WAIRARAPA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2433, 27 October 1866, Page 5

WAIRARAPA.

MILES EIIOM GEEYTOWN. (FEOM OUR OWN COREESXONDENT.) Grey town, Oct. 25th, 1866. The Hau Haus, under their respective chiefs, marched to, and encamped 'at Papawai, about one-and-a-half miles from Greytown. The Volunteers, under their respective officers, are in a most efficient state, and are fully determined, in ease of an attack, to do their duty, and protect their homes and their families. There lias been an officers' guard mounted every night since Sunday, and j patrols and sentries out. Captain J. E. Boys and officers deserve the greatest praise from Government and the public, for raising and keeping up such an able and efficient corps as the Greytown Volunteers. (feo;m aw occasional correspondent.) Masterton, 24th October, 1866. As I am situated so far in the interior, it is impossible for me to judge of the accuracy or otherwise, of the rumours ' which pervade the central and lower part of this valley, and I decline to be responsible for the truth of anything but what comes under my own observation. The only reliable news I have received of the movements of the armed Hau Haus under Wi Hapi, is to the effect, that they do not intend to be in any great hurry, as to the time of their leaving this district. They are now, or will soon be, at Papawai, near Grey town, where they purpose remaining for some days. Thus their first step towards leaving is to draw near one j of our townships ; they do this, however, on the invitation of Manihera, who has prepared food for them there. Their plan I believe is to proceed thence to the East Coast, and return by the Castle Point road to this neighbourhood. The object of their visit seems to be to make converts and recruits, and to drill the Hau Haus of the district. As nearly as I can make out, Wi Hapi's lot and the armed Hau Haus of the district, number 270. One of their worst features is their saying, which is continually repeated, that they will wait and see what their " Atua " (deity) shall reveal to them to do j so that in the condition of wild fanaticism in which they now are, an accident might bring about a breach of the peace. I They ought to bo well watched, and even if Wi Hipi and his men do leave the district shortly, a vigilant eye should be kept on tho numerous armed fanatics of our own district. I The militia should most certainly be called out throughout this district at once, and armed an d trained. Every man within j live miles of any of our small townships should be either a volunteer or militiaman ; and on the slightest notice of a really aggressive act .on the part of these rebels, tho Government should call for volunteers from Wellington and the neighborhood, two or three hundred of whom should be sent on at once by conveyances to tho foot of the Kimutuka, and marched over the hill. On their arrival in this district the settlers would take charge of them and house them, and we should by this means soon have men enough for attack and defence. Eor my own part, I strongly object to a continuance of the present state of things. We j might as well be at war,' as in a constant j expectation of it ; and I am of opinion ! that unless Wi Hapi's men leave the district pretty soon they ought to be compelled to do so. In the event of an outbreak.besidessendingmenoverthehillinto this district, others could be landed in a few hours by steamers, at Te Kopi, in Palliser Bay, and at Castle Point ; and if a man-of-war happened to be in Wellington some of the crew might be spared to lend us a hand. When I was in Wellington a few days ago, some of the " authorities" expressed a doubt of. the wisdom of calling out the militia and making any armed demonstration. I j told them I thought they were entirely wrong, and that when a number of armed rebels show themselves in a district, it cannot be bad policy to let them see that there are plenty of armed men to meet them if necessary. Another unpleasant aspect of native affairs now is, that they seem to be doing nothing in tho way of self-support, and it looks very much ss if thoy were trusting to being able to obtain booty ; and really as far as this district is concerned, from the absence of all apparent preparation for defence on our pavt, they might naturally infer that their *• Atua," (god or devil) had " lulled" the pakeha, and was about to hand him and his possession over to the Maori. The Government and the Legislature together, havo invited a general insurrection of the natives by neglecting to raise a Colonial i'orce at the same timo that the Imperial troops were leaving the colony. If tho present Ministry do not stir themselves in the matter, wo shall impute their ''apathy to the fact that nearly all of them are Middle Island men, and probably, on that account, not so anxious as thoy ought to be about tho safety aud prosperity of tho settlers of this island. I am glad of tho opportunity you have given me, of asking you to urge the Government through your paper, to tako proper steps for the protection of this district, by thoroughly organising it, and .as soon aa possible placing a force (however Bmall) in the district to watch these rebel-fanatics, and* to engage their attention in the event of an outbreak, while the settlers gather for the fight. Mr. Wi Hapi and his men ought to have been stopped here, and not been allowed to pass down the valley.