IMPORTANT FROM TARANAKI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIII, Issue 771, 28 March 1860, Page 4

IMPORTANT FROM TARANAKI.

We have no papers' from Taranaki by the mail per Prince Alfred j but the Nelson and Wellington papers contain accounts furnished by eye-witnesses, and also extracts from *"J local journals, of both of which sources ot information we make full use, arranging the details in chronological order, commencing from the date of our last previous advices. [Abriged from * Taranaki Herald,' March 10.] (From a correspondent at Waitara.)

In these-warlike times a narrative, of the w^[ proceedings during the past week will cloning provq interesting to your readers. At hall-past' on* Monday morning the troops destined to tn'ipossession of tho land at Waitara purelntsed by j1 Government from Teira, silently assembled at j jj camp on the parado-ground. Punctually at '•?:

l **««*»- he co]umn mßrc hed off in •A""1?? uul with the guns and baggage- ran, *>"«' U" nnnl could not. have been less than hallBll d te&r-ga* >, sixteeu mount ed setters n-mil 8 »> ' " 1T . 1( , e The column reached <*col' klt- niho'bml'e at dawn, and throwing out tl'e^TV^ who swept the country, occupied qkirin"".1; 1?, ,' , commanding the lino ot march; Tamati *elt° f, 1 : ol ,' voy followed. On the advance (ho colui""J" the column made a sweep inland, again 80"!1 r/^iiantly pushing on through fern &'kiT'f unSl the/ reached" the Devon line, [ ast if ensued near its junction with the ' fflicri",i!, void. nnd the weary, hmigry sold.m Jlam. Bk i Wikfast time had arrived. A Her adi - ima}.i« cU ulLl j owevoP , no water could be found, ligfl?d'e nniuod on proceeding.to the.Puke•and thej «tft force amvo( i a t about two koho pa». J • nee a like disappointment, as no to pm d be found nearer tnan the river, a trood ffiUei - flf ft mi , ej towav( j s w hi c h the <listanr ° "souls rushed with their canteens. The poor tlnr«) .to Rn a( | ra i nl \,le one, capable position wa. as?il j ns fc any native force, and of 11I1?,. ll0t h p principal portion of the potato cmnmTlvlhri' I" «n incredibly short time the fT wm-e pitc-hVci, the baggage-train unloaded, a t'nts 1 r „«p(1 the trenches cleared of cover, jnaS'?zino, .I;"nade, so that in the course of the coolant 11'. l" x waste C oveied with weeds, the afternoon, lv pcarance of a strong military pah assume „ t tt . lc ] c being expected, the troops arms till broad daylight. On lVltliT Inim, '•" csoort of mounted, volanTuC' "ilt k-i/sorgeant, left the town in charge *««•ffllh W ith provision for the troops at of t | livc cat*, .„. who them to tite the beach road, as William King's wt"nl 11milt a pah on the direct road to the MtlW,Kuldnot allow the carts to pass. It camp,an gte Wlfchoufc . occv lm-l „ new-wary alarm for their safety, the "^Sdils route to near the junction of \3 by a Waitara native, named Hohaia, who 8 T PI it to return, which was declined. Th party were then permitted to pass on, and J; an-ivin- at the camp the affair was reported o the Governor, who re«o ved upon giving the Srfire* twenty minutes1 notice to clear out, and if they refused to vacate the pah, to fire upon them, and the following letter to that effect was sent by " ToTh^Chief who obstructs the Queen's "Road. « You have presumed to block up the Queen's road to build on the Queen's land, and to stop the free p.wa<?e of persons going and coming. - . " This is levying war against the Queen. Destroy the places you have built; ask my forgiveness and you ihall receive it. If you- refuse, the blood of Vow people be on your head. _ - . # ' " I shall fire upon you m 20 minutes from this fimp if you have not obeyed my order. (Signed) "T. Gore Browne. " Camp, Waitara, 6th March, 1860." In 10 minutes the pah was abandoned, .and of conwe was speedily destroyed.. (Prom the ' Taranaki News, March 10.) A large number of friendly natives met the Governor on Saturday last; welcoming him to Tavanaki. His Excellency spoke to them as follows: —■ You have come with good and loyal words : you are welcome. Most of you are old enough to remember all the Governors who have been in New Zealand. They have all been careful of the interest of the Maories. Governor Hobson made the treaty of Waitangi, by which the rights and property of the Maori race are secured to them. Our Gracious Queen confirmed this treaty, and has instructed her Governors to act as guardians to her Maori subjects. Our Queen is a powerful Queen, and has more than a hundred regiments, many .of which are far stronger than the 65th Regiment, of which . you h.ive only seen a small part. Her love towards her Maori people is therefore entirely disinterested, and such as the good and the powerful feel towards the ignorant and the weak. She has declared that her Maori subjects shall be protected in their just and lawful rights, and she would dismiss with scorn any Governor who caused her words to be falsified. Should not her people rejoice in her protection, and shelter themselves under her shadow P Yet William King presumes to say that he will not respect the Queen's promise to her subjects. The Queen says each man shall keep his property if lie pleases, and sell his property if lie pleases. William King says Teira shall not sell his property as he pleases. Is this wise ? Is it right P If the Queen's words are not good, and her subjects may cause her promise-to be broken, why should not the Palteha cause it to be broken, and call for move soldiers, and take all the land their eyes desire ? This would not seem good to the Maories, nor does it seem good to me to let any man, whether he be Pakeha or Maori, cause the Queen's word to be falsified. Listen, oh my friends! I told you last year that " I would buy no man's land without his consent, and that I would permit no man to interfere in the sale of land unless he owned part of it." I tell you the same again to-day. Teira's title to the land is a good title, and William King and you all know that it is so. I have given my word to Teira that I will buy his land. I have paid the first instalment for it—l will not go back from my word. 1 desire peace and hate war. It is with William ■King to choose between peace and war. If he chooses war, the blood will be required at his hands, and not at mine, and it is for him to consider the consequences while there is yet time. My last word to you is, " Remain in peace, and no one shall molest you." In answer to a question the Governor.said:— 1 have perfect and entire confidence in our native friends, more especially in Te Wake and J^narama. and should be glad of an opportunity o prove it. I h avej however, brought many scraps Europeans; they might not know how to GWinguish friends from foes, and if they 'heard a ™«c report that enemies were in the town they m 'gnt injure our best friends. I will not however, eparnte myself from our friends, but propose to MKe them into Government pay while this question settled; not to fight, for I have plenty of okliers, but to take charge of some places out of he town. p ari -i s will explain this, and make arrangements with them about it." '< Wi'°" 0W' nJ? has been issued in Maori .-— Whereas there are in town many soldiers and cuer strangers who might not be able, in the event native leS) t0 dl'Bfcin^uish ft' iendly from hostile ! "And whereas the Governor fears that friendly annoU ™'t0 tOW" m'ght be s ~ubJecfc to "T r pr?vent tl»ia- evil, the Governor orders that ""nativeshall come into town without a pass. wWlT'r Wlll be issued afc the following places, at them ■- C°min ° infco town raHsfc aPl^ for I Block oblocki 1 7 BCOlning fl'°m the n°rth ' at the dl 8 from the south>at the ab^o^7Sr 511 be^ ato-°fthe quilih!? re fi-ulat,'on only to be in force until tran--4 ,p v ls restored." Winl f0!'°Wi, nr js a of two'lefctera from yesterda U-- S recei™d by His Excellency

To m Warekawa, Wanganui, March 8, 1860;;" we listonTT 5 rowne--Salutations to you. We of°W-n- rep°rr- S tha\ arrive respecting uuctot Wilham King, and have come to the

conclusion that ho is. wrong to interfere with the occupation of land sold to you.. We entirely disapprove of his proceedings.

From Tahana Tckoa,

Court House, Wanganui, March 8, 1860. To Governor Browne.—-Saiutations. to you. We have heard of the doings of William King .and yourself that you are at war. We all consider that William King'is wrong in interfering with you upon your land. If you would like for us, Noah Rauhihi, William Pakapuka,' and Mete Kingi, assessors, to, come and see you, write to us. From Noah Eohahau.

(From the ' Taranalu Herald,1 March 17.) The almost monotonous character of the intelligence from the ctftnp during the week was varied yesterday by the unexpected announcement that the natives during the preceding night had erected two stockades, one on the land sold by Te Teira to the Crown, between the direct and junction roads leading to the river Waitara, and the other across the former road. It was known for some days that materials for such a purpose were being collected, and, taken in conjunction with the return of W. Kingi's emissary to the Waikato and other districts of the island, the erection of these pahs, of the existence of which we have since personally satisfied ourselves, would seem to'indicate .an.expectation of aid from without, even if it has not already arrived. Yesterday they removed the survey pegs, and otherwise endeavoured to efface the boundary line of Teira's land. We still cling to our frequently expressed opinion that the natives do not mean lighting'—their chances of success must seem small even to their) biassed minds ; and if we set the little gain that can possibly accrue against the almost certain ruin to those who take up arms in a bad cause against the Queen's authority, we need anticipate no extreme consequences from this last movement. On the other hand, the mind is at some loss to conjecture otherwise for the combination and perseverance with which works of the kind, after having been once demolished by thetroops, are again reared in the dead and silence of the night, and for the other acts of aggression referred to. A few hours must solve the question; For a more detailed account of affairs we refer to the journal of events which will be full of interest to our readers.

JOURNAL OP EVENTS SINCE SATURDAY, 10tH

MARCH, TO THE TIME OF PUBLICATION,

Saturday, March 10th.—Several native chiefs signed a declaration to. the fact that they swear, allegiance to the Queen, and a willingness at all times, if called upon by the Governor, to take arms in defence of her authority, and to protect the lives and pi'operties of Her Majesty's British subjects in Taranaki; that they will not in anyway assist or give information to her enemies. First on the list is Poharama or Moturoa, followed by Mahau, Waka, Ihaia, Wiete Ahoaho, Piripij, 'Manahi;-&c. One of these declarations has been sent to Omata and another to Bell -Block, and several signatures obtained. This is an excellent plan, and will separate the loyal from the disloyal natives in our neighbourhood, and render themselves amenable to the consequences should they at any .time break their oath. Permanent passes, with Eoyal Arms and V. E. printed on parchment, were given to a chosen few who have signed their names to the declaration. Nothing further heard of W. Kingi's movements—and nothing seen of his natives by parties going to and from the Camp. They are supposed to be building a strong position somewhere in the neighbourhood of Kairoa. At 4 p.m. H.M.S.S. Niger steamed for Manukau, to coal and bring more troops. His Excellency the Governor visited the "Bell and Hua stockade this afternoon.

Monday.—Some town people rode down to the Waitara yesterday, and reported that W. Kingi's party were about building another pah on the Devon road. This requires confirmation. Archdeacon Govett returned to-day from Taranaki, wh'ere-he had-been on the Sabbath, and brought a letter from some of the Taranaki natives asking the Governor to recommend the Tatariamaka settlers to return, arid promising to protect them ;.., that on second thoughts (which are generally the best) they would not join W. Kingi against the Governor— eating their own words in fact. There is, however, no dependence to be placed Upon these natives. They are evidently frightened into a show of submission, and all they said before as to beginning with Tataraimaka, then Omata, and finishing with, the town, was, it - seems, " waha," .■—• to use a native expression,—namely, — "mouth." In a letter written by Ta'mati Wiremu, to Poharama, mentioned before, they were going to do wonderful things, and nothing but an immediate descent upon the whites was to follow* any accession of military strength to the settlement. They see that the Government will not be-trifled'with, but are fully prepared to resist..any aggressive movement on the part of the natives. These remarks apply as well to many of the datives residing within the settled district, who before the arrival of his Excellency were wavering.and to use a native phrase, had " two hearts :" only Ihaia's and Teira's followers, together with Poharama and Mahau, were really depended iipon for loyalty and faithfulness. Had the Governor remained away and no more troops have been brought into the settlement, most of the natives, generally considered loyal and true, would have fallen out from our ranks and joined the rebels against us. But a strong determination and readiness of purpose on the part of the Government has done wonders. The mounted escort returned this evening from Waitara and reported all quiet.. Some of W. Kingi's natives with a flag of truce had applied at the camp on Sundayfor perniission to inter the body of an old man, the father of Heneri te Whao (Heneri was the man who led the women in resisting the survey), at their burial ground on the other side of the river, near its mouth. Permission was granted, and the natives (four including Heneri) are described as being very wretched and sullen, as they would not speak to any they met at the camp. The escort did not see any signs of the pah reported on Sunday about to be erected on the Devon road. ' .

Tuesday.—Militia and Volunteer parades going on as usual. -The/town is very effectually guarded during the nighfrj.. 25 men occupy a part of the iron store in Devon-street, and post sentinels up Currie-stre.et, and the 7 Carrington-road. Another picket is stationed in a building near Capt. Bulkeley's residence, who , post men at different points from the beach up to Dawson street, and by a cros3 street near to the Infant school room, where another picket is stationed. The barracks, commissariat, and harbour boats are similarly guarded. Mounted patrols also ride over the country during the night, and the Niger's bluejackets and marines, posted at different stations between Cracroft redoubt and Niger fort effectually prevent surprise eastward of the town. Several natives in town to-day with produce—all with passes. At a late hour this evening a note was received from Waitara, stating that a part of the land had been surveyed during the day, and without any signs of opposition—as no natives were seen. The admirable action taken by the Government, the promptness and determination with which everything {lias been carried by the Governor and Colonel commanding, seem to have silenced the natives. Prom this time and for ever the Maori in this province can never say anything more about " driving us into the sea." Maori influence is at ah. end. ■What a false and injurious policy was that of former Governors, when natives were succumbed to and actually paid to cease their misbehaviour. It is generally believed thatW. Kirigi's party are making preparations to build a pah near the Devon line, as cart-

loads of timber have been carried to the spot.; W. Kingi's brother 'Matin left him yesterday, being very " dark" about the troubles, and hns gone over to Tamati Tiraurau, llmia's brother,'at his pah licross the river Wuitara. Hapurona, chief of H uirnngi, a doublo dealing follow, has joined W. Kingi with his party. The authorities huvo requested the natives living along the" Dovon lino to burn the fern and tutu, in order to leave the country open to the camp; a judicious order, as it must in great measure prevent ambuscades along the road.

Wednesday.—News arrived in town this evening that the land had been completely surveyed without the slightest obstruction ; that not a single native had been seen. Wo do not know what to make of tin's—whether they are preparing for some decisive movement shortly, they being no doubt fully aware that the survey, was being proceeded with. There is little doubt that in any case the greater part of Waitara and the adjoining district will fall into the hands of the Government:—-a valuable country lying comparatively waste, but in our hands will amply repay the trouble, inconvenience, and expense the colony has already been put to. Things certainly are looking brighter, and after all it may prove a bloodless campaign. . Thursday.— The inhabitants last night were startled from their : sleep, by the report of small arms. Several of the Volunteers and Militia turned out under arms ; it seems that some loaded muskets were discharged across. the Waiwakai.ho, not however with the intention.to create alarm. From information derived from natives it is stated that W. Kingi-is waiting the return of the Ngatiruanui and Taranaki chiefs, at present on a visit to King Potatau. He expects they will return with instructions from his Majesty to assist him in defendirg his non-selling land policy. But in this he will find himself egregiously mistaken. ' . Friday.—Some natives from Motorua state to-day that Enoka, one of W. Kingi's brothers, arrived yesterday from Port Nicholson; that he had attended several meetings of the Ngntiruanui and Taranaki tribes on his' way up, and that they had decided upon joining W. Kingi. So much for the Taranaki address to his Excellency ! Only, part of Taranaki, however, at present agree to take part with W. Kingi. It will be perhaps interesting to state that W. Kingi is one of three brothers, children of a great Ngatiawa chief, named Rereta-whanga-whanga—their mother's name Te Kehu. Reretawhangawhanga and Te Kehu had but three children, boys, Wiremu Ringi,•'Matin and Enoka. Enoka arrived at the Ratapihipihi yesterday, and started for W. Kingi's pah this morning through the forest. Ratapihipihi natives, intimately related to Ngatiruanui, should be jealously watched. An open air meeting of the Taranaki Volunteers, after parade this morning, to nominate additional officers, the force" having inreasecl from 100 to 180 since the recent "disturbed sta^e of the Province. The result of the meeting, which had the previous sanction of the Governor, will be laid before his Excellency. "■ ••

A report reached town this morning that two stockades were erected last night by W. Kirigi. A correspondent, having considerable experience of natives, proceeded on a tour of inspection, and says that " during last night a part of W. Kingi's natives erected a strong pah-on the south-east corner of the block of land purchased from Teira. It was put up in the form of the letter L, with a double palisade and, covered galleries, musket proof; is capable of containing 150: men, and is at present occupied by about 70, supposed to be under the command of Hapurona and Hare; To-day they set fire to the fern, pulled up all the surveyor's stakes, and endeavoured to erase the boundary line; in consequence of which Teira set fire to W. Kingi's pah at the entrance of Waitara, which was burnt in a short time to the ground. Towards sunset they danced a war' dance, and their yelling-was distinctly heard at the camp about a mile from the spot." Considerable reinforce-, ments of men must have reached.VV. Kingi to build this pah in one night. Whether it is on Teira's or native land, can make no difference, as the object is clearly to menance her Majesty's forces stationed at Waitara. "Visitors going to the camp \Vill do well to proceed by the beach, as the natives are very much excited, and will certainly prevent their passing the pah. The mounted escort has been detained at the camp, and the remainder is under orders to march. Lieutenant Blake, E.N., with the rocket corps of the naval brigade, and two twenty-four pounder howitzers,. will proceed to Waitara during the.night. The natives will be ordered off the block, and if they refuse to• go, the troops will attack the pah early to-morrow. 11. p.m.—The.guns have just passed through the town, and the escort has left for Waitara.

Saturday, 9 a.m.—No news from Waitara,

-Late in the night, whilst the Harbor boats were busily engaged in taking on board the two howitzers and stores, a vessel appeared in the roadstead and fired several guns and rockets. No boat could be sent off until these engaged were despatched to Waitara on the application of the .Commander of the Forces. Lieut. Blake and several marines and blue jackets accompanied the expedition. The vessel was the Airedale, with a detatchment of the 65th regiment from Wellington/ consisting of 98 non-comissioned officers and men, and the following officers—Captain Turner, Lieut. Toker, Ensigns Pagan and White. Captain. Mairis, of the Eoyal Engineers, and three men, have also arrived. The troops were landed early this morning: and have taken up their quarters at Marshland Hill Barracks.

D. McLean, Esq., and Matene Te Whiwi, a chief from Otaki, are also passengers by the-Airedale.

[From the ' Herald's' Correspondent at Waitara,

March 17.] . During the past week the camp has presented a busy scene, large parties haying been daily employed in cutting lines and burning the fern in every direction, others in throwing down a portion of the old entrenchment, and paving the reduced area of the camp. A lofty flagstaff has been erected, and a palisade erected round three sides of the redoubt. Numerous wells have been dug round the swamp, and good water obtained. The friendly natives have brought in supplies of fish, onions, cabbages," and peaches ; and were it not for the insufferable dust, which the slightest, breeze raises in clouds, and which penetrates everywhere, powdering one's hair, blinding one's eyes, and peppering one's food, one might fare worse thati at Pukekohe. On Wednesday, an assistant surveyor, accompanied by a party of natives, cut the boundary of Teira's block ; the troops were at hand to protect them, but not the shadow of an enemy was to be seen. The Provincial Government, in its usual dosy way, delayed the survey until Wednesday, and the troops are not indebted to it for meeting with no obstruction. Here we have been for years urging Governors to purchase the Waitara district ; months of idle time in the Survey Office have intervened, and when the time of action comes, reliable maps of the district have to be prepared ; whereas, under proper management, dozens of copies made by the cadets should have been in the office. ' The opening of the country by the military lines alone preventedthe^ereotion of another stockade, and the cutting the boundary line without a skirmish. The escort fire the fern every return trip from Waitara, being ordered to proceed to Waitara, when practicable, by the beach ; a most foolish arrangement, by the by, should native hostilities ensue, inasmuch as an ambush at the Puketapu pah, in the thick bush, within easy range of high water mark, could cut it off without the force at the Bell blockhouse knowing it • whereas, if a proper look-out be kept from one of the towers at that station, the escort can be kept in view -until within a short distance of the camp. It should be borne in mind that Puketapu pah lias a direct; Une of road running from the beach to one of Wiremu Kihgi's strongholds (Mataitawa) near the. Tima. I have omitted to mention the appearance oi; a

paper called the • Gore Browne Redoubt Observer ;' the author will be at once recognized by the motto prefixed and his florid diction ; as it ia intended for publication, the public will best judge of its peculiar merit. Last evening rumours reached the camp that two pahs would be erected during the night, and this morning we hear that the report was not unfounded—two stockades having been put up, one near or across the road, and another larger ono near the junction of-the Huirangi and Mamaku roads.