MARLBOROUGH.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 295, 17 August 1860, Page 3

MARLBOROUGH.

( From the Marlborough Press, August 4 and 11.) A. rumor having gone abroad that it was the intention of the Government to send soldiers into the Wairau, ths Maories have been in a very unsettled state, and on Thursday last, a body of about thirty natives waited upon the Resident Magistrate and the Rev. Mr. Butt, at the Courthouse, Blenheim, to inquire into the truth of the rumor, and to express their feelings with regard to the present state of affairs. The Magistrate and Mr. Butt were addressed by Noah and Pukekowhatu, Ngatiawa chiefs; Kanea, Enooha and Joshua, Rangitani chiefs. The tone of all their speeches was of the most friendly and pacific character, expressing a wish to live undef" the shelter of English laws and the protection of the Q,ueen and Governor. Pukekowhatu, an aged chief, in particular, was most emphatic in his language. He said, "I am chief of Motueka and Titapu; all my tribe will do as I say; we wish to live peaceably and quietly under the English law; to be able to go peacably to visit our friends, to hold our feasts, and to bury our dead. We have no feeling in common with W. King, we do not wish to have anything to do with him. We wish every man to attend to his own business.*' Noah, in the course of his remarks, said, " We have heard that soldiers are coming to drive us from our lands. It has filled us with grief. You have heard what we have said, do not believe any rumors that may be spread abroad against us. We come to you that you may be a roof to us, and that we may dwell under your shadow. If the Pakeha thinks we are going to fight with him, you can tell them it is false. You see how peaceably disposed we are. There is but one thought at Massacre Bay, Motueka, Wakapuaka, Pelorus, Queen Charlotte's Sound, Wairau, and the Kaikoras, and that is, for peace. We are sowing wheat for our support, that does not look as if we thought of war.'* The Resident Magistrate then addressed them, aud in the course of his remarks, said, " I am glad you have come to me to day, you have acted like .Englishmen. You heard a rumor of soldiers coming, and instead of brooding over it and nursing feelings of animosity or revenge, you come boldly to an officer of the Government to hear the truth. If you always do this, and seek the protection of the law, there will be no fear of fighting between the white man and the Maori. What you have heard is quite false, there is no intention of sending soldiers among you. You need have no fear so long as you carry out the principles and feelings you profess. There are good and bad men of all races and colors. Good white men and bad white men, good Maories and bad Maories. The Queen and the Governor know no, difference between white man and Maori; so long as they act rightly they will be protected by the law, but if they do badly, whether white man or Maori, they will be punished." The meeting then dispersed, the Maories expressing great satisfaction at what they had heard. The rumor of soldiers coming to the district appears to have arisen from a confusion of words, or rather from their mis-conception. The natives for Soldier and Horse sounds very nearly alike, and the Provincial Government being about to place a ferry boat on the Wairau river, to carry horses, the natives got it into their heads that it was for the passage of soldiers—hence the alarm. The following letter has been forwarded to us for publication, at the request of the natives in Waipapa:— . Waipapa, July 23, 1860. Friend, Salutation. This is our word; listen to us, you and the Governor. We do not approve of the conduct of William King. _It is very bad conduct; conduct that is disturbing the world. We wish to observe the good Jaw of the Queen and Governor, to live in peace, to do good works, to love God, and re main in peace, lest all bur race should be destroyed by this evil. This is all. From Daniel Tamaherangi, Native Assessor, Isaiah, Native Assessor, and from all the men of Waipapa, of Maugamaunu, of Kaikoura, of Mihu

Revising Court.—This Court was held at the Court House, Blenheim, on Thursday, tho 26th ultimo, and the business concluded .on .the following day.; F. Bowden, Esq., Revising Officer. There was a considerable attendance at the Court on the occasion. From,the old Roll (which contained 164 names) 31 were expunged, namely, 8 for having made new claims, 1 dead, 5 gone away, and 17 on objections to qualifications; one claim for property',at the Beaver and at Waitohi, had the latter portion struck off, of the name remaining on the roll in respect of the former portion. The number of new cjaims was 210, of which 25 were expunged, 24 on objections to qualifications, and one as being a duplicate claim; 5 qualifications were expunged, the claimants still remaining on the roll in respect of other property. The number struck off the old roll, and expunged from the new claims was 55; leaving 319 names for the new Electoral Roll. Notices of appeal were given in three cases, namely, Henry Harris and Samuel Saxon, on the definition of the word ' Householder,' and John Barleyman, on the form of notice of objection.—Costs were given against the objector in the cases of Fabin and Neave. The Weather.—Last Friday week, we were visited with snow and hail storms, which covered the ground and house tops, and presented a novel sight to those who have been here some time. The snow remained on the ground the greater part of the following day, and may yet be seen in patches on low hills adjoining the plain, whilst the hills at the back appear to be covered. For the last three weeks we have had sharp frosts in the nights and mornings. Resident Magistrate's Court.—Samuel Woolf was charged by his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Woolf, with having assaulted her on Tuesday evening, the 31st ultimo.—Plaintiff stated that defendant came home on the night in question in liquor; he retired to bed, and afterwards got up, and went out again. In about a quarter of an hour he returned, and taking up a candlestick threatened to knock her brains out. She was in fear of her life, for he had once before tried to cut her throat; he was also bound over to keep the peace towards her in Nelson.—Zachariah Bunn corroborated the statement of plaintiff.—Defendant denied having used threats of violence.—The defendant was ordered to pay costs, and the case was dismissed, with a caution to defendant as to his conduct in future. Blenheim School.—The Superintendent moved " That the following gentlemen form a committee of management for conducting the Blenheim School, namely, the Superintendent for the time being, or his deputy, S. L. Muller, Esq., R.M., and Mr. James Sinclair, M.P.C. That two members of the committeeform a quorum. Thatthecommittee have power toappointanddismiss master. That the grant of .£3OO voted under the he"ad of education be paid over to the committee. That the committee expend the said sum of £300 in the following manner :—For and towards the support of the master; in repairing, altering, and improving the schoolhouse and room in the manner the committee think most advisable and conducive to the comfort and well-being of the school, and fencing if necessary; in books, Sec, at the discretion of the committee, for the use of the school. That the school be examined at intervals by the committee, or some one appointed by them—the Superintendent to inform the Council of its state of efficiency, number of scholars attending, and their progress. The course of education to consist of reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, history, and geography, and such other branches of general knowledge as the committee may from time to time deem fit and advantageous to be introduced. All books and apparatus used in the school to be approved of by the committee. Children to pay a sum weekly to be fixed by the committee, and to provide themselves with slates, copybooks, and spellingbooks, which will be sold to them at cost price. All other books used in theschool to be provided by the committee, free of charge to the children." Motion agreed to.