THE SECRETS OF THE REBEL

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1091, 12 October 1869, Page 3

THE SECRETS OF THE REBEL

(From a Chatham Island correspondent.) : The Government and people of New Zealand desire to be satisfied as to the most secure and, at the same time, cheapest, way of disposing of the Hau Hau prisoners. ■'- On mature consideration, it would appear that the Chatham Island offers by far the cheapest asylum for such prisoners, and; on the score bf safety, notwithstanding the former notorious escape on the Chatham Island, most unquestionably the prisoner, can be kept as seourely as in any of Her Majesty's penal establishments. We may . now briefly refer to the well known '* es- ; capade" of prisoners (only by courtesy .tobe termed an escape), for what would, any prisoner be expeoted to do, if the door ; of his prison house was negligently left open, and the Governor's horse standing ready saddled within easy reach P WTiy suoh an escape would be simply ludicrous, but no more ludicrous than what actually | happened, for such, in very truth, was the I escape ofthe Hau Haus from this Island. Setting aside the grave warnings, given to Captain Thomas, E.M. repeatedly, and by two letters to Mr. Stafford from Mr. \ Eitchie, received in Wellington in the middle -of April, nearly four months before the actual escape, which took place on the following 4th July ; was not the prison door actually and negligently left open, by the sudden reduction of the guard— indeed , by withdrawing the guard almost entirely, leaving only 11 policemen, on the day too that the Governor's chariot was atthe door in the shape of the chartered schooner Eifleman, then in the Bay, anchored opposite the Hau Hau quarters ; also whilst ' every- op.c of these policemen were entirely off duty, some gottMg their pay; a few in the public-houses, and two or three femily men in their own houses ; so that only two policemen were in the barriaoks— Johnson and the murdered Hartnett, sitting at a table, squaring mutual accounts. This,, was the moment, the circumstances, and . the day, that the Hau Hau rebels under Te Kooti walked quietly into the Government chariot, on the 4th July,. 1868, and sailed away. The important letters above alluded to were duly forwarded to the Colonial Secretary — copies being given to Capt. Thomas, who, (pliant and easy-going soul), thinking , Mr. Eitchie had stated the case bluntly and straightforwardly, and well knowing Mr. Stafford above all things detested bad news that would by any possibility trench upon his economical preserves, and withal being just a little bit jealous that Mr. Eitchie should get the credit of being a more clear-headed and active Magistrate than himself; he thereupon set himself down to comment upon and try to explain away warnings that, Mr. Eitchie assured him, solemnly involved life and death to . us all here, and an amount of danger incalculable to the life and treasure of New , Zealand. Further than this, Mr. Eitchie, in true magnanimity of spirit, to allay the worthy E.M.s little pride and vanity, . actually begged Mr. Thomas to look the difficulty in the face, and write to the Government boldly on the subject; and in such case he (Mr. Eitchie) would withdraw from his unenviable position. Although agreeing that there was an apparent change for the worse in the character of the Hau Hau prisoners, Captain Thomas bashfully declined ; expressing at the same time a timidity and fear of consequences best known to himself, should he be weak enough to write so pointedly on such a disagreeable subject ; and it was only after Captain Thomas refused to take the initiative, that Mr. Eitchie boldly stepped into the breach. As the written warnings alluded to have been often misquoted, and in a manner evaded by certain authorities in Nevsr flflfllflnri. -nrfl-ihinlr ifc only right to quote what oUrE.M. was hot only frightened to write, but, we believe, actually and, if so, most culpably, set himself to smooth down and explain awayJ We have at considerable inconvenience and trouble obtained the underwritten copies of Mr. Eitchie's letters and Government reply thereto. We omit only some matters having no reference to the question at issue. (Per Despatch.) Lake House, Kaingaroa, April 2, 1868. Sib,— l have the honor to report for your information * * * (and goes on to state) —With all due deferenoe to the real worth and admitted oleverness of your Commissioner, Mr. Rolleston, it would, nevertheless, appear, since the period of his visit to inaugurate a new line of polioy in native affairs here, that there bas been a gradual but steadily-growing restlessness and increasing desire amongst the natives to quit the Island ; ' and, strangely enough, bnt too truly, fromthe same period there has been a great change for the worse in the charaoter oi the Hau , Haus. Whereas before the time named, all were most peaceably inclined and gave cheerful obedienoe to every reasonable restraint, now, the Hau Hau is markedly changed, impatient of restraint, and insolent in manner, in a word, will be beyond oontrol directly the present guard is withdrawn, although it is a mere shadow as at present constituted, and has lost muoh of the controlling power it possessed, and this ohiefly owing to recent concessions and regulations. I trust IshaU be excused this seeming comment, but real relation of faots in outspoken language, feeling well assured that you will sympathise with the uneasy feeling in this, although a small community of British subjects, and will lend your all efficient aid and advioe to change present uncertainty to future good. I have, &0., Thomas Ritchie. The Hon. E. W, Stafford, Colonial Secretary, Wellington. P.S.-— I send a copy of the foregoing to Captain Thomas. (Per St. Kilda.) * ■ Lake House, -vuiugaruu, April 9, 1868. Sib,*— l have the honor to enolose herewith a copy of the letter I considered it my duty to send you per the Despatch, touching the exodus of the natives, &o. ***** I have now to treat upon what I oonsider the worst phase of affairs. The Hau Haus are secretly delighted, and silently working and consulting with each other. It is worthy of note that hardly one (if indeed there is a single Hau Hau) working or will remain tp work with the pakeha, and this morning I . have received notioe from a well-disposed Hau Hau He Re Wini, who has been shepherd with me over twelve months, and who is attached to the service, that he mttst leave ; on further enquiry, I find he has reoeived seven let- , ters at different times, urging him to returnto . Waitangi and give up his situation at pnce, All these little waifs are not without mean- , ing and significance, and it now remains for you to judge what is best to be done. • Per?., haps a Commissioner per next steamer would do good, that is to say, if he doea not oome -. down here merely to rush over the Island on horseback, and rush off again direotly, hardly giving the folks here time to write a letter, or, the Postmaster time to seal the mail bags-* ' always in suoh haste, as if afraid of being overtaken by some fatal contagion. ?be y Commissioner, to do good, must. go. into en- ..x quiries throughout the Mand, and this oannot x,:. be done effeotually under a month or even . two months. ' ' y. My wish is to give the Government every . (: assistance in my power, and this I have tried to do, in the most unselfish manner, whejpi I; was plaoed, aB in thisinstanoe, in amwtdiffioultposition. , : „ ';'. ' Awaiting your commands. . . '-< Ihave,&o.- y; '*■* '.'•'.-., Thomas BiTOjaa?!.!: *„■ The Hon, E.W. Stafford, y, . .■;->; : ' qoloniia Swretaryi Wellington. . :.y • i ■ ;,.

asm. y^iT.'io -6TKwf.oi;.L —The Mowing sMubw TO^ t duly Bent to Mr. Bitohie^^pinffl»t would be simply thrown swwS7Q&Mt *j : d *■ yu y* c >s . Oalonial^oreiftsy'SiOffioe, > „ .. -2o__ c ; ={WeUingtbhJlApril3l;clß6B. , Sik,j^l fc_ve the honor, by the dirootiorof * Mr. Stafford, to* acknowledge! the receipt bf your letter, of the,9th iristant'.enolosing a oopy of a letter which has rietyetarpived^addressed to hii_^ l ;byy^U;9^ the. 2nd. instant., : • The.^porj*s u whfo^i'haye reached the Government, fromjvar^^^^ ,'pources do riptoonfirm your opinion-jmat' "thei-e is a'change for the worse itfrthe bf J( the- prisoners." These prisoners riow understand that fhey are not confySltedta wojrk -for, Europeans, and this tat&lUgefioe'h&B apparently had a favorable effeofton-thOt- ijairids. '^ y: - <-■ I enclose. a copyof- the N.Z. /Gazette No. 15, of theifith of Maroh last, containing a Proolamatioa by: Sis . Exoellenoy the Governor, under t^o;'?i-?as.e»gers A0t,,1855,' ; ' ; and lam to Inform, you that ~any . vessels leaving ; the Chatham Islands will ripw be, bound by this Proola'mftfidi).! * and 5 that th^lmmigratiOn Offioerji'vhate beeh ' 'iA-tfuoted f o' take legal prooeeduii^i-i'thie'oas- of any contraventibh of the --qtiiretaents of the law in respeot of passenger vesselß, *. :i I have, &6,y • .-,,:: .if - w. Gisbobne, „.". -i; .'.yi^ Under Seoretary. Thoma&Bitchiej . Egg,. Kaingaroa, Chatham Islands. —It niiay )^e explaih'ed Here that for along time t^^.'3_tr;EpUe_fon*s visit,' the Gdvernn^fflStf'had allowed tbe prisoners to accept engagements' to work on the different statioia'r, Oir ":^lie "Island, and as sheep shearer_^th_ individual- etigagihg being held responsible, it the, fimsh of the job, for the^ifey-etute -of the' prisoners to Waitahigiy In this way the prisoners earn€^^%ob_l^©^'^f-«^nev-_spOm the sot- ' tiers, getting Is. '-6d. per day and their food, and ; _h manV 'instance- making ss. per d&tf.on 6 ( dd jobL Besides the variety, this aWahgemehthadin reaUty a "pleasing effect oh the iaihdof the Hau Hau," but nbfc;a single Ha^^Hati that we ever heard! df wai '6dinpell(.d to work for Euro- , peanr a^aftst his ivill ; on the contrary, the p^onei:s^w_re.bhly too glad to get vrorlrfbr Which" they were paid, rather than work for Paptain Thomas for nothing. Mt_d|/m^'_Udd_nly changed by Mr. Eolteston," and even the men who were cutting' public ; tracks through the Bush, were •ihs^ii-Wci they need not trouble themselves with such hard work, or indeed any work for the future ; and from this moment'the'treason plots began to thicken, which were! only in embryo in the brain of TeKipOti'aha'his few followers. How could i^be otherwise-*- the prisoners being hitherto ' under ' a practical restraint, now released frohi all restraint, and allowed to follow thoir own will. No wonder Mr. Eiteldd iioted/with great anxiety the daily increasing ihsblence and restlessness ofthe Hau HaUSi who were at this time riding about'bn their own horses on little pleasure exbursiehs, bften carrying with them their'&byferhiiieht stores of flour &o. ' for presents to^ and exchange with, their Island brethren in the diflerent settlements. No wohderi indeed, Mr. Ritchie's fears and aiaxiety for the worst daily increased with l 'thP'] qa|ly increasjyag symptoms of recklefssiiess' ! and treasph coming ; to the surfaced ,Qr(e day; some on-looker : . wpuld discoyefc thpseHau llaus,^ho were supposed ps)jrs ehgag'edpreparing the ground and Sq^fohe ; Gpyerhtoent Wheat, lounging i breafcmg their spades, and partof ploughs purposely by accident, and at'msht grave]^^ /deUycaing^them to the stbre_;ee^ almost unquestfaiietL day it would be discove^]J J ;that;ilihe'.wheat-s6Wing was being done,';ifnbt,on;an improved, at least on a and speedy, principle; holes were made |aM handnils were thrown in, then other Hole's and more handfuls, when they — titoxiMxif^hx^i — Wero Ttiioljaerved. —- A-tor-wards, Iwhen asked, the, reason of such conductance invariable reply was "No good for, the Hau Hau ! he not want, good ior Tamati !" meaning our incredulous S.M!. 'Again, a Hau Hau openly told an Island native at Owenga to the effect that "in two, months more, he no more^au Hau prisoner, he go." Many other sighs of secret understandings were apparent.. In the midst of all this, however, our paternal Government guardian, Capt. Thomas, continued his even walk and conversation; all was unavailing, till the _normhjg of the escape,*— when, coming fro'm'fhb'_fudy\)f his policeman's paysheet, on am^oactung thebarraek gate, the sad truth, wa^ rouMily forced upon him, and he Was suddenly thrown down, rolled in the spft.muft, wrists tied together, and afterwords* with others, thrust into the Governmentlook-up. Then, again, there is another picture. Mr. 'Eitchie, in' the midst of anxieties, owing to his being dependant entirely, with all the o.ther European inhabitants, upou the. great uncertainty of Hau Hau mercy and forbearance — hoped against hope that Mr. Stafford's Government would shew some sign of interest or help, if not to the appeal of our small community of British' subjects, then surely in the interests of New Zealand; but no, the Government ear was long ago closed to the cry of the weak for help ; and but that the hand ofthe All Merciful stayed the usually savage and relentless hand at the very threshold, . our blood, and the blood of many additional victims, would have been on the head of Mr. Stafford and his colleagues,; as the dire result of their studied acts. : Hitherto the public mind has been impressed with, the idea that, because the Hau Hatf rebels, who were placed here by Government,, after a time getting tired of the monotony of their free and easy island life/and choosihg to return to more exciting scenes, that therefore the Chatham Islands can be no, longer named with con- ._ fidfinceL^juwcure^^?-^-*^^ future rebels or other prisoners. We here proclaim tlie fallacy of such an assumption. .The foregoing plain statement of facts must force all honest convictions to , the issue, that there exists no inherent defectwhatever in this island, in its physical features, or in its position, to preclude it from becoming a most secure and a most economical penal settlement for all •New" withm ari easy access of 2h days stoairiingfrpm Wellington. The, Government can^have at any moJnpnt^OpO.acresoflandin a peculiarly advantageous: position, upon which to I locate, securply any number of rebels or convicts .for the term of their . natural lives^and at amost reasonableexpenditure, certainly insignificant to that which the coloti^-jvptildbecalled upon to pay per hea£'^ Western Australia, or 'the far fe *«M pfc M the Atidamahs Island. ._ 6 Pecuniaryadvanfages in the^taWishmentpfthe^^ as a { p|Ral settlement, should not be overlooke^injthe solid interests of New Ze&. Iwid-^bearmg partidularly in mind that themome^Gpvernment expends annually &KTOB eaCh?convi6t in Western Austra- * at every penal es*^|!ra?'%*:s&&*?. force md a comJ ivid it behoves the New: Zea.*"ai| .CK>yemament to pause before committo such an increasing exV e mm?,^7:y777ux77, \7..... " 7. immmtitemof. safe .keeping and food f tt -i?«— t alluded to, for the sake of i\. '-vW^TOji"* i* be'ttssumed^TDu have ,ab great expense f^JMr^foenobpsky 300 convicted rex^7^mej^Wmm vPf the steaßae-jS^ilda at once, in

;•■:::; \: ■■ Vj ' • '-WW M' rl i . < :\ - ; . V oliarge of a "constabulary force,— say of forty or fifty .pjefced men, uncler, a..ti;ustworthy chief. For the .first three or., four months', rations of flour.wpuld have to be provided ;' me^, in addition; to'be had here at once, ahd' during the period named ,'the prisoners, in chain gangs, would be employed planting potatoes in. ground now lying ready for the purpose, building stockades, whares,' and doing other necessary work. After the first four, months alluded 'tP^; the rations of the prisoners wouldthen consist entirely of potatoes and meat or fish.. The potatoes even ad libitum would cost the Government .nothing, and the meat, say Hlbs per day, at 2d. per lb., would only reach the modest sum of four-teen-pehbe per week per adult. The cost of the gtiard and prison clothing, with reasonable outlay for^lant/ can- be easily arrived at by the Government., , This scheme, only rpughly pourtrayed here, if entered upon judiciously under proper advice, would succeed ; and we feel convinced there is no one more competent or more willing to give such advice, and assist the, Government in every possible way, -than Mr. Ritchie, a gentleman of proved ability arid sound judgment, whose voice in the solemn appeal and warnings herein recorded, had it been only listened to,— -would have saved the already expended sum of over £300,000, and, more than this,; would have saved many a heartwrung pang from the hapless widow and the orphan, and would have prevented the irrevocable arid renascent blot upon^the late Government escutcheon, from being recorded with a tangled thread of blood, by, the future Macaulay of New Zealand.