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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 8, Issue 587, 21 March 1865, Page 2

Since the above was in hand we have been j favored by J. C. Firth Esq., of Auckland, with the following able and comprehensive statement of what has been done and how matters stand : — To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Herald. Sir, — A passage from Auckland in the Lady Bird having given me an opportunity of observing some circumstances relating to the later movements of the Pai Mariris, who recently murdered the Rev. Mr. Volkner, — I have been requested by some of my friends here to place at your disposal a short account of their proceedings in Poverty Bay, which may perhaps assist your readers in more correctly comprehending their present attitude. I may state that, before the arrival of H.M.S. Eclipse at Poverty Bay, which had been sent down from Auckland to provide for the safety ofthe Bishop of Waiupu, a native messenger had conveyed the news of Mr. Volkner's murder to the Bay, and had informed the Bishop of the intention of Kereopo and his 30 adherents to murder him also. It would be difficult to describe the effect this alarming intelligence had upon the Bishop and the European inhabitants of the Bay. Upon the natives it exerted a powerful influence. With almost one accord, they rose in defence of the Bishop, and on Sunday, March 12, 400 to 500 natives mustered at the college fully armed. This prompt and decided step does the Poverty Bay natives great credit. More especially is it worthy of honor, for having been taken before the arrival of H.M. Eclip se The Pai Mariris might have been kept out of the valley altogether ; but the good Bishop, having been informed that Mr. Grace accompanied them, he, with a noble disregard for his own safety, preferred to give Mr. Grace a chance of escaping, rather than by stopping the approach of the fanatics to have consigned him to certain death. As it turned out, Mr. Grace had been left at Opotiki. In the meantime the Pai Mariris had arrived. It was ascertained that Mr. Grace was still alive, at Opotiki, and it was arranged that if the Opotiki natives were satisfied that Hori Tupaea* was free, Mr. Grace was to be set at liberty. On the departure of the Eclipse two native chiefs accompanied her to see the arrangement carried out. Late on I Wednesday night the Lady Bird dropped anchor in the Bay, under instructions from Auckland to remain as long as might be considered necessary. The arrival of the two steamers with so much promptitude could hardly fail in producing a good effect on the Bay natives. Immediately on the Lady Bird dropping anchor the Rev. Samuel Williams and others went ashore. Meantime the temper of the natives had changed for the worse 5 for, instead of the Pai Mariris being compelled to leave the valley, they maintained their position and were exerting a very evil influence. The tin Kereopo declared that he was invested with miraculous powers; that the Pai Mariris were invulnerable ; that they had killed so many soldiers that in all Waikato there were not more than ten left . that there were very few Europeans' left in Auckland ; and that in a short time all the pakehas would be destroyed. He told his hearers that every man could have four wives if he wished, so that the land might be filled with Maoris. Dressed in the clothing of the late Mr. Volkner, he avowed the murder and blasphemously declared that the God ofthe Missionaries was no God ; for said he, raising his blood-stained hands, " the Bible says, ' Thou "shalt not kill,' but I have killed Volkner. I " ask your God, if he be God, to kill me, and " yet lam alive ; thei'efore your God is no God." Then pointing to the " head " (said to be Mr. Hewett's), he declared that the Angel told him, by it, what they were to do, and that, by it, his

aim would enable him to destroy the soldie*and the ships of the pakeha. It is not surprising that, by these means Kereppo gained ground considerably, for there is something about him~-*-dealing out licentious promises and hideous threats, the perpretrator of a more horrible crime than ever stained the annals of New Zealand even in cannibal times, boasting of his power, and holding forth the grinning head, a testimony of his terrible ferocity. — there is undoubtedly about this man such a concentration of atrocity, that had. the spell bound spectators looked on Medusa's head they could hardly be more petrified with horror. If Kereopo con maintain his influence, I think we must prepare ourselves to hear of many dark and dreadful deeds done by him of at his instigation. On its being known that the Bay natives were wavering, the Bishop, prepared" to leave the district, but before doing so he informed the chiefs that unless they satisfied him of their good intentions he would at once leave the Bay, and would never return to it. This decided course appeared tb recall them to a sense of duty and honor. They assured him that the Pai Mariris should leave the district. This waa considered satisfactory, and on Thursday night the 6th inst., instructions were about being given for the Lady Bird to resume her voyage without further delay t Late that night it was found that the natives were again wavering, and that the Pai Mariris were encamped within two miles ofthe Bishop's house. It appears that Kereopo, probably finding his influence waning, had invited Hirini te Kani, paramount chief of the district, to witness their incantations, placing him near the mystic pole. Kereopo and his companions formed a circle round him, and, raising high their hands, commenced a rapid dance, accompanied by the loud vociferations of a barbarous and incomprehensible jargon of English, Maori, and gibberish. Suddenly the incantations ceased, and Kereopo, stepping up to Hirini te Pani, placed his hands upon him, saying in a loud voice "Fear God, love the brotherhood, honor the King," and proclaiming him King of New Zealand in the room of Matutaera. This bold proceeding was probably a crafty desire to increase Pai Marire power by adroitly flattering the vanity of Hirini te Pani. That chief was apparently taken by surprise, but afterwards spoke of the thing as a joke. Whether the residts of this proceeding be good or evil will depend very much on Hirini's good sense. Should he be a vain, weak man, fond of power, and pleased with high sounding titles, a very serious state of thing will immediately arise. This is doubtless Kereopo's object ; at all events he succeeded in prolonging his stay near the Bishop's house, and the orders for the departure ofthe Lady Bird were at once countermanded. Kereopo, it appears, had declared that he could draw the Lady Bird ashore, by means of the 'head,' — and that had the 'Eclipse', not gone away in a hurry he would have drawn her ashore. This statement coming to the knowledge ofthe Rev. Sam. Williams, that gentleman, with great tact and wisdom, immediately urged the chiefs to accept the challenge. -At first they declined, pointing out the loss of life which would occur, should Kereopo be able to draw her ashore. Evidently half believing in the tilt's power, they would not consent to put him . to the proof until Mr. Williams offered to take the consequences upon himself, and to hold them harmless from the Governor's anger in case the steamer was really drawn ashore — the only promise being that she must be drawn above high water mark. Armed with this challenge, they returned to the leader of the Pai Mariris, and made the proposal to him. Kereopo became very excited, and demanded what " cooked head " had told them he could draw the steamer ashore. A plucky young fellow stepped up to Kereopo, saying, " You told me, and now I Want to see it done!" At first the assembled natives -stood aghast at the youth's hardihood — some of them looking as if they expected every moment to see him struck dead by the tin. As nothing happened, cries of " Draw the steamer ashore," began to be heard on every side. Kereopo was disconcerted by the mocking jeers which became louder every moment ; and, shortly afterwards, fairly defeated, he retired to the ranges, some seven miles away. Great credit is due to the Rev. Mr. Williams for this masterly stroke of good policy. Unfortunately, the Pai Mariris had gained some adherents, who induced them not to depart, or they would probably have left the district. On Friday morning it became known that the arch tin of the Pai Maxiris at Taranaki had sent a letter by Kereopo to Hirini, which he had not delivered. He reluctantly produced it, when it was found that Kereopo had exceeded his instructions, which were to proceed to the Bay of Plenty, East Cape, and Poverty Bay, to get recruits — nothing being said about killing missionaries. This revelation evidently weakened his influence, for he offered to give up the "head" if Hirini would send for it. A messenger was despatched for it, and it was to have been sent down to the beach to be put on board the Lady Bird. The "head" not arriving, the Lady Bird weighed anchor on Friday evening, leaving the Europeans in the Bay more reassured. Should the head be delivered up a great advantage will be gained. I felt it my duty to urge most strongly that in case this were done, Kereopo would lose prestige, and that the opportunity shoidd be seized to offer the reward ef£looo authorized by the Superintendent of Auckland, to be given for the capture of Kereopo and all or any of his band of murderers. j I sincerely hope that this may have been done ; for, after the recent dreadful outburst of j cruel and uncontrollable ferocity, it is vain to expect a restoration of confidence between the races. For, with the blood of the first martyr of New Zealand crying to Heaven for vengeance, the colonists will not be satisfied, and all welldisposed Maoris ought not to be satisfied, until a just and speedy retribution has overtaken wretches whose crimes have rendered them unfit to live. I am, &c, a ____ mmm ____ mm _ m _ m _ m J* C. Firth.