WANGANUI.

Wellington Independent, Volume II, Issue 75, 1 July 1846, Page 2

WANGANUI.

To thh Editor of the " Wellington Independent." Petre, 11th June, 1846. Sib,—The arrival of the Government brig at Wellington would convey to you the unpleasant news of the failure of Mr. Symonds, in settling the affair of the Land Question here. As the re-shipment of the intended purchase money was, from motives of precaution, effected, clandestinely, on the morning of the 4th inst as also that of Mr. Symonds and the Surveyors on'the ■following day, it was apprehended, by some, that the

Maories on learning these circumstances, might hp instigated, in some way or other to wreck their di ß i uppointment tin the settlers. ; I am happy to Bay that nothing of the kind happened, or ia ever likely to occur. They were surprised and grieved at the news, but no instance has come to my j'knowl, dge of their having imputed blame to, or in any way insmlttjd the settlers. On the contrary they have demonstraed the best of feeling toward us, and vent their indig. nation on those petty chiefs of the Apirikl tribe who, they alledgts, were by the obstinate mainten' ance of a cultivation and bush on Messrs. Bell and Nixou's sections, the cause'of the miecarriage of th negotiation ; nor have they been slow to censure Mr. Symonds for going away without paying them the compliment of holding an explanatory or farewell korero. Pchi Turoa, alias Pakeru, now in point of rank our highest chief, has manifeg'tad very dtep, and I believe, sincere regret at the failure j while Mawai our greatest landed proprietor has offered, I under, stand to sacrifice the greater part of the blockhhe" c had insisted on retaining, provided the settlers consent to remain. Othera I believe are alike disposed to abandon, and Mawai has determined hot to rest in his endeavours to effect his purpose till he has per. sonally seen the Governor; and understanding that his Excellency is expected shortly at, Taranaki, has sent directions there to instantly dispatch a messenger that he may go and meet him. . The affair of re-embarkiog the money was so very secretly managed, that nsne but the] boatmen employed in transporting it kuew of the intention, o r act, till near noon of that day, when Mr. Symonds communicated the circumstance to two or three of the settlers who happened to wait upon him at his lodgings; when he also stated that he had come to tbe determination of abandoning the farther prosecution of his mission, and to re-embatk so soon as he had seen Mr. M'Lean, who with Mr. Wills he hourly expected in from the country. The reasons Mr, Symonds assigned for this seemingly precspitate step were, Ist—-The daily increasing demands of the natives for allotments, which broke up, or altogether extinguished a great number of the finest sections. 2nd—That he had received information that somej of the chiefs bad determined, so soon as they got the money, to go and assist their rebellious relatives at the Hutt • and lastly—That he could no longer delay the Government brig.

As regards the first of these, opinion is greatl. divided. Some think that a patient combatting at the excessive native demands would have ended in relinquishment ; and, certainly, Ma-wal's conduct i since, indicates the probability. But others, again, maintain that any concession would only bare opened a gate to further requirements, and such, no doubt, Is the cupidity and caprice of the native miud that the argument must be admitted to have its cogency. I confess I cannot, now, say which opinion I would advocate; for, though on the first blush of the business, viz .—when Mr. Symonds made known to us his determination, and what steps he had already taken 'I Jsaw no alternative but to vote for removal; a dispassionate review of circumstances, of native conduct since, and consideration of the varied opinions of my fellowsettlers, have placed my judgement between the horns of a dilemma, and I.know not on which to impale myself. For, to remove us would be a sen*, ous inconvenience, expence, and sacrifice to all parties concerned ; buc, on the other hand, to continue, as has been our unwilling fate for nearly these last six years, as mere squatters or tenants at will of the Aborigines, cannot in point of justice f interest, or inclination be longer submitted to. As to Mr. Symonds' second reason we have heard only of one chief, and he not a very important leader, who had intimated su h a purpose, viz.— Makatu—a relation of your belligerent, E. Muku, and Pehi Turoa, whose conduct throughout the whole affair has been most liberal and conciliatory, was so far from attempting to screen the intention of that individual that he voluntarily told the circumstance to several of the settlers on the day of. Mr. Symonds' embarkation ; and added that he had used all his influence to dissuade him from so foolish a mission, as it was " to fight against those who had never offended him< and to contend for land which he had no right to claim." When Mr. Symonds stated bis determination to leave us so suddenly, the few settlers who were present were rather at a loss how to act. But afte r consulting with Mr. Symonds they agreed that, under the circumstances, it would be inexpedient to call a public meeting, and yet that it was advisable to lay our state before his Excellency by the opportunity of his Secretary going direct to Auckland. And we had the less reluctance to adopt a comparatively private measure, as, at a public meeting held here on the 21at ult„ it had been unanimously agreed to oppose and reject Bueh encroachments as those the natives were now claiming to obtain. Accordingly five or six settlers assembled, and'some oPthesejpledging themselves as qualified to represent several others whose opt* eions coincided, the following letter was, under the circumstances, hastily drawn up, and addressed to His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor*

Pctro, District of Wangnnut, June 4, 18-16. ■gin —It is with infinite regret we acquaint you r Excellency) that after all the pains and pa;ienc c . . ff iii c h J. J. Symonds, Esq., has endeavoured to fulfil the mission your Excellency entrusted to »im the cupidity of the natives has proved so very rea t and their ultimate' intentions appear so very doubtful, as justly to deter him from bringing the affair of the land purchase to a conclusion. tender these painful, yet ire adtnit unuVoidsble circumstances, we perceive that all our long cherished hopes of locating in this vicinity are"forever.marred * and that now we have no alternative but to throw ourselves on the benevolence of your Excellency. , We solicit therefore that your Excellency will take our forlorn case into early consideration that you tuay be enabled with'as little delay as possible, to ; devise means for our removal to such other site as tnay appear to your Excellency adapted to our necessities. But we would venture to suggest to your Excellency, that' we would greatly prefer being located I on the Middle Island, and particularly where there is a likelihood of British concentration; and where [ the chance of native interference is diminished, I having already suffered severly from this cause. I We have theMionour to be, 6V%, ! (signed) SAM- KING, | P. WILSON. | Mi CAMPBELL, ! J. NIXON, j • W. G. BELL, j W. G. BELL, Jun. I A great number of the natives leave this, to-day I or to-morrow, for Taupo, to lament over the" late I chief Heu-Hen, who met by his death by a land I slip a short time ago.. It is reported that Makatu I goes along with thera 5 though, I believe that, had 1 he persevered in go ; ng your way he would have had I very few to accompany him. I I am, Sir, I Your obedient servant, I P. WILSON.