MONGANUI WAR. (CONCLUDED.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 8, 10 June 1843, Page 4

MONGANUI WAR. (CONCLUDED.)

To the Editor -of the Southern Cross. In the autumn of 1841, I purchased land at Mongaroa, and after building a commodious habitation, removed with my family thither, and immediately proceeded with my sons to fell some of our Kauri trees, preparatory to sawing them into boards. I expended a great sum on saws, tackle, blocks and falls, but we had not been at work many weeks, when an order reached us from this Government, that no one after that notice would be allowed to cut Kauri timber on his own ground, consequently we were reluctantly compelled to desist, and return to Monganui, after sinking a large sum, which I can never recover. I pass by other mortifications which could not have happened to any . other British subject living under a free and English government, to the late disastrous war. We had just been enlarging our house and premises, having got our gardens well fenced and in good order, when we heard that the hostile tribes were collecting at Typa and Oadudu, about 5 miles distance from us. We took, however, little notice of it, till I was warned that one of Noble's tribes, hearing I had a good library, intended to make an inroad upon it for cartridge paper. This timely notice enabled me to remove my books to a place of safety before, they arrived. This was succeeded by the firing of guns day and night all round our neigh— bourhood, and threats on Noble's side of injuring and robbing the white families unless we acknowledged his claim. This E Pune Kareao has been for some time living in an English built house at Kaitala, and though a baptized Native and professing to abjure war, yet has exercised considerable authority over the northern tribes, backed by his wife's father, Papea, and other powerful chiefs. Still defeated as he was in a former instance, he would hardly have ventured upon the present war, unless he had been prompted by a higher power, nor could he consistently with his missionary profession so deliberately have broken through the treaty he made with our chiefs at Pero Pero in 1840. He therefore avowed himself at the commencement of these hostilities no longer a missionary, but a devil, and his first act of aggression was his coming to E Warri's settlement at Oadudu, and in defiance planting there a patch of potatoes which our chiefs suffered to remain on the ground till they were nearly ripe, when Eripi (a young chief I met at Adelaide in 1839) ordered them to be pulled up and his pigs turned in. It seems E Pune only waited for this, as it immediately brought affairs to a crisis. We found the matter begin to get very serious, especially as numbers of native warriors were continually passing by, and greatly disposed to do mischief. One of E Pune's tribes presented a double barrelled gun at a little girl the child of Mr. John Davis, and when prevented firing, declared in Maori "he would have some English blood ere long;" and we felt persuaded that, should E Pune conquer, he would with his warriors have no scruple in placing our lives and property in considerable danger, and at that time he had 1000 men at his command, and our chiefs had only 800, and those by no means so well armed, having had no Exchequer to apply to. We therefore thought it high time to fly, and availed ourselves of a small vessel to remove to the Bay of Islands, leaving our little thriving farm and beloved residence with no small regret, having just sown our winter stock of vegetables, our peas, beans, celery and figs being nearly ripe. Many of the residents followed our example, some removing to the Bay, some to Wangaroa, and others to Sydney and England, where all these facts will be laid before a British public. That we did right and acted prudently in removing, the following facts prove. Only 3 days after we had left, our gates and premises, securely fastened till we could with safety return, the Maories have smashed our doors and windows &c. &c. to pieces, the gates and fences they have wantonly pulled up, and all the crops destroyed. Since that time, they have reduced my house and premises to ashes : but I share this calamity with others, for (besides my own) they have burnt one house of Mr. Davis's, two of Dr. Maberly's, two of Captain Butler's, and another at Monganui ; one of S. Wrathall, at Typa, and two at Oadudu,, belonging to H. Howard and Mr. G. Sinclair. The properties of all the European settlers that remained, have been injured, and most of their goods carried away, excepting those who took the timely precaution to dig holes

under their floors, and bury their chests. One lady they strip'd naked, and cruelly used, and they broke the arm of another, Mrs. John Davis, with a tomahawk, for defending some article of her wardrobe. Thus Sir,- though two short months ago we were masters of comfortable homesteads (in the building and improving of which, we had sunk no inconsiderable sums,) yet, from which, I and my family have been compelled to fly, with nearly all the property, I brought out, sunk in the purchase of land which cannot be made available, merely because my just, fair, and honorable claim to the land is unsettled, leaving us destitute of the means of returning to our native country, where our rights and property would be respected ; and where we might look for, and receive, compensation and protection. For, to the loss of all I possessed, I am indebted to the authors of this war, be they whom they may. We left Manganui about the 14th of March, when hostilities had ceased for a few days, to complete the erection of their pahs ; towards which, all the sawn timber belonging to the settlers, was carried off. The Catholic Bishop despatched one of his Priests (before we left) to endeavour to avert further bloodshed; Mr. Henry Williams, of Pahia, and the Protestant Bishop, also arrived for the same humane purpose, but in vain. On Dr. Selwyn raising the white flag of peace and remonstrating with E Puni, and threatening, if he persevered, to have the soldiers sent from Auckland, he replied in Maorie, that he would destroy them. By a letter which I have this day received, I learn that the war is by no means at an end, but my son is now gone to the scene of action, and when he returns, I shall be able to send you the latest particulars. In the mean time I subscribe myself, Sir, PMHKhBL of the European Sufferers KororSHßay 15, 1843. [Since the former part of this letter was published, we have been informed by persons connected with government, that that part of the letter which states that Noble received " muskets and powder" in payment of the disputed land from government is incorrect. The writer of the letter is a respectable independent Clergyman, who lives on the spot. We depended on his veracity, and we are still indisposed to believe that a Minister of religion would lead the public astray. For our own part we do not wish to assert any thing about the government that bears a shadow of doubt, the truth is more than enough to condemn their conduct in this affair, as well as in many others. Indeed, on many occasions we can not tell the whole truth about the strange proceedings of our rulers, lest we should subject ourselves to the imputation of exaggeration ; things occur in this country which would not be believed at Home, were they told. It matters little whether the government gave money or muskets, as the former would always enable Noble to procure the latter. We do not know whether the government have, or have not been in the habit of paying the natives for their lands with muskets ; some say they have. — Ed.]