JOURNAL OF EVENTS SINCE SATURDAY, 10th MARCH, TO THE TIME OF PUBLICATION.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1415, 27 March 1860, Page 5

JOURNAL OF EVENTS SINCE SATURDAY, 10th MARCH, TO THE TIME OF PUBLICATION.

Saturday, March 1 0.— Several native chiefs signed a declaration to the effect that they swear allegiance to the Queen and a willingness at all times if called upon by the Governor, to take arms in defence of her authority, and to protect the lives and properties of Her Majesty's British subjects in Taranaki ; that they will not in any way assist or give information to her enemies. First on the lisi is Poharama or Moturoa, followed by Mahau, Waka, Ihaia, Wiete Ahoaho, Piripi, Manahi, &c. One of these declarations has been sent to Omata and another to Bell Block, and several signatures obtained. This is an excellent plan, and will separate the loyal from the disloyal natives in our neighbourhood, and render themselves amenable to the consequences should they at any time break their oath. Permanent passes with Royal Arms and V. 11. printed on parchment, were given to a choosen few who have signed their names to the declaration. Nothing further heard of W. Kingi's movements — and nothing seen of his natives by parties going to and from the Camp. They are supposed to be building a strong position somewhere in the neighbourhood of Kairoa. At 4 p.in, I-I.M.S.S. Niger steamed for Manuka v, to coal and bring more troops. His Excellency the Governor visited the Bell and Hua stockade this afternoon. Sunday. — A muster of Militia and Volunteers paraded as usual this morningat 10 a.m. . . , . . Mo^dJay. — Some town people. *ode down to jtbe Waitara yesterda^an'd' imported that W. Kingi's party were about building ]another pah on the Devon road. This requires confirmation. Archdea6on Govett returned to-day from Taranaki, where he had been on the Sabbath, and brought a letter from some of the Taranakj natives asking the Governor

g to r ecommend the Tatarainiaka settlei is to return, and promising to protect then d tljiit on; second thoughts (which are gen n erally the best) they would not joM TV c Kingi against the Governor — eating thei r own words in fact. There is, howevei 0 no dependance to he placed upon thes )- natives. They are evidently frightene c ! into a show of submission, and all the; c said before as to beginning with Tata if raimaka, then Ornata, and finishing witl q the town, was. it seems, " waha," — 1< d use a native expression, — viz., " mouth.' y In a letter written by Tamati Wiremu a to Poharama, mentioned before, thej were going to do wonderful things, anc f nothing but an immediate descent upoi ■, the whites was to follow any accessior i, of military strength to the settle 1 ment. They see that the Governmen 1 will not be trifled with, but are fully pre pared to resist any aggressive movemem - on the part of the natives. These re v marks apply as well to many of the natives residing within the settled district r who before the arrival of his Excellency c were wavering and to use a native phrase t had " two hearts," only Ihaia's anc y Teira's followers, together with Pohara--1 ma and Mahau, were really to be depend- - ed upon for loyalty and faithfulness. - Had the Governor remained away and no more troops have been brought intc 3 the settlement, most of the natives, gent erally considered loyal and true, would 3 have fallen out from our ranks :uid joined the rebels against us. But a strong determination and readiness of purpose on the part of the Government has done wonders. The mounted escort " this evening from Waitara and reported ' all quiet. Some of W. Kingi's natives | with a flag of truce had applied at the | camp on Sunday j^or permission to inter [ | the body of an old man, the father of Heneri tc Whao (Heneri was the man who led the women in resisting the surl v< f.y)? their burial ground on the othei side of the river, near its mouth. PerJ -| mission was granted, and the natives " | (four including Heneri) are described as 3 being very wretched and sullen, as they ' would not speak to any they met at the camp. The escort did not see any signs J . of the pah reported on Sunday about to . be created on the Devon road. | Tuesday. — Militia and Volunteers [ parades going on as usual. The town I is very effectually guarded during the night ; 25 men occupy a part of the iron ' store in Devon-street, and post sentinels up Ourrie-street, and the Carringtonroad. Another picket is stationed in a ' building near Captain Bulkeley's residence, who post men at different points ' from the beach up Dawson-strcet and by ' a cross street to the infant school-room, ' where another picket is stationed. The Barracks, Commissariat, and harbour boats are similarly guarded. Mounted patrols also ride over the country during the night, and the Niger's bluejackets and marines, posted at different stations between Cracroft redoubt and Niger fort effectually prevent surprise eastward of the town. Several natives in town today with produce — all with passes. At a late hour this evening a note was received from Waitara, • stating that a part of the land had been surveyed during the day, and without any" signs of opposition — as no natives were seen. The admirable action taken by the Government, the promptness and determination with which everything has been carried out by the Governor and Colonel commanding, seem to have silencad the natives. From this time and for ever the Maori in this province can never say anything more about " driving us into the sea." Maori influence is at an end. What a false and injurious policy was that of former Governors, when natives were succumbed to and actually paid to cease their misbehaviour. It is generally believed that W. Kingi's party are making preparations to build a pah near the Devon line, as cartloads of timber have been carried on the spot. W. Kingi's brother Matiu left him yesterday, being very " dark" about, the troubles and has gone over to Tamati Tiraurau, Ihaia's brother, at his pa across the river Waitara. Hapurona, chief of! Huirangi, a double dealing fellow, lum joined W. King with his party. The authorities have requested the natives living along the Devon line to burn the fern and tutu, in order to leave the country open to the camp ; a judicious order, as it must in great measure prevent ambuscades along the road. Wednesday.— News arrived in town this evening that the land had been completely surveyed without the slightest) obstruction ; that not a single native had/ been seen. We do not know what to make of this — whether they are preparing for some decisive movement shortly they being no doubt fully aware that the survey was being proceeded with, There is little doubt that in any case the great- j er part of Waitara and the adjoining district will fall into the hands of the - Qqver^lnent. A valuable country; tyjhg comparatively wasted but in our hands will amply repay the trouble, inconvenience, and expense the colony has already been put to. Things certainly are looking brighter, and after all it may prove a bloodless campaign. Thursday. — The inhabitants last night were startled from their sleep by

l*s the report o f small arms. Several a; the Volunteers and Militia turned oi l- under arms ; it seems that some loadc T. mnskets were discharged across tt ir j Waiwakaiho, not however, "with the ir r, ! tentioton create alarm. From informs :e tion derived from natives it is state d that W. King is waiting the return of th y Ngatiruanui and Taranaki chiefs, at pre ,- sentr'at Waikato on a visit to King Po ti tafcau. He expects they will return witl 0 instructions from His Majesty to assis ' him in defending his non-selling lane i, policy. But in this he will find himsel y\ egregiously mistaken. 1 Friday. — Some natives from Motoruj I state to-day that Enoka, one of W i Kingi's brothers, arrived yesterday from - j Port Nicholson ; that he had attendee I 1 several meetings of the Ngatiruanui anc - 1 Taranaki tribes on his way up, and thai t they had decided upon joining W. Kingi, - So much for the Taranaki address to his - Excellency! Only part of Taranaki, . } however, at present agree to take pari j with W. Kingi. It will be perhaps in--5 teresting to .state that W. Kingi is one 1 of three brothers, children of a great . Ngatiawa chief, named Reretawhanga- . whanga — their mother's name Te Kehu. . Reretawhangawhanga and Te Kehu had 1 but three children, boys Wiremu Kingi. ) Matiu and Enoka. Enoka arrived at the . Ratapihipihi yesterday, and started for I W. Kingi's pah this morning through the [ forest. Ratapihipihi natives, intimately . related to Ngatiruanui, should be jeat lously. watched. » An open air meeting of the Taranaki L Volunteers after parade this morning to I nominate additional officers, the force j having increased from 100 to 180 since > the recent disturbed state of the province. • The result of the meeting, which had the : previous sanction of the Governor, will ! be laid before his Excellency. A report reached town this morning that two stockades were erected last . night by TV. Kingi. 'A correspondent, i having considerable experience of nai tives, proceeded on a tour of inspection, • and says that " during last night a party ! of W. Kingi's natives erected a strong pali on the south-east corner of the block , of land purchased from Tcira. It was put up in the form of a the letter L, with a double pallisade and covered galleries, musket proof ; is capable of containing . 150 men, and is at present occupied by about 70, supposed to be under the command of Hapurona and Hare. To-day they set fire to the fern, pulled up all the surveyor's stakes, and endeavored to erase the boundary line, in consequence of which Tuira set fire to W. Kingi's pah at the entrance of Waitara, which was burnt in a short time to the ground. Towards sunset they danced a war dance, and their yelling was distinctly heard at the camp about a mile from the spot." Considerable reinforcements of men must have reached W. Kingi to have enabled him to build this pah in one night. Whether it is on Teira's or native land, can make no difference, as the object is clearly to menace her Majesty's forces stationed at Wsiitara. Visitors going to the camp will do well to proceed by the beach, as the natives are vey much excited, and will certainly prevent their passing %he pah. The' mounted escort has been detained at the camp, and the remainder is under orders to march. Lieutenant Blake, R.N., with the rocket corps of the naval brig.v.le, and two 24-poundcr howitzers, will proceed to Waitara during the night. The natives will be ordered off the block, and if they refuse to go, the troops will attack the pah early to-morrow. 11. p.m. — The guns have just passed through the town, and the escort has left for Waitara. Saturday, 9 a.m. — No news from Waitara. Late in the night, whilst the Harbor boats were busily engaged in taking on board tiie two howitzers and stores, a vessel appeared in the roadstead and fired several guns and rockets. No boat could be sent off until these engaged were despatched to Waitara on the application of the Commander of the Forces. Lieut. Blake and several marines and blue jackets accompanied the expedition. The vessel was the Airedale with a detachment of the 65th regiment from Wellington, consisting of 98 non-epmissioned officers and men, and the following officers — Captain Turner, Lieut. Toker, Ensigns Pagan and White. Captain Mairis, of the Royal Engineers; and three men, have also arrived. The troops were landed early this morning and have taken up their quarters at Marsland Hill Barracks. I). McLean, Esq., and Matene Te Whiwi, a chief from Otaki, are alfo passengers by the Airedale. i