WAIRARAPA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1979, 5 November 1863, Page 3

WAIRARAPA.

(from oue own cobbespondent.) 31st October, 1863. There is a full budget of news this week, and although you are in the possession of native news to a liter rlnte than the 26th nit., a notable display ofloyalty on the part of the Queenites at Masterton, ought also to be rjcorded. Early on that day a party waited upon Mr Donald and asked if they might exercise their men of arms. Mr D. told them that be did not see why they should not as well as the pakeha. The Maoris then assembled under arms, and performed some savage evolutions in mimic warfare, that delighted the pakeha.if it did not frighten the Kingites, who were repeatedly called by the Queenites to come on and fight ; but no fighting ensued, it all ended in uoise aud bluster. The late disturbance} amongst the Maoris here, although said to have arisen out of a dispute about which party should shear MrCollins' sheep, yet those who look a little farther into the affair believe that it is an indirect attempt at a breaking off of the Maori leases with the pakeha. Mr Collins arrived at M;istertiou on Thursday, and is said to have come t<» an arrangement with the obstrepulous Maoris by giving them £13, as a lollipop, aud alter such a sweetner, the sovereign Maoris will allow Mr Collins to shear the sheep himself or employ pakebas. Greytown, Nov. Ist, 1863. On the 30th ult,, I had the pleasure olseeing the Greytown Rifle Volanteers drilling 1 . There were about fifty men present, and a finer body of men for their number will scarce be met with. Their equipment is most respectable, and they went through the various evolutions in a very creditable manner. Captain Boys seems to have been intended by nature to command, rot less the movements of the men, than their esteem. He b;is a strong voice, and clear delivery ; both om'ceis and men are emulating each other to excel in discipline, and it maj he truly said, that such a company of Volunteers is a credit to Greytown, and an honor to the district. THE GREYTOWN lUIXE .VOLUNTEER BANQUET IN HONOB OF THE DRILL SEROEANT. In Wellington, you have easy access to intellectual recreation, there is successive artistic amusements to fee.l the highertastesofall classes, while in this district, an occasional convivial meeting is liail'd as an important event, and great have been the preparations for the banquet that is now amongst the past events. It took plrce ou the 30th' ult., at the "Rising Sun," Greytown ; a room near 50 feet long was fitted up with great taste ;at six o'clock an excellent repast was smoking on the table, to which about fifty guests sat down, and did ample justice, the Captain presiding and the vice-chair being occupied by Lieutenant Moles. The first toast wes— "The Queen and the Royal Family,"— drank with honors. Song — " Queen and Navy" Mr G. Daysh— 2nd.— "Army and Navy"— coupled with the toast of the evening — " Drill Sergeant Murray." Sergeant Murray responded in a short and complimentary speech. He felt grateful tor the honor shown him, and had the pleasure to inform the Company, that he was likely to continue some time longer amongst them, and he hoped that he should continue to merit their respect. (Applause.) The following songs were then sung — "He is a Jolly Good Fellow "—Sally in our Alley "— " Napoleon's Grave" — •« Good News From Home." The next toast — " New Zealand Setlers " — was well introduced by Mr Burton Boys, who made a brief but good speech. The next toast — "The Ladies." Song — "Sweethearts and Wives." Glee — "All Good Lasses.' ! Toast — " Host and Hostess " (drank in a bumper). Song — " He is i Jolly Good Fel- , low," and several others. , Mi 1 Fuller observed that he was extremeh . obljged for the kind manner in which hishealti . had been drunk, and so long as ho wai j Host, lie would endeavour to merit the respec of his customers. . Dr Welch proposed — " The Captain of tin Gieytown Eifle Volunteer Company" — Dranl 1 with three times three. B Captain Boys said, that this was a moment v s the greatest importance to the colony, grea f events must ensue; the supremacy of the \a\ c would be established, and the Volunteers b ever ready to assist the judicial authorities i j the exercise of their power; he felt proud c c the progress of the men in their discipline, an ; . he was proud to be at thread of such a res i. pectable body of men who bad so nobl

ir come forward to protect Uieinseivßs, their wives y and families, as well as all the settlers property }- in general ; he hoped that no conflict would 'r arise here, but if it did, he felt sure that the n company would willingly do its duty ; and while c that company had confidence in him, he would d remain their Captain, hut if he lost their confi- ), deuce, he would fall into the ranks and still be a a Volunteer. (Cheers.) c BALL BOOM. The late commodious lodge room, was con- ' verted inlo a ball room, neat and tastefully j decorated with bouquets and evergreens. Con spicuous amongst the ornaments was a star of bajonetj, with a loyal motto in the centre, " God save the Queen," in golden letters ; and along the walls and ceiling were the letters, G.R.V. in various colors. Dancing commenced at 8 o'clock, and was kept up until daylight in the morning, by as fair a bevy of ladies and their swains as ever danced in the valley. Soon after midnight, supper was announced, and the ladies and gentlemen once more proceeded to the banqueting room, and partook of refreshments ; after which, dancing was resumed, and a more convivial evening has not been spent in the district. The guests were unanimous in their praise of the banquet, given in honor of the Drill Sergeant, by the Greytown Rifle Volunteers. There is some rumour that the Natives are preparing for a conflict. Upon the 21st ult., a Maori cart, with two horses, and m on n ted guard moved South, with ammunition for rebel use, (it was noticed in a previous cotumunica* tion under the head of stores) and it gives me much pleasure, while I am thus writing, (Nov. Ist, 6 a.m.) to see a cartjmoring North, at a steady trot, and from its appearance and the face of ane person in it, I strongly suspect contains something that will be useful to the rebels. The cart will be at Mastertou by about 8 a.m. It is equally wrong: to mislead or alarm the public, or do anything that might cause the settlers, to be victims to Maori murder or assassination, yet the supremacy of the law must be established. To live by Maori sufferance as many of tbe settlers are doing in this district, is not to be endured; then it is the bound en duty of the authorities to study the best means of putting things in order. And it is the opinion of the writer, that the friendly Maoris may have the virtue of their friendship pretty well tested in the measure. If Wi Waka or any other Maori violates the law, (as he has done) call upon the QueeDites to take the offender into custody, and if the Kingites attempt a rescue, let the Queenites be properly supported by the pakehas. The proffessed friendly natives outnumber the proffessed kingites in this district, therefore, if Maori friendship is sincere, the kinjrites have no chance. And in the event of duplicity in the friendly natives, then the pakehas, armed as they ought to be, are a match for the whole body of Maoris in this distric ; but let not the crisis be precipitated — where are the stockades for the women and children, what men will leave their horne 3 and families, each man will stay at home to protect his wife, children, and property. The stockades are not being erected as the volunteers have expected. I fell in with Karitiana, and he was dressed in a most respectable European dress, and bad propriety in his bearing ; he iuforraed me, that what I have previously written is substantially correct ; hut having also, had some talk to Mr Collins, he informs rae that he has paid to tbe Maoris £13. (Murk, £13 has been j )a jd as a forfeit or breach of contract.) Now it matters little, whether he has paid £13, or any other sum, so long as he has put things in a risrbt course; and that seems to have been attained by Mr Collins. Thus tbe sum may be wrong but there is no doubt, but Mr Collins has found it prudent to give a sum, and let the matter stand over with the Maoris ; and as they have only sheared about two or three hundred sheep, yon will see at 25s per hundred, £13 is a little over the pay ; but while you know the truth, as well as I can come at it, you will use your own judgment in your public remarks. I feel satisfied that the bub-bub at Masterton is all settled The rumour reported by the Masterton correspondent of the Advertiser, that a puh was in course of being built at Tv Puru Puru is a mistake, that only wants contradictory.