NELSON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VI, Issue 278, 28 November 1857, Page 2

NELSON.

By the Kate Kearney we have the Nelson Examiner from the 11th to the 21st instant, pievious dates not to hand. Wo have by this arrival two copies (Nos. 8 and 9) of the Colonist, a new paper established theie, which for size, style, and mattei is creditable even to Nelson. The late hour of the mail delivery yesterday limits us to the briefest summary of Aorere news. Fine weather having set in, all the diggeis having claims were busily at woik, .uid doing well, Now ciceks

containing gold were being found. Half a claim on the Slate river had been sold for £400. The General Wool, barque, had arrived fiom Melbourne the sth inst., with a large number of diggers. We shall give extracts from the papers before us in our next

The Auckland papers by the Henry and Sybil are to the 20th inst. The August English Mails have been received by these arrivals. There is nothing of greater impoitance than already in our possession.

Taranaki Institute. — On Thursday evening Dr. Neild gave his promised faither lecture on Poetry with very pertinent recitations from the best authors, and with an equal correctness and brilliancy of delivery as on the previous occasion. Notwithstanding the very unfavorable state of the weather, and the occurrence of a sort of public dance in the vicinity, there was a goodly muster of the members ; and it deserves to be noticed that we did not miss one of the young ladies who are in the habit of attending these reunions — thus very manifestly evincing, and not a little to their credit, a preference to rational and entertaining mental recreation, over the now too generally piactised indecoious bodily pawings, and pullings, and haulings about at terpsichorean soire>s. The President announced at the conclusion that next Thursday the 3rd of December Mr Gyde will give a lecture on lion, its pioperties, uses, &c.

We now publish Mr Sclinackenberg's letter according to the request of the writer, having been unable to find space for it in our last issue when we offered some observations on the subject of it under the idea that both would appear at the same time. Such should have been the case for the convenience of our readers. Mokau, 9th November, 1857. Sir, — In answer to your request I beg to forward you the following account of the schooner Harry. The schooner Harry diove ashore near Tongaporutu, a river about 10 miles south of Mokau, on Sunday, the 18th of October. It was unknown to mo and tho people here, until Tuesday, November 20th, when a messenger arrived with a note from the master. In the evening I arrived there, and lieaid the complaints of the Euiopeans against the Natives generally, and Tikipoti, their host, in particular. Mr Morrison told me, tho schooner was awieck, but that he was anxious to save anehois, chains, sails, rope, &c, many of the latter, he said, had been carried off by the Natives. There was no caigo on board. I was much pained and during tho night pondered in my mind as to what could be done. On Wednesday morning I went on board the wreck and found it empty of all but stones. Soon after Tikaok'ao and his people who live on the south side of Tongaporutu, came to Tikipoti's kainga. I gave them a lecture on the injustice of their conduct in touching anything belonging to the wreck without the consent of the master. They made their excuses and then said, all should be leturned. I theiefore asked Mr Morrison to let me have a list of such articles as he thought woith saving. Having translated and explained it to the Natives, Tikipoti claimed one of the sails named in that lis>t " That sail, he said, was given to me by the master." Mr Morrison said " I gave him many things besides, but he is a gieedy hypocritical old savage, and has also been the cause of all the misconduct of the other natives." As Tikipoti stood to it that the sail was his, Mr Morrison lequested me to inquire what he wanted in cash, if he returned all they had given him. He asked 30s. I could neither argue nor shame him out of his unreasonable demands, so, to expiess my indignation at it, I threw a soveieign into his blanket, and Mr Moirison paid the other 10s. The Europeans then prepared for leaving, and the natives went to put sails, &c. under shelter. I asked the Natives to send three hands (but I find only one went) with the Europeans to town, and then rptuined home. The Euiopeans must have felt the inhospitable conduct of the Natives very keenly, and to this was added the travelling in wet and tluough flooded rivers to town. I do not wonder they should complain. No one was more grieved than I was. It is UiPiefoie with leluctance I find the least fault with shipwrecked mariners in such tempestuous weather. Still, I think, I ought to express my conviction that they acted injudiciously. They had got safe on shoie, without the notice of any one, as the tide left the schooner, soon after she grounded, and the natives kept close inside their huts on account of the bad weather. They had also plenty of provisions, and sails to put up as a tent in the bush, close to the wieck. Had they remained there, they would not have been under any obligation to Tikipoti for his "wietched wharc" or any kind of help, and no plunder could have taken place from the wreck without their knowledge. But on the Monday morning they weie seen by Taukawau, Tikipoti's slave and wife, and then came away to Tikipoti's place. The wreck was left without a watch, on the other side of the lock which is only passable at low water. Hence it was that the Natives of Tongaporutu soon boarded the vessel without notice and began carrying sails and ropes away from it. I state this to show how the plunder commenced, and how it might have been pievented. The Natives expiess themselves willing to give up all, but tho difficulty is to get it away. A few days after the master and men of the Harry had lelt, two sailors came this way fiom New Plymouth. One of them told the Natives that the wreck might bo launched, brought to Mokau and repaired. The Natives have made pieparations and mean to make the attempt. I have just written to Kaharoa and Tikaokao, tho chiefs ot Tongaporutu, and also to Tikipoti, to put all the anchors, chains, sails, and ropes on board, should they succeed in getting the schooner afloat, and bring them here. If not, I will use my best efforts to iccover all I can by canoeing or pikauing, as I have been written to, to that effect, by Mr Dorset, the agent. _ The pieccding I believe to be a tiue and impartial account. I state facts without additions, omissions, or alteiations. As repoits have alicady made their appearance in the public papers, may I request that this may be inseited in one of the newspapers of New Plymouth. * * * * I lemain yours, &c, (signed) C. 11. Schnackenberg, Wesleyan Missionary. Henry Halse, Etq., Assistant Native Seoietary, New Plymouth.]