CHATHAM ISLANDS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 857, 13 July 1867, Page 3

CHATHAM ISLANDS.

(prom ouk own correspondent.) From the 24th to the 31st of May, the inhabitants of Waitangi were thrown into an unusual state of excitement, in consequence of a series of charges brought against Mr. John Alexander, a respectable trader of that place, for various infringements of the Liquor Act. The informer, Roberf Hutchinson, M.R.C.S., who thus maintains the dignity of his profession, piled charge after charge upon the devoted head of the defendant, and the presiding magistrates — Captain Thomas, R.M,, A. W. Shand and Edward Chudleigh, Esqrs. — listened day after day long and patiently to most abstruse and conflicting evidence; indeed their unwearied attention and impartial conduct is the subject of general commendation. Many of the charges could not be substantiated ; in two cases, however, judgment was given against the defendant in the sums of fifty and fifteen pounds respectively, with aright of appeal ; aud of which the defendant will promptly avail himself. It is a matter of general regret that a person in the defendant's position should have incurred so heavy a penalty ; nevertheless 'the law must be respected, and the legitimate trader effectually protected. There are circumstances, however, in this case which enlist the sympathy of many right minded persons. This is the third person convicted under the Liquor Act. Singular enough the first party on this Island who was convicted and paid the penalty of rum selling was a zealous apostle of temperance, and a missionary of some twenty-five years standing ! ! ! A few weeks since a most exciting scene occurred at Pitt's Island. In a ' somewhat inaccessible part of the coast but contiguous to the residence of Mr. Hunt, seven grampus were discovered driven ashore on a small rocky inlet. Accordingly Mr. Hunt's people proceeded to the spot in a whaleboiit, and, having taken off the blubbar, they secured it piece by piece to a long tow line, for the purpose of towing it towards the beach. In the act, however, the boat wss surrounded by a multitude of sharks, of strange and unusual size, which seemed resolved to dispute their claim, and more than once the boat shivered from bow to stern with the upheaving of those monsters. Ultimately Mr. William Hunt succeeded in burying an harpoon deep in the body of the largest and boldest customer, inflicting beyond doubt a mortal wound \ it glided away however, taking the harpoon and rope attached. The sharks, one and all, contended for the prize most desperately, and, severing the tow line, helped themselves ad libitum. That was secured again, and the party reached the beach, followed into the surf by the ferocious monsters, who seemed unwilling even then to relinquish their prey. A ast quantity of the blubber was lost, but

the qunntity 1 brought nshore yielded from six Iw seven barrels. It is now fifteen months since the prisoners first arrived amongst us, and we have much pleasure iv stating that, up to the present mom en f, they have been most tractable and willing. By the authority here they have been most usefully and judiciously employed. Many necessary improvements have been made by their labour, and others are in contemplation. Under all circumstances, therefore, we feel a deep interest in their future well-doing, and whenever it may please the Government to restore them to their homes, we trust they will become peaceful, loyal, and obedient subjects. ■ Amongst the Chatham Island land .claims are those of a white man, a native of Sydney, who has resided on this Island for a period of 34 years, about one year prior to the Maori conquest. Taking an aboriginal woman for wife, he received from her people the land in question, cultivated a .portion, and resided upon it for some years. Upon the arrival of the Maoris he was permitted to retain quiet and undisputed possession. About 25 yeara since he married a -Maori woman, by whom he has a numerous family. He was subsequently adopted into her tribe and was tattoed ; indeed in manners, customs, and sympathies he became completely identified with the race. We believe this person's claims to be paramount, and sincerely trust that the misfortune of his Pakeha extraction will prove no., barrier to his success. The situation of tidewaiter at Tupuangi having been vacant by the resignation of Kirihupu Koiri, it has been conferred on Captain Hans Anderson, a recent settler. The salary is £50 per annum, but the. official duties are so light that it may almost be deemed a sinecure. Nevertheless, the duties can be more efficiently fulfilled by a white man, and therefore we deem the change a salutary one. On the 29 th April the brigantine Dispatch cleared out from the Island for Port Lyt telton, with a cargo of 16 head of cattle, 10 horses, 130 pigs, poultry, .wool, and other produce. For a fortnight after her departure, she experienced such a succession of heavy gales and adverse winds, that she was necessitated to put back to Pitt's Island in a state of extreme distress. Of the live stock, only 5 horses and 5 head of cattle survived. Besides other injuries, she lost her mainsail and mainboom, and for days lay in the trough of terrific seas, utterly powerless. Most fortunately, she proved a good sea boat, or no earthly power could have saved her. At Pitt's Island she was furnished with sails and other necessaries, and, after remaining there two days, proceeded on her hitherto luckless voyage. After the departure from Pitt's Island, another heavy gale came on, and we are in some anxiety as to her fate, but sincerely trust she arrived safe in port. Some few years since the Pitt's Island whaling ground was a most celebrated locality ; in fact, the waters teemed with sperm whales of a size unknown elsewhere. Here, of course, the blubber hunters would congregate; in fact as mauy as twenty English and American vessels would be plowing the waters at one time. About the year 1862 fifteen were taken by as many vessels within hail of each other. The fish ultimately became so harassed that they abandoned the ground. During the last season, however, they seem to have returned to their favorite haunts. Captain Lawrence of the Ohio, and Captain Wetherill of the Eliza report having seen them, and the Eliza kas , been fortunate enough "to secure two, yielding above 200 barrels. \ About ten miles to the south-east of the Island an isolated conical rock rises to the height of some four or five hundred feet ; this rock is known as the pyramid, and a most useful observatory it was to whalers ; their mode was to sail round and round, keeping the peak constantly in view.