WANGANUI.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 60, 25 July 1846, Page 3

WANGANU I.

"The Government Brig Victoria, Captain Richard*, arrived in port on Sunday morning last from Nelson and Wangauui, with Ensign Symonds of the 99th regt., private Secretary to his Excellency Capt. Grey, and Mr. Willis as passengers, the Commissioners appointed to settle the question of payment for the Wanganui district. It appears that, at first, the natives w ere anxious to receive the amount of money awarded by Mr. Commissioner Spain as an equivalent for the land required by the purchasers from the New Zealand Company. However the Wanganui natives soon began to evince adispo&ition so often shown by their countrymen, of a desire to sell the ground, but reserving to themselves the right of re-appropriating any portions of the land they might afterwards take a fancy to. They made the most exoibitant demand for reserves, and picked out for such the whole, or the greater portion, of the wooded patches in the districts. During the discussion, intelligence arrived in Wanganui of the late attack on the llutt post, and that circumstances changed the aspect of affairs materially. On hearing the news, the natives declined to sell the land, and conducted themselves in such a manner as to lead te the belief that they were going to take the money by force. In consequence of some information, Mr. Symonds caused the money to be conveyed, secretly, on board the Government brig, and after another fruitless attempt to come to terms with the natives, left the district. The question remains thu<i as unsettled as ever, and we can see no piobability of bringing the maories to reason, but by the use of force. — Wellington Independant, June 10, 1846. Our contemporary has correctly stated some of the facts connected witli the Wanganui question j but he does not appear to be in possession of all the citcumstancesofthe casej we will, therefore, endeavour to throw a little additional light upon this subject, Mr. E. J. Wakefield, who was deputed by his uncle to effect the original purchase of thedistrict of Wanganui, confined his negociations, principally, to a chief of secondary rank and influence, who, it appears, had about as much right to sell the whole of Wanganui, as we have to sell the \"Rooms" in Broad Street Buildings. The claims of the dissentient natives might have been easily satisfied during theyearsof 1842—3, but it required a long period to convince the unwilling Company, and its Agents, that it would be absolutely necessary for them" to dub up." During this interval, as might have been expected, the unsatisfied claimants were increasing their demands. In April or May 1844, Mr. Commissioner Spain awarded them £1,000, besides making a reservation of certain load lilies for their use. This sum being rejected, Mr.Spain proposed, with Colonel Wakefield's consent, to place it at the disposal of the Local Government, to be invested for the benefit of the recusant natives in any way the Governor might be pleased to direct ; it being understood, that the Commissioners award was to be considered final, and absolute. Accordingly, the natives were informed of tlm decision ; and the money was returned pro tern, to the Colonel 1 * strong box for safe custod).

Shortly afterwards, the natives thought better of their rejection of those offers ; aud preferring the handling of the money to the uncertain prospect of future advantages to be derived from its investment by the Government, they wrote to Mr. Spain, signifying their readiness to accept the awarded compensation. But Jo and beho Id, when the cash was wanted, it had disappeared ; and nothing remained in its place but some doubtful bills, di awn by the Colonel, upon the forlorn hope of the tottering ctedit of the Broad Street "Dictators!" An awkward explanation was the inevitable consequence; and this, so far from satisfying the natives, only increased their dogged obstinacy $ and, (which is worse still), created a suspicion in their minds that the Government was playing them false. In November or December, 1845, an opening presented itself for resuming negociations. Mr. Symonds proceeded to Wanganui, and found the natives, ready to accept the £1,000, but on condition of reserving several localities in addition to those specified in the award of Mr. Spain. The present disposition of the natives of Wanganui is no new freak— and Mr. Symonds on his recent visit was fully ptepated to expect additional stipulations respecting the reserves ; or at least, he had been given to understand that they had never agreed to relinquish the whole of their claims for the su n awarded by Mr. Spain, since the disappointment inflicted upon them by the unaccountable disappearance of the money.