NATIVES.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 47, 25 April 1846, Page 2

NATIVES.

In the native war, about one month since, between the Ngatitipa and the Ngatipou tribes, several chiefs and their relatives were slain, on both sides, and among the allies of the latter tribe, —the Ngatiteata,'—Te Ropiha, a nephew of Kawau, chief of the Ngatiwatua tribe, at present resident at Hokao, and Orakei, — was killed. During - the last fortnight, the Ngatiwatua went to Manukao, intending to cross the harbour to the ground where the battle was fought, in order, as they declared, merely to fetch the body of their relative, and convey it to Orakei for interment. The Waikato tribes of Ngatitipa, Ngatimahuta, Ngatitamaoho, &c., entertained opinions that the visit of the Ngatiwatua was hostile, and to de-

mand utu, or satisfaction for the death of Te Ropiha, and they assembled in numbers., on the southern shore o t f Manukao, and threatened that if the Ngatiwatuas attempted to cross, that they would meet them midway, in the harbour, and destroy them. By the persuasion of Wetere and Jabez Bunting, the Ngatiwatuas desisted from their purpose, and leaving their large war canoes on the beach, near Oneunga, as pledge of their desire apparently, to preserve peace and friendly connexion with the Waikato tribes, they departed for Orakei and Hokao. But on their return, in revenge for the conduct of the Waikato tribes, they placed a tapu, on all the roads, leading from the interior, through their district, into Auckland. The Waikato tribes, during the last week hearing of the scarcity of pork in Auckland* have driven in numbers of pigs. On their arrival at the spot under tapu, three pigs were taken by the Ngatiwatua, as penalty for breaking the tapu. The Waikato, enraged at this conduct, did not, by force, resist the seizure of the pigs; but have returned to their own country, threatening vengeance, by immediate return with all their friends,-to expel the Ngatiwatua tribe wholly from their present abode to Kaipara. Orakei and Hokao are not the rightful inheritance of the Ngatiwatua, but they dwell there by sufferance from Te Wherowero, and other Waikato chiefs. The occupation of that valuable spot so near the town of Auckland, has long been the jealous envy of the Waikato people, and now that they have been so insulted, as to furnish plausible plea for possession of their lands,there is no doubt whatever, but they will promptly avail themselves of it. The elder chiefs of the Ngatiwatua,— Kawau, Tinana, Kaipuke, &c., disclaim any participation in laying on the tapu, ascribing it to the younger chiefs, and they have appealed to Te Whero-whero, to interfere, and prevent hostile collision* However desirous the latter sensible, peaceable chief may be, to promote such result,, we very much doubt, whether he will be able to restrain the restless, warlike spirits of Young New Zealand.