ALARMING NEWS FROM POVERTY BAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 666, 6 May 1865, Page 6

ALARMING NEWS FROM POVERTY BAY.

PAI MARIREISM IN THE ASCENDANT.

On the arrival of the schooner • Tawera' yesterday from Poverty Bay, we published an extra, giving an outline of the news, and we aro now enabled to supplement it with fuller aud moro preciso information.

It appears that tho Pai Marii'e fanatics have, in the short period that has elapsed since the last news was received, induced the great majority of the Poverty Bay natives to embrace the new religion, and it is believed that amongst the converts is Hirene, one of the, if not principal, chief in the district. This man had been entrusted with the head of the soldier of the 70th Regiment, which the fanatics had exhibited at Opotiki, and it is said that he was instructed by Patara, alias Butler, the Maori prophet, to forward it to Auckland. Hirene, however, had kept the head, aud it was supposed for tho purpose of practising'the fanatical rites of the Pai Marirag.

In addition to the Taranaki fanatics, fifty more had arrived from Wafroa, in the Hawke's Bay district, and these men were gradually making their way up to the East Capo, and losing no opportunity of making converts to their unholy cause. Patara, it ig said, had given the settlers notice that if they remained qniet their lives would not be jeopardised, but that all their goods would be sold for the maintenance of the King's troops at Wanganui and Taranaki. This man -was very energetically endeavouring to make converts of the natives who had not already joined the new faith . The large number who had joined it, however, with the probability of the rest following the example, had made the position of the settlers at Poverty Bay one of extreme danger. The welldisposed natives are now, it appears, in a minority ; and, perhaps, would be powerless to resist outrage if it was once commenced. It had not been commenced up to the time the ' Tawora' left, but there was no knowing how soon the demon of fanaticism would be let loose. Accordingly a number of the settlers and their families have come up to Auckland in the ' Tawera.'

When the ' Tawera' left, the Otago Government steamer, c St. Kilda,' which had been chartered by the General Government, was at Turanga, having arrived there on the 31st ult. She had been despatched there for the purpose of rendering assistance to the settlers if they should require it, and arrived at a very opportune moment. It appears that the ' St. Kilda' brought from Napier to Turanga fifty friendly natives, amongst whom were several friendly chiefs, as also Wi Tako. They came on a friendly visit, as was their custom. Owing to the alarming state of affairs, the ' St. Kilda' was at once engaged to convey to Napier about 20 persona belonging to Bishop Williams's mission station, and was to leave on the 3rd inst. for that destination. Bishop Williams intended to send his family away for safety, and one account that we have received is that the Bishop and his son would remain behind for the present. From another Hource, however, we learn that affnira were so threatening that they were to leave immediately. This is most probably tho case, as

Rome of the Bishop'"? most staunch adherents amongst the natives, who but a few hours previously recorded their dovotion to him, had turned round and joined the new faith. Had the ' St. Kilda' not arrived thus opportunely, it was the intention of the Bishop to have sent up a numbor of his people by the ' Tawera' to Auckland, for their luggage had been placed on board, and ib has been brought up in that vessel.

Although no vory glaring outrage had been committed, the natives appeared to be preparing themselves for it. Mr. Burns, ono of the settlers who has arrived by the ' Tawera,' states that pome of the Poverty Bay natives who had embraced the new religion had como to his house and demanded liquor, and on his refusal to give it to them told him that if he did not they would cut his head off and eat it. Being compelled to comply with their request, they<eoon made themselves very drunk, and laid down in the house, refusing to leave it. Similar treatment had been experienced by other settlers. Many of those wore going- about demanding drink, had never before, it is said, tasted intoxicating liquors, so that with fanaticism and "fire water," there was no knowing when the work of pillage or bloodshed niiarht not commence.

The ' Tawera* has brought back ten tons of her original cargo, owing to the threatening state of affairs at the Bay, and the probability of the settle™ being robbed of their goods, if, indeed, no more serious outrage was committed. She will return to Poverty Bay immediately after discharging her cargo. — Ibid.