WANGANUI STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 10, Issue 620, 20 June 1866, Page 2

WANGANUI STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.

The usual half-yearly meeting of' this company was held in the Company’s offico this forenoon, when the report and state-* ment of accounts for the half year were submitted to the shareholders. A dividend of 10 per cent, was declared. A report in our next.

MAJOR MoDONELL AND SURVEYORS FIRED UPON BY REBELS.-. : i

Wo are sorry to stat<y that on Saturdayafternoon Major McDonnell, along with Mr. Carrington and Mr. Percy Smith, surveyors, were fired upon from ambuscade by a number of rebels, between Waingongoro and Patea, The Major and his party were accompanied by Wirihana, a Lieutenant of the native contingent, and two orderlies of the Wanganui Yeomanry Cavalry, and to the vigilance and sharp eye-sight of 'Wirihana, the whole of the party are indebted for their lives. About half an hour’s ride on this side of IVaingongoro, the country is broken and thickly covered with fern, and it was here that the meditated slaughter was contemplated . The party were riding leisurely along, when Wirihana tliouglrt'-lie . observed a suspicious movement among the fern to ■which he at once directed attention. It was not a moment too soon, for he had scarcely done so and the rebels found that they were discovered than they started to their feet and fired simultaneously among the riders, who lost no time in beating a hasty retreat. With the ..exception of the orderlies, who carried their swords and revolvers, the party were unarmed. The first lot of murderers were succeeded by a second, who also fired upon the retreating men, but from some fortunate cause or another none of the shots took effect. The number of the rebels is supposed to have been about fifty or sixty, but thi3 is likely an over-estimate, as the haste and hurry of the occasion prevented anything like a deliberate survey. A detachment of the Royal Irish, who have since escorted Major McDonell and the Surveyors to Manawapou, examined the locality of the ambush and the ground around it. There were unmistakeable marks of the deadly intent and desire for “ -Utu ” on the part of the rebels. The fern was trampled down and cartridge papers'not only of ordinary barrelled guns but of rifles v» r ere strewn about in all directions. For this time the fell design has been frustrated but an uneasy feeling will again take the place of the security in which we were beginning to indulge. At the same time, we cannot see the propriety of surveying and looking after land in this remote district, until there is time given to understand more fully the character of Hau Hau feeling and intention. THE HACJ HAUS. The long expected meeting between the Upper Wanganui Hau Haus and the friendly tribes has come off at last. The chiefs Hori Kingi, Kaw r ana Paipai, Mete Kingi, and Haimona Hiroti, with a large number of natives from the Lower Wanganui settle, ments, proceeded to Ranana (about fifty miles up the river) last week, intending to go on to Pipiriki on the arrival there of the Hau Haus from Mangaio and the more remote parts of the river. Nothing certain was known of. the plans or intentions of the Hau Haus, but they had expressed a wish to meet the loyal tribes, and Ilori Kingi had encouraged the proposal in the hope of establishing a lasting peace. After they had waited “several days at Ranana, a mo33enger arrived with intelligence that Topine’s people had decided on renouncing Hau ITanism, and embracing the new creed known as “ Oh a Oha,” and that instead of seeking a friendly interview with the loyal tribes, they had determined on attacking the small post at Pipiriki. The report naturally occasioned some excitement among the natives, and Hori ELingi’s people wore preparing themselves for a renewal of hostilities, when another* messenger arrived with the report that a body of 250 Hau Haus had come down to Pipiriki, and that, although armed to the teeth, they had shewn every desire to be friendly. As a matter of prudence, however, Hori Kingi declined to proceed any further up the river, and sent word to Topino that unless he would meet him at Ranana, he would regard hi 3 professions of peace as a mask for treachery, and would at once prepare for the coming struggle. The Assessor Aperaniko (who is a Lieutenant in the Native Contingent) was the bearer of this message. The Hau Haus gave a reluctant consent and on Thursday last came down to Kavvaeroa, a few miles above Ranana, where they pitched their camp. As it seemed still uncertain whether the Hau Haus would come on to Ranana, Mr. Duller, accgmpanied by Mr. Booth,' R.M., proceeded on Thursday evening to Kawaeroa and remained there till Friday morning. The old chief Topine, although he had become a Hau Hau had not forgotten former friendship. He expressed an earnest desire for peace, and talked freely of the sufferings and privations to which his people had been exposed since the commencement of the war. His assertions were borne out by the general appearance of the Hau Haus—their clothes being scanty, old and ragged, and their countenances haggard and dejected. They were all however well armed, and during the night kept sentries posted at various parts of the camp, to guard against surprise. Topia, whoso name will be familiar to many of our readers, appeared to act as Hau Hau priest, and the evening worship in which all joined was unintelligible pai marire gibberish. On Saturday they proceeded in a body to Ranana and were received by the Friendlies with the usual formalities. There was much howling and lamentation, and afterwards much feasting and talking. In the speeches there was little or nothing to indicate the real intentions of the Hau Haus. Topia was the principal speaker, and although .lie expressed generally . liis desire for peace, he spoke with undisguised bitterness. Atthe conclusion of the korero, the loyal tribes brought forward liberal presents in food and clothing, to the value of about £2OO, and placed them before the Hau Haus, who sat on the ground, closely packed together, and with their guns at their side. Hori Kingi invited the Hau Haus to meet his people in the Runanga House on Saturday night, but they declined to attend. The invitation was repeated on Sunday night with a like result. Hori Kingi was much dissatisfied with this, and declared his intention of leaving Ranana at daylight on the morrow.On the following morning, however, the

Hau Haus came out of the camp in a body and advanced to an open space in front of tho Runanga House. Topia, addressing Hori Kingi, said that he and his people were willing to consider peace established between the tribes. Hori Kingi, interrupting the speaker, said, —“ You ask for peace with the tribes. Unless you will make peace with the pakehas also, you shall not make peace with me.” Topia replied; “ In making peace with you •I make peace with the pakeha.” Hori : Kingi then made a friendly speech, and the loyal chiefs of Putiki followed in the same strain. Hori Kingi and liis people shortly afterwards came down the river. Mr. Buller and party returned to Wanganui on Monday night.

RAGLAN. 1 (from our own correspondent.) June 1, 1866. This is such an out-of-the way place that little or no news may be expected from it, the most important being the mortality which is rife amongst the natives ; not a day passes over but one or two are being interred just close to the township, all friendlies of course, but reports from Watta Watta and other interior rebel stations speak of the Maoris dying very fast there also ; the epidemic is some sort of fever, which bids fair to supersede the necessity of H.M. troops in New Zealand. Naylor’s tribe is fearfully decimated, he died early in May, his brother died soon after, and every day as I have already said they are fast going away ; he was much regretted by the settlers here to whom he always acted fairly. A detachment of the 57th regiment, under command of Captain Hasted, relieved the 12th regiment here on tho 15th ultimo, who embarked on board the s.s. Storm Bird for Otahuhu, en route for Tauranga. Everything is dull here ; the war seems to have made no change whatever in it, a couple dozen houses, (many untenanted) a Wesleyan Chapel and Scotch Kirk, both without residont pastors, a rather respectable gaol and Court-house, and the picture is complete ; the township lies on the south side of a fine well sheltered harbour; the surrounding district is mountainous, and covered with dense -forest, in fact “the bush” is within a mile of the town. Possessing many natural advantages, one is disposed to marvel why Raglan is in such a backward state ; more especially as settlers, have been here for some years, it’s only now that they are blest with the prospect of having baker’s bread, a new bakery being in course of erection, the butcher might shut up shop were it not for the presence of the troops ; and the poor blacksmith who came all the way from New York, is anxiously looking forward like many more to the “ good time coming,” which, by the bye, seems to have sat down on the road to rest and forgot to rise again, so far as this place is concerned. %■

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT. Saturday, June 16. [Before D. S. Durie, Esq., R.M.] CIVIL CASES. George Howe v. R. Campbell—Claim £42 10s. Judgment confessed for amount with costs and interest, £2 11s, making a total of £44 Is. D. McGregor v. D. Miles. Claim £2 4s 6d. Summons not served. Monday, June 18. [Before D. S. Durie, Esq., R.M., and J. Wilson, Esq., J.P.] CIVIL CASES. T. W. Gudgeon v. Hans Wilson. Claim for £l2 4s, for goods sold and delivered. Plaintiff, sworn, said that lie was an auctioneer, and had sold the goods mentioned in his account to defendant by auction. Had delivered the account to defendant at least three or four times. Among other things, defendant bought six bags of oat 3 at 28s per bag. By defendant—You did say the oats did not weigh so much as I stated they did. I sold them at 26s per bav and 2s for the sack or 285.: Defendant has a set off for two days’ work as a clerk. I could never get his account. Judgment for plaintiff, £lO 14s, Costs 15s. *' Bett and Robertson v. F. Dowling. Claim for £34 8s 2d for timber sold and delivered. Mr. Roberts appeared for defendant. This case was partly heard on Monday, the 11th, and was then adjourned by the Bench for arbitration. As defendant then alleged that a part of the timber charged for had never been delivered, and he also put in a set off for £3l 7s for some chairs and a sofa. Plaintiffs objected to the amount of the set off, and stated that the charges for the chairs and sofa were too high, but agreed to take them at their trade worth. This being the case, the Bench allowed the parties to appint arbitrators to decide on the trade value of the goods supplied by defendant, and also to inspect the books of plaintiffs and defendant, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the timber in dispute was delivered or not.

The arbitrators now brought up their report, valuing the chairs and sofa at £29, and came to tlie conclusion that the timber disputed by defendant had been delivered to him. The Bench gave a verdict in accordance for £5 9s 2d, being the amount sued for less the set off £29, costs to be divided. Tuesday, June 19, [Before D. S. Durie, Esq., R.M.j LARCENY. John Halliday charged Aperiniko and Weraliko with stealing from his person the sum of four pounds on Saturday, the 16th inst., at Putiki. This case was partially lieardjon Monday ; on that day the following evidence was taken

John Halliday, prosecutor, sworn, deposed—l know the prisoners ; on Saturday last, about two o’clock, I was purchasing some goods at Mr. Gillies’s, afterwards I went to the Tied Lion Hotel where I saw Aperiniko; I said I was going to the Wangaebu, and. he offered to go with me, I agreed to journey with him. We went on horseback together for about a mile when another native (Weralikoj came up on horseback and commenced to rifle my pockets. I resisted, and got off my horse, when prisoner (Aperiniko) drew a knife. They both knocked me down and kept me there until I was robbed of all my money, amounting to four pounds and some shillings. The money was cut out of my trouser pocket., / I cannot say which of the prisoners it was that took the money. After committing the robbery the natives mounted their hoi’ses and gallopped off in the direction of the settlement. I went back to Campbelltown, and sent over to Wanganui for a policeman. In Mr. Gillies’s I found

Aperiniko, but he had then no horse with him. I took him to the Red Liori Hotel and kept him there till. ha was given into custody. He there said that it was the other native who had robbed me. I am quite certain as to the prisoners being the natives who had robbed me.

Constable Henry Dundas deposed having taken the first prisoner in custody. At the time the prosecutor was the worse of liquor. He (Halliday) said he could not identify the other native, but the one in custody pointed out another as the one who had the money. On being searched this native (Weraliko) had nothing but a box' of matches and a gold chain in his possession. To-day the prosecutor said that he now identified Weraliko as the native who overtook him on the road. The witness also added materially to the evidence of the previous day. He now recollected that they also rifled his saddle-bags taking out some tobacco, some acid, some matches, a bottle of medicine and 1 lb. of tea. The prisoner considered that he was entitled to say of himself that he had fought valiantly % but, as it happened, he was no match for two savages. The prisoners each made a statement, repudiating the alleged statement, stating that he had given them £1 10s. of the money that afternoon. Aperiniko further stated that some European friends r had kindly supplied him with “ fire Water,” which so bereft him of his senses tMt he could not account for himself in,the evening* The prisoners were convicted of larceny, and ordered to pay four times the amount" of money stolen, viz., £l6, or in default to be imprisoned for four months. A note was made to the depositions, and read to the prisoners, to the effect that they had been leniently dealt with , on account of their youth, and because this was their first offence, but it was added, (and it would be well that the information' was circulated among the natives) that m no case would a native be allowed to escape with a fine for a similar offence in future.

Tlie fine was paid and the prisoners; released.