WANGANUI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1885, 23 June 1863, Page 3

WANGANUI.

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

We have received the Chronicle of the 18th inst, per overland mail. Matters appear to be perfectly quiet, so far as concerns that settlement. The following details of Native intelligence will be read with interest.

The Natives. — The following is the correct list ofWanganui natives killed in the late engagement at Paiaka Mahoe, or Te >Tutu. From Pipiriki— Hoti Patene, Mohi, to Sikoi Te Nui te Koau, Merekai, Wiremu Pahia, Hoera Pdhia, Eruini, Te Waaka, Rawiri, Te Wiki, Te Watarawi, Te Mauihere, Heta, Pateriki, Tonoa, Erueti, Te Matenga, Te Rei, Hoani te Noti, and Hamuera te Kuruki, the native teacher, who, with his wife and sons, was for some years a pupil at the Industrial school, and who is said to have gone to Tataraimaka merely as chaplain to Uori's party. From Manganui a te Ao— Parata Matiu, Hipirini, and Pita te Rata. From Okirihau — Harihona.

The latest Taranaki /papers state that 24 bodies were brought to St. George redoubt, besides several that were burned in some of the wbares in the pa. The number of 28 killed, as originally stated by our natives, is therefore probably correct, the remaining four being Taranakis ; the rest of the Wanganuis and all the other natives who were at Kaihihi started on hearing the firing for the purpose of assisting their friends, but only arrived in time to find the soldiers gone and the whares burning. They say that they saw some bodies in one of the burning whares, and they are trying- to arouse the passions of the natives here and elsewhere, by circulating reports that the corpses were treated with indignity, and dragged to the redoubt by ropes tied round their necks ; others say that one of the burnt bodies was that of HoriPatene; and some even assert that the men were burnt alive in the wliare. These statements have caused about seventy more of the Wauganni to start for the scene of the conflict pledged to conquer or die, and a large proportion of the remainder are wavering. A meeting is to be held at Kaiwaiki this week— for what purpose is not stated, though Mr White was asked, and declined to be present; but it is piobably to decide whether to go or stay. From the arguments used at a meeting at Waitotara last Friday, and the proverbs then quoted by the speakers, it is evident that the natives feel that the present struggle is no question of a land purchase, but a contest for national supremacy on both sides, and or tbeir own even for tbeir very existence as a people. The debate at this last was conducted in those enigmatical terms in which the Maories delight, and which are so hopeless a puzzle to those unacquainted with native traditions. Reference was made at the outset to an incantation used by a priest on board one of the canoes coming from Hawaiki to extricate it from a whirlpool in which it bad become involved, and from being engulphed in which the utmost exertions of all hands seemed powerless to save it. This gave the key which was followed by the subsequent speakers, the tenor of their argument being, " that the present was an equally critical time; and that as it then required their strongest incantations to save the germ of the Maori peopje, so now all minor matters must be laid aside, and superhuman efforts made by every native to save the whole race from destruction." Of course, under such circumstances, there can be little doubt as to the result of the Kaiwbiki deliberations, and we shall probably receive notice before many days that the whole ofWanganui, except those living actually in the settlement, are going to Tataraimaka. Mr White has declined to advise them either to go or stay ; but has warned them that those who'may go will of course forfeitany position|magisterialor otherwise, they may nowfill, and thatsolongashe remains in Wanganui they need not hope to be restored to it, Sorns leading chiefs maintained that the present excitement is all talk, arising from the death of relatives and friends, and that it will all die out in a few days.

Rio, whom we lately mentioned io connexion with the powder business, has begged pardon for bis misconduct, and has been exerting himself strenuously to get the Kingite gate removed from tbe Waitoiara road, in which he lias succeeded so far as to get the toll remitted on all but those actually employed in any way by the British Government. Mr White has desired the native police, acd others, to hold themselves in readiness to pass the nights at the bouses of any ofMhe outsettlers who may call upon them for such protection, A number of the Waitotara natives have returned home, and one of their tribe writes that they have done so through fear.

A report having reached Turakina that 600 Ngatiraukawa intended passing that way en route for Tataraimaka, the Ngatiapa at once expressed an intention lo forbid the passage. Messrs. Fox, Buller, and others, we are in* formed, endeavored to dissuade them from this step, representing that as they were not stvoDg enough to enforce the prohibition, it might only needlessly embroil them, and possibly the settlers too, Aperhama Tipai and the other assessors consequently came to Wanganui to ask Mr White's advice. He declined to interfere as they were in Mr Buller's district, and explained to them that, though he would allow no armed natives to pass through the Wanganui block, he would not advise even the upriver natives on such a point, but leave them at liberty to exercise their owu inherent right of permitting or refusing passage over their lands as their own feelings might dictate. When they learned, however, that the Putiki chiefs had joined wilh Mr White in forbidding the passage through the block, and that Pehi had expressed his intention of doing the same as regarded the parts of the virer under his control, they at once said they would join the latter in insisting that the taua, if sent, should go by way of Taupo. Epiha started on Tuesday week to carry a letter from Pehi to tbe meeting at Tainni, Otakj, in which the old men strongly dissuadedthe Ngatimakawa from going to the war, and informed them that if they do so in opposition to his advice they must lake the Taupo route ; and that, eren should they come by tbe lower route as far as Kaiwaiki, they would be turned inland. How far this may be modified by the result of the Kaiwaiki meeting remains to be seen.

Six Maori Poropitisbavearisen within thelast few weeks, and very long-winded tales are told by the natives respecting ibe accuracy of their predictions. thus far. We hear tbeyall agree in stating that the natives are to get another licking at Taranaki far worse than the last, but that then the tide will turn ! they will capture the town of New Plymouth, and drive all the soldiers into tbe sea. The first part of the prophecy is by no means unlikely, but we take leave to doubt tbe accuracy of the latter portion, on which we recommend the seers to sleep again. We know one prophetess well, and can only say he/ personal appearance would have been sufficient evidence against her in the days of Judge Hale.

Epiha, who returned on Tuesday, reports that the Ngatiruakawa were extremely aimry at the notices from Mr White and the Wanganui natives forbidding thfem to pass thia way, and that they have in consequence abandoned the idea of going to Tataraimaka. Wi Tako, he states, said,—" there was no occasion to go to Taranaki to fight; there were Tataraimakas at Hawkes Bay, Wellington, tbe Hutt, Wairarapa, Wanganui, and elsewhere;" and "that the fighting really was uot about Tataraimaka, bat about the King and Queen tikangie."

| At the Otaki meeting a flax line was laid on the ground, and those who wished to go to Taranaki were desired to step across it; when 370 at once did so. The Native Assessors at Roma, on heaving of Mr White's decision about the powder, at once ! called a meeting of the inhabitants of their pa, [ and took charge of about twenty canisters belonging to their people, depositing it in their court-house till they should receive instructions from Mr White respecting it. Later News just received is brighter, Mamaku writes " I am now holding my tribes with both hands. Not a man shall go !" A reaction has taken place since Epiha's return, in the views of those lower down the river ; and Pehi and several other leading chiefs have despatched a letter to Tataraimaki, peremptorily ordering them to return forthwith, j