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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1041, 20 April 1869, Page 3

Sic, — Yesterday evening my attention was called to the fact that Mr. AssistantPilot Kraeft had eased a somewhat uglylooking native, when landing from the ferry boat, of a bag of round leaden balls, weighing altogether about 91bs. I mentioned the fact to a gentleman who said he was proceeding to town, and I requested him, if possible, to see Mr. Inspector Scully, and mention the circumstance. Altering my determination of remaining behind, I rode up to town, saw Messrs. Scully and Fannin, and related what I had observed or heard. The natives— for the party consisted of three men, armed with the Enfield rifle, and one woman — were stopped on their progress through the town, and interrogated, but, on identification, were allowed to pass aB friendlies. I have no means of knowing that these natives were not the best in the world ; but, if we have prohibitory Acts of certain kinds, why was it not ascertained how the suspicious-looking balls were procured P The gentleman referred to informs me that, on overtaking this party, and. insisting upon a search, he found another bag of balls, weighing 8 or 9 lbs. Now the wonder is where our native enemies obtain their ammunition from. Any one else than a native would have been asked to give an account of his possessing such a quantity of leaden missiles of an unusual kind. I think the wisest plan would have been to have confined these suspicious people ; to have demanded on what service they had been ; whither they were going, and where— aye, where they had obtained these balls ; and, if made, whence the lead. To allow natives professedly friendly to have easy access to town and easier from it, with warlike stores not government make, is, to say the least of it, very unwise. I believe the policy of opposing native to native in warfare is excellent under proper supervision, and I should be glad to know that my suspicions in the matter I have referred to are baseless. — I am, Sco., W. W. Yates. Napier, April 15, 1869.