OLD AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9027, 4 November 1892, Page 6

OLD AUCKLAND.

AN EPISODE IN EARLS COLONISATION. Mr. E. M. Williams, in conversing with a Herald representative over the history of the Olden Time related the following incident which took place in 1840 :— " Not long after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, Mr. Shortland was nearly involving the Government in hostilities. On the 30th of March, 1840, a European shepherd (Patrick Roony) in Mr. Williams' employ had been murdered at Puketona by a native (Kihi), who was discovered and delivered up by the natives to the authorities at Kororareka. Mr. Shorthand was in the act of a magisterial examination of the charge.against this man in the church, Mr. H. T. Kemp noting as interpreter, and Mr. Williams being present as one of the witnesses. During the examination, Haratua, at the head of about three hundred natives under arms, landed from Waitangi, and made a rush towards the church, saluting the Court with the war dance. He demanded that the prisoner should be handed over to them that they might dispatch him at once, expressing his indignation that the shepherd employed by his pakcha should have been so brutally murdered. This demonstration was made in support of the Government, though carried out in original Maori style. Haratua had acted in Mr. Williams' behalf from the first, for as soon as he received intelligence of the murder late in the evening, he with ten armed men accompanied that gentleman to Puketona, where, at midnight, and by torchlight the party and Mr. Williams found the body of the unfortunate man. "Seeing the consternation produced in the in the Church, Mr. Williams went out to the natives, and told them that having made a display of their zeal they had bettor retire and leave the authorities to deal with the prisoner. To this they at once agreed, and drew off to their canoes at the lower end of the beach, whither he accompanied them. " While with them it became known, much to the surprise of all, that Mr. Shortland had sent to Okiato for the troops. Mr. Williams suggested to the natives the propriety of embarking, but Haratua replied, ' What! and be called cowards. No, if he has sent for the soldiers we will remain and see what lie intends to do; we are three hundred here to-day, but if a shot is fired, ho will have to meet thousands next week.' " After much delay, the troops, about 80 or 100 in number, of the 80th Regiment, commanded by Major Bunbury, were landed and drawn up with loaded muskets at the upper end of the beach. Mr. Williams then went and asked Mr. Kemp to go with him to wait upon Mr. Shortland and explain that the natives had no hostile intentions, having come over to make a public display of their abhorrence of the deed. Mr. Shortland, in a passion, replied, ' I will not bo dictated to by anyone ; go and tell those natives that if they do not lay down their arms at once I will fire upon them.' He returned to the natives, not giving Mr. Shortland's message, but explained in a quiet way that it was ignorance of Maori custom on his part that made him act as he had done, that having seen the soldiers land, they had better move off at once, and he would remain with them till they had embarked. The natives at once complied, taking their arms with them. Had a shot been fired, the whole of Ngapuhi would have risen to avenge what they would have called a kohuru on the part of the Government. " Kihi was committed for trial, bub sickened and died before the trial came on."