LATER FROM POVERTY BAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 664, 22 April 1865, Page 1 (Supplement)

LATER FROM POVERTY BAY.

mo«t boldly In reprobation of what ho found to f be going on, and usfcd no very measured lan-' gunge about the murderers. As soon as this was repeated to <he Hauhau, they, with their adhe-' , rents, who were now become numerous, were up in arms, and on Sauday, tho 2nd April, a son of one of tho natives living with the bishop came at noon to say that Patara had been in quest of roinforcemonts, and had just arrived with thirty ■ of the Uriweras, who had not yet left the Turanga < district. Thcso aro a" most lawless body of i natives, many of whom were killed at Orakau. The native further stated Hauhaus wore busy preparing cartridges, expecting a collision with < Wi Tako. Kereopa proposed to retreat to To • Karaka, about eight miles up the valley, but the tribo Teitangamahaki said, " No, we will protect you if Wi Tako comes against you." Others , again advised that they 3hould take the initiative, at at once attack Wi Tako at Turanganui j also, that they should try tho strength of those M-ho were keeping guard around the premises of the bishop. Tho excitement was moreover increased by the circumstance that large quanties of spirits had been recently imported into the bay, and had been freely dispensed among the natives. It was time for immediate action. Kereopa had tasted blood, and he had declared that he was thirsting for more. The schooner Tawera afforded the means of transit for several women and children to Auckland, and the providential arrival of the Bteamer St. Kilda, which had been pent to Turanga by the kind consideration of tho General Government, supplied the means of departure for another large party to Napier. The final result bf this movement remains to bo seen. The natives of Turanga have placed themselves in a position of much difficulty ; they have to mako their choice between two alternatives — peace or hostility. They have for a, long season occupied a neutral ground, but it is only a few of the natives who are still in that position. It will be well for them to reflect before they become more deeply involved.

fife»BA9n?(J INFLUENCE at tire HAtJffAU. BXODtfS OP THE SETTLERS. ' [eORItCTK) PROM fHfi HAWKE'S BAT HfiRALD.] The 8.8. St. Kilda arrived in this port from Poverty Bay on Wednesday morning, having on board thfr fiev. the- Bishop of Waiapu and a number of other passengers, whose names wi)l be. found in our shipping columns, all of whom bave left t<hat diattiot owing to causes which will be found Bi4ted below. The Tawera, a day or two before, had sailed for Auckland with a large number of Bettlera. Only three or four residents remain, including Archdeacon W. L. Williams, who, witn the Rev. Samuel Williams, will for I the present watch proceedings — although, without doubt, at some risk to themselves. We have been kindly favoured with the following authentic; narrative^ which will be read with great interest. It will be gathered from this statement that tho settlers, in leaving the distinct, have been aotuated by three reasons. First, that a largS body of natives have joined tho Hauhan-; second-, that many chiefs to whom the settlers lookeu for, protection, and from whom they had hitherto received it, had given their countenance to the proceedings of Patara; third, that immediate violence had in some cases been threatened ; and fourth, that the Hanhau, having gained tv footing, decare their inientipu shortly ' again to return in greater force :—: — I Six weeks ago all was peace at Tauranga, and White, the .Resident Magistrate from Waipu, had just takun their departure, leaving a good im- \ pression among the natives in favour of the pro- ' posals of the Government. This day five weeks, being the first of March, a letter was brought from a Turanga native, ' then at Opotiki, which stated that a party of the • Hauhau were there ; . that they had plundei'ed the houses of Mr. Grace at Taupo, and of Mr. Voikner at Opotiki, and it was said that, had those gentlemen boon found at their respective homes they would have been kihed. It funber stated that the party was coming over to Turanga, and recommended that the biphop phouid quietiy withdraw from the placo until they had returned. , These tidings caused much excitement throngh1 out the district, and meetings were held by the natives on every side, at which the best feelings were expressed against this body of fanatics. On tho evening of the 6 h March a second messenger arrived, who reported that in the interval Mr. Grace and Mr. Vo.kiier had come from Auckland — that the latter had been murdered — and that the former was destined as a prisoner, and might be expected very speedily at Tauranga lin the o s^ody of the Hauhau. Messengers went ' off in the night, and the next morning most of the principal natives came together at the Bishop's residence for the purpose of eonsider1 i»g what steps should be taken. A few chiefs I from the tribe Teitangamahaki recommended that the families in connection with the Bishop

that the families in connection with the Bishop should go out of the way ; but the main body of the chiefs said, — " Remain were you are, and we shall stand by and protect you." In the evening another meeting was held, and a strong determination was expressed that these natives , should be allowed to come onty so far down the valley as to ensure the release of Mr. Grace, and , that then they could be required to return by ' the way they came. In the meantime the natives went back to their homes, with the understanding that they should hold themsolves in j readiness to come together at a moment's notice. ! On the eveuing of the 11th, news was brought j that the Hauhau were coming- down the valley I and might be expected the next day. A sumi mons was therefore at onco Rent to the natives ito aesemble at early dawn. It was the morning of the Sabbath, and a novel sight it was for 800 natives to march up in hostilo array, most of them shouldering the musket. After they had breakfasted, all assembled to service as orderly as troops on parade, and the diiy passed quietly. On the morning of the 13th ihe natives were under arms ear;y, and it was expec ed that the Hauhau would be at Waerengaahika, where the body of the people were now assembled at about , noon.- While they were holding a council, it was reported that a steamer was in the bay, which proved to be H.M.s 8. Eclipse, and very soon Captain Fremantle, accompanied by Bishop Solwyn and Mr. Rice, the interpreter, rode up.* • This diversion put a stop to the approach of the ' Hauhau. Mention was made of endeavouring to ' capture the fanatios, but as it appeared thatr [ there were serious dfificultios in the way this I idea was given up, and the n xt consideration ! was to devise means for Mr. Gi ice's release. It was necessary to aot with ( xtreme caution, because he was at the mercy i >f those who had murdered Mr. Volkner, and a r tsh course of proceeding would have led to tl a sacrifice of Mr. Grace's life. It -was arranged, therefore, that two Turanga chiefs should be f ent in the Eclipse to accompany Hori Tupaea, the chief of Tauranga, to whom it was faid the Opotiki natives would deliver up Mr. Grace. It was further Bettle'd that Hirini Te Kani, the young chief to whom the Hauhau declared they were accredited, should go next morning to the encampment of | the Hahau at Taureka, and require their immediate return from thence. Up to this all was favourable ; the natives of Turanga were not compromised ; they were taking tho omy Ptepß which were open to them by getting rid as speedily as possible of these abominable intruders. The next day was a regular Hold day. There were at least 600 men under arms, and ihe upnal course was followed of making epetcKs, which were all to the purpose. But there was an. finance at work which was not at first perceived. The meeting was broken up in much coi. fusion, and an invitation was given by some .of the ' leading chiefs to the Haunau to pay a vitL to Whakato, where the body of natives iive. This was. oppored by. Raharuhi and Hirini, but in vain. -The fanatics wero hurried off. The bishop wrote ■ a strong, letter of remonstrance to the eff.ot that if they obosq to beoome the entertainers of murderers bo. should soon have to part from them. This produced a Foaouon, and old Raharuhi deoiared he would himself »vi,u re the immediate return of -.int peopie, end > hough a great invalid, ho at moo set out fov th v purpose.. But there jvatta numerous tribe, Tcitanga- j

mahaki, who declared their intention. oiUakiug an opposite course ; and the leading wen of thoi' Hauhau wore working their way .quietly, .but' surely. • ' •

There were two principal men of thin, party Kereopa, the murderer, and Patara, who, when! the murder took pmce, had gond to Tunnpahore, twelve miles to the eastward of Opotiki. This Patara is a man of most dangerous character. Mild and insinuating in his inauner, he professes* an utter detestation of the act of Kerebpa, saying that had he been present at Opotiki the murder would not have been perpetrated. Ho states, moreover, that he hopos yet to deliver over Kereopa to the hauds of the' Governor. ' And yot Patara was privy to the murder. Tho intention to commit murder was spoken" of at Whakatano when yet tho Hanhau had not reached Opotiki and the daughter of a settlor there wrote a leuor. to warn Mr. Voikner of the impending daugjr Pftiara knew of tho intention, and it was- convenient to be out of the way. There can be' no doubt that the Hauhau left Opotiki with tho design of committing tho like atrocities in Turauga, which had already marked "their course. But when they entered the valley of Tnranga they wero met by a large body of natives under arms to oppose thorn. Houco tho change- of policy and the endeavour of Patera to show hinv self a man of different principles from hia fellow. Kereopawas now held up as an object of iufamy and detestation by Patara his leader, who probably had laid the plan for tho murder. All this was worthy of the man of whom Wi Tako, the Otaki chief, and a near relative to Patara, saya that ho was tho contriver of iho mm-der of tho escort at Tataraimaka.

The Hanha had declared their wish implicitly to obey the directions of Hinini To Kani. They withdrew from Whakato because ho told them to go ; but they fell back upon Patutahi, which was omy four milos off. There was now ready a convenient excuse for delay.' Another Taranaki {.arty of Hauhaus was known to be at hand coming 10 Turanga by way of Wairqa. Their instructions from Horopapera wero to meet at Turauga and then return. Many days did not pass before messengers announced that 400 men under arms were at hand,' half being recruits" from the Uriwera tribe, and half from the head of the Wairoa river. ' It turned out afterwards that there was only half this number, but there was great moral influence given even by this accession of strength. There was now an excuse for another general gathering at Whakato and a second, at Patutahi, while Patara was bnsiiy occupied in establishing himself in tho good opinion of many who had professed strenuous opposition to his praotices. At the final meeting at Patiw tahi, both sections of the Hauhau received their dismissal from Hirini Te" Kani, and a "positive refusal was given to allow any of the natives of the district to enlist themselves in their band ; but before they left they had a'grarid display of their so called form of worship, which they went through with such an intensity of earnestness that thoso who witnessed it dec.are'd that it was caicu.ated to have a powerful efltfet upon the minds of the weak. The conpliiding ceremony was tho haka around tho humatt head, whiuh revived all the diabolical feeling-Tof olden time, and was intended ttf stir np the bitterest enmity against the race of foreigners. At length, after they had gained a footing, they broke up. their encampment, and two parties retired, namely the Wairoa party, on their return to Wairoa by tho coast, while thoso from OpotUu, being tbo most dangerous body, moved the distance of only two milos to Taureka. It was reported that Teicangamahaki were very angry because, JUrim persisted in refusing his sanction to tho people to join the Hauhan, and they now begin to shake off all restraint.

On the afternoon of March 25, there were thirty natives who submitted to the " porowharewha," which seems to be a sort of mosmerio influence, which may be nothing in itself, bat it nevertheless amounts to a formal enlistment into this body. Day after day they were frequent accessions to their number. Patara was. not generally present. • He was a skilful agent whose business it was to travel about and express his disapproval of what the others wero- doing, but working all the while into tbeir hands. Matters now began to assume a serious aspect, and friendly natives, of whose right feeling thero could be no reason to doubt, began to express their apprehensions for the result. The influence of the Haubau was on the increaso, and they stated that, though they were about to take their departure, they should soon again return from Taranaki in increased numbers. Ie was clear that, if these measures were carried out, the position of Turanga would be changed. Thero must be collision with the Government, and they would bring upon their heads disasters of which they seemed to form little idea. . / The bishop had been advised by many natives to withdraw 5 but a proposal was made that n» meeting should be called of all the leading chiefs, on the 27th, before a final step should be taken. The day arrived, but there were only four or five persons of consequence present. Those who had "taken the lead professedly to check the advance of this movement did not make their appearance, and the came evening it was heard that Patara accompanied by three loading men, had been paying visits to some of the settlers' houses, and made use of very insulting language. Doing this in presence of chiefs of the place and unieproved by them, was a very dark feature in. the whole transaction. Patarc, stated that -the settlers need be under no apprehension, but that if thty proceeded to ami themselves, he should consider them as enemies, and that in a little while he should retun^agam with 600 followers. This, x taken in connection with tb.e rest of his proceedings, showed the ' settlors what they mighi expect under ihe rule of ihe Bliub.au, and mauy of them at once felt it necesfary-to-ri-more out of the way* . '. * -*- ; . On the 31st a party from OtaW, beaded. 4>j\,Wi Tako and Jlatine Te Whiwhi/ witK al6p.pt "40 followers, arrived at Tauranga in the'sjeamer St. Kilda. Tt was a long promised vifeit, aift«the objtot was to hold upited deliberation' pp&t, the puuijft) to be puieufcd for ihe weifare .pf tho LaiivtF. Wilako'liad joined 5 the Cov'ernme^'i, ai d a» I4.ral.ga hu fou&a that ihore jralfvee •wjti wnur. ho iiaa hbp^dxo aVf7.-£ro4rilliDgUTbj s poeiuoc of extreme difficulty. . He spoke put