NATIVE WAR. BATTLE OF MANGANUI.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 2, 29 April 1843, Page 2

NATIVE WAR. BATTLE OF MANGANUI.

We must at the commencement warn our friends in England, and the neighbouring colonies, not to be alarmed at the title of this article, and t not to suppose for one moment that because a war exists between some of the natives, there is any fear or danger to be apprehended therefrom, at least as far ns the European populate n is concerned. On the contrary, the natives and the settlers have lived, aud continue now to live in the greatest harmony, and to cherish towards one another, feelings of the utmost confidence, and of the most perfect goodwill towards Europeans ; the conduct of the natives has ever beerj kind and consistent, and there is still, if justice be exercised by those in authority, with a due regard to both parties, not the most distant fear of a change in this happy feeling of mutual trust, and confiding good-will. But, although we are thus enabled to speak so comfortably of the state of the Natives and Europeans, as regards their conduct towards one another, we are extremely sorry to be obliged to inform our friends at home, and especially those who watch over, and take an interest in the imp-ovemeut and advancement of the condition of the aborigines of New Zealand, of a sad and fatal change in the feelings of some, we regret to say, of the most civilized tribes towards each other, the effect of which has been the shedding of much blood, and the exciting of ill- will and animosities, which will require much time, and much judicious treatment to remove. Our feelings would have been perhaps, less shocked at an occurrence oi this kind, and our sympathies less strong, if this bloodshed had been caused merely through an ordinary quarrel among the tribes themselves, and unconnected with the deeds of Europeans ; but this unfortunately is not the case, and the feeling of commiseration for the condition of the native sufferer, must be mixed up with that of deep shame on account of the conduct of our own countrymen in this unhappy affair. We had fondly hoped that his superior intelligence would have saved the native of New Zealand from the general and melancholy fate of savages ; but ever true to itself in the sad effect, the contact with Europeans, is, in this instance, as well as in all others, doomed to the same fatal result. The superior intelligence of the New Zealander, has either not been known, or not sufficiently appreciated, and taken to account in our intercourse with him ; and while we fancied that our conduct towards him, should be the same as that towards other savages, his intelligence, however, enabled him not only to perceive our intentions, but .to guard against their effects, precise y in thtfcaame manner that civilized nun would have done ; as will sufficiently appear from the history of the present quarrel, which, in justice to the natives, and for the information of the humane at home; and of the well wishers of our race in general, we shall faithfully detail, as far as it is known to us, and as fully as the limits of our paper will allow. The right of conquest and the tenure of land by such right, is not only acknowledged by the natives of New Zealand, but it is so by almost all the nations of the earth, whether civilized or barbarian. And wherever " might is right," it will be enforced, and maintained with all the strength that power can bestow. Nearly all the landed possessions in Europe have been primarily obtained in this manner ; and the Lords of the soil in New Zealand hold their possessions on a similar tenure; and know of no other, with the exception of the hereditary, which of course can only exist among the members of an individual tribe.

and is at any time liable to be destroyed by the exercise of the other. But while this right is obeyed and acknowledged by all parties, it is very natural to suppose that the person dispossessed of property in accordance with this principle, will not only retain the recollection of having possessed such property, but will also cherish a latent feeling of ill-will towards the stronger party, together with an earnest desire to redeem his lost possessions. But even this feeling will in the lapse of years, either cool down or wear away altogether ; and the parties will become reconciled to one another. This was precisely the condition, aud the case of the two tribes who were originally concerned in this unfortunate quarrel. The forefathers of a native chief, named Na« pera, or " Noble," now living at Kaitaia, were driven about thirty years ago, by another tribe from lands at a place called Manganui. The conquering party have retained peaceable possession of Manganui ever since, aud were acknowledged by all parties as the rightful owners, until the arrival of Captain Hobson who, during his illness, happened unfortunately to send Mr. Shoriland, the present acting governor of this colony to Kaitaia, for the purpose of obtaining the signature of the chief " Noble," a fine intelligent Missionary native, to the treaty for the cession of sovereignty. The natives are all exceedingly fond of " acting the great man," and this chief in talking of his wealth, power, and lineage, mentioned to Mr. Shortland, among other things, that he* was the owner of the lands of Manganui, at least that they were thirty years before then, in possession of his family; and that, although the natives .who lived at that place, had sold them to the white people, that they had no right to do so ; as these lands originally belonged to his forefathers. Captain Hobson and Mr. Shortland, on the faith of these rcpre • sentations, immediately, and without a further hearing, prejudged the claims of the Manganui settles ; and re- purchased the lands from Noble, which the resident chiefs had, eight yaars before, sold to tho European settlers. This transaction took place after, and in the face of an act passed by the Legislative Council of New South Wales, appointing commissioners to enquire into, and to settle the claims of Europeans to land in New Zealand ; so that Captain Hobson, and^Mr. Shortland. his adviser in this instance, at once deprived the commissioners of their powers, and exercised it themselves. The effect of which illegal, and unwarrantable exercise of authority, is the late unfortunate war ; to establish the truth of this statement, we insert the following extract of a letter from Lieutenant-Governor Hobson to Sir George Gipps, dated Bay ot Islands, sth May, 1840: " Mr. Shortland has returned after a most satisfactory meeting with the chiefs in Kaitaihai, in the north. His reception was most flattering and gratifying. "The principal chief of Kaitaihai is a Christian, named Noble; quite a superior person, fu!l of intelligence, of a most independent and liberal spirit, and possessing unbounded influence in his district. With such a man, at the head of a very powerful tribe; and in close alliance with all the northern natives, it was an object of no small importance to establish a good understanding. By this opportunity I will forward Mr. Shortlands report, if it can be prepared in time; if not, it shall go to Sydney by the next vessel that offers; and I have no doubt but you will coincide in my opinion that Mr. bhortland conducted the mission with considerable tact, and that he has succeeded in a highly satisfactory manner." — blue Book for 1841, page 57. Such is the origin of the misfortunes of the northern tribes, and such is Mr. Shortlands connection with these fatal proceedings. This was the first act of Mr. Shortlands political life. His mission, which has been so much praised by the well-meaning, but deluded, Hobson. However highly' satisfactory at the time, and, with whatever cuniriug, or as it is called, tact, it may have been conducted, is now recorded in letters of blood, and its character for ever stamped by the seal of the native dead. i From the expenditure of the New Zealand government in 1840, we subjoin the expences of Mr. Shortland on account of this the first, but direly disastrous act of his political life ; and we would, for the

sake of humanity and common sense, that it had not fallen to our Jot to be the chronicler of facts which redound so little to the honour of our country, and of oui race : — " Hire of the schooner New Zealandcr, for the conveyance ofW. Shortland, Esq., and suite to Kaitaihai, for the purpose of obtaining the adherence of the native chiefs in that district £30 0 0 " Allowance to Messrs. Shortland, Smart,' Johnson and Taylor as travelling expences while on mission to Kaitaihai 1400 " Purchase of a tract of land at Manganui, from the native chief Naphere Punakareao (Noble). . . 100 0 0 "Total ...: £144 0 0 After the accomplishment of this maiden and splendid' 1 piece of diplomacy, on the part of JNJr. Shorllaud, he was installed by Captain Hobson as Colonial Secretary; a fit and proper reward for services so well performed. And on the 2nd of July, 1840, the following notice appeared in the Government Gazette : — " The Lieutenant Governor desires it to be notified that the Jands of Manga imi have -been purchased for her Majesty the Queen ; and " he therefore cautions the public 'against building, cutting timber, or trespassing thereon. "Those persons who may have established themselves ou these Jands, either by building, or enclosing grounds for cultivation, will be permitted to hold such tenements or lands undisturbed until the commission to be hereafter appointed, shall decide upon the rights of the respective parties. " All who desire the privilege of cutting down timber oh the said lauds, may obtain permission for a limited period, from the Lieutenant Governor, on payment of a small fee by way of acknoivledgement. " Given at Manganui. this 24th day of June, 1810. -" By His Excellency's command, "John Johnson, J.P. t( Acting Police Magistrate." This proclamation affords a rich specimen of the system on which the government of this colony has been conducted by Captain Hobson and his Colonial Secretary Mr. Shortland, from their arrival in the colony to the pre&ent moment. The proclamation gives notice,. 1st. That the lauds- of Manganui had been by her faithful servants purchased for her Majesty the Queen., 2nd. A caution fo the public not to erect buildings, cut timber, or trespass in any manner on these lands. 3rd. That although these lands were thus bought for her Majesty (legally?) there were still some parties, who not only claim ed these lands, buL also actually paid for them, and established themselves on the same, by building houses and enclosinggrounds forcultivation ; and had actually occupied them for nearly eight years. But if so, how came Captain Hobson and Mr. Shortland to throw away money upon lands already bought. Perhaps it was doubtful whether the titles of these parties were good or not ; and therefore a commission was hereafter to be appointed to enquire into this. But did not the fact of Captain Hobson's buying these lauds a second time, indicate at once that he believed the original settleis had no right to the land ; and therefore a commission was not only a useless, but an unnecessary proceeding. Captain Hobson, however, under every view tf the case, acted wrong. A commission being *about to be established, he had clearly no Tight to prejudge the settler's claim. But in the event of this commission finding ,that the settler's claims were good, then Ivhat right had Captain Hobson, or Mr Shortland thus to throw away the public money on the purchase of lands already bought by others. But these were all minor evils and errors, compared to the effects of this proceeding on the minds of sthe natives generally.,-- "To them it appeared as an attempt to uphold the native is'oble, against the Manganui natives, and to upset the right of conquest • the right jby which all the tribes held their lands, yhe effect upon the settlers, was the suspension of all their operations till this .commission should decide. The natives iiowcver, were day by day becoming more #nxious and alarmed about the matter, poble preferred his claim to the land.

with the high pretensions of a man backed by the government. The Manganui tribes appealed to the other natives to assist them in opposing this fearful encroachment on their rights. Two years or more, passed away, and the excitement still increased, till about four or five months ago, the commissioner anived at Manganui to decide the land claims of the settlers at that place ; they, and the chiefs and natives from whom they bought, appeared and claimed the lauds, as a matter of right, and primary purchase. Noble, the Kaitaia chief and his tribe also appeared, and claimed the same lands for himself and for the government, to whom he said, he had sold a part. The commissioner was perplexed, and refused to act, on the pica that he could not decide between the government of her Majesty and her Majesty's subjects; indeed, we believe he was afraid of an outbreak among the natives, who were highly excited ; at all events, he consulted his own safety, and left the scene of strife. The natives also dispersed, without com- 1 ing to any amicable arrangement; but, on the contrary, with the full understanding, that war alone could terminate the dispute. Each pany summoned their followers and allies,* aiid the last account from the Buy of Inlands state that a battle had taken place; in which about fifty natives were killed, fifteen of whom were great chiefs. Thcie were about five thousand natives assembled ; two-thirds of whom belonged to the Manganui party, who, it appears, have completely deteated Noble, or the government party as they ar-d called. Many natives from the Bay of Islands, though not directly interested in the lauds hi dispute, still joined thf Manganui party. The reasons which they give for so doing, were the fact that theii own possessions were similarly acquired with those of theManganui people, and that if the right of conquest was not supportcdand maintained in this instance, they too might in their turn be deprived of their possessions. This battle, as it may be called, was conducted hi every j respect according to the customs of civilized men. The dead were given up by both parties, and decently interred. No auch scenes as used in former days to distinguish the New Zealander, and disgrace, and outrage humanity, were practised. No ont rages were committed on the persons- or properties of Europeans. The nLost of the natives hail formerly embraced ChrisiiaMity, and evidently engaged witfr much reluctance, though with determination in this unhappy warfare We understand the Bishop of New Zealand, with much humanity, endeavoured to prevent the fight, but in vain. He even encountered considerable risk, if not danger by going into the midst of the combatants, and erecting a white banner, as an emblem of peace; and it was not until the firing actually commenced, that he left the scene of strife. The Rev Mr. Henry Williams also, the oldest of the Missionaries, aud the most respected, both by the natives and Europeans, tried every effort to prevent the bloodshed ; but even his great influence was unavail ing. We are unable to say whether the quarrel is now at an end or not. We tear much it is but the beginning of the poor rative's troubles. In reading the above, the enquiry will j doubtless be made, and the question asked, | what the government have done to prevent this hoi rid massacre? and as we shall be expected to render some account of their conduct in this melancholy affair, we must, however, reluctantly, and however injuriously to them, tell" the trulh ; and say that they have by their acts clone every thing to bring about the war; at least, their acts and theirs only have brought it about. Their interference between the original settlers and the natives, have occasioned this war. The Manganui natives in opposing the claims of Noble and the government, have acted, * The Manganui party consisted of six hundred rac-n. headed by the chiefs Warikawri, Akewa, and Ewarri, toge her with eiiiht huudred men from Hokianga, headed b/ the great chirff Arepa ; also the \Vrfne;aroa natives eight hundred, headed by Ururoa ; and five hundred from the Bay of Islands, hf a led by the ch : efs Rewa, Tarea, Moko, William Korokoro. 'I he opposite, or Noble's party, conri ted of his own tribe and those of the following chiefs: Townui 3 Titnoti, Murane; and Erepi, in all a v >, u cne thousand five hundred, together with ei^ht hundred from about the North Cape, headed by his f .ther in- law, P^pea. Of Noble's party, tvro of the prin ij a', chiefs, Timoii and Townui, were killed, and hehtnvelf Inviug disgruccfu'ly fl:J, li.s lost tlif rank n( » ell I f.

not because the lands belonged lo them, for they had sold (hem, but because they had sold thorn to Europeans, and because in selling- them they had pledged themselves to maintain the Europeans in the peaceable possession. The poor native fought, blc-d, and died for ji principle which the government paid the unfortunate Noble to endeavour to upset,, a principle which the government in every decision regarding land purchased from the natives*- have violated and outraged;- for while they on every occasion deprive the land claimant of as much of his land as they can, they have -never in one instance returned the same to the native ; but they keep it themselves. They make the people at home believe that the enquiry info the claims to lauds bought by Europeans fiom natives is conducted from feelings of hu-, inanity, and a sense of justice towards the native, but where has there as yet, been one inch of such laud returned to a native. We call upon them to say where. But if the measures of the government have thus been blamcable in bringing about the war, Mr. Shortland who is at the head of the government, is doubly blamcable in not having prevented it. For mouths it was known and believed by many persons that prcpaialions were made by all the tribes for ti>is fight or battle. Why then did not Mr. ihortland prevent it ? Did he not on a recent occasion send all tho troops from Auckland to Touranga, at an expence of upwards of a thousand pounds, to recover a whale boat ? When no other danger than its mere loss, was to bo apprehended. Js it not two or three months since the commissioner left Manganui, because the natives were going to fight about this disputed claim ? why did not Mr. Shortland, when he knew that a battle was to be fought, by the natives, send the troops to prevent it ? we cannot tell, we only know that Mr. Shortland has done nothing — that the poor natives havo fought, bled, and died ; and that Mr. Shortland, and Captain Hobson bought the lands of the settlers at Manganui, from the native, Noblo, who according to nativo law and custom, had no title to them. But we call upon every lover of our raee — every friend of humanity to interfere between the native and this government. We call upon them to do away with the semi-slavery of the New Zealaudcr, and to procure for him his nativo rights, or the rights of a subject of Great Britain ; to give him tho full right of property, beforo ho bleed and die for it, as did those at Manganui.