Native Troubles.

The devastating Te Rauparaha wars took place about this time. These, as we know, occasioned a great deal of complication throughout the south. Sydney records make no mention of them, and as for Hobart, its allusions are so fragmentary and tribal names badly rendered as to defy identification. Hobart Town Courier, December 9, 1836, reports:—"The natives on the northern side of New Zealand were on the march to the southern tribes, Robulla (Te Rauparaha), the celebrated chief, at their head. The movements of the savages have been protracted by a severe attack of the influenza, or a disease which was similar in every respect to that which had been so prevalent here and in Sydney lately. Captain Bruce, of the Sydney Packets, states that the whole of his crew were affected with the same complaint at sea previous to arriving at New Zealand. The natives threaten to kill the steward of the Sydney Packet for bringing (as they believed him to have done) this new disorder among them. The measles, which was conveyed to New Zealand some time since, we are informed, has carried off at least 600 of the natives, and many of them are so affected by the new disorder that they are lying about the place half dead."

We have been favoured with the following extract of a letter from New Zealand by the last opportunity:—"A circumstance occurred here a short time ago which, had it turned out otherwise than it did, would have rendered the situation of the European residents very unsafe. However, the result of the affair to which I allude was most unfortunate, and has doubtless struck terror into a tribe of savages, who were the aggressors. During the absence of a sawyer from his premises his house was attacked and stripped of every article, and his wife beaten and abused. This led to a determination on the part of nearly all the Europeans (upwards of 40) to resent the injury and insult. On making known their determination to Nene and Patawahue, two very powerful chiefs, who have ever been on friendly alliance with the English, they readily volunteered their assistance. The 40 or 50 English, under the command of generals, the Rev. W. White (missionary, principally armed with faith and works, despising the use of firearms), and Mr Russell (the head merchant there), took the lead… The reserve, under General Nene and Patawahue, consisted of about 500 New Zealanders, under arms. This wellequipped little force, having marched for the enemy's pa or fortification, were page 14halted a short distance from it, when the Rev. Mr White and Mr Russell, accompanied by the two chiefs, advanced with a flag of truce boldly up to the pa, which was well fortified, and in the most pacific language remonstrated with them, disclaiming all wish to proceed to extremities, but at the same time assuring them that unless the stolen property was restored and reparation made to the injured party, the Europeans were bent upon revenge. I have been assured by a gentleman present that some of the chiefs whom they addressed wept in the expression of their regret, and stated that, as the property was not to be found, it could not be restored. They candidly admitted the offence of some of their tribe, and deplored the necessity of living with them. The storming party then advanced at the double, and on entering the fortification (which the enemy had abandoned on the departure of Messrs. White and Russell and the two chiefs) they put all the living in the garrison to death, consisting of 150 fine pigs, set fire to the pa and every house in it, and wasted their provisions and every potato they had in the flames. Thus reduced to ashes, wretchedness, and poverty, having lost all their seed potatoes, they retired to the woods. Shortly afterwards the Rev. Mr White and Mr Russell, with Nene and Patawahue, sought and came up with this unhappy tribe; and I am told the scene was most affecting… They were all drawn up in line; they wept bitterly for the offence of a few, who had involved them all in such distress; shook hands most cordially with Messrs White and Russell and the two chiefs, whom they regarded as friends, and were by them brought back to their ruined pa, where, stimulated by the humane assistance of these gentlemen, they have returned to their former habits of industry. It is impossible to do justice to the hearts of these two good men, whose conduct has made a lasting impression on the minds of all parties. This I believe to be a true and faithful statement of the affair, and I will venture to hope our Colonial Government will not pass over in silence the very meritorious conduct of Nene and Patawahue, which cannot be made too public."—Hobart Town Courier, April 17, 1835.

December 12, 1839, the Port Philip Patriot records:—"By favour of Captain Leslie, of the Falcon, we learn the following particulars of an outbreak among the natives about eight miles from Kapiti: On October 16 the Notorowkow attacked the Nottyarber tribe at 3 a.m., while asleep in their huts. The alarm being given, the Nottyarber tribe immediately rose, and a dreadful conflict ensued, which lasted till 9 a.m. About 150 of the Notorowkow were killed, and nearly twice that number wounded, while on the other side scarcely one-fourth were hurt. So confident were the Notorowkows of success that they even brought ropes to bind their captives, as also accompanied by their women and children to enjoy the feast upon the slain after the contemplated victory. The Nottyarbers were as forbearing after their victory as they proved themselves courageous in the battle. They buried their wounded enemies on the spot, with all their accoutrements, many of whom were barely dead. A native missionary from the Bay of Islands headed the Nottyarber tribe until a reinforcement came from another pa, belonging to Wykanny, headed by a chief named Mychakakow, supposed by the old men to be the chief who killed Captain Cherry, of the Caroline, and who succeeded in gaining victory of the Notorowkow tribe. After peace had been restored, the Nottyarber tribe declared that their intention was never to fight unless in the defensive. The Tory arrived next day at Kapiti, and some of the chiefs of the Nottyarber tribe repaired on board to secure medical assistance, and the surgeon of the ship immediately started overland to the scene of action, and attended the wounded. The Nottyarbers attributed their victory to their having become missionaries. The country for some distance round was in a very unsettled state when the Falcon sailed, and the probabilities are the natives will have a general war. At present a complete stoppage has taken place in trade, and the Falcon was unable to procure a single basket of potatoes. The Land page 15Company, who went cut in the Tory, had purchased the whole of Port Nicholson, and appointed a harbourmaster and a pilot."

[The Tory, being first of the New Zealand Land Company's vessels, sailed from Plymouth May 12, 1839, reaching Cook Strait August 17, 1839. At the time of its arrival the British settlers in New Zealand scarcely amounted to 1000 in all, of whom about 500 were settled in the north and about as many in Cook Strait and Banks Peninsula, further south.]