KAIPARA.—THE NATIVE FEUD.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1739, 11 July 1862, Page 3

KAIPARA.— THE NATIVE FEUD.

RETURN OF THE GOVERNOR, The fighting at Kaipara, we are glad to be able to announce, has ceased ; and the question in dispute, is to be referred for arbitration to a peaceful tribunal.

A large portion of the land in the Kaipara district has been long in dispute, Tirarau, on the one hand, representing the rights by conquest ; and Paikea. as being the putake, or root of the soil, holding the claims of the original possessors. After the great battle ar Te Ika-a-ranganui, the men of the beaten party scattered themselves in many directions, some finding their way to Waikato. Within the last twenty years, however, the people of the dispersed tribes have been coming back by degrees to the Kaipara, and have placed themselves under the leadership of Paikea, who, having been under the protection of Tirarua, has corae finally to take up the position of a rival, and to think of recovering of the lost territory of his people. In 1856, we believe, the respective claims of Tirarau and Paikea were nearly brocght to the arbitrament of battle, upon a dispute arising out of a cattle trespass. The Government interfered at that time, but after a long korero, no boundary satisfactory to Paikea was settled, although Tirarau gave up all claim to the land south of Taroroa. Subsequently, in the last year, and on the occasion of a visit of condolence paid to Paikea, Tirarau ceded to him the Wairoa lands, and it was then thought that the dif ference between these Chiefs had ended satisfactorily ; it was not so, however. The immediate contending parties in the recent fight at Wangarei, were Matiu and Tirarau. The land in dispute lies at the head of the Wairoa River, and extends towards Muungakahia : Paikea also claims this land, and, if the fighting had continued, he must have come to the aid of Matiu against Tirarau. Two fights had already taken place, the last on the lOlh instant. In both engagements Matiu's party, it is said, had three men killed and ten wounded. Tirarau six men killed, and three wounded.

Affairs were in this sts te when Sir George Grey arrived here, by way of Coromandel from Wellington a few days since. Tua result of communications with Patkea and a few of his people whom the settlement of some claims had detained ia Auckland, w.is that Pdikea wrote letters to Matiu urging him to cease from fightting, and to refer his claim to a peacefil tribunal. Arama Karaka, who is with Matiu in camp, and a leading man in the war, took Paikia's view, but Matiu insisted, we learn, that, as things had gone so far the quarrel should be fought out, and the land recovered. The Governor having determined to interfere personally and to put an end to the disturbance at Wangarei, started for the Bay of Islauds in H.M.S. "Harrier" on Wednesday week. From thence taking with him the Nuapuhi Chief, our old friend and staunch ally Tamati Waka and also Marsh Kawiti, Sir George returned to Wangarei.fand landing set out on horseback to meet the contending parties where there encamped about twenty miles from Wangarei. In a very short spacj, as the result »f his interference, he had the satisfaction ot seeing the fighting flags at both pa's hauled dowu simultaneously in his presence ; the men in Tirarau's camp, at the instant of this hauling down, fell upon their knees and offered their thanksgivings for peace. The "belligerents" have retirea to their respective homes after having agreed, at the instance of the Governor, that their claims shall be referred to arbitration. Two arbitrators are to be appointed on either side, and an umpire if necessary ; the latter appointment we believe is to be made by the arbitrators if they can agree, if net, by the Governor, the court is to be held in Auckland in the month of October next, and all are pledged to abide by its decision. Having thus brought this difficulty to a satisfactory close, His Excellency returned with speed to his ship, and arrived in this Harbour on Thursday evening, having been absent from Auckland nine days only. (From the New Zealander,) j We publish below, a letter addressed by tha Resident Magistrate at Coromaudel, to the Superintendent of the Province, transmitting the claim of Mr. Keven and his party to the reward of £2000 offered by the Provincial Council for the discovery of an available goldfield The " reef "ism a piece of land about 120 acres in extent, belonging to the Government, and forms the out-crop of that or those reefs which exist on Paul's land- It is gratifying to find that the discovery is of a elmracter so promising, but, as our readers will no doubt obsetve, Mr. Turton's statement of the produu tiveness of the quartz is qualified. He was informed by some diggers that the "prospect' was " splendid."

The account of what occured in Mr. Turtou's presence, winch appeared in print yesterday, differs from Mr. Turton's own account, and our enquires as to the truth of the statement given as evidence of the sudden productiveness of the field, that " at last gold has found its way to the banks," have resulted in the discovery that a quartz specimen weighing, gross, about one ounce and three quarters, was offered for sale at the Union Bank. Neither the New South Wales nor the New Zealand Banks bad any qfifered. We have no reason whatever to doubt that Keven's reef is all that it is imagined to be. When we have ascertained facts respecting it, we will be forward to publish them. Another " rush/ of diggers, and another disappointment may bring calamity, and must tend to damage the reputation of the district ; we have recent experience to guide us, and think it best to be sure that the field is open and the harvest ripe, before we call upon the reapers. We give also the letters of our owis correspondent at Coromandel: — Coromandel, 7th June, 1862.

Sir, — I beg herewith to enclose an -application from Messrs. Keven, Woodin and party for the reward of JB2OOO, promised by the Provincial Government. From all that I can hear and see of that reef it seems probable that its discovery and working by this company will be the direct means of causing the conditions laid down by the Provincial Council to bo complied with, and that they will come into the reward.

This reef lies due north and south. It is found here opposite Kapanga, cropping out on the surface, and haa been traced to the north through

various European properties, through a great extent of Paul's land, and beyond the range which divides the Peninsula, exactly to the south. It is said to be easily traceable at the " Bishop's Point " (where gold has been found in past years), then across the flat, through the district of Manaia, coming out at the table land at the back of Waikowao, and so continuing its course as far as Kawaranga (Rev. J. Lanfear's station) and up the River Thames. But there are many reefs in Coromandel besides this, and, except by working them thoroughly, I think it will be very difficult to have their true position and bearings exactly laid down. | Yesterday I went to Keven's upper tunnel, and saw a few quartz stones broken from the reef. These were brought down and crushed in a small Chilian mill, and from three-fourths of a pint of stone, what some of the diggers call a splendid prospect was .produced, and this specimen I still hold. Five companies of six each have already taken up claims on this reef, and they will probably be speedily succeeded by others, until we come to Pauls boundary, where we shall again meet with our old difficulty. I have, &c, H. Hanson Turton, R.M. His Honor the Superintendent, of Auckland.

[FBOM THE " NEW ZEALAND-JIl'S OOBRESKONDENT.] On Monday last, when .Mr, Fox left Coromandel, after spending a week in endeavouring to come to terms with the natives, and with little effect, we were all proportionally discouraged, little thinking how soon the arrival pi Governor Grey would open the probability of a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the sale of Paul's land. The diggers themselves, meanwhile made some very liberal offers to the natives for permission to work, but were no more successful than the Government had hitherto been. The natives are gathered in considerable force on the boundary of Peter and Paul's land, and it is evidently their intention to allow nobody to work their ground until a full consent shall have been given by every proprietor interested in its sale, though they seem to imagine that the miners intend to do so. and have, 1 hear, sent to the natives up the Thames for reinforcements, in case the diggers — allowing themselves to be made the tools, and ultimately the scapegoats of " party machinations " — should rush Paul's ground. On Monday night they dauced a war dance, and though this is, of course, all bounce, still it shows they are determined not to let the land be taken from them by force. The miners seem to be very peaceably disposed, and to have no inclination to "rush" the land in question, until the purchase shall have been fairly effected by the Government ; their conduct throughout has been most praiseworthy. It was, even before Sir George Grey's arrival on Wednesday, the opinion of every body here, that in less than a month Paul's land would be in our possession, as the natives will be glad to come to some arrangement with the Government, and to take a load off their shoulders, which time will make irksome to them ; they say that watching their ground by night is almost more than they can stand.

From Messrs. Keven and Woodin I hear the most satisfactory accounts ; they wishing to satisfy themselves as to tho extent and richness of their reef, dug a shaft a little below the tunnel, and at the depth of about five feet struck the reef, which upon trial proved very rich ; in fact if the piecs crushed is only fair a average of the whole reef; which is about four feet wide, it will turn out,notless than thirty ounces of gold per ton. No go Id was seen in the pieces tried previously to crushing. In consequence of this success many others have marked out claims immediately adjoining that of Keven and Company.

An inquest was held on Tuesday last, by Mr. J. Breece, Coroner, on the body of John Denny, who was found dead in his boat on the previous day. From the evidence it appears that the deceased, who was an old man upwards of seventy, left the Tiki on Monday morning apparently in good health, intending to return to his home which is situated on one of the small.islands opposite Kikowhakarere; he was alone, his only companion being a large dog, during the afternoon the dingy drifted to the shore near Mr. White's place in Coromandel harbour ; when the deceased was found he was leaning back in the boat and quite dead, from the position in which lie was found, and of the paddles, he appears to have fallen back suddenly in the very act of rowing. The deceased was well known in Coromandel, having resided here for upwards of eight years, he lived the life of a hermit and supported himself by fishing and a little cultivation. June 7th. On Thnrsday afternoon, shortly after the departure of H.MLS. Harrier with Sir George Grey on board, Lydia brought the Resident Magistrate, Mr. Turton, a letter addressed to herself which she requested him to read to her, and to the Natives residing at Kapanga, The contents of the letter were to the following effect : — " Friends, let the Pakeha dig on your land, and do you take notice of the day and the month when they begin to work that I may know from when to commence to pay you in compensation for their work. From your loving friend, G. Guei\"

Peter of Kapanga on hearing the letter read, said the word of the Governor is good, do you Lydia let the Pakeha work on your ground and trust in the word of the Governor. Lydia then spoke and said, my mind is very dark about the theft of the money (i.e. the gold taken by the miners off Paul's land) let me be paid for that bad deed that my mind may be clear, and then when I see Te Hira, 1 will do all I can to show my love to the Governor. Very little more was said on the subject by either party, and I have since heard that Mr. Turton has offered Lydia £100 as compensation for the gold already taken off Paul's land, I believe that on the arrival of Te Hira this affair will be settled, and the con - sent of all the natives connected with it will be given for the sale or lease of this block of land to the Government. Watson's party have been compelled to leave their shaft on account of the great quantity of water ; it is sunk to a depth of 145 feet, and as soon as the spring comes, they will make another attempt to bottom it. Of Mr. Wooden and party, ■ I hear very good accounts, fresh trials of their quartz having been made, and each one proving better than the foroier j.all the claims haye beeu taken up on this reef.