Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1861.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 4, Issue 192, 25 May 1861, Page 5

Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1861.

Several weeks hare elapsed since our last direct advices from Auckland, and further intelligence is anxioasly looked for. The negociations pending between the Governor and the Waikatos may ere this have ended in hostilities — nothing more probable ; war may be raging within a week's march of our doors, and yet, in the present state of our means of communication, we may remain in happy ignorance of the fact. It is true that, by way of Nelson, we have news from the capital to the 6th inst., but many events of import may have occurred between that date and the present.

The natives here have a story that the Governor met the Waikatos at a place called Wharangi, and there named the terms upon which he would consent to peace. These were, — that W. King and the murderers should be delivered to the government, that the king movement should be abandoned, and the Queen's sovereignty acknowledged. The terms thus proposed are said to have b^en rejected, and war immediately declared. It is more than probable that this statement is apocryphal — although, from the number of Waikato emissaries who are constantly going between that district and this, the natives have mora than once forestalled us in the receipt of news. But whether or not the rumour be founded on fact, it may be accepted as an indication of what the natives look forward to as the result of the negociations now or lately going on.

Waikato is the hot-bed of disaffection and treason — the centre whence seditions and bloodthirsty messages are being despatched over the whole of the Northern Island. With William King in its bosom, it is the grand disturber of the peace of the country ; and until it be effectually subdued—for its arrogance , and pride of strength will scarcely permit it to yield to moral force— there is little chance, we fear, of that peace being restored. -

How far war in the Waikato district would affect this province it is difficult to foresee. The hulk of the natives here are adherents of the king ; hut they are, at the same time, alive to their own interests. The fear that plundering expeditions might be sent from the Waikato district is lessened considerably by the reflection that the key of the province is held by a friendly chief — Poihipi of Taupo ; besides which, there is the consideration that the Waikato warriors, with General Cameron in their country, would have enough to do at home. It would, however, be no more than an act of proper precaution were His Excellency, simultaneously with the declaration of war, to strengthen the detachment of military in ; Napier ; or, if unable to do so, to forward; an adequate supply of arms for the use of ; the local militia.

On v Monday last intelligence reached town that the settlers in the neighbourhood of "Waipawa had become apprehensive that the district was in an insecure state, and bad met together for the purpose of considering whether or not gome precautionary measures should not be taken for the safety: of themselves and property. This apprehension originated in a revelation made by two native women, living with two Europeans named respectively Cannon and O'Brien, to the effect that a plan had been matured amongst the natives for a simultaneous rising throughout the Northern Island, and that the signal for action was to be the appearance of a certain well known star in a particular relative position to the moon. This revelation would appear to have been generally credited on the spot, and to have created a feeling of great uneasiness, if not alarm, in the minds of Europeans living in the neighbourhood ; and the news, hurriedly communicated to ' different persons on its way to the, port, quickjy spread far and wide, and created, we fear, a momentary panic. Nothing is easier than for persons living in comparative safety to pooh-pooh the fears of those who are without protection. We trust that no person in Napier felt - inclined to act so cowardly a part. At the same time, we are bound to say that the story was very generally discredited — not merely by the people generally, but by those whose intercourse with the natives and knowledge of their habits and language may be supposed to fit them for the expression of a sound opinion. They say, — 1. That the evidence is untrustworthy. One of the women is known to be subject to periodical attacks of insanity, and in these to threaten the vengeance of the maori upon persons who may offend her; and to neither would the natives entrust a secret of so much importance, if such really existed. — 2. There is a want of corroborative evidence — no signs of uneasiness in the' native mind, such as might be expected •were it burdened with such a project ; but, on the contrary, an evident anxiety to advance in agricultural and other industrial pursuits. — 3. The frank admission on the part 0/ the natives that such a scheme was mooted some time since by emissaries from ' "Waikato, but treated by them with ridicule. Other arguments to the same effect we need not enumerate. We trust that the mail will bring us news that the anxiety of the inland settlers has been allayed, and confidence restored. Their position, in the event of an outbreak, would be a lamentable one ; but we trust that such a calamity is far distant. None will deny '•■ that danger, if looming in the distance, should be looked boldly in the face, and preparations made to ward off the blow ; but, at the same time, every effort should be made to repress groundless alarms, which have a, most injurious effect.