THE EAST COAST NATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 458, 23 January 1864, Page 4

THE EAST COAST NATIVES.

[From the Southern Cross, Jan. 15.] The schooner Kauri arrived last night from Poverty Bay, and we are informed on most reliable authority that a rising of the East Coast natives is feared. .. For reasons that may be understood it is. not desirable that we should indicate the source of our information, but it is of-that reliable aud important character that it will, we believe, be communicated to the Government. The Kauri brings a cargo of live stock, consisting of horses, pigs, and produce, and she left Poverty Bay on Tuesday week last. Previous to that the settlers had experienced, much trouble with the natives ; aud instances have been related to us as proof of it. Last Thursday the ' Kauri' was compelled, owing to the weather, to anchor at Waipu, 100 miles this side of Poverty Bay. While at anchor an old trader, named Rowley, came off to the vessel in a boat to see if he-eouldi get some stock shipped to Auckland; which, as the ' Kauri' was full, he could not. He then stated that a party of Waikatos were coming down to recruit on be-. half of the King movement, and that they would be seen shortly coming round a hill. This statement proved to he correct, -for soon afterwards about 100 natives came in sight ; and the beating of drums, or something answering .to them, was heard. The foremost men had a white flag, with a red stripe round it, and a red cross in the centre j then followed a flag perfectly white, with a blue cross in the centre ; and the nature of a third flag, which was carried in the rear by a man on horseback could not be made out. The settlers at Waipu had been fully aware that these Waikatos were coming two days before, and the object of their coming was also well-known. As the ' Kauri' was at Waipu only a short time it could not be ascertained what the result of the visit of these Waikatos was. Before the vessel left Poverty Bay a grand runanga was to be held at Wairoa, eighty miles south, for the purpose of decidiug whether the natives should or should not join the King movement ; and half-castes were prohibited from attending it. It was absolutely known that eighty natives had gone to be present at this runanga, and some had taken with them their property. Our informant believes that two-thirds of the fighting men on the East Coast (we presume he means such as have come under his observation) are inclined to join the King movement ; and judging from the tone of his observations, he seems convinced that a rising is impending. We give the facts just as we received them, and with especial care not to exaggerate them in the least degree. It appears that there are about two hundred Europeans living in the Poverty Bay district, hut the purchased land is very little, amounting to not more than fifty-six acres, and close to the port of entry. The settlers, we ai*e informed, would be glad to have protection; would, in fact, to use the words of our informant, give half they possessed for it.