WANGANUI.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 14, 17 June 1863, Page 6

WANGANUI.

We extract the following from the " Wanganui Chronicle " of the 4th instant:— The Natives. —After the intelligence of the death of Aropeta and Horomona was received, it was rumoured in town that Pehi had started for Taranaki with all the men he could muster. We abstained from mentioning this, because we believe such conduct extremely unlikely on the part of one, who, though a staunch Kingite, has always borne a high character for fair and open dealing. On Thursday afternoon letters were received from him by the Resident Magistrate, stating that he had been informed of the rumour, which was utterly groundless; and that instead of going, or sending, or intending to do so, he considered Aropeta's death as utu for his folly in joining in a war that did not concern him. The Wat to Goveen the Maories.— On Friday there was some excitement on account of a large number of natives behaving in a very uproarious manner at the native Magistrate's house. It appears that when the Hawke's Bay natives lately passed here, they brought four canisters of powder to present to the Ngatiruanui and Ngaraura, as a token that though taking no active part in the contest at Tataraimaka, their hearts were with the rebels, who might count on further help from them if necessary. Mr. White, learning this, forbade them to carry the powder through here, and it was left in charge of some of the Putiki natives. Last week the Waitotara assessor Rio went without leave to a native meeting at Rangitikei, and on his return was told by Mr. White that if he did such a thing again his pay would be stopped. Rio answered saucily that he did not care for the pay, and that he was going next day to carry the powder to Waitotara. Mr. White told him that the law forbade any man having more than 1 lb. of powder, or even that without a permit; and to prevent Rio's getting it, he sent an order to the natives in whose charge it was, to bring it to him. One of them came next morning, and represented that after consulting others, he did not feel at liberty to give it up; on which Mr. White read him a severe lecture, and ordered him to give it to his messenger, whom he sent to Putiki with the Maori, 1 desiring that the powder should be in his hands within half an hour. The native then pointed out the powder to the messenger, who at once brought it into town, whither in a few minutes it was followed by a mob of Maories headed by Rio, who announced that he had come to talk about the powder. Mr. White said " the talk was ended," and locked up the powder. The natives then grew noisy, and several timid people begged Mr. White to give up the canisters, lest it should lead to a disturbance. Mr. White of course refused, insisting that there would be greater risk of disturbance in so doing than in retaining it, which he declared he would do till ordered by Government to hand it over. He then gave the natives a regular setting down, comparing them to spoiled children, and asking how they had been treated, and what they took him for, that they should dare to act in such away. The matter ended by the natives going away completely humbled; and next day Epiha, who has been a sort of mainspring of the Kingites on this river, and at whose instigation the runanga house Kaiwaiki was erected, formally made his submission to the Queen's authority, and placed his two sons at Putiki as a sort of hostage for his loyalty.