POVERTY BAY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1018, 30 January 1869, Page 3

POVERTY BAY.

fIBOM OUB OWN COBBEBPONDEHT.I

[Per cutter Agnes.]

Tubanga, Monday, Jan. 11. 4 p.m.— More of the Constabulary arrived from Patutahi, preparatory to departure for Wanganui.

5 p.m. — Militia disbanded, with exception of 21, including a sergeant, who remain enrolled for the purpose of taking charge of military stores. . Ngatiporo have looted most of the Government packhorses which arrived the other day : neither have Ngatiporo spared the pack-saddles. SergeantMajor Ferris is recruiting amongst the natives for service on the West Coast, and will receive a captaincy, I am told, pro\ided he can raise the required number of 50 men. It is with pleasure I record the honorable circumstance of Sergeant-Major Ferris being universally esteemed by those men who have had the privilege of serving under hitm Every one is willing to admit that the promotion is well deserved. Very few Sergeant-Majors could have given such general satisfaction as Mr. Ferris has done in a very trying position, with militiamen under him entirely ignorant of the duties expected from them ; and lam sure I only express the sentiment of all when I say we feel truly grateful to Sergeant-Major Ferris for the invariably kind and conciliatory demeanour manifested by him to every one without exception : well would it be for the service if more of our non-commissioned officers resembled him. Mr. Ferris was formerly of Napier.

Tuesday, Jan. 12.

Colonel Whitmore, with a large portion of the remaining force, left here last night. It is said to be his intention to return and settle here at a future period not specified. The dinner to which I adverted in my last as likely to be given came off last night. Owing to the healths of the hostess and another lady not being drank after being duly proposed, the affair rather came to grief; in fact, the four or five settlers who were instrumental in getting up a settlers' dinner, at which, with the exception of themselves and two or three others, no settlers were present, separated without returning thanks to their chairman ; and so ended a rather snobbish attempt at exclusiveness, which I have noticed at greater length than the subject deserved, but I do so at the request of many people who were desirous of affording a fitting testimony of their respect to officers who have served here, it the majority of Turanga settlers had not been forestalled.

2 p.m.— Ropata and the last batch of prisoners have arrived. It includes about a dozen men, seven of whom came from the Chathams. There is also one poor deaf and dumb native well known in Turanga, whose appearance is miserable in the extreme; indeed, all the prisoners, male and female, with the exception of the fighting sac», appear to Lave been well nigh famished : such a lot of living spectres we never expected to see.

Ngatiporo have fired the plain, in consequence of which most of the remaining post and rail fences are being consumed. Mr. Robb's and other settlers' crops have been burnt to-day, and for all the ruin wrought we were distinctly told by Mr. Richmond, at the meeting lately held, not to look for compensation. Beggared by the culpable carelessness of Government, to call it by no worse name, we are coolly told by a member of the Government that promised compensation to Patea settlers, to look for none ourselves, when it is patent to all the colony that for the long train of evils which have overtaken us ministers are essentially responsible. From the date of the Chatham Island prisoners' escape, what have we not suffered ?— a frightful massacre, followed by fearful losses of property by means of Te Kooti and his men ; succeeded by still heavier losses inflicted by our allies, whose cruel excesses were never checked by word or deed. Are injuries like these undeserving compensation ? Is it nothing to lose literally all we once possessed? The evidences of ruin were many when the Hawke's Bay Volunteers came to our assistance in the hour of peril: were those volunteers to visit us now they would not recognise the beautiful district they so much admired. Poverty Bay just now resembles nothing so much as an African district after having been devastated by one of those periodical migrations of locusts, which, after transforming a verdant country into a dreary waste, leaves its inhabitants to expire from

famine.

5 p.m. — A very serious quarrel has just taken place between some of the officers left behind here and Ropato, Henri Tapeka, and other Ngatiporo chiefs. The dispute was respecting the male prisoners brought in to-day by Ngatiporo. Ropata and the other chiefs refused to hand over the prisoners when requested to do so by the officers in charge at Turanganui. At one time things looked decidedly queer; a sentry was knocked over several times by

the infuriated chiefs, and most insulting language was used by them. All the Europeans were ordered to man the Courthouse, as a fight appeared imminent. Heuri Tapeka, who is reported to have killed more prisoners than any other man of Ngatiporo, wrested a pistol from one of the Constabulary, and retains it as atrophy. The windows of the Court-house were thrown up preparatory to firing from them and from the wretched loopholes (so idiotically bored in the walls of that fine building, to Mr. Richmond's disgust) upon the recalcitrant Maories. In the meantime Ropata retains his prisoners, and will not give them up under £5 per head, at which all the Europeans are very indignant, as well they may be, when we recognise amongst Ropata's captives Pene Hatnine, and other villains who guided the murderers to their victims on the fatal 10th November. The ominous conduct of our allies has caused a very uneasy feeling, and people are preparing to leave Turanga, in preference to the system of terrorism which we have good reason to believe will prevail after the departure of the European force.

6 p.m. — I hear on good authority that the Land Court will shortly, sit 5 and it is confidently asserted by those in authority that population will set in hei'e in a few weeks. This is holloing before we are out of the bush, with a vengeance. Let no one be deceived. With Te Kooti and an indefinite number of followers at large, this district can by no means be considered safe for a long time to come. Not a native will go inland to live ; even Ngatiporo refusefas yet to occupy the settlement intended for them at Patutahi : they say they must have all the Turanga district south of the Waipawa— in other words, they demand one-half of Poverty Bay for services rendered. It has been my pleasing duty to speak in high terms of the ability and bravery exhibited upon every occasion by Ngatiporo, but there is no blinking the fact that, unless this district is placed under the control of Mr. M'Lean, that tribe may ultimately cause us infinite trouble. That any other European, however high placed in office, can manage this fierce people, I, in common with many others, do not believe. The man must be insane who would purchase land in this district with the intention of becoming an immediate and bonct fide settler.

We have at length reliable information from the prisoners respecting Te Kooti. That individual has entirely recovered from his foot-wound, so often mentioned as having been received at Puketapu. Moreover, his last wound in the shoulder is reported to be a mere scratch. All accounts affirm that Te Kooti was daily expecting reinforcements of several hundred men, when forced, by want of ammunition and food, to abandon Ngatapa. It is impossible to believe that Te Kooti will not seek " utu" for his severe losses, and the Uriweras are not likely to forego payment for the death of their greatest chief. In fine, the all but general belief here is, that we are not a whit better off than we were previous to the arrival of the constabulary — not that I would be understood to imply a want of energy on the part of that fine body of men. Everyone knows they did good service cheerfully, and assisted in the late successes nobly ; but we must not ignore the undeniable fact, that Te Kooti is at liberty, recovered greatly in health, and likely to be at any time, if he has not already been, heavily reinforced. One thing may serve to indicate whether Te Kooti has escaped with few or many men : it is this, that up to the present very few arms have been recovered. Where are they ? The prisoners taken could not have thrown them away, for we must have found them ; and it is only reasonable to believe that (as some of them assert) the fighting men with Te Kooti secured them again. Only one wntch out of the large amount of valuables taken at Turanga, has been recovered. Ask the prisoners where the plunder is, and many of them immediately say with Te Kooti and the band that escaped with him.

January 13

11 a.m. — Several settlers, about to start for the purpose of clipping the sheep left to shear, have been warned not to proceed inland. I have a presentiment that more of our settlers must yet perish before Government will see the necessity for the institution of a scouting party to scour the inland districts of Waikokuhu and Mangatu. Should Te Kooti again put in an appearance by the Patutahi road, he will find a line of redoubts apparently built for his especial benefit, and with no one left to protect them.

2 p.m.— Started about eight miles inland, and returned at 4 p.m., after visiting my saJly dilapidated future temporary home. The building belongs to Capt. Read, and is one of the few not utterly destroyed.

January 14.

An escaped prisoner, arrived at Murewai, is said to report Te Kooti returned to Ngatapa, with several hundred men, who were heard and seen by informant, 'firing volleys in honor of their friends slain at

that place by us and our allies. I cannot learn that a party of scouts, have been sent out to ascertain the trush" or falsehood of that report.

January 15.

No further confirmation of yesterday's serious news. Considerable dissatisfaction is felt that Sergeant-Major Butters has not been left in charge of the militia kept on pay at Turanganui. By every principle of justice and fair play, Mr. Butters was entitled to the position by seniority, and by reason of arduous duties performed in front of tbe enemy ; no one has worked harder during the different expeditions sent in quest of Te Kooti.

12 noon. — It is painful to see most of the Poverty Bay people lounging about Turanganui, without work or means which might enable them to leave the district. There is a little shearing to do, but people cannot be induced to go inland with the all but absolute certainty of being massacred by prowling parties of the escaped enemy. It was hoped that Government would have allowed those small settlers who bayc lost their all to join the proposed defence force, which it is intended to resuscitate from the remains of the former force, so shamefully treated by Government. As most of the old defence force men have long since taken their departure in despair of ever obtaining justice, and as most of those remaining have sold iltMiv claims for what they would fetch, it is not difficult to foresee that few of that fine body of men "will be found to settle here. Such being the case, it appears to us an undeniable fact that Government would have shewn both wisdom and huma-

nity in accepting the services of some 30 small settlers of Poverty Bay, who, in consequence of their intimate knowledge of this district, could render more effectual assistance towards holding it than strangers to the country. It would appear, however, to be the earnest wish of Government to drive us from Poverty Bay, in order that they and their creatures may establish themselves upon our ruin. Already, a relative of one minister has been appointed ad interim Resident Magistrate here, and, if we know nothing of his fitness or otherwise for the office, it can scarcely create surprise if severe comment ensues upon the unseemly haste that dictated the appointment of a stranger to the office lately held by Major Biggs. However Well adapted that stranger may be for the performance, as regards Europeans, of his magisterial functions, it is certain he can be only very indifferently acquainted with the native population of Turanga ; and it should be borne in mind that there are at this moment several gentlemen — settlers of long standing here — who have been passed over, in order that a connexion of Mr. Richmond's might be provided for. It is, moreover, difficult to see, with our present very small population, what necessity there exists at all for a permanent Resident Magistrate. Poverty Bay, in fact, is utterly ruined, disrupted, broken up, and desolate, with the exception of the j few buildings, at Tuaanganui and some three or four more. Government may proclaim that late successes have secured the safety of and tranquilised Poverty Bay; but is it true ? Even whilst ' I write, . a report has reached me that the militia are to be again called out ; it may or '< it may not be true, but, taken in connection with other oircumstances transpiring, it serves to shew the fitful uneasy state in which we live.

To-day a few shearers are preparing to start for Mr. Harris' station. ' It is arranged that the shearers shall go armed ; they will not trust themselves to live at the woolshed, but will retire at night for safety to a river peninsula at some distance. In brief, the shearers and Mr. Harris know that they " carry their lives in their hands," and yet Mr. Harris' place is not more than seven miles in a direct line from Turanganui. January 16. 10 a.m. — The long-expected steamer is sighted. If the paymaster arrives in her, all those poorer settlers who can muster sufficient money to pay their passages, will leave the district. Others will follow, and, with the exception of some half-dozen runholders, who cannot choose but remain, no one but themselves, the Resident Magistrate, and a few other officials, are likely to stay here. Some may return years hence, when it will be possible to settle down without the hourly dread of being massacred, and when a better system of government prevails. Many, however, will never return to the respective sites of their former homes, and the places that once knew them will know them no more. They will carry with them bitter memories of cruel wrongs inflicted by the culpable negligence of incompetent rulers, who have, as might have been expected, declined to aid in any way the living sufferers from their criminal conduct ; but those sufferers will also carry with them the affecting remembrance of that spontaneous burst of sympathy which has been displayed towards the few Poverty Bay survivors, from every quarter of New Zealand, and from every individual who has spoken or written of our great misfortune.

7 p.m. — -Mr. Strong has been placed in charge of the militia at Turanganui. Another settler, Mr. Curtis, formerly of Moliaka, has proceeded to Lis run inland. Mr. Curtis is the only settler who has saved his wheat crop, but his losses have, nevertheless been very heavy.

January 17,

More discharges have been effected. The paymaster came in the St. Kilda yesterday, and the natives will be paid off to-day.

January 18

Payments continued. All those houseless ruined Poverty Bay settlers, who have been in tbe habit of sleeping.in the Courthouse, have been inhumanly ordered to turn out. Capt. Read, to whom the building belongs, has refused his sanction to the barbarous order.

.January 19

A cricket match takes place to-day at Makaraka, between officers of force and settlers.

Wednesday, Jan. 20,

Turanganui presents an animated scene to-day, in consequence of Ngatiporo being paid oil Vevy littio of tueir pay wili find its way to Waiapu. I have been constrained to admire the administrative ability displayed by Mr. Mills and the other storekeepers, whilst edging my way through the crowds of natives which of late have crammed every avenue leading to the stores. Much tact and the sweetest of tempers are required to avoid a breach with Ngatiporo, who are very important chiefs on this coast, and by no means insensible to the value of .services rendered the pakeha in his hour of peril ; and verily so great have been those services that in my opinion it is not easy to estimate them too highly, , Ngatiporo certainly do boast a, great deal, but we ought to bear in mind that they and other tribes left wives and children defenceless, and the crops intended for winter subsistence to rot upon the ground, and flew to our rescue at a period of disaster and sombre prospects unparalleled in New Zealand annals, when no other help was nigh ; and that from the' moment of Ropata's arrival, victory, which .seemed to have taken her final leave of these shores, was charmed back to our standard by one of Now Zealand's untutored, but gifted, sons. Moutua and its monument, we hope, may long remain to testify in honor of those intrepid natives who fell in defence of the colony ; but not less distinguished for heroic virtues than the heroes of the "little river isle," the story of whose noble self-sacrifice is so beautifully told by Mr. Fox, were those brave men who, under the sick but daring Ropata, stormed the heights of Makeretu and the trenches of Ngatapa.

12 noon. — Sturt arrived. Natives being shipped for Waiapu, and with them much loot; amongst other things we recognise our ploughs, &c. Well, we have complained before to-day, and have learnt its futility. We are far from blaming Ngatiporo, knowing as we do that they are merely following Maori precedent, but we blame the authorities, who, by exerting a little pressure, might have recovered a portion of the plunder. To a foreigner it must appear a somewhat disgraceful circumstance that settlers' property should be

conveyed away in Government stvonars with the pilferers, at lha expense )f the colony. We, on the contrary, arc gradually being inducted into the belief that such an anomalous state of affairs is the abnormal condition of colonists suffering from a heavy disaster, and should one of us, zealous in the cause of right, lift up his voice in its defence, he will possibly, nay, certainly, be assailed from all sides with noisy accusation of being unjustly inimical to Government, and the instigator of factious opposition.

6 p.m. — Officers gained the cricket match by two wickets.

Thursday, Jan. 21.

A singular incident occurred last night. One of the prisoners (withheld, but since given up, by Ropata) made a rush, and succeeded in getting out of the Court. House. In passing, he laid his hand upon the sentry's carbine. He then seated himself, after obtaining possession of a brick, which he kept balancing in his hand, eyeing the sentry very queerly the while. The sentry naturally thinking his prisoner meditated an escape, took aim and fired, but the cap merely snapped. The prisoner, from first to last, made no attempt to get off, but only sat and watched the sentry, who re-conveyed prisoner to his former quarters. When interrogated, the man denied wishing to run away, and it is the opinion of the interpreter that he speaks the truth. The prisoner is said to have been ailing since his arrival, and may be a little insane; It was a beautiful moonlight night, and it is thought probable he was attracted by it to the performance of one of those ceremonies common to him and other Hauhaus. This would account for his eagerness to get possession of a stone or brick, as it is known to the initiated that such things are used by the tribes about here whilst offering devotion to their deity.

11 a.m.— Ropata has sold some of his prisoners to Hirini and the Turanganui natives, at prices varying from one to five pounds. . As these purchased people are mostly members of ifchV tribe which' has bought them, the several-payments may perhaps be considered as ransom money by one party. Thfrifother, of course, have traded with thrift "as slaves, obtained by conquest.

Friday, Jan. 22.

Last night the lately remaining Ngatiporo left for then* homes. I have not learnt if it is their intention to return. Some of Te Kooti's people have arrived at Muriwai pah. Considerable uneasiness has been expressed by long resident settlers in reference to the conduct of the Muriwai natives, who receive and shelter these wretches. Is is believed that the Muriwai natives are playing a deep game. Two of the most influential settlers of Poverty Bay have assured me (and I only omit their names because if made public it might lead to their being marked men with the Ngaitaupo tribe) that it is their firm conviction treachery is intended. Others have told me they mistrust the Muriwai people. Some, we have reason to believe, are loyal, but the greater number are believed to be dangerous. It cannot be right that Te Kooti's men — be they Chatham Island prisoners, Uriweras, or the traitors that joined him from here, should be allowed to reside with impunity within a few miles of us. If they are permitted to do so, we deserve to suffer the inevitable consequence of oux* infatuation. Warnings have been neglected before, with what results we know to our cost.

10 a.m.— Sergeant- Mnj or Butters caught sight of and chased a Hauhau this morning near my residence. The man was unarmed. Owing to Mr. Butters' horse being young and restive, Mr. Butters could not fire at the fellow, who escaped in some manuka scrub. Search was afterwards made by a few Constabulary, but in vain. It was no doubt one of the enemy wishing to come in, but afraid.

I have been requested by James Hammond who is driver of the team said to have been driven by the Hon. Mr. Richmond because the proper driver would not proceed to Fort Fraser without an escort, to explain, on behalf of himself and other drivers, that the statement is not in accordance with facts, which Hammond says are as follows: — He was proceeding, by his own account, to Patutahi as usual, when a native non-commissioned officer ordered Hammond to wait an hour for an escort. Hammond, upon the receipt of this order, thought he might as well have some breakfast before travelling the twelve miles. He had just finished his meal, when some one came to say a stranger had driven oft* Hammond's cart. He immediately started off, and overtook his team at a few hundred yards distance. Hammond goes on to say, he found a gentleman driving his horses. It was, however, not Mr. Richmond, whom Hammond knows very well by sight, but a gentleman named Towgood. And Hammond adds, "It was not much like a gentleman, he thinks, to take away his team, and perhaps get a fellow into a scrape." Mr. Richmond was walking at this time along the road, some distance from the cart, and after Hammond had resumed the reins, he offered that gentleman a " lift," which Mr. Richmond accepted, after first ascertaining the horses were capable of doing their work. Hammond is a quiet, willing, industrious fellow, who has hitherto not misconducted himself that lam aware of. He and the other drivers are rather hurt at being considered backward at a very important time, especially as it is very well known here how hard these men have worked, going and coming over and again without the least protection for themselves or their teams. Indeed, the usual practice appears to have been for an escort to have accompanied heavy loads to the front. Once there, ..teams and their drivers returned without protection of any kind. One of the drivers, George Banan, was even refused a rifle when he applied for one. It was daily and hourly expected that news would reach us that some of the teamsters had been murdered on their return journeys, and all bub the unthinking amongst us telt that these men underwent great peril almost every day. I may add that most of us were all along aware that the invention about the driving was a canard, and laughed at it. We never suspected Mr. Richmond of being its author, but we did think that some hanger on was. Even if it was true that the Hon. Mr. Richmond drove a team, I see nothing surprising in the circumstance. Not to mention Coriolanus, Washington, and other great men; who did the same or similar, it is very well known to old New Zealand

settlors tlinfc (be Hon. Mr. Wold, tlie Hon. Henry Petre, and other colonists, were accustomed to drive teams, without it beitig considered specially worthy of note. Many people may have seen, and for aught we can tell might still see, a baronet, the descendant of an ancient nnd illustrious family, guiding bis bullocks and dray through the streets of Christchurcb, without a hue and cry being made about it there. Yet if Governor Gore Browne's dictum is' worth anything, society in Canterbury is superior to that of any other place in New Zealand. It is amusing to think how Mr. Richmond, a gentleman himself, must despise the snobbishness that, would abase itself before its idol, because he drove a cart !

8 p.m. — Kiriahi, a Ilaubau chief, has arrived to seek and find a safe refuge at Muriwai. The cool impudence of these escaped Uauhaus is astounding. I have no reason to suppose this Kiriahi will be molested by the authorities here, although he is very well known to have been in communication with Te Kooti from the first, and was present .at Ngatapa.

The conduct of Bryson, a man of the Constabulary, who fought upon the rock ledge where some of Eraser's men were stationed during the siege of Ngatapa, is so worthy of notice that I reproach myself for omitting to mention it before. I have been assured by many eye-witnesses amongst Bryson's comrades, that when one of the men under Fraser fell mortally wounded from the ledge down a precipice, some 250 or 300 feet, Bryson, determined if possible to assist his comrade, bravely sprang from the giddy height to his dying friend's relief. Bryson, by miracle, escaped unhurt, and he succeeded, with the help of others who arrived by a longer route, in conveying the wounded man to a place of comparative safety. , The ground, however, was so difficult to traverse that three hours were occupied in the transit, at the termination of which he expired.

Sergeant-Major Butters, who witnessed the execution of very many prisoners, has told me that as soon as they arrived before Ropata, that chief, whose countenance is a good index to the stern determination within, searched each man for some proof of complicity. The least sufficed for Ropata — a cartridge, thimble, bullet, money, or articles plundered from settlers' houses, all were taken as evidence. A nod and a word from Ropata, and the prisoner was stripped, in order that his blood might not tapu his garments, a few shots, and all wag over. Some of the doomed men died without any appearance of fear or agitation. Nikora betrayed no emotion whatever ; others, however, showed considerable terror, and a few trembled excessively. Now and then, some chief was addressed in concise but cutting terms by their conqueror. A very pretty half-caste girl of the Uriwera had one foot and 'a portion of the thigh and leg torn away by a shell during the seige. She was found amongst the dead and dying in Ngatapa. Major Westrupp, Mr. Johnston, Lieut. Tucker, and other Poverty Bay survivors had her carried to the surgeons for examination, with the humane intention of saving the poor creature's life, and taking her to Turanganui if possible. She was, however, too far gone for the execution of the kind project. Ngatiporo, roughly merciful, put an end to her miseries by shooting her.

Dr. Gibbs was stationed during the siege upon the ledge so often mentioned as occupied by the men under Fraser's command, perilous position in which to minister to the wounded and dying. The worthy doctor, whose conduct is spoken of with much, respect, underwent many hairbreadth escapes. Dr. Gibbs has related the fearless behaviour of one Solomon Black, of the Constabulary, whose intrepid demeanour gained for him the esteem of all who witnessed his gallant bearing. It would have given me and your readers pleasure to know the number of division of which Mr. Black is a distinguished member. Unfortunately, I have mislaid my notes upon the subject. January 23.

Wiremu Paiia, Tamati Rangituwhara, a large native landholder at Patutabi, and Hakapa, three influential Turanga chiefs, are still, it is believed, with Te Kooti. The escaped rebels who have come in to Muriwai, report that individual as staying at Ngatapa at present with a few followers, whilst reinforcements are said to be concentrating at Maungapowhatu, preparatory to a descent npon Turanganui. I have conversed a great deal with people who are well up in such matters, and am not entirely ignorant of native affairs myself. I fear there is too much reason to believe we are. for from the end of our troubles. If the proposed blockhouses were immediately erected and garrisoned, Turanga might be considered as safe ; but it appears problematical whether the blockhouses are to be built, or if Ngatiporo will consent to leave only 50 men to reside here. Ropata considers 50 men will be insufficient, and if Poverty Bay is to become again anything more than a military post, Ropata is iv the right. 1 p.m.—Thirty more of the constabulary haveieft to-day. If the fifty who remain hero are to be kept at Makaraka, they may as well go too, for any use they are likely to be if detained there; but if the fifty were permitted to scour the district in three or four detached parties, some useful purpose might be served. January 24. I have returned from Tapatahi, the site of Mr. Harris' former beautiful residence, upon the banks of the Wnipawa. Shearing has commenced there, but oh ! how different from the shearings of other yea«, when the hospitable owner of Tapatahi was wont to mix freely with the jolly shearers, and encourage their labours by his presence, and when its master was the dispenser of unbounded hospitality. Hard by is the spot where the kind-hearted Pinlay Ferguson, a near relation of the Harris's, with three others, were so foully murdered, whilst 400 constabulary remained stationary all but within sight of Tapatahi, by the orders of their commander. The tall grass already waves amongst the ashes of the ruined mansion ; and the wild dog has taken up his abode in the recesses of its abandoned orchards. Now the shearers partake of each meal in fear and trembling, and all are armed, as the enemy may issue at any moment from the extensive forest that partially encloses the station. It is considered by no means safe to sleep at Tapatahi. [Per s.s. St. Kilda.] • • January 25. Prisoners arrived at Muriwai report Te Kooti with, some say thirty, others fifty

men, ten miles from Ngntapa. An expe- ! dition is spoken of to find oufc his whereabouts, but I think it will end in nothing, as the Muriwai natives refuse to go, having, as they allege, been shabbily treated by the Government in the matter of pay. The fact is thnt they have been much tno liberally treated — £2 10s. per man for some twenty days' nominal work Is, in our opinion, quite as much nnd more than they are entitled to expect.

5 p.m. — One of the prisoners has been released. I am not aware that any one here is inclined to be vindictive, but we cannot help feeling, that an evil policy is being pursued, and one productive of much future mischief. Irt the interests of the colony,. we protest against these men being let loose upon the colony to create a future imbroglio. There cannot be the slightest doubt these fellows are guilty of participation in the massacre, t I have conversed with several of them, and, with the exception of one, none deny being present with Te Kooti. The solitary individual alluded to was, I believe, compelled to join the murderers j at; any rate, he gave timely warning, which was the means of saving many lives. In return, we would spare this man, although we know right well that he has been stained with the blood of other friends.

7 p.m. — A messenger passed Taputahi, half an hour since, with a letter for Itiaka Whanga, the Nuhaka chief, who has, resided at Muriwai pah for some time past.

January 26.

ThrSt. RiMsr will leave to-day with the Hon. Mr. Richmond, Mr. Atkinson, and other officials. Another prisoner will be examined to-day. The result is pretty well known beforehand. No one doubts the man will get off. The same misplaced economy that withdrew the Chatham Island guard and caused the outlay of an immense sum, will most assuredly cause the acquittal of the prisoners, one by one; 'each of whom will yet cost the colony, perhaps, a thousand pounds.

12 noon. — A guard of twenty-five men has been promised the inland runholders, in order that they may be enabled to muster and shear. This is a sensible step, to which no reasonable man can take' exception.

2 p.m. — One of the guard has drawn my attention to the fact of two sentries being left to watch a dozen desperate men, and to the circumstance of a pile of loaded arms being placed within reach , of these same desperate men, who believe their lives are forfeited, and are consequently prepared for any move, however daring, that may relieve them from, the prospect of the gallows.

Captain Bowers is at present in charge during the absence of Major Westrup. The former] gentleman is deservedly respected for his uniformly courteous and considerate treatment of those over whom he has been placed^

The case of Sergt.-Major Anderson, in charge of artillerymen at Ngatapa, is one deserving of serious attention. Whilst other individuals, who did little or nothing to ensure the fall of Ngatapa, have seen their names ostentatiously paraded in the public prints, Serg.-Mnjor Anderson, an old colonial servant — who did more good service than them all together, with the exception of Ropata, Ngatiporo, and Fraser's men, or, rather, the men who were under Major Fraser in the- rear of Ngatapa— has been barely mentioned, when it is a fact universally admitted here, that but for him and his fine fellows, Ngatapa might not even now have been in our possession. It is well known that such a panic wag created amongst its defenders every , time that a shell exploded within the defences of Ngatnpa, that the garrison fled to the rear only to be shot down by the men under Fraser. Yet every shell had to be carried up a mountain by Anderson and his men, where the path was so precipitous as to render the labour inordinately fatiguing ; and I cheerfully bear witness that I accompanied Anderson and his men in their laborious ascent upon one occasion, and after they had previously worked the cohqrn for three days and nights without intermission.

4 p.m. — Still more rumours as to Te Kooti's whereabouts. We have not the slightest doubt that a little energy would secure the capture of one of the most dangerous men who has yet disturbed the peace of New Zealand, but the intention of following up and bringing him in appears to have evaporated with the approaching departure of a minister and his hangers-on.

5 p.m. — It is all but certain that Ropata has definitely declined to garrison Turanga with go small a number as fifty men. All the bustling energy which characterised our proceedings whilst Ngatiporo and Ropata were present has altogether vanished since they left for Waiapu, and at present we barely float above the dead sea of redtapeism into which we have been suddenly plunged. One or two settlers are preparing to start for their former places inland. Dr. Smitli is attending to the sick with his usual care and kind attention.

6 p.m. — All the Europeans (militiamen) left to guard stores have been ordered to give up their usual sleeping apartment in the CoufpibiTse to tne natives. They have further been compelled to sleep with the prisoners, who are in a horrid state of filth. Why such singular arrangements are enforced is impossible to say. Caprice alone appears to dictate orders so repugnant to common sense. Dr. Smith, very properly, objects to the system, but, I fear, without effect.

A Singular MAEMAqE.— We understand that a couple are to be united in marriage this evening in this city, who have never yet seen each other. The bridegroom, who is a man of talent and considerable wealth, came from his home ; hundreds of miles west of the Mississippi River, to meet his betrothed for the first time. The bride is a Boston lady, possessed of rare accomplishments, and one greatly admired for her disciplined mind and prepossessing appearance. The engagement was brought about in a manner partaking somewhat of the romantic. The bridegroom, while in the army, advertised in a Boston literary paper for a lady correspondent, stating it'to be his object only to enliven the dull hours of camp life. Among the many answers to his request he selected one from a lady in Boston, with whom he kept up a correspondence which continued after his departure to the west, until it finally resulted in an engagement. Portraits were interchanged, probably, but it is a fact in our own knowledge that the lady and gentleman have never seen each other till to-day. From what we know of the parties, we are inclined to believe that the marriage will be a- happy one.— Boston Traveller, Sept. 25.

Queen.