. At a general meeting of proprietors held on the 13th. July, 1863, at the Company’s offices, Queen-street, Auckland, the following report was presented : The directors, with much pleasure, submit to the shareholders the accompanying statement, showing, as the result of the .Company’s operations for the past half-year, a balance of A 11,560 2s 2d. The directors recommend that a dividend of 10 per cent, for the half-year be declared, and that the residue of AT0,060 2s 2d be added to the reserve fund, which will then be increased to .£26,820 10s sd. The directors further recommend the Company to take A 15,000 from the reserve fund and apply it to the augmentation of the paid-up capital, to be reckoned as a payment by the present proprietors of A 6 per share. The amount of the paidup capital will then stand as A 30,000, or £l2 per share, still leaving an ample reserve fund of y l 1,820 10s sd. 'Die directors, anxious to extend the. Company’s operations over a wider field, have made arrangements for opening agencies in Liverpool, Glasgow, Mauritius and Adelaide. The Directors give their best attention to the interests of the Company, and are confident of the future ; but, at the same time, they look to the shareholders for their active co-operation, not only in maintaining the position the Company holds, but still further to increase its income by influencing new business.

THE WAR IN AUCKLAND. ' [From the Southern Cronn July *29.] I.eaVing fife'Great'South I’oad at Papak'ura, the Wairoa Road leads over the fiat, intervening between the south line and the range, keeping the belt of flat bush on tbe right. This road is unformed, and in many places the mire is very deep, rendering the transport service unusually heavy on the cattle and men employed. The Papakura camp of the volunteers and militia, with a party of the 65th, is on the high ground at the junction of the Great South; and b airoa Roads, and here a small redoubt is being erected, on the site selected by Lieutenant Warburton, R.E When' this work' has been; completed the defence of Papakura may be said to have been secured, as the Presbyterian Church on the other side of tire village has been lined and packed with sand, making it ball-proof, and loopholes! for firing The church will be held, I believe, principally by the settlers

Proceeding up the Wairoa road for about two miles, we come to the redoubt, built and held by the 18th Regiment, under the command of Captain i ing. When this party first moved out from Drury camp, to take up a position at Kirikiri, tents were pitched on a bald spur of ' the range, overlooking Moses’s encampment, and on a site remarkably' well chosen for defence But soldiers must eat, and the hill camp was all but inaccessible for supplies. The ' present site was therefore chosen on the left side of the Wairoa road, on an elevated piece of land in line with the old camp, and commanding a view of the ranges and the surrounding country down to the Manuka'll The post is held by 200 men and officers, but. owing to the heavy escort duty, and the detail for guards, not more than a woi'king party of 50 men can well be spared at the redoubt at any given time. Yesterday, the western face of the redoubt was finished- It is 5 feet 3 inches inside, and -1 feet 9 inches outside. The ditch will be deepened. If .to-day bad been fine I think the breast-work of the remaining sides would have been finished. As,l saw it, however, it, was tenable against any enemy without artillery. This post keeps the communication open with the advanced camps at the Wairoa, and forms a line in the chain of redoubts which will protect the country to the North of the Wairoa from being invaded by the enemy. The prospect from this camp is % r ery line indeed, extending down to the Manu' an Heads. @ Proceeding along the road towards

Wairoa, we gradually get upon level I and again, and, as a matter of course, upon miry patches, where the natural drainage is imperfect.' The settlers generally have abandoned their homes, although here, and there ''the' smoking ch imiieyS attested the fact that some still cling to their houses. The homestead of Captain Calvert, near the base of the lange, and about a quarter of a mile from tbe road, is now unoccupied. Since the terrible tragedy enacted there on Friday morning last, the family of this gentleman has abandoned it., and there was no appearance of anything having been disturbed v hen I passed‘yesterday. . The “ Traveller's Rest,” lmlf-way from Papakura to the Wairoa, is being put into a state of defence. Workmen were busily engaged blocking it up iu front with heavy timber, to deaden the effect of bullets, if attacked by the natives. The same kind of defence will be put up at the l-ear, and loopholes will be opened for firing from. A party of Militia are Stationed there, where they will be of great service iu checking the natives and keeping the road open. A little further on and the spur opens to view the spot on which - poor Cooper was murdered by the natives after retiring from Captain Calvert’s. They lighted a fire a little further up the ridge close to the bush, and here the greater bulk of the natives sat until the second tragedy was enacted. Cooper was lired at repeatedly but witflttmt effect. t length a bullet entered the back of bis bead, passingjclean through it and killing him instantaneously. I have conversed with several officers who saw his body immediately afterwards, and the testimony of all is that* the natives lighted the clothes a ter his death, and set fire to the body. Seme appear to think that the poor fellow’s clothing was lighted in two places—at the knee of the left leg and at the breast. Certain it is that the body was discovered lying close to the edge ot j the bush, to the left of Cooper’s house, I smouldering away and that water was dashed upon it to extinguish the horrible, j burning. The men looking lor the body | were attracted to tbe spot by the smoke j winch arose from the body. The clothes j were burnt off* the lower part of it and! down the left thigh, ex [losing the charred j flesh. This diabolical deed was perpe ! trated in the light of day. by natives of ; New Zealand who have been for many ; years in friendly intercourse with the ! settlers and wlio have uniformly been 1

treated by them with kindness. The unfortunate deceased was an inoffensive man. and lie carried his opposition to the war to such an extent that he positively refused to accept arms, and join the settlers around lum in protecting themselves from the Maoris by whom they weie menaced. He had in his bosom a pocket copy of the New 1 estament, which his murdetefs tore up. scattering the leaves about. Portions of this sacred volume have been'preserved by soihd 'of ; the deceased’s neighbours as a relic. Passing along this road, one gradually comes upon the bush, which is dense in some places. There has been a great deal done to clear the land in the Wairoa valley, and many comfortable houses have been built by the settlers. There is little I think, to apprehend from an attack in

that direction, with the existing posts, unless the natives are very largely reinforced, and are likewis possessed with the hallucination that they are inmiensly superior to ns in war. With recent experiences before them I should suppose they have lost somewhat of the overweeuiug confidence In themselves, which ffirms such a marked feature in native character, and that they will think twice and talk a great deal, before tempting their fate by passing our lines with the view of attacking the settlement between this and Auckland.

The Wairoa village is prettily situate between, tne hills, .eight. miles from the East Coast, by the river,* hut four miles only as the crow flies. *'l he defences are to my mind, well chosen, although I. think a post further down commanding the navigation, would be desirable. There is a square redoubt on the left bank of the Wairoa, held by 200, commanded by Major Lyons, of whom 25 men, under Lieut. Chevalier, are of the 65th Regiment, the remainder being militia volunteers. They are chiefly from A uckland, and look remarkably well On the right hank of the river, Mr. Snodgrass is building a square stockade, with two flanking towers, for the use of the settlers. The stockade is on Mr. Nichull’s farm It is 60 feet square, walls two feet 'thick, loopholed and baUpjdof. A corrugated iron house, 40 feet by 16“ feet, to domicile the settlers, is built inside. When the stockade is finished, the settlers contemplate taking Mr. Nicholl’s barn to the right, and pvtting it also in a state of defence, as it commands an approach to the. Stockade, which otherwise would be undefended. The work is being most creditably and expeditiously carried out by Mr. Snodgrass, for the Provincial Government.

A detachment of 50 men, under the command of Lieut. Farmer, marched yesterday from Papakura to the Half-way House (Burton’s) on the Great South Road. They will take up a position on the height, commanding Beggar’s Bush and prevent the natives crossing through the ranges by that line. A redoubt or stockade will at once be thrown up. Another post is to be established at the Flat .Bush, and these with' the stockade at Howick, which is now, I believe, completed, ought to give the people of Auckland assurance that at all events they are tolerably secure from surprise by natives from without, whatever may be said of those within, their gates.

It is said that the natives have left Molceto and gone to the front, where according to report, there is a large number of them gathering. As n igbt have been anticipated, the Waikato tribes generally have joined the mnks of the rebels ; : 'hence we shall need a strong’force to resist them in case ot attack. The redoubt now in course of formation at Tuaiuata will be completed in a few da vs. A number of bu.shmen went up to Shepherd's Bush this morning, to commence the important work of widening the Great South Road. It is to be made 21 chains wide. The General is extremely anxious to have this work done as soon as possible, and it will afford a good opportunity for bushmen to make money, as it is to be well paid for. .