TARANAKI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 578, 19 May 1858, Page 3

TARANAKI.

The news from this province is to the 24th ] ulfc. The journals of a somewhat earlier date contain important information on the' Native • question. We extract fully below. (From the ' Herald,' April 10.) The following notice has been generally circulated throughout the settlement: —•_ " All persons are hereby warned against going to the Waitara or in any way interfering with the present native disturbances. A disregard of this notice will oblige the officer in command of the troops to take steps for enforcing compliance." Considered as a step following the Governor's proclamation it promises to have a beneficial influence on the native quarrel The proclamation declares that all persons whomsoever unlawfully assembling wtth arms within certain districts will be treated as Queen's enemies, but it would seem that Maories are regarded as friends of her Majesty as they are to this day permitted to carry any arms they please within the prohibited districts. People wonder why the proclamation was issued, and, having been issued, why it is not carried out. The present notice, however, as the Americans say, "fixes" the wrong doers. All persons are warned against "going" to the Waitara, or in any way "interferino-" with the present native disturbances. Under the proclamation the natives enjoy the privilege of travelling armed through the settlement, but under the notice they are not to go to the Waitara or interfere in the native quarrel, and the gallant Major will not, as he plainly states, have hi.4 warning disregarded, but will, if necessary, enforce 'obedience. This end to trifling with the natives is what we have all along prayed for, and as the feud if it continues must for the future be confined to the actual belligerents on the spot, we may hope to see it reduced to the narrowest limits, and so die out. But as tho proclamation had a loophole, may not the notice have one likewise? No person may go to the Waitara, but I how near may they approach the district ? At

what point of the settlement does the prohibi- ] j tion commence? What would be judged an " interference" in the native quarrel ? A man < going down to see about his debts would not, we think, nor a native carrying a kit of fernroot or dried shark to some misguided relative engaged in arms, but a missionary proceeding there to reconcile the deadly feud would clearly amount to one. The district land purchase commissioner must at once discontinue his visits to the Waitara, because he can have no duties there, and we even question if the assistant native secretary can go there without a pass from the major, the prohibition extending to all persons. The notice is a mere caution at present, but how 13 it to be enforced should it be declared law ? The Waitara is reached from every point of the compass by the Maories especially, and, if we except the latter, it will bo found that few persons visit the district with the animus attributed to them by the resident magistrate and the officer commanding. The notice if ever acted upon would operate harshly on Ihaia who is the only native likely to be seriously affected by the _restriction, or to yield to it. His enemies will trample it under foot as they did tbe proclamation. I ' The visit of the Superintendent to Auckland appears to have induced the Governor to strengthen the military detachment stationed here. "The Kate Kearney brings an accession of 45 men under the command of Lieut. Lewis, 65th Regfc., and. 5 artillerymen under that of Captain King, R.A. ;It has transpired that the native secretary and Land Purchase Commissioner proceeded to Waitara on Wednesday and solicited the permission of King Wiremu to remove Ihaia and his followers to the Chatham Islands in the Kate Kearney. King Wiremu having signified his royal assent to the expatriation of Ihaia, the officers of the General Government then visited the Karaka, but failed in inducing Ihaia to accept the offer of free transport for himself and the parties engaged in the murder of Katatore to the Chatham Islands. Ihaia thanked them for their considerate offer, but civilly declined it, alleging that he was able to protect himself, his women and children. The native officers paid a second visit to Waitara yesterday, !bufc the nature of their mission had not transpired. ;In our last issue we stated that a skirmish had taken place on Saturday morning between William King's natives and Ihaia's party. It ' appears that four, men, four boys, and two women left one of Ihaia's pas shortly after sunrise, for the purpose of shifting the tethers of their working oxen, and^then .proceeded iv search of one which had vgpt loose. Wben about 200 yards from Henri's pa they were '• surprised by about forty of Wiremu Kingi's natives, headed by Eruera his son, who shot and tomahawked Amapiri and Taumaihi, broke a gun beating Hori Kokako on the head, and wounded Te Retiu, Wi Ruku, Reupene, and Meri, belonging to Ihaia's party. Two of Wiremu Kingi's natives were shot dead, whereupon his party retreated, leaving their dead behind them. So great was the panic of , the attacking party that Ihaia's men passed with three loaded carts from the Korihi, without the slightest opposition being offered, and during Saturday threw up two new earthworks protecting the new line of road, and enabling him either to obtain supplies of provisions and firewood, or to retreat to the forest whenever he pleases. The fortifications of the Karaka pa have been greatly strengthened, and altogether Ihaia's position has improved. He appears confident of ultimately obtaining the victory A correspondent has furnished us with the report of a speech addressed by William King of Waitara to the Taranaki natives. We give . a literal translation thereof for the information of our readers :— " Men of Taranaki! Be strong! Be brave! and capture Ihaia, Nikorima, and Pukere, as payment for the tapu of Taranaki and Umuroa. Then we will stretch out their arms and burn them with fire. To prolong their torture let them be suspended over a slow fire for a week, and let the fire consume them. Like the three [ men of old whom Nebuchadnezzar commanded [to be cast into the fiery furnace, even as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall it be with Ihaia." j The Taranaki men believe that because their tapu was not burnt, they must distinguish themselves to fulfil the prophecy of Tamiti . Teito. FATAL ACCIDENT ON BOARD THE l KATE KEARNEY. '. (From the * Taranaki News ' April 9.) I The Kate Kearney arrived from Manakau on Tuesday evening, with detachments of the r Royal Artillery and 65th regiment. In crossing the bar the vessel was for a time in considerable peril, as will be seen from the master's account > certified by Captain King, R.A. and Lieutenant v Lewis, 65th Regt.; and we understand owed her escape to the cool seamanship of her master. Brisrantine Kate Kearney, J ° April 6, ISSS. Account of the melancholy accidents that occurred on board the Brigantine Kate Kearney J on the morning of the 6th April, 1858, on the Manakau Bar, during her passage to Taranaki, ' with detachments of H.M. troops on board. On Sunday, April 3, about two o'clock p.m., lup anchor, and proceeded as far as Cape Horn, wind S.W. . On Monday, sth April, at 5 a.m. weighed and made sail, wind W.N.W. Succeeded in J getting to within about four miles of the pilot station; anchored and watered; ready to pro- ! ceed to sea on the ebb tide. At 2 p.m. on the ' same day, weighed, made sail, and beat down as

far asJParitotae, the pilot .station. The pilot tl not being in attendance, and no signal what- h ever being hoisted at the flag-staff, Capt. Dixon h did not think it prudent to beat out. The wind being variable had the appearance of a calm. r Bore up for the Hui Bank anchorage; anchored * in five fathoms. Light variable winds and t( calms during the night from the eastward. . r Tuesday morning, 6th April.—At 9,30 a.m , t weighed and made sail with a fair wind from £ the N. E. The pilot's red flag was then t hoisted to take the bar. In consequence proceeded to sea, breeze increasing. While passing c the pilot station observed several people on the t hill near the flag-staff. The red flag was then a hauled down and a blue peter hoisted with a ball underneath and one at each yard arm. * When nearly over the bar, the last roller struck s, the vessel, and swept it fore and aft, carrying \ away the galley, cooking utensiL, somelive c stock, the long boat, and bulwarks, and several < men washed overboard, all of whom were re- 5 covered with the unfortunate exception of pri- c vate Peter Farley, 65th Regiment, who was < observed swimming towards the boat, within a j very short distance of it. Tide then flood, and . he supposed to be visible from the pilot station. ■ Being only then just over the bar, and the \ headsails washed on board, Captain Dixon did not think it prudent to heave-to at the time until the vessel was out of danger, there being , some 70 souls on board, including women and children. Order being obtained, the military under the charge of Captain King, R.A., and Lieut. Lewis, 65th Regiment, assisted the ship's company in clearing the wreck, pumping and looking after the bruised and wounded, as well as the women and children, of whom several were in the same condition. Capt. Dixon then hove-to, hoisting his ensign half-mast high for half an hour. The weather being fine, he then thought it advisable to pi-oceed to Taranaki, seeing no sign of any communication with the shore, after repairing damages as well as possible, and providing for the safety of all on board, Thomas Dixon, Master. Charles Marshall, Mate. W. M. Kino, Capt. R. A. J. W.. Lewis, Lieut. 65th Regt.