NATIVE OUTRAGES.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 151, 25 January 1845, Page 186

NATIVE OUTRAGES.

About ten miles north of the town of Nelson, in the district Suburban North, lies a small valley, containing between four and five hundred acres of land, which has been •urveyed and allotted as part of the accommodation land of the settlement. It is known in Nelson by the name of the Happy Valley, being a very picturesque and attractive spot. It is distinctly included in the plan of the settlement, confirmed by Mr. Commissioner Spun at the late sitting

of the Court of Land Claims in Nelson, and a copy of which, bearing the signatures of the Commissioner, of the Native Protector Mr. Clarke, and the New Zealand Company's Agent, was left with the latter, gentleman for the purpose of identifying the. district awarded to the Company and preventing any dispute with the natives. """"- No part of the Happy Valley was cultivated or occupied by the natives at the period of the formation of tbe settlement ; and though previously to the Commissioner's award they had asserted a claim to a portion of it at the northern extremity, they did not in any way attempt to use or occupy it. The natives who made this claim reside in a pa on the sea coast, four or five miles north of the valley, and separated from it by a thick forest of that extent. The chief of the tribe is Paramatta, a native of small influence, in consequence of his having been taken prisoner and kept as a slave for many years by Tuawaike (Bloody Jack), of Otago, as his well-cropped years sufficiently attest. We understand that he has but recently been restored to the privileges of chieftainship, and his followers are neither many in number nor formidable in character. ■ When the Commissioner of Land Claims held his court in Nelson, Paramatta, as well as the other principal chiefs in Blind Bay, spent several days in the town, and he eventually received a share of the gratuity which, with the concurrence of the Commissioner, was distributed among the different tribes from whom the land had been originally purchased by the Company's agents. As an indication of Paramatta's disposition, it may be mentioned that, at the time referred to, he asserted a claim to the Waimea district, to which, according to the united testimony of all the natives, he had no right whatever, and which lies quite remote and distinct from his own locality at Wakapuaka. A few weeks ago Paramatta crossed the Straits, to pay a visit to some of the Waikato tribe in the Northern Island ; and on Tuesday the 14th instant he returned to this settlement, accompanied by a few Waikatoes and some of Jhis own tribe. The party landed hetween Nelson and the Happy Valley, and immediately proceeded to the latter, where they visited all the settlers located there, informing them that they must quit the land immediately, or that they (the natives) would destroy their houses and " make ki" of (that is, eat) the inhabitants. Paramatta himself was exceedingly violent, flourishing his tomahawk over the heads of those he addressed, and using the usual ferocious gestures displayed by natives when they "meditate bloodshed. Towards evening the party quitted the valley and came down to the farm of Mr. Jollie, about a mile nearer Nelson, where they lighted fires close to his thatched buildings land ripe corn ; and after threatening him to tbe same effect as the settlers in the valley, and a great disturbance till four o'clock in the morning, they left him with a promise of an iearly return. j On the following day, a formal complaint having been made by the injured settlers, the (police magistrate (Mr. Sinclair), accompanied {by Mr. Tinline as interpreter, went to the Happy tValley, whence he sent for Paramatta, who came jattended by about 18 natives armed with tomahawks. A long conversation ensued, in which Paramatta asserted that the valley was his, that he would drive the settlers out of it, and serve the police magistrate and his interpreter as Rauparaha served Mr. Thompson and Brooks at the Wairau. At last, however, he agreed to refrain for a fortnight, in order to enable the police magistrate to procure such evidence of the sale and Commissioner's award as he had preferred to, and the police magistrate and interpreter returned to Nelson late in the evening. I Scarcely, however, was his back turned when Paramatta recommenced his aggressions, became much more violent than before, personally assaulted some of the settlers, and at last broke into the house of one named Grahame and robbed him of a quantity of flour, after which he left the valley, saying that he would return on Monday and destroy everything. After leaving Grahame's, he burned a stockyard belonging to a cattle-keeper in the valley, and a quantity of shingles which had been cut and piled in the wood.

On Saturday, the settlers having renewed their complaints and offered evidence of the above-recorded felonies, the police magistrate vailed a public meeting, over which he presided, frad. which was attended by several of the principal settlers, among others, Dr. Monro, J.P., and, Mr. Valle, J.P. It was proposed, and agreed to by the magistrates and settlers present, that the police magistrate should on the following Mondty proceed to the valley, protected by a well armed force of volunteers, for the purpose of showing Paramatta the plan signed by Mr. Commissioner Spain and the protector, and ivarning him against any further breaches of the law.

On Sunday morning alarming rumours were afloat of the savages having committed more <ierious aggressions during the previous night, but they fortunately proved untrue. They led, however, to the calling of another public meeting by tbe police magistrate, preceded by a private meeting of justices of the peace, at which were present the police magistrate, Dr. Monro, *md Mr. Valle'. After a long consultation, the police magistrate announced to the public meet>ag that the magistrates had decided not to take Any step towards checking the aggression, ext*pt to, write to Paramatta, desiring him to come ti> Nelion and see the plan ; and also to write to Wellington for military protection. We untfetatsuul that the resolution of the justices was iioA: concurred in by Dr. Monro, though in accordance with official etiquette he appeared on the bench when it was promulgated by the majority from which he dissented. Thenmnouncement of this change of purpoie,

on behalf of the police magistrate, was viewed with great dissatisfaction by the settlers ; and on the following morning (Monday) a public meeting was held on the cricket-ground, numerously and very respectably attended, when the settlers expressed their opinion that the Government had on this, as on every previous occasion where the natives were concerned, forsaken its duty to the settlers ; that the latter were bound, therefore, to protect themselves; and that immediate steps should be taken to defend the settlement against the aggressions of Paramatta. It was then determined that the New Zealand Company's principal surveyor should, on the following day, proceed to the valley and cut a broad line of demarkation across it, in exact accordance with the Commissioner's approved plan; that he should be accompanied by an armed volunteer force under the command of the Company's Resident Agent, which should not leave the ground till the line was finished — and that Paramatta should be invited to inspect the line and the plan, and warned against any future aggressions.

The rest of Monday was spent in making preparations, and in the evening an armed muster was held, when a proclamation, warning the settlers against the step they were taking, issued by the police magistrate, was read by the chief constable, and received with much good humour and many hisses. On Tuesday morning, the volunteers assembled at five, a.m., and proceeded to the valley, to the number of a hundred. Among them we observed Mr. Fox, the Company's agent, Dr. Monro, J.P., Messrs. J. Tytler, E. W. Stafford, A. Domett, A. M'Donald (of the j bank), R. Newcome, J. Poynter, C. B. Brewer, A. Macshane, J. Saxton, W. Shepherd, W. O. Cautley, R. Phelps, C. Heaphy, C. Elliott, C. Empson, F. Jollie, H. Martin, junior, Barnicoat, Benoit, Kelling, Duffy, Budge, Christie, Bishop, BramweU, Hart, &c. &c. The whole were thoroughly armed and provided with ammunition, and the march was effected with the greatest order and regularity. On arriving at the northern boundary of the valley, Mr. Stephens, with a number of men, immediately proceeded to cut the proposed line, the armed volunteers having been stationed so as to cover the party during their employment. On the previous evening, the Rev. Messrs. Reay and Butt, the Church of England clergymen and missionaries in the settlement, bad, with a promptitude which does them much honour, volunteered to go to Paramatta's pa by sea, for the purpose of offering him safe conduct, and endeavouring to persuade him to inspect the line and plan. This, however, they were unable to succeed in. They found him sulky and suspicious, and equally unwilling to obey the letter of the police magistrate (which he had received), inviting him to Nelson. Mr. Reay, therefore, leaving Mr. Butt at the pa as a security that no violence should be attempted against Paramatta, proceeded to meet the party in the valley, which he reached shortly after the line was commenced.

It was considered very important, if it could be accomplished, that Paramatta should personally inspect the plan, and be cautioned against a repetition of his illegal acts ; and it was proposed, on hearing Mr. Reay's report, that the party should immediately proceed to his pa. Mr. Reay, however, declined acting as the guide of an armed party, and it was not considered prudent to trust to the faithlessness of the savage by visiting him unarmed. As the road is difficult and intricate, and no other guide could be procured, the intention was therefore necessarily abandoned, and Mr. Reay returned to the pa himself, taking the plan for Paramatta's information, and also several printed notices issued by the Company's agent (which had been kindly translated into the native language by the Rev. Mr. Butt), informing him that the line had been cut, warning him against any further disturbances, and telling him that, if they were repeated, the white men would come and take him and bring him to be tried by the Queen's law. We understand that Paramatta would not look at the plan, but it was shown to the other natives, and the printed notices distributed among them. Three young natives who had accompanied Mr. Reay ateo reported to their friends what they had seen in the valley. Paramatta also told Mr. Reay that he believed the settlement of the land claims was a fraud, because after they had been settled in the Hutt and elsewhere, further payments had been made to the natives concerned by the Governor, in spite of Mr. Spain's and Mr. Clarke's decisions. He therefore believed it was all a cheat on the natives.

The line having been completed, the party returned to Nelson in the same excellent order in which they had left it in the morning, and were dismissed a little after five o'clock, having been twelve hours under arms, and marched about twenty-six miles in the course of the day. Before dispersion, nearly the whole party enrolled their names as volunteers, to meet and drill at stated times, and to hold themselves prepared on every occasion to afford the settlement that protection which the dastardly conduct of the Government denies to the white inhabitants of New Zealand. And some such step the settlers must resort to, or the sooner they abandon the settlement and all their investments in it the better. It is twelve months, all but a ftv/ days, since Captain Fitzßoy has shown himself among us ; no soldier has ever been in Nelson ; once a man-of-war (the Hazard) has paid us a visit of two days, by way of spending time while the Governor was ashore at Taranaki, the Captain having refused to anchor there ; five constables, and a police magistrate in a blue livery, are all the protection we have ; and, on the very first alarm, that gentleman declines assisting the settlers except by a flourish of his pen, while they are driven off their lands and their crops destroyed within ten miles of the town. It is the general opinion that the demonitra-

tion made on this occasion will prevent Paramatta from again disturbing the settlers ; and as he is the only native in Blind Bay who shows any inclination to be troublesome, we hope that for the future we shall be allowed to prosecute our peaceful enterprises in security. At all events, the settlers are determined not to be bullied by the savages at their own doors, but to protect themselves to their best ability. One Secretary of State after another has, for five years past, encouraged the formation of a militia ; and Lord Stanley at last sent out express instructions to Governor Fitzßoy to lay a bill before the Legislature to organise one ; the bill he was obliged to bring in, but, with his nominees, he scoffed it under the table : a parliamentary committee has also most strongly urged the immediate formation of such a force. We doubt not, then, that shortly we shall have it; but, in the meantime, with all this direct sanction from the highest authorities, let us protect ourselves by the formation of a volunteer force, however distasteful to the lowest authorities it may be.