THE AFFAIRS OF THE HUTT.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 53, 4 March 1846, Page 2

THE AFFAIRS OF THE HUTT.

In our last, vw furnished the movement of the troops up to six o'clock on Tuesday evening. That evening a picket was thrown' across the potatoe ground, the Maories being encamped on a plot of land across a enek, at the foot of a hi<r>< hill thickly covered with bush. The natives followed the military custom by likewise having a line of pickets across the field. During the night the artillery under the command of Capt. Henderson, arrived on the ground, and by dint of great labour and perseverance, some field pieces and howitzers were conveyed to the camp. We cannot refrain from mentioning the characteristic ze&l of the officers and_ blue jackets of the men of war, while assisting in dragging up the guns and ammunition. On'the following morning, Wednesday, affairs seemed approaching to a crisis. The natives refused to leave, demanding payment for their crops. His Excellency stated that quit they mu-t, and as for compensation, he could not listen to it there, but they must bring it forward at their own place, Wanganui. His Excellency then gave the Maories till twelve o'cl ick, to consider whether they would depart, and if not, he informed them that they would be. attacked immediately. By persuasion of Mr. Taylor, a Church Missionary, the natives made a semblance of departing, and marched into the bush. In consequence the artillery was brought down to the stockade noar the bridge. His Excellency, with Major Richmond, returned to town, and many were sanguine that affairs were settl d in a peaceable and friendly manner, The mi itary, when tlioy left this place for the Hutt, expected to re urn the same evening, and did not therefore carry with them the necessary articles for a protracted stay. Owing also to the supposed settlement of the question, Captain Eyton was ordered over to Wellington, on Thursday morning, with the Grenadier company of the 96th, and Capt. Hardy with 76 men of the 58th. Early on Thursday morning, Major Last discovered eight or nine armed natives on the ground which the main body of their countrymen occupied the proceeding day : who made an excuse that they were searching far trinkets. It is more than probable that they were acting as a look-out, upon the military. Major Last, ordered some men who had been employed !>y the authorities, to commence a road from sfr. Boulcou's house to the camp. i There is now an excellent road for carts up to the camp, thanks lo Col. Hulme, and Major Last By the directions of the last officer, the ground has been cleared for ilie space of about 300 square feet, tents erected, logs thrown up for a breastwork, and preparations commenced for erecting a block-house, in wh ; ch, we believe, it is intended to station 150 men. In the evening a party of the natives carried off a fine pig the property of a man named Sennox, striking the owner of the animal on the leg with the back part of a towahawk, and snapping a gun in his face. A second party entered the house of a man named Leverton, and carried off a gun, whilst a third pariy robbed the warrj of a man named Giles. In consequence of these outrages, a party of settlers remained up armed during the night to protect their property. During Friday, the natfves threatened the life of every settler in the district, in case one of their party was shot. They also threatened to pillage the houses of the settlers. On Saturday, Captain Eyton returned to the Hutt, with 42 of the 98th j and Major Arney, with 94 of the 58th, and 73 of the 99th. Major Arney of the 58th relieving the commanding officer, Major On Sunday, March 1, the natives carried out their threats by pillaging the unfortunate settlers on a most extensive scale The robberies on the Waiwatu were per' petrated in the earlier part of the day by from fifty to one hundred men of the Taupo tnb-, whilst those on the Hutt were the acts of about one hundred of the Nua tirangatahi. p. P arc , the chief and snbs,rvient tool of Ranginaeata, is notonous for having butchered five of the unfortunates who fell at W.irau One of thd Pettier?, irritated at the loss of his proper y ; drew a sword upon a native who merely imitated the notes of the kaka, when he was joined by numbers

who came from i ho hush, an 1 tho \ v ],;| fl H man was com pell dto fly for his life, jjj The following is a correct list of th a ■ Europeans win liavo been robbed of u || §1 they possessed : —■ [' ON THE WAIWA.TU. [- Francis Wli temtin, and three adults. . • John Resell, wife, nnd one child, [ J.imRS Swim niul brother. ' William Leckie, and William Parker, and one' chilil. (' John Dounie, wife, and four children. | William Eb.den, mother, brother, and servant r ' " and three children. ' F -' John Jackson, and wife. , J nines Hulmus, wife, and five children. \, William Thomas, wife, and five children. Jumes Rl'Ewen, wife, and three children. David Galloway, vrife, and three children. 5 David M'Ewen, wife, mother, and three children, William Taunahill, wife, and three children. ' ! ON THE HUTT. j, Charles Colli?, wife, and two children. k Robert Fairweather, wife, and five children. Tbonvis Hughes, wife, and four children. Satnurl Bunvtt, wife, brother, and five children, {' John Sutherland, wife, and three children. ' I Thomas Reid, wife, and one child. l Total forty-four adults, and fifty-one children, t', Thus ninety-six individuals, men, women, and r' children, were stripped of all they possessed on \ Sunday. f About 12 o'clock at night a deputation' from the unfortunate nun wai'ed ii[),> n ? His Excellency Captain Grey in Wollino-i - ton, and laid before him their grie\ance°,. His Excellency promised to see into th e r . case as early as possible, and took the de. [ positions of the men with his own hands, Monday, March 2. Vari us rumours of , - ' a conflicting nature were were rife in lown. [ ; Tiie out-settler-, who had not been robbed, \ - terrified at the idea of losing th > i properly,; ,' began to remove their most valuable ani. : ' cles to a place of safety. About 80 mnre' troops were ordered for the Hutt, and ii . was generally unders ood that martial law ' was to be proclaimed. In the afternoon, l" a detachment of the troo|>s were sent u» the Waiwa'u. A native threw a spear at one of the 96th, ripping np the sl< eve ol hi, ', jiicket, and tearing the ile h on his arm, In the afternoon, another body of miliary departed from town for the Hint. Tnesilay, March 3. At d-iybrek, the natives commenced firing on the jrrcniid'iT - company of the 96 h, under the command of Capt. Eyton, who were sta ioued somi , distance from the camp. Ca-'t. Eytou's <■ parly returned the tire in a most spnitej'- -J mannt-r, and compelled the natives alt \ some time toreiire, with what loss eannotw, be as-ertainod. At the same time, a party* * of natives in the bush commenced firm.' on the encampment, but without inflicting- * any injury. A despatch arrived in t >wn about 11" , o'clock, when his Excellency ordered i H.M. Steamer DmvEn to prepare to s receive bodies of troops to take over to ■ be Hutt. 50 of the 58ili, 20 of the 96ih,. - and 30 <.f the 99th, under the com maid of Lieutenant Uarclay, were conveyed oi l)oard by half-past one, and at 2 o'clo k the Driver weighed anchor, and steam d ' over to Petoai. In the afternoon, his ■ Excellency Captain Grey, following U|that energetic line of policy which has characterized his proceedings to the present time, proclaimed the district lying to , the south of Wainui in Cook's Siraii*, V - Castle Point on the East Coast, undtf , Martial Law. i'ouardsthe afternoon, a party of na-' tives drove a man name Cole from bis tond on the Waiwatu, and took possession • J>» us goods. Fifty Volunteers were embodied, under the command of i\lr. Watt,' ' and in conjunction with thirty mil.tan, : vvere thrown out to endeavour to cut oil I the plunderers from the main body. Bf tween four and five o'clock yesterdaj •• evening, a hoavy firing, as if of continuous - volleys of musketry, was heard by parlies . at the Kora Kora, who were returning U ' Wellington. The Commandant, Colonel Ilulme, an'i wigade Major M'Lerie, both returned to the Hutt yesterday afternoon. M»|<r Last, ' ot the 99ih regt., with two hundred me» under him, has been leit in command si - Wellington. Captain Graham, ol H.M.& Castor, likewise placed the blue jackes. small arm men, and marines, at his dfr poeal if necessary. Major Last took tin '' most effective and vigorous measures, last - "ignt, to ensure the safety of the town. J party #of thirty mL > n we , e stationed al t the brick barracks at Tiakiwai, with «rdcn to protect the road, and keep up a constant communication with the barracks on * Ihorndon Flat. A second party *ti "■ ordered to carry on the communication m ,* the banacks on Lainbton Quay, wlii'' l ,; other parties received orders to peranibu , . la.c from Te Aro Pah to the same place- ' stnet injunctions were likewise given W ; all the pickets to prevent any native cross , ;; ln S 'neir lines after dark. :■

So far, every measure of precutUio ,, was carried out, and acted upon. A guard was likewise stationed at the residence of his Excellency. The si-ttlers along the Porirua road, generally, are described as l;cing in a state of great anxiety and fear, owing to the fa<u of Itanghiaeala having threatened to destroy every white man within his roach, provided a Maod was killed. Many of the Porirun settlers have S'-nt their wives and families into Wellington. Yesterday, C. Clifford, Esq., J P., departed for that district, taking with him a quantity of arms and ammunition for. the use of the settlers, and with the intention of remaining on the spot to cheer them with his presence.