THE REAL STATE OF AFFAIRS AT RAGLAN AND KAWHIA.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3025, 6 April 1867, Page 5

THE REAL STATE OF AFFAIRS AT RAGLAN AND KAWHIA.

To i he Editor of UssT/aik: Southirh Cross. Sir, — Tfifiijti reference to * letter which appeared in your issue of this day's date, from your .Raglan and Kawhia co-respondent, stating that: the natives residing at Kawhia had "broken into and ransacked the mission-station established at Kawhia," that they had driven off the cattle belonging to the station, and had stolen a horse from a settler at Kawhia, — I beg to draw your notice to the fact that from the best authority I am enabled to state that the first part of this report is somewhat exaggerated, as the build« ings of the mission-station have not been ransacked, nor the residents in any way interfered with by the King natives ; and for the purpose of allaying the fears of your reader, |I will proceed to state the causes which gave rise to the carrying off the cattle and horse. The particulars are as follows :— Some few months since, ohe wife of a chief having died, her relations, in conveying the body to the burial - ground, happened to dip the corpse in the water of Kawhia harbour, and, consequently, where the body touched the water was render tapu or sacred, and was early proclaimed as such; and this was generally known by the residents of Kawhia. It now appears that a certain native teacher connected with, the Wesleyan mission Bet at defiance this old Maori custom, and went to fish at this very place j the relatives of the deceased were con-< sequently highly indignant at the insult, and they as utu for the crime carried off the cattle belonging to the station. The other case of hor«-stealing likewise owes its origin to an infringement of native laws ; although, in this case, it is probable that the stolen property will be returned to its owner, as he erred through ignorance. The King natives had made a rule that the property of any European coming to their settlements would be confiscated. This was to prevent any intercourse between the two races ; and this law was put in force by takiDg away the horse of a settler who happened to call at a village to ask his way. The owner of the house was allowed to return to his home without any personal molestation, and, what is more, 1 blames himself rather than the natives in the affair. Old settles do not look upon these seizures as. warlike, but rather »s a determination on 1 the part* of the natives to uphold their old customs and traditions. I trust with this explanation your readers will rest satisfied that affairs at Raglan are not so bad as your correspondent portrays. — I amj&c., V jsaltAS.