The New Zealand Herald AUCKLAND, MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1865. THE RETURN OF H.M.S.S. ECLIPSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 421, 20 March 1865, Page 4

The New Zealand Herald

AUCKLAND, MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1865. THE RETURN OF H.M.S.S. ECLIPSE.

SPECTEHUB. AGE N'DO. " Give ©very man thine aar, but few thy voice: M:e each man's censure, hut reserve thy judgment. Thia above aU, —To thine be true; ' And it must follow, as the night the day. Tliou u:mst not then be false to any inan."

The return of 11.M.5.5. Eclipse, from Turanga, 011 Sah;May niglit, lias put an end. to the suspense and excitement which the" Hying reports from time to time arriving in Auckland have called forth. The safety of Bishop Williams and. the crew of the schooner Eclipse, and the re-capture ot the liev. Mr. Grace is a happy termination to the fearful tragedy which commenced, with the murder of Mr. \ olkner. Mr. Grace and Captain Levy arrived safely in the stearner Eclipse, on Saturday night, and Bishop Williams remains with confidence at Turanga. On the evening of Friday, the 10th inst., 11.M.5.5. Eclipse, 4 guns, Commander Eremantle, having embarked his Lordship the Bishop of ICew Zealand, and Mr. Short, pilot, left Auckland for the East Coast, to recover, if possible, the Hev. Mr. Grace, and other Europeans, who had fallen into the hands of the natives at Opotiki. The Eclipse has now returned to Auckland, and wc are happy to say, with Mr. Grace on board. The schooner Eclipse, with all her crew,, is also on her way back to Auckland. ' The following is an outline of 11.M.5.5. Eclipse's proceeddin<rs during her absence from this port. On the morning of the lltli, anchored oiV Tauranga, communicated with To Papa, embarked Mr. 11. E. Eice (instructed by Colonel Greer to join the expedition), and again took her departure before evening, proceeding eastward to Hick's Bay, and anchoring in Ivawa Kawa roads at noon on the 12th. Here a whaleboat, manned by natives, visited the ship, and it was ascertained that Kereopa's party, accompanied by Patara, had passed overland to Poverty Bay. No positive information could be gathered as to Ml*. Grace's whereabouts. A messenger was despatched to Mr. White, 8.M., of Waiapu, to acquaint him that the vessel would return to the Ivawa Kawa roads on the 10th, in case he should be^ desirous of leaving his district. The Eclipse then proceeded to Poverty Bay, anchoring off Turanga-nni at sunrise on the 13th. Captain Ereemantle, accompanied by Bishop Selwyn and Mr. Eice, rode inland to Bishop Williams' station, where a large number of natives had gathered to consider the steps necessary to be taken for the safety of their Europeans, Kereopa and Patara having arrived and demanded, to be allowed to pass, through Turanga. The natives had assembled in frout of the runanga house, one of the handsomest of native construction to be found on the coast. There were over 800 present, iully dressed in costume, and with more than the usual sprinkling of arms amongst them. She meeting was opened by two war dances, followed bv speeches, by Auaru and others, of welcome to Bishop Selwyn and his companions. Subsequently they were asked to assist in setting Mr. Grace free, and in procuring the murderers of the lie v. Mr. Vc>'.liner. °Here it was learned that Mr. Grace

had been left "behind at Opotiki, and was not, as reported, travelling the country with the party. The natives declined interfering with Kereopa's party lest thereby any mishap should befall Mr. Grace, but gave the most positive assurances of their determination to protect the resident Europeans. Subsequently two messengers (Maori chiefs) were sent on board the Eclipse bearing a letter to Hori Tupaea, the Ngaiterangi chief, the substance of which was that the production of Tupaea at Opotiki would procure Mr. Grace's release. On the 14th the Eclipse left Poverty Bay, and proceeded to Kawa Kawa roads. Mr. White had not arrived, nor had the messenger despatched to him returned from Waiapu. Large meetings were being held in the district and the general feeling was tending towards the Pai Marire faith. The Eclipse left Kawa Kawa roads on the morning of the loth, and off Hick's Ray communicated with the steamer Lady Bird. The Bev. S. Williams and his brother came on board and were gratified at receiving assurances of the safety of the Poverty Bay Europeans. "We have omitted to mention that Ivereopa's party were not allowed to proceed southwards, they were therefore obliged to return by the way they came, and would no doubt arrive at Opotiki about the ITth. After parting with the Lady Bird the Eclipse steamed to Omaia, and from thence to Tauaphori, where she anchored for the night, leaving for Opotiki at daylight, and arriving off Opotiki on the lGth at 7 a.m. The two Turanga chiefs were landed for the purpose of negociating for Mr. Grace's release. Immediately afterwards a boat containing Messrs. Levy and the other white men belonging to the schooner Kclipse (which was at anchor inside the bar), came on board. From them it was learned that all the Natives were absent inland at a Pai Marire • meeting, and that Mr. Grace was alone in the settlement. This immediately suggested the aclvisibiliiy of Mr. Grace's rescue, and Mr. Levy offered to pull on shore and communicate with him. Within the hour the boat was seen returning, apparently without Mr. Grace, but on getting alongside it was happily disovcred that Mr. Grace was bidden in the boat. Immediately after this the Eclipse's boats were sent to "bring out the schooner. This duty was entrusted to Lieut. Belson, and was by liim successfully performed. Tiewai, a friendly Native, came on board ; be appeared to be under some apprehension that he would he charged with a complicity in Mr. Grace's escape. The two Turanga Natives not having returned, some apprehension was felt as to their safety, and towards evening Tiewai volunteered to land, and make enquiries respecting them. During the night the ships' boat were patrolling the shore, but- no signs of Tiewai or the other Natives. On the morning of the 17th, the Natives were seen in great numbers" on the point, and it was decided in opening communication with them. Fortius purpose a boat, containing Captain Ereemantle, the Bishop, and Mr. Bice, approached the shore, and Mr. Bice interpreting, requested the delivery of the Turanga Natives, who bad* landed on the previous day. This was refused, unless Mr. Bice landed, which, of course, was not, acceded to. After some warlike demonstration, shouting, praying, and gesticulating, for the purpose of drawing the vessel on shore ; the natives then carricd off the three flags that had been planted on the beach, and the boat, with Tiewai, returned to the Eclipse. Subsequently the two Turanga natives appeared on the beach, swam o:f to the boat, aud were embarked. The Eclipse then left Opotiki on her return to A-Uckland, calling off Maketu to communicate to the authorities at Tauranga the result of her proceedings. The Eclipse communicated for an hour with the Curacoa in the Bangitoto Channel, and arrived at her anchorage in this harbour at 9 p.m. on Saturday last.