WAIRARAPA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1976, 29 October 1863, Page 3

WAIRARAPA.

(from our own ookrespondent.) Carterton, Oct. 26, 1863. During the past week two deaths have occured in this locality — Mrs Stoodley, aged 61 years, died at her farm East Taratahi, and Mr Thos. Wakelio, landlord of the Greytown Hotel died the same morning. The latter was a member of the Greytown Rifle Volunteer Company, and aged 51 yeais; he was highly respected and buried with military honors, on Friday last. The Maoris of Masterton are disagreeing amongt themselves, about the shearing of Mr Collins sheep — one party is called Queenites andtheother Kingites. The party not employed to shear the sheep impounded a number of horses, the other patty broke open the stockyard or fence where the horses were impounded, a scuffle ensued, and one of the interesting race gave another a severe crack over the right eye; this hit said, to be given by Karaihi, is the ground.for^a more serious quarrel, both parties are sending out messengers to strengthen their forces, while others are trying to make up the matter; all the " heroes" are gone to talk and eat, that is Ngatuere, MaDihera, and Ranihere, the latter is the nearest approach to a civilized settler of the three.

The Kingites have been removing stores to the South during the past week, under escort. 1 hey had some excellent fowling pieces that they wished to exhange for rifles, but no exchange took place ; some of them were fully equipped, having cartouch boxes, and in front of their caps were the letters K.H.W. cut out of metal, of different sorts, the meaning of the letter is Kingites, Hurinuioronga, Wairarapa. 1 hey were in high spirits and seemed desirous or having a brush with the Pakeha ; and if a good account is not soon rendered of the Waikato and Taranaki rebels, a move may be soon expected here. Nor would things be in there present passive state had not arms been dis tributed to the settlers, and a full supply ought to be sent up as soon as possible the opinion oj a peaceful disposition and friendly xWaoris is all humbug. There has been nothing lately said about the roads in this district, there was plenty of room some tune ago to complain and complaints were not wanting, but now the case is altered. If ever a praiseworthy attempt to put the roads in order has been made, it is now. Mr Hogg seems to have adopted a proper course, which the worst of grumblers seem to be inclined to recommend. I should certainly be inclined to ceusureifit was required, but I have much more pleasure in adJing my mite of praise where it is merited, but there 'is a fault that Mr j "°gff has committed, aud I am afraid that when Mr Champion hears of it a duel will be the consequence, as Mr Hogg has completely destroyed that splendid cucumber bed so scientifically constructed by Mr C, at the Tauherenikau, but the carters do not at all complain at its total destruction. The appointment of a military officer as R.M., seems to imply that for the next six months a different kind of justice is intended to be exercised, perhaps Mr Willis will not be inclined to yield to the Maori pressure, if so he will find it necessary to be prepared to act, not only to act upon the defensive but upon the offensive, and make short work of the opposition to the administration of even-handed justice. There is not the necessary force and organization in this district at present to accomplish such a desirable end, but troopers and the militia must be ready with the rifle volnnteers to support the supremacy of the law. It will be injudicious as the force now stands to attempt to enforce the Jaw in Maori cases, but| during the summer that important point ought? to be established. J The weather still is most favorable for thi growth of crops. F

Wairarapa, Oct. 27, 1863. I Matters are assuming a more interesting, and! I may say true character in this district. As ar| extra to what I wrote yesterday, a few par-| ticular9 of the "Maori squabble" may be useful to clear up the matter.

A Maori named Marekai, an aboriginal J.P., deposited in Mr Collins hands (10) ten shillings, as a security that the Queenites would shear Mr Collins sheep ; Mr C. undertaking to forfeit (£ls) fifteen pounds if the sheep were not given to be sheared to Marekai and his party. Wi Waka, a leading Kingite, objected t) this contract, saying that for the ten years previous he had been with his party a shearer of Mr Collins sheep, and if Mr Collins thought proper to give the shearing this year to the Queenites, Mr Collins might remove his stock from the Maoris ground, or they would drive them away. Accordingly, the Kingites drove the stock away on to Mr Collins ground, and the Queenites at once opposed the measure. A driver named Keri met with a Maori sergeant of the police named Karatiuna (Christian) who saluted Keri with the knob of a whip over the eye, and the Maori Hercules then took the rail of a fence and chased the whole of the Kingites away. It is butjustice to the great Wi Waka to say, that he was willing to divide the shearing of the sheep with the Queenites.

This encounter between the Kingites aud Queeniles caused both parties to run for guns, and a well-disposed chief named Ihaka Whatarau, fortunately came up and told the valorous Karitiana to let guns alone.

A war of words followed, and messengers wera at once dispatched to get the follower of each party to come forward and fight (for what?) A pakeha well versed in Maoii, read a letter, and seeing the evil tendency that it contained, sent three influential Maoris to the scene of action, with a view of stopping any further acts of violence on the part of either side; and this pakeha is of opinion that had not Maori officials committed an assault there would have been no breach of the peace.