LATEST FROM THE NORTH

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2014, 19 October 1869, Page 2

LATEST FROM THE NORTH

It is denied in -well-informed circles in Auckland that the sentence of death on the Hauhau prisoners is to be commuted. The Wellington Independent says ihat Tauroa’a speech at the recent sitting of the Supreme Coiui tjjere was a simple but complete history of the events of the war op the West Coast, from the defeat of M‘Donnell at Ngutuofemanu to the surrender of Tauroa to Major Noake. It did not contain much that we did not know already ; and probaMy there was an undue inclination to make as light as possible of the part which Tauroa and his tribe took in the war. But the story was undoubtedly truthful—-and, being so, it certainly justifies the leniency which the Judge signified would be shown to the convicts. Tauroa’s story amply shows to what wc cbielly owe the defection of his tribe and others who joined Tito Kowaru after the Ngutuotemanu alFair. We were unable to check Tito Kowaru when his followers were few. His unexampled successes gave color to his claim to be divinely inspired. There would arise a natural exultation in the Maori mind that his countryman was able to cops with and defeat the European, who is the “ pakeha ”or stranger still. The murderer would be lost sight of in the Heaven-aided warrior'; and, lastly, there was the prospect of endless plunder, which eyep in tlie holiest of holy wars has always been found a much greater help to the recruiting sergeant than the justice of the cause, With ajl these inducements, we must rather stand astonished at the moderation of Tauroa and the less passionate of his tribe, and admire the self-restraint which made them hold back till forced to unite their fortune with Tito under pain of being hewn in pieces by his twelve apostles.

Mr 13. Browii, of Parnell, writes to the Southern Gross as follows:—“ Sir, —The subject of the growth and preparation of New Zealand flax cannot receive too great attention. Every opportunity ought to be taken calculated to promote the interests of the above important branch of industry. Individuals who are in the habit of reading papers and lecturing on the preparation of New Zealand flax cannot be too careful in their remarks, lest, while they are endeavoring to promote its interests, they may be found producing a great amount of injury. I have noticed on several occasions, in recent discussions on flax preparation, very foolish remarks about wet flax, color, and strength, or rather weakness of fibre. Now, as flax buyers in England are always ready to make mountains of molehills, such remarks as those referred to, if made known in the English market, would produce injurious resu'ts in the returns of exports of New Zealand flax. If the friends of the flax movement would leave the merchants of Auckland to settle the matter about wot flax, they would soon set it right. With regard to the strength of the fibre, I would observe that it has been used by a large firm in Australia ever since the first development of the New Zealand flax by the hackling process in 1866 with great satisfaction. As to the color of the flax, the whiter it is, coupled with flexibility, the greater will be its value. If the flax is required for rope purposes, it will only realise the price of a rope material, however silky the fibre may be prepared. In conclusion, I would remark that as soon as the real value of the fibre of the phormium tenax becomes properly known by European manufacturers, Is per pound wull not be thought a large price for finely dressed New Zealand flax. P. S.—The flax requires hackling before it is spun into ropes ; therefore the practice of twisting it into hanks causes more labor to the ropemakcr, and produces more tow. But, if they he made up without the flax being thus twisted merchants suspect something wrong, and would not give a remunerative price for flax made up in such a manner. Judging from the following paragraph taken from Saturday’s BQst Coast Times, the burgesses of Hokitika may be proud of their representatives in the Borough Council. Our contemporary says “ We are compelled to hold over our report of the proceeding of the Borough Council, and are sorry that we are so compelled, for the Council on this occasion exceeded all their previous efforts to bring themselves into contempt. The Mayor was°absent, and for nearly four hours there was scarcely anything but wrangling and personal abuse. Charges of 1 log-rolling ’ and ‘ incapacity ’ were brought against the old Council by Mr Hawkins, but, having a wholesome fear of the law of libel, we do not give the instance of log-rolling he gave. From that sprung the quarrel, and a pretty one it was. The following are some of the elegant expressions used : —I won’t be shut up by you, sir—by any red-tape, white tape, or calico man ;” apd the gentlemanly .retort —‘Well, all I can say is, that you cnnnpfc squeeze a sanguinary fluid opt of a domestic vegetable that eats well with boiled mutton; I mean to say that you capiiot get blood put of a turnip, sir.’” An accident occurred yesterday afternoon on board the Canterbury schooner, while she was lying at the wharf, Lyttelton. Captain Bowt'on, in showing a small revolver, which he was unaware was loaded, suapped off some of the barrels, one of which went off, and lodged a ball deeply in the fleshy part of Captain Anderson’s arm, who was sitting near at the time. He was promply attended by Drs Campbell and Motley. The bad was not extracted. Captain Anderson has gone to the Christchurch hospital. The Taranaki Herald says It is pleasing to notice the great difference in the disposition of the Maoris on the coast between New Plymouth and Patea at the present time, compared with their behaviour some three years ago, when things were aaul and believed by most people, to foreshadow a lasting peace. Although at that time most of the Hauhaus, or wild men, as they are called, had not taken the oath of allegiance, it was confidently expected that they would do so, and much was the good anticipated to result from it; but it was not thought safe to travel the coast in their district in the day time. Subsequently the road was thought safe, .and was so, at least against any organised tribal outrages. If the travellers met any of the semi-rebels they did not then receive the good old Maori welcome “ Haere maibut were scowled at in the most approved Paimariri style. They seldom spoke, except it was for the purpose of begging anything that the sulky “wild man” saw or had taken a fancy to, and which many of the more timid “ pakehas ” gave, daring to refuse. But time has changed this state of things on the saipo coa-t, Now there arc ufi redoubts garrisoned with the “ British Lion 11 or by New Zealand’s “ Sous of War,” no escorts now wind their weary length through mazes of muddy swamps, or along the dreary beach, no mounted orderlies gallop past the hills and creeks and through the tangled flax and fern, in danger of the lurking foe. No ; the peaceful traveller may now pass on quite fearless of any molestation, save by the universal sandfly and mosquito. If he meets his late enemy, he will be heartily welcomed. and be received as if there had been no war or separation for so many long years; and might almost forget the past troubles, but for the curiosity of the Maori, who will ask, “ Wove you at such <>; fight ?.<’ and “ Did you lire a shot irom a place?'’ and if you answer “Yes, “ Ah ! you are the man that shot my finger off, or wounded so and so.” They will then shake you by the hand ami say, “ Ah .' that was a real good fight, and but for something we should have beaten you and then have taken the town.” Along the coast from as far as Oeo (Hono Pihama’s abode), mav be counted as many as fifteen or twenty large fishing canoes, and many little huts are built or are being built, where the Maoris intend to live during their fishing season. There are also several villages which have been lately formed by Hauhaus, who have given up §figb.ting as a bad job, all of w-bicb are tokens of a peace which has not existed in the district for many years till lately, . Although tl|e people of Taranaki expressly guarded against the possibility of such a construction being put upon it, the following passage, from an address recently presented to the Governor, points out what the Goveremout should dp:—“ It woqld not-per-haps be fitting op this occasipiito dwell At great length on past troubles, or on the dan-, gers yet impending over us ; afid we rejoice to hail your Excellency’s first visit as the fortunate omen of the dawn of an era of prosperity for this settlement; , but, in the hope and assurance that your Excellency will continue to aid the colonists by representing fully to her Majesty’s Government the great difficulties which have yet to be

overcome in New Zealand, we desire to remind your Excellency that the cannibal leader, Tito Kowaru, is in hiding a few miles inland of the settlement; ■whilst a portion of his followers are at large close to our southern boundary; and the uumderers of the Rev Mr Whiteley are living unpunished .and undisturbed at Mokau, a point on the coast about fifty miles to the north of New Plymouth and within sight of the town. Wo make this statement to your Excellency without any desire to press your Excellency’s Government into fresh struggles with the hostile natives until the Colony is fully prepared for defence at all weak points, but only with the view of showing clearly how much remains to be done before the supremacy of British law is established throughout the North Island. Writing under date the 7th inst., Mr Ormond gives some information with regard to the last attack ;—“Colonel Herrick has come to Haroto. From him 1 gather the following purticulars : —The fight did not take place at Iwitauroa, but on the west side of Tongariro, and on the west side of the Wanganui River, at a place ca'led Pourere. The enemy were in a redoubt. Our force rushed it, led by the Nga'.ikaus and Arswas, supported by No. 2 Constabulary and other Natives. Killed of the enemy, 37. Twenty women and children, and one man, belonging to Taupo, taken prisoners. It is not known where the enemy retreated to. The spot was dense bush, and it was raining hard when the engagement took place ; and our Natives did not follow up. Renata, from here, had his eye gouged out by a Hauhau woman. It is stated on good authority that Mr Vogel has purchased the Southern Cross newspaper. _____________