Page image
Page image

A.—No. 5,

The Colonel, out of respect to the chiefs making the request, and to the general good character of the Ngaiterangi tribe, granted their desire. This has had a good effect already in allaying the excitement which must naturally exist on the captxire of so important a man as Hori Tupaea. Had the Colonel decided upon sending the prisoners to Auckland this excitement would have increased in a tenfold degree, and might have seriously affected the peace of the district for some time to come. Subsequently to the meeting above mentioned, Hori Tupaea had an interview with Colonel Greer. Hori Tupaea then distinctly stated, in my presence, that ho would adhere to the Governor's peace with the Ngaiterangi; that he would abandon the course he has lately been pursuing; that he would return to his former allegiance to the Governor. Hori Tupaea has himself, in a letter to His Excellency, stated his views. The Colonel has given orders on my recommendation for the release of all the other prisoners now at Maketu, considering the number now in camp quite sufficient for the purpose hoped to be gained. I have not the time to make any lengthy comment on the new aspect the whole question of the peace and quiet of this district must assume from the circumstances above related. The result of this firm step on the part of the military commander of this district must be beneficial if judiciously followed out. The Pai Marirc superstition, I believe, has received its death blow in this district. Hori Tupaea bears the reputation of being a man of his word, and I believe he will adhere to the promise he has made to Colonel Greer. I should have stated that Hori Tupaea is subjected to no undue restraint. The Colonel has had a tent pitched for his accommodation a few yards from this office. The determination of His Excellency respecting these prisoners is anxiously looked for. I have, &c, Hejcbt T. Clarke, The Hon. the Native Minuter, Civil Commissioner. Enclosure 5 to Xo. 23. MEMOKANDTJM by the Goyeexob. Tupaea on the ISth of February, 1865, promised to observe all these conditions : — 1. He will take the oath of allegiance. 2. He will truly and faithfully assist the Governor in putting an end to the present disturbances. 3. He will reside in such part of New Zealand as the Governor may from time to time point out, until the country is again in a tranquil state, and he receives the Governor's permission to return to his own country. 4. He will" faithfully observe the terms given by the Governor to the Tauranga Natives. G. Geey. Enclosure 6 to No. 23. Thos. H. Smith, Esq., to the Hon. the Natiye Seceetaey. Sic, — Civil Commissioner's Office, Maketu, 13th February, 1865. I have the honor to report for the information of the Government that a party of Pai Marire fanatics, attempting to pass through the Arawa country to the South, were intercepted at Te Eotoiti on the Bth instant, by a party of inland Natives, and have since been brought in and handed over to the military authorities. The leader of this party is a AVaikiitu chief named Tamihana Eikiriki, of Ngatiruru, who has gained considerable notoriety as a " Tiu " or prophet of the Hau Hau religion ; he was supposed to be endowed with wonderful supernatural powers. He was accompanied by the Tauranga chief Hori Kingi Tupaea, and was on his way to the East Coast for the purpose of making proselytes and preparing those tribes to take part in a combined and final effort, the success of which is believed to have been promised by revelation from Heaven, and which is to result in the destruction of the Europeans, and of all who refuse to embrace the new religion. An attempt was made to intercept this party on the Oth instant, when they passed within a few miles of this settlement, but it was unsuccessful in consequence of delay ia receipt of information respecting their movements. Colonel Greer had previously written to the Arawa chiefs intimating his wish that Tamihana and Tupaea should be taken and brought to him if they attempted to pass this way, but on my communicating with him after the Pai Marire expedition had entered the Arawa territory, he did not appear to consider it desirable to take any active measures for their apprehension, or to give the Arawa any positive directions on the subject. The latter, acting upon their own responsibility and at their own risk, have taken action which has stopped the Pai Marire expedition to the South, thereby preventing much mischief, placed in our power the men whose names and influence gave importance to the Pai Marire movement here, and exhibited the Hau Hau superstition as a detected imposture. The Arawa are somewhat apprehensive about the possible consequences of their act, and that there is some ground for their being so will appear from the accompanying translation of a letter received here last night. Being anxious to take advantage of this morning's mail I have reported thus briefly, but shall furnish more detailed information at an early date. I enclose a list of names of the Natives who composed Tamihana's party, and who were brought in with him and Hori Tupaea on the 10th to this place. Of these the nine indicated in the list were sent in by Major Kirby to Tauranga the same night with an escort of thirty men. I have, &c, The Hon. the Native Secretary. Tiios. H. Smitii, Civil Commissioner.

12

DESPATCHES PROM THE GOVERNOR OE NEW

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert