POVERTY BAY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 64, 11 December 1858, Page 6

POVERTY BAY.

(From our oivn Correspondent.)

Oct. 20, 1858.

Our runanga is still in fall swing. They are now and have been for the last few days in full committee — taking cattle aud other matters from those parties who have sold in defiance of their fiats. They now say they -will prevent the sale of everything, including timber, firewood, &c , without we come to their terms. I will write to you fully by the "Queen," which vessel you may expect in a few days. At present we do not know what turn tilings are taking ; all sorts of reports are rife ; even to the closing of the rivers here against vessels, and not allowing us to take away the produce now on hand. Is it not cruel that we, settlers in a British colony, and supposed to he living under British rule, should be subjected to such loss and annoyance,.without our government taking (as far aS;w£ are aware of) the slightest notice of the*inatter ?

December 3.

The "Queen" arrived here on Ist inst., and, proceeding immediately to your port, gives me (as I am much engaged just now) little time to write. I, however, can tell you the committee of runanga have (I hear) agreed to allow the sale of wheat, provided it never rules at a lower rate here than ss. cash ; but as they say we have been making a profitable spec, by sending timber to your market, they have stopped that branch of trade by tapuing the sale of all timber, firewood, &c, either for sale or home consumption. With their usual liberality, they will allow us to make use of the timber already fallen or worked up, but will not aliow us to take any standing timber, though trees have been purchased and marked, but still unused, to the amount of perhaps £100, So much for the honor of the native, by many so loudly proclaimed. The idea of turning the whole of the Europeans off their properties, and expelling them from the district has again been mooted. This state of things is calmly viewed, by our "paternal, government" without even raising their voices in our behalf. We are told, the poor fellows are "in a transition state" ; this has been the cry far and wide for the last eighteen years. How much longer it will take to transform the native grub into a civilised butterfly remains to be seen. In the. interim we pay^ our share of the expenses of being governed without receiving the slightest advantage. In fact, as an honourable Me.m-. ber observed in the. House, "they have.no sympathy with ; the tobacco and blanket.