THE NATIVES.

Wellington Independent, Issue 2178, 11 March 1865, Page 7

THE NATIVES.

ATtRIVAL OF THE VICTOIIS AT rUTIKI. On Tuesday, the 28:h ultimo, about 150 of our natives returned, wish Mawai at their head. Their canoes were decked with evergreens, and as they approached and passed the ttwn they gave rent to their feelings of triumph in some of their chants, which have a pleasant effect on the listeners although not verj musical according to European ideas. The townspeople ashore replied by loud cheers. On reaching Putiki they marched in procession past Hoani Wiremu's grave, saluting it with a general volley. They then went to his house, and fired another

silute, and on approaching the front of the house, which was festooned wish evergreens, commenced a grand * tangi ' before the sister and children of Hoani, who were arranged in the verandah. After this was concluded speeches wero made. It appears that Mawai left Hihuharama before the rest of our natives on account of his differing from them as to the way they should proceed after the taking of Ohoutahi. He thought they should keep all the chiefs as prisoners, and proceed at once to Pipsriki and take possession of it. Hori Kingi, his elder brother, with great moderation, refused to take all the glory which would thus have been gained by his tribe, and thinking that he might lay the foundation of a firm peace without the degradation of the chiefs, was content with obtaining their promise to come to town, take the oath of allegiance, and give up f»r ever the king movement and the hau-hau fanaticism. In proof of their sincerity and good faith they gave up the wife of Pehi and those of seven other chiefs as hostages. These were brought down to Aramoho on Wednesday, together with » quunliry of arms, guns, patu, panioii, and grand mats which were given up by the conquered tribes. On Thursday morning a still larger number of the friendly natives came down the rirer, and landed at Putiki, where they went through much the same ceremonial forms as the previous party had done. MEETING WITH THE HON. MR. MANTELL. Yesterday an nsspmblnge took place at Putiki to receive the Hon. Mr Man tell and to deliver to him the arms, &c, that bad been given up by the rpbels as pledges that they were no longer at war and that they desired peace. A large quantity of food had been provided, consisting of potatoes in kits, fresh eels, newly slaughtered fat pigs, and dried dog-fish, which were laid on the ground in two long rows npar the place of meeting. A large assemblage of Europeans witnessed the proceedings, among whom we observed Lieutenant-Colonel ! Logan, Lieutenant-Colonel Dwyer, Major Durie, Rev It. Tiiyl n\ H. C burton, Esq., T. Harper, Esq., \V. H. Watt, Esq., and others of the Magistrates, Captain Noake, Lieutenant White, A.D.C., &c. A considerable number of ladies also testified by their presence to the interest they feel in the doings of our brave allies. A little after 11 o'clock the Hon. Mr Mantell arrived, and accompanied by Colouel Logan, Lieutenant White, H. Churtou, Esq., Mr Booth, and Mr Fulloon, the interpreter, walked along a line of about JSO natives armed with their gfuns and arranged two deep, that had beeu drawn up to honor the arrival of the Government's representative on the occasion. These gentlemen and others then took up their position to the left of the line, when the natives composing it fired a feu dejoie, marched to the right for some distance, and then wheeling round came up at a little faster pace than ' double quick 1 to a British flag placed near Mr' Mantell, before which they crouched down. Then arranging themselves five or six deep they went through a short war dance. On the conclusion of this ceremony a circle was formed iv front of Mr Mantell, and several chiefs made speeches of congratulation on the occasion. Among them were Hakari, Te Whaka of Pukieku, Paora, Haimona (the principal warchief), Arama, Matiu of Korinili, Aperaniko of Karatia, Hori Kingi, Mete Kingi, Kemp, &c, &c. Some of them expressed a desire that the Governor should come, and others that they should be allowed to go to Waitotara. Mete Kingi thanked the magistrates for having sent up powder, and said that White had done wrong in not sending it. Several guns, patus, paraoa, iiifie mere, and kaitaka (mats) were laid down before Mr Mantell as pledges of peace received from Pehi and his followers. Mr Churtou bid down a native spear, crying out in Maori— this is for Mr Mantell ; this is for the Queen. Kemp enumerated the loyal pas and tribes up the river, and then the pas aud redoubts of the rebils that had been taken. He gave in Pehi's gun and whalebone mere, whose name was ' Ri ktM to Kura ;' Hori Putene's son's kaitaka; another chief's tomahawk named ' Pouaka tupua ;' Tamati Waka's (brother to Pehi) tomahawk ; a wooden patu that had belonged to lleini Tihoku, a Waikato native, adding — ihese are all the Queen's. A chief's spear was handed in that bad been u-ed at Moutoa and again at Ohoutahi — its name was Ipuwarc<vare; and Moromona's dogskin mat was the last trophy laid down. Mr Mantell theu asked what the terms were that had been made with thenative«. Hori Kingi wasabout to reply, when Kemp proffered to do so; and said that when the white flag came out the firing ceased. The enemy ran out of some of the pas and were driven out of others. Had these in the large pa not surrendered Ohoutahi would have been like Mouloa. They had a conference; and Topine wrote asking them to go to Pipheriki, where the light had begun, to confer about terms. They went and had a conference on Monday, which lasted during that night. That conference ended in peace. Mete Kingi said that Pehi having been conquered was willing to submit and lake the oath of allegiance. To this they had agreed, and it was for M> Mantell to confirm the peace which they had nude. A number of the natives then sang out in chorus, 'Answer me, answer me.' Mr Mantell said that, as far as he was concerned, he approved of what had been done; but as the Governor was at Wellington he had written asking him to come up and sre what should bedoue with Pehi ; they had made peace, and it was for them, if they wished it, to recommend to the Governor that Pehi and his followers should be pardoned. He highly approved of their bravery, and congratulated them on the success they hud achieved. A general shaking of hands then took place and the meeting broke up. PRESENTATION OF THE FLAG BY .MKS LOGAN This afternoon the Maoris came up to the Market-place in order to have presented to them the flag which the ladies of Wanganui at the suggestion of Mrs Logan, resolved to present to them in honor of their bravery at the battle of Moutoa. The Maoris, of whom about 300 were armed with muskets, while there were above 100 others, landed at the breakwater above the Market Place, and being marshalled there, marched down in in a dense cohun to an open space left for them in the middle of the Place, where had already assembled a large number of spectators. A detachment of the 07ih Regiment was drawn up on the high ground on the left of the Court-house, beside whom stood Mrs Logan and the other fair donors of the flag, while to the right and left stood the other spectators in a dense line, which stretched all round the Place, the ground in the centre appropriated to the Maoris being kept by a party of the 18th Royal Irish. Iv this open space the Maoris seated themselves in two rows, and after a short interval went through a modified war dance. The chiefs to the uumberof about thirty, then came forward to the neighborhood of the flag. Near it we observed the bon. Mr Mantel), Brigadier-General Waddy, Lieu-tenani-Colonel Logan, Lieutenant-Colonel Dwyer, (who commanded the troops on the ground), Majors Matthews, Blokes, and Dinie,

Rev. Messrs Taylor and Nich oils, 11. Churtor and H. Ross, Esqs., &c Mete Kingi stoo< ! forward and Mrs Logan addressed him and tin other chiefs in the following words, Mr Bootli interpreting: — Chiefs Men of Wangan'iii.— When the Queen's soldiers have behaved with greal bravery she presents them with Colors, as a sign of her approbation, and also thai in future battles they m.iy feel that she is present with them when they look upon her digWhen the brave chiefs and Men of Wangauui fought at Moutoa, to save the lives ol European women and children from the hands of fanatics, who were maddened by the teaching of a false prophet. We, the Ladies of Wanganui, Rangitikei, and Manawatu, determined to give them this Flap, as a proof of our admiration of their noble conduct in our cjuse, also in memory of those who were killed in that battle. Since then they have fought again for us at Ohoutahi, and a hmve Chief has fallen, over whose body we were proud to see our Flag wave ' for the first time; and we believe that, coming from his grave, it will be to you, Maori Chiefs, doubly sacred ; and you will hand down to your children's children ttie flag of our Queen, which was laid over the body of John Williams. ; God save the Queen. The troops presented arms; the fine band of the 18th played " God save the Queen ,•" and Pakeha and Maori showed their lwyaliy by three loud cheer':. Mete Kingi and the other chiefs marched slowly round the open space with the flag. This terminated the proceedings with the exception of the feast provided for the Maoris, there being £30 Worth of currant loaves, buns, and cakes, and ginger and malt beer bought for the occasion by the inhabitants ; and yet there was not enough. The Flag is a very beautiful one made of white silk with the Union Jack in the upper corner, aud in the middle a gilt crown, below which is a device of two hands clasped (pakeha and maori), and underneath the word Moutoa in a semi circle, from each end of which springs a wredth of laurel leaves. It is intended now to inscribe the words Ohoutahi aud Waugaiiui on either side of the crown. The sum of £'33 was subscribed by the ladies of this neighborhood for the widows and orphans aud for the Flag. The materials for the Flag cost above £20, leaving the remainder for the other object. The subscribers are greatly indebted to Mrs Logau, who not only suggested and superintended the. whole, bul devoted live months of her spare time to the needlework of the Flag. oovernment's approval of the magistrates' sending the natives powder. Major Durie has received the following letter; — "Attorney-General's Office, Wellington, 28th Feb., 1865. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the ISth Feb., and I am directed to inform you in reply, that the Government consider that you and'the other Magistrates acted with judgment and propriety under the circumstances narrated by you. I have, &c, for the Assistant Law Officer, J. Fountain."