IMPORTANT FROM THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 1002, 5 December 1868, Page 3

IMPORTANT FROM THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

(From the " Otago Daily Times," Nov. 21). Unexpected news again reaches us from the Chatham Islands. The schooner Rifleman, which arrived at this port yesterday, brings intelligence of apparent disaffection among the Maories in those Islands. They are said to have provided themselves with arms and. ammunition, and to have been engaged 1 '; in what appeared to be active preparations for war. The barque Collingwood, bound for Taranaki, was to sail shortly after the Rifleman, and would afford an opportunity for the Maories to carry out their supposed intentions. If they were really animated by hostile feelings, we may shortly expect to hear that they have fully gratified them. The authorities on the Islands have not hitherto entertained any suspicions of their peacefulness. No reason for such suspicions has presented itself since the outbreak on the 4th July last, which terminated in the seizure of the Rifleman and the escape of the Hauhaus ; nor have any steps been taken by the Government to repress insurrection among the Maories. There is abundance of arms and ammunition on the Islands, but it is very doubtful whether they are placed beyond the reach of rebels, and should this unpleasant intelligence prove to be well-founded, the ranks of the enemy will receive an addition which if not formidable, will at least be seirous in the present state of affairs. At the commencement of the year, the total number of the Maori men on the Islands amounted to 86, exclusive of the 163 Hauhaus who made their escape in July. Including women, boys, and girls, the Maori population numbered 218. The Morioris — aborigines of the Islands — numbered 88 ; but they are not supposed to sympathise so far with the Maories as to form an element of clanger. We may therefore set them aside. As regards the Maories, they have not latterjy shown any symptoms of hostility to our race. The Resident Magistrate stated, in April last, that during his term of office, which began in 1863, the Maories had shown no animosity to the Europeans, having to all outward appearance lived on good terms with the latter. They were industriously engaged in cultivating potatoes and trading" with New Zealand in coasting vessels. A small but uncertain cattle trade has been carried on during the last five years. The potatoe trade having declined, the Maories turned their attention to sheep ; and some three thousand six hundred of these animals were in their possession in the early part of the year. One fact there is which gives some color to the information just received and renders it probable that the fears which are now entertained may be realised. These Maoris have long had a desire to settle in Taranaki. One hundred and sixteen of them removed from the Islands to that province in December last. The Resident Magistrate ascribed their Taranaki longings to " the present decline of trade, the lack of a sufficient market for produce in the Islands, and their wish to enjoy the advantages which a more civilised district would afford." This may be so; but there is nothing to rebut the presumption that feelings of race may be largely mixed up in their commercial reasonings.. Their recent association with the Hauhau prisoners can hardly have tended to repress such feelings. It is quite possible that T© Kooti may have found many disciples among them ; quite possible also that the victorious escape of that savage and his followers may have stimulated their ambition. They have no doubt been fully informed of the subsequent history of the Hauhaus. Every vessel that reached the Chathams from New Zealand since July must have brought them tidings of successive Hauhau triumphs. If Te Kooti and his companions cherished any other desire than that of a return to their native land, they would naturally have sought to gain recruits among the Maoris. But whether they made any attempt to do so or not, it is by no means improbable that communication has been kept up since their departure, and that the Maoris on the Chatham Islands have been made acquainted with every detail of our recent disasters. Under ordinary circumstances, there would be nothing to excite suspicion in their departure from the Islands. Their departure at the present time may perhaps be unconnected with any hostile design. But there is at least reason to fear that it is not. The Resident Magistrate on the Islands would have no power to detain them, even if he had grounds to believe that their designs were hostile. If he had a legal right to arrest them, he could not exercise it with any hope of success, as the force under his command is insignificant. We presume that steps will be taken by the General Government to meet the Maoi-is when they attempt to land. Whatever may be the intentions of these people, the appearance of such a body with arms in their hands would intensify the panic which has already spread over the West Coast. Even if they made no hostile demon strafcion, there could of course be no assurance that their thoughts were bent on settlement and trade alone Their presence in settled districts would be a source of alarm. The simple fact of their having migrated at this juncture of affairs affords strong ground for suspicion as to their motives. We cau only trust that their old desire to settle in Taranaki, is the sole cause of their migration at the present time. Should it happen to be otherwise, it will afford a strong illustration of the national feeling prevalent among the race. If the of the Chathams can give up their sheep and cattle to join a rebellion, what may we not expect from the Maoris of the North Island? Recollecting the overwhelming disasters we have met with during the last three months, it is not surprising that the forces of tho rebels should have gradually increased. We may take it for granted that they will increase still further and still more rapidly, unless a very decided change should at once take place in our relative positions.