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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 8, Issue 713, 30 December 1865, Page 3

* Turanga, De# 23, 1865. Sib, —l was rather surprised at seeing a statement in your issue of the 19th inst., to the effect that, in consequence of ill feeling between the Turanga natives and our Waiapu all the mischief done in the place by the Hau Haus, or any body else, wlflimmediately fathered upon the Waiapu, by the Turanga natives. Further, "The reports were coming in every hour o^houses being burnt, horses shot and taken away, sheep fired into in mere wantonness," &c. " .- * i * There doubtless were many exaggerated repllflf of which the houses being burnV( was one. But the fact still stands against Morgan and his people that they did commit much uu.nepessnry damage. ? They did, oj||more than one occasion, fire into flocks of sheep. '#*-'' They did wantonly destroy horles and eattleP , "• . They did ta^away the jejtlers) property knowingly ;• they had five horse's of niinef and a mare and foal of Mr. Dunlop's. Some of these they took frorililuthin fifty yards of our dwellings, where they were* tethered. They did go to Mr. Bloomfield's house at Matawhero, and destroy furniture that the Hau Haus had left. They did break into my house at Tapotahi, in spite of the resistance of two natives, .left in charge of the premises, and take awny all they could find. Had I not previously removed almost everything, they of course would have done me more injury than they did. My loss by them on the premises is small, but no thanks to them. They did break my fences, and fire into my sheep; and when remonstrated with, Hotene and Ropata, two of their chiefs, very coolly asked me " Why I was vexed ?" that it was a mea reka reha, and that Government would pay for all. They did break into a room in Mr. Robert Read's? house, with the assistance of a native named Wi Waitiri, who had been left in charge. They got hold of some wine; became intoxicated; and broke windows, doors, furniture, &c, taking away all they chose. The flats or plains are still covered with the remains of dead horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, &c. I rode with Mr. Deightou, R.M., and some other gentlemen, for some distance one day, and I think the instances were not few in which $ye were glad to put our horses to their mettle, in order to get away from the horrible stench arising from putrifying carcases. Therefore the tale of the three black crows does not nicely dovetail in the present instance. At the same time I am glad to bear testimony that the damage done was much less than-«I had been .ted to expect. I would not have been so particular had I not have notige%ifc was "hoped that the settlersj^auldJhavA the grace to contradict pwblicly^l reports that have~arisen." I^jflfll ever be ready to acknowledge any errors I nray, in the heat of the moment, have committed, either by writing, or otherwise; but even reports made officially will not alter facts, neither are we prepared to endorse any report until we have seen it, and can judge of its general correctness. I am, &c, J. W. Harris.