PORT NICHOLSON.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 171, 14 June 1845, Page 57

PORT NICHOLSON.

We received, by the Bandicoot, the Spectator and Independent to the 7th instant. Up to that date no intelligence had been received from Auckland later than the end of April ; and it is evident that considerable anxiety existed regarding, events in the north, as it is felt they cannot fail to have a material influence on the settlement of the question of the Hutt. Rauparaha has returned to Poritua ; and we have heard that he has since sent a message to Major Richmond, to the effect that he considers there is land enough in the Hutt for both natives and Europeans ; and advises his honour to allow things to remain as they are ! Ranghiaiata has allied himself with the intruding natives, and other chiefs are said to have promised their assistance if they are molested. It is certain that the question assumes new difficulties every day; and we glean from the correspondents of our contemporaries, that many of the settlers, who, at one time, were very warlike, now shrink from the consequences which may flow from an open, rupture between the races. All that can be done for the defence of the town is being attempted. Two hundred of the inhabitants have enrolled themselves voluntarily as a militia ; some for the preiod of twentyeight days, others for three months; and Major Richmond states in a notice, which, appeared on Saturday last, that at the expi« ration of the time for which those now%?rt-

ing have volunteered, he shall call out a like number from tne list to serve twenty-eight days, unless the required number is again made Up by volunteers. The pay is the same as that of the line; hut those who choose to work on the batteries and fortifications, between drill hours, receive lOd. a day extra. The hours of drill are eight in the morning, and four in the afternoon-; and a patrol is made in the fear of the town by a portion of each company, every morning, from five to seven o'clock, to guard against an early surprise. Instructions have been published as to the position the troops and militia are to take up in the event of an alarm. A cavalry company has also been formed.

The Spectator has commenced publishing a summary of the evidence taken before the Committee of the House of Commons last session, which we intend to republish.

The newly-appointed police magistrate, Mr. St. Hill, has commenced his career by showing how highly qualified he is for his office. We extract the following from a letter of Mr. Waters, to the Editor of the Independent'. —

" One day last week, a native entered a shop belonging to me, on the beach ; and, during my absence, bought a blanket from my brother. Sometime afterwards, the native came back with the blanket, and demanded to have the money returned ; which, as a matter of course, was refused. Upon this, the native became obstreperous, and, thinking to intimidate, threatened to go to Mr. St. Hill, who (as he remarked) would compel my brother to take the blanket again and return the utu. The Maori departed, but presently arrived with Footer, a constable, who told my brother that Mr. St. Hill had sent him with orders to pet back the money for the native; and further, that if it was not given up, Mr. St. Hill would send ti, summons, and soon force Mm to do so! My brother, not thinking of what he was about, returned the money, and placed the blanket again in the shop, after it had been in the Maori's possession some time. "Now, Mr. Editor, I wish through your columns to ask one or two questions. Are the settlers in New Zealand under the boasted laws of the mother-country? Or, are they at the mercy of Jack-in-offlce this, and Bob-in-office that ? And what right, what shadow of justice, can excuse this officious intermeddling of a Government hireling in the business and pursuits of the inhabitants ? And would Mr. St. Hill have been so extremely sensitive and authoritative, had the party who desired to have his money returned, after making a fair and equivalent purchase, been a white man ? No ! this rara avis would have answered, with an expression truly magniloquent, ' Come, fellow, begone about your business; don't you know that a bargain is a bargain.' For the sake of example, I will reverse the case. Mr. St. Hill buys some firewood from a native. The Maori comes to me and says, ' I want the utu back again.' Acting on Mr. St. Hill's gentlemanly conduct, I should send Jack Stiles to him, threatening all the pains of Chancery unless the cash was returned to the native."

The Independent hat published engravings of the stockade and block-house in the Hutt. the town of Kororarika previous to its destruction, the camps of Nene and Heki, as they existed before the late fight, and a portrait of Rauparaha. The execution of these engravings is somewhat rough ; but they serve to convey an idea of what they are intended to represent. We subjoin a few extracts ; — Discontinuance of Overland Mail. —We are sorry to learn that after next Monday the overland mails between Wellington, Petre, New Plymouth, and Auckland, are to be discontinued, on account of the expense. The overland mail to Auckland is of little conse* quence ; they are not connected with the seat of Government in the way of trade ; and this is the most difficult and expensive part of the route : but the discontinuance of the communication between the Company's settlements will be of serious inconvenience to the settlers at Petre and New Plymouth, who are accustomed to send to their agents in Wellington by the overland mail, orders for the goods they 6tand in need of; and when these are sufficient to freight a small coasting vessel, they are forwarded to their destination. By discontinuing the overland mail, the communication between these settlements becomes uncertain and irregular, and at length more unfrequent; positive injury is inflicted on the coasting trade, and a great discouragement thrown in the way of the progress of these settlements; and they have enough, Heaven knows, to contend against already. We are sure this step must have been determined upon without due consideration; and we should hope that a proper remonstrance to the head of the Post-office department at Auckland, signed by the merchants and settlers of this port, would induce him to place the means of communication on its old footing. — Spectator, May 24.

Rauparaha. — On Friday, Rauparaha returned to Porirua crest-fallen ; his interference in the Hutt question having proved completely ineffectual. He has been slighted and insulted by E Kuri and the intruding natives in his own person and in that of his son, in a manner that, a few yean since, nothing but the deepest New Zealand revenge could have atoned for, in the indiscriminate slaughter of the offenders, on whose bodies the merciless victors would have banquetted, at once satiating their horrid appetites and glutting their inhuman passions with

vengeance to repletion. On his departure, Ranghiaiata, with his-followers, joined E Kuri at the'pa, by whom he was welcomed under his war name of Mokau. His followers were all armed, having only concealed their arms on their first arrival. On Saturday, these natives, to the number of 300, executed a war dance on the arrival of the Ngatikahunis, from whom they received the most friendly assurances. Ranghiaiata has gone over to Porirua to attend the great feast there, at which all the principal chiefs along the coast are to assemble, including those from Wairarapa, to decide on the policy to be pursued towards the Pakeha. He afterwards intends to return to the Hutt, and assist the intruders in maintaining their position; and declares nothing but force will induce them to give up possession of the disputed district. — Ibid. Whea"\ — We are informed that the natives of Petoni have harvested twenty-fire acres of wheat this season, which have averaged twentyfive bushels per acre, the whole of which they are keeping for seed. — Ibid. Militia. — We learn that instructions have been received from Auckland, to call out the militia to the extent of 200 men. The following is said to be the list of officers : — Major in Command, M. Richmond; Captains — W. Wakefield, D. S. Durie, G. Compton, D. Dorset; Lieutenants — Charles Sharp, Hugh Ross, Robert Park, James Watt ; Ensigns — N. Levin, George Hunter, George Moore, E. Abbott; Aid-de-camp —S. E. Grimstone; QuarterMaster — A. Hornbrook; Adjutant— A. E. Macdonogh. — Ibid. At the weekly parade, on Wednesday, Adjutant Macdonogh read the following memorandum :—": — " Wellington, 21st May, 1845. The captains of the Wellington militia are requested to meet on Saturday, the 24th instant, at the residence of Colonel Wakefield, between the hours of twelve and one, p.m., for the purpose of selecting the lieutenants and -ensigns of their respective companies. The dress of the militia for the present will be— blue caps, blue woollen shirts, dark trowsers, black belts. After these companies are formed, each captain will send in the names of three of the volunteer militiamen whom he considers competent to be appointed non-commissioned officers, namely, one as sergeant, and two as corporals. — Ibid."

Sugar and Coffkb. — These two useful articles are now becoming very scarce, and cannot be obtained except at exorbitant prices. We have often heard it remarked that considering our proximity to the markets, it is a wonder such necessary luxuries should become so scarce and dear. — Independent, May 31. New Zealand Casks. — We are informed that Captain Irving, of the whaling barque Caernarvon, has been purchasing largely of casks made from New Zealand staves. We are convinced that our casks only want to be made known to find quick and paying markets for the sale of them. — Ibid.

As many parties are constantly arriving from the coast, desirous of giving information to the residents in the town, relative to the conduct of the- natives, and the situation of their white brethren, it is proposed that every Thursday evening a kind of meeting should take place at the Aurora Tavern, at about seven o'clock. This will be found a useful means of disseminating any matter of importance to the settlement, and will tend to keep alive a feeling of interest, on the part of the inhabitants of the town, with their countrymen, who may be termed to be in the "claws of the savages." — Ibid, May 28. The schooner Sarah Jane arrived from the Kai Koras on Saturday. By her we learn that the stations there have been very successful, Bell's party having secured four whales, and Fyfe's party having four safe, and one towing in when the schooner left. Bell's party had captured six whales, but they unfortunately lost two from the anchors, which drifted out to sea. Ibid, June 4.

The Hobart Town papers received by the ' Bandicoot are chiefly occupied with New Zealand news, furnished by the schooner Sir John Franklin, which arrived there from Auckland on the 7th May, with forty passengers on board ; and furnishing dates from the north to the 12th of April. From an advertisement in the Hobart Town Courier, we gather that active sympathy is evinced for the Bay of Islands refugees, and that subscriptions are on foot for their relief. Privately, we have been informed that £5,000 have been subscribed in behalf of that destitute but innocent body. It is stated that his Excellency Sir Eardley Wilmot headed a subscription list with the generous donation of £50, and that the list contained numerous sums of £20 and £30 against the names of individuals. — Ibid.