Rangihaeata and the Porirua Road.

On the 1st of July, 1841, travellers using the Porirua bridle road made a formal application to the Police Magistrate at Wellington for his official interference to forbid the obstruction of this natural highway. Rangihaeata and his followers had destroyed some of the bridges on the Porirua bridle-road, and in some places trees were purposely felled across the narrow path with a view to preventing the easy passage of travellers. No notice of these acts of aggression was taken by the Police Magistrate, who met the question in a very easy and diplomatic style. He “deeply regretted the inconvenience to the travellers, but had no power to interfere with what was an immemorial and recognised usage among the natives, which was that of tapu (or sacred) on account of the drowning of a chief named Koraria near Rangitikei.” page 90 Mr. Murphy added that to attempt violently to break through it would involve greater feelings of hostility and inconvenience to the settlers.

In the town itself, the want of authority vested in the sole legal officer was producing great mischief. Numerous persons were squatting in the lands reserved for public purposes, and destroying the ornamental timber upon them. At this time complaints were made against the evil of non-resident proprietors, many of whom had given but very limited powers to their agents, restricting them in most cases to granting leases of seven years duration.

Some more excitement was caused on the 5th of August by the finding of the dead body of a native at Te Aro by two Europeans. Two doctors expressed their opinion that the man, a native of Kaiwharawhara had died of apoplexy. The body was removed to Kaiwharawhara, and a post-mortem was about to be performed, when Wharepouri arrived, furious and bent on mischief. He forbade the proposed proceeding and endeavoured to persuade his people that the man had been murdered by the white people. His fiery eloquence stirred the wild passions of the tribe, and threats of blood for blood were loudly made.

Mr. Murphy retired from the scene, and sent word round to a large number of the Colonists to hold themselves in readiness to preserve the public peace, should any violence be attempted. This had a salutary effect in calming the natives.

That evening a meeting was to be held on some question connected with the proposed Corporation Bill. Previous to proceeding on its intending business, the meeting was addressed by Colonel Wakefield, Dr. Evans, Mr. Wicksteed, Mr. Murphy and others. Capt. Hobson was severely censured for having so long left the settlement in a defenceless position and three resolutions were passed:—1st, “That the executive authority vested in the Police Magistrate at Port Nicholson, is inadequate to the wants of the settlement.” 2nd, “That the mischief arising and likely to ensue from this want of sufficient executive power is solely attributable to the neglect of the Government, placed several hundred miles distant from Port Nicholson, the principal settlement in these Islands.” 3rd. “That unless the Queen's representative speedily adopts measures to remedy this evil, it will become necessary for Her Majesty's faithful subjects to organise the means of protection against disturbers of the public peace and the opponents of British law and authority, which is presumed to be established in New Zealand.”

The continued assertions that the native had been murdered by the white people, and the flocking of large numbers of Maoris into the Pas in and near the town, induced a serious apprehension that an attack was meditated by them. A meeting of settlers was held on the 6th, and a large number of them were sworn in as special constables. During Saturday and Sunday great excitement prevailed; armed watches were kept; and some foolish and timid persons raised false alarms by spreading exaggerated reports and firing guns during the night. On Monday morning there was a large assemblage at the Court House, and one of the special constables proved the use of calling out undisciplined men and arming them in an emergency, by shooting a man in the next rank accidentally through the leg. A notice was then published declaring that there was no danger; but at the same time it appointed commanders of the volun- page 91 teers, places of rendezvous, special constables and signals of alarm.

Two days later the natives met and performed their funeral ceremonies, after which everything remained quiet and the excitement subsided. Another meeting was held on the 20th April regarding the action of Rangihaeata and fifty of his followers, armed with guns, horse pistols and tomahawks, in the destruction of some unfinished buildings, intended for a sawmill, in the Porirua district. The sufferer estimated the loss at £50, including some pounds of nails stolen by the marauders. The meeting expressed the readiness of the inhabitants of Wellington as a body, to support the authority of the Magistrate in any was that he should require. A deputation waited on Mr. Murphy, to convey to him the feeling of the public; but he bowed them of in a diplomatic way, saying that he would avail himself of their services when in his opinion recourse to them was expedient.