The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 17, 1863.

THE INSURRECTION IN NEW ZEALAND.

(From a Correspondent.)

DUNEDIN, OTAGO, May 18.

The assurance given to the House of Commons by
the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies as to
the prospects of peace in New Zealand will not
have prepared the British public for the announce-
ment that the colony is on the eve of another war,
if hostilities have not by this time been commenced
by the Governor, for the natives have already
struck the first blow. Another of those murderous
attacks which characterised the opening period of
the last Taranaki war has just occurred at Taranaki,
resulting in the deaths of two officers and six men
of the 57th Regiment. They were escorting some
provision carts, and, surprised by a Maori ambus-
cade, were shot down and tomatnew lied, their
bodies being afterwards horribly mutilated. Before
proceeding to detail the circumstances in connexion
with this melancholy off sir, I will briefly recapi:u-
late the events which have ted to it. The condition
of the settlement of Taranaki has for a long time
bee❑ a scandal to the colony. The unfortunate
settlers, whom the last war had made houseless and
homeless, and who were earning only a scanty pit-
tance as road labourers, had anxiously expected a
visit from Sir George Grey ever since his arrival in
ihe colony, but it was not until the early part of
March last that his Excellency had been able to
proceed to Taranaki. The General Assembly in
the last Session passed a vote of £200,000 " for the
reinstatement of Taranaki," such reinstatement to
be effected in such manner as his Excellency ono
his advisers should deem advisable. It was for this
purpose that his Excellency visited the settle-
ment, and it is from this visit that have arisen
the circumstances which have followed. During
the list war at Taranaki the settlers lo-
cated on a block of land a few miles to the south
ut New Plymouth, which is known as the
" Tatarimeka Bock," were compelled, owing to the-
unprotected state of the position, to desert their
farms and come into the town. Tne Tataraimaka
was of no value as a strategic point, and the enema
were allowed to occupy it, and destroy and plunder
the deserted homes of the settlers. At the cessation
of hostilities there was no agreement made as to
the restoration of Tataraimaka, and the natives occu-
pying it were permitted to rest in possession; at least,
co attempt was matte to dislodge them. Consequently
ever since the close of the last war, until quite re-
cently the " Tataraimaka Block" has remained in
the possession of the natives, who, with some shoe
of reason, claimed to have conquered it by force of
arms. It must be borne in mind that there was n(
question of title involved in the possession of thin
bock of laud. The legal right of the Europeans to
It was never called in question by the natives ;
therefore ita occupation was a question affecting
only the natives immediately concerned, and not
as in the case of the Weitara, a matter in which the
whole native population, or at least numerom
powerful tribes of it, was interested. It was ob
vious that no reinstatement of the settlement or
New Plymouth could be k ffected so long as a bud)
of rebellious natives occupied one of the finest por-
tions of tne district, the actual property of the
settlers, and within a few miles of the town. le
was, therefore, always expected that the reoccupa-
tion of the" Tataraimaka Block" would be one of
►he first steps of his Excellency, and it was toleratety
certain that if this was effected by force a general
disturbance would be the result. His Excellency
had evidently paved the way for this step months
before; and while the colonists were blaming him
for neglecting Taranaki, he had, by a wise and far-
sighted policy, been taking measures for the restore-
-ion of the land peaceably and quietly. A short
time before proceeding to Taranaki, Sir George
Grey made a flying visit, privately and withou.
ceremony to the Waikatoes—a numerous and
powerful section of natives living on the Waikato
river. TheWeikato is the stronghold of the "King'
party, and here reside the Maori King and his most
influential supporters. Ugly rumours had been
promulgated respecting the disorganised state 03
this district, and Sir George determined to see for
himself. He accordingly left Auckland, attended
only by two or three chiefs in the employ of the
Government, and, unannounced and unexpected, be
succeeded in reaching the very centre cf disaffection,
and penetrated even to the sanctum sanctorum of
Maori Royalty, but the dusky Monarch was away
with his Court at some other place. It was not
long before Sir George was recognised, and the new,
spread like wildfire that the Governor was among
hem. Deputations of chiefs came in from all direc
lions, all anxious to rub noses " with their father
tie Governor." There was universal rejoicing all
along the river; a picked crew of young eniets
padded the Governor's canoe from peace to place,
young girls and women chanted songs of welcome,
end the greatest kindliness prevailed. Still, it is
worthy of remark, as strewing how little reliance is
to be placed on these manifestations of personal
regard, that they went no further than this. The
natives forgot the Governor in the friend, and so
long as his Excellency maintained that position they
were content to bury the remembrance of the
quarrels and disputes which had occurred previously.
But it would not do for the Governor to content
himself with paying and receiving friendly compli,
rnents. He had come to judge for himself of the
intentions of the natives, and to endeavour to die
suede them from the suicidal opposition to his plans
which had been organised. A magician's wand
could not have wrought a more sudden change than
did theintroduction of political subjects. The chiefs
who had been foremost in their demonstrations
of welcome now grew cold and silent. In reply to
his Excellency's advice to give up their "King"
movement, as it would certainly bring them into
trouble, they positively refused to do so. They were
disposed to concede every other demand bat this.
Their opposition to roads and steamers, and the
'Taranaki question, were minor considerations com-
pared to their support of their King, as the embodi
went of a distinct nationality. A sudden attack of
illness compelled Sir George Grey to return withou
extending his visit as he had intended, but before he
'.eft he made a memorable declaration to the "King"
chiefs. He told them he intended to go to Taranaki
and take possession of his land there, mean*.
Ta.teraimaka. It is tolerably certain that his Ex-
cellency obtained a promise from the Waikato chief:
not to interfere with his movements at Tataraimaka.
This promise, there is reason to believe, has been
kept, as evidence is given of letters having been
sent to the Taranaki natives, counselling them to
give up the land to the Governor. . .

_
On March 6th his Excellency, accompanied by
Gen. Cameron and the Colonial Secretary and
Native Minister, left Auckland for Taranaki. H«
first had an interview with the Taranaki settlers,
and his next step was to order the miiitary in gar-
rison to march out and occupy Watreka-hill, a coin
manding position south of the to wn,the gallant taking
of which during the last war by the men of the
Niger, under Capt. Cracroft, will be remembered.
This position, abandoned after the war, and since
occupied by the Maories, lay between the town and
the Tats.ratmaka Block. It was quietly taken pos-
session of by the troops, and a stockade completed
on the 17th of March, just three years that very day
since the outbreak of the last war. Deputations of
native chiefs waited upon the Governor to deprecate
the steps he was taking, but his excellency told them
very plainly he intended to take possession of all
land the rightful property of the Europeans. As to
Waitara, it should be investigated. I❑ order to
prepare for any emergency, as the attitude of the
natives round Taranaki. was not very assuring,
strong reinforcements were sent for from Auckland,
and 100 men of the Royal Artillery, under Captain
Mercer, were formed in'o a body of irregular cavalry
ro co-operate with the mounied force being orga-
nised under the Colonial Defence Act passed last
session. This latter force has been placed under the
command of Lieut.-Col. Nixon. A demonstration of
the troops in garrison was made in the direction of
the Tataraimaka ; but, as the reinforcements had not
arrived, no attempt at occupation of the position was
made, and the troops returned to town. No natives
were encountered, and beyond the vaguest rumours
there was no evidence of any intended opposition to
the occupation. On the arrival of the reinforcements,
a strong force, consisting of 200 of the 57th, uudsr
Col. Warre, and 100 artillerymen acting as cavalry,
but having two guns, under Capt. Mercer, was at

once marched out to Tataraimaka, his Excellency
and Gen. Cameron accompanying it. No opposition
was ()titled ; on the contrary, the Governor was re-
ceived with white flogs flying and general shouts of
welcome by the natives, who had congregated in
considerable numbers, unarmed, to receive his Ex-
cellency. this peaceful solution was no doubt brought
about—first, by the admirable and powerful disposi-
tion of the military force; and, secondly, by the
knowledge on the part of the natives concerned
that they could not count upon any active assist-
ance, in case of resistance, from their powerful
allies, the Waikatoes. Although they had given up
Tataraimaka so quietly, more than one dark hint
was thrown nut that the Governor must stay his
hand there, or else trouble would result. It was
not long before a complication arose. I must state
that the Taterai make block of land is divided from
the settlement of New Plymouth by a belt of country
the property of natives, and through which no Eu-
ropean is allowed to pass. The road to the Tata-
raimaka from New Plymouth skirts along the beach.
Some alterations were deemed necess try in this
road, and a military road party was put on it. It
tad occasion to take some stones out of the bed of a
rivulet running from and through the native land.
Tnis proceeding gave great offence to the Maories,
..nd their etti.tea was esteemed so dangerous that
earful of a possible collision, the road party was
withdrawn. Every precaution was taken to avoid
disputes with the natives, and it was hoped that
hey would gradually settle down into quietness, but
it soon became evident that the quiet manner in
which Tataraimaka had been given up was nothing
upon which to build hopes of peace. The natives
distrusted the Governor, they saw he was quietly
getting round them, and they evidently felt that
they were in his toils, from which nothing but a
vigorous struggle could extricate them. Tney would
not believe that, having come so far and brought so
:erge a force, the Governor would be content with
simply taking possession of his own land. The whole
aative population in the neighbourhood of Taranaki
became excited, and the marching of armed parties,
witnessed from the redoubts, the burning of large
beacon fires at night—ail denoted a high state of fer-
tneut. From the Waikato district the news was dis-
court gcng. An armed party of 200 natives, under the
flag of ihe King, had proceeded to pull down a court-
house being built by the Government ; they had then
marched to the establishment of Mr. Gorst, the com-
missioner of the district, and who had lately incurred
some odium among therebel natives by issuing a news-
paper in the native tongue to counteract the journal
published by the Maori King. Mr. Gorst was not
at home at the time, sod the Maories broke open his
printing-cffice and carried off the printing-press,
type, Bec. It was evident mischief was brt wing iu
that locality, and it was not long before Mr. Garet
and his family had to leave the district. Since then
the Europeans residing in the Waikato country
have all been compelled to leave. Many of these bad
tnarried native women, and their hell-caste chil-
eren had been carefully educated and well brought
up; these the natives, in conformity with their old
customs, have taken possession of. Even the mis-
sionaries have been dr,ven from the district.

Intelligence was received in Auckland that a
large party of Waikato natives were marching down
o laranaki, and Gen. Cameron, who had ouly lett
the latter place a few days previously, at once hur-
ried back in the steamer. He did not arrive at an
oo soon. Matters were looking decidedly ugly;
ell sorts of rumours were flying about, and it was
considered advisable totake extra precautions. On
April 25 a warning wee sent to the Governor by
Nome friendly natives that the rebels intended to
commence fighting on the day but one following
(Monday). Similar intimations had been conveyed
to the settlers living outside the town, and they
were all in a great state of trepidation, many of
them coming into town. His Excellency chose to
disregard this warning, and even endeavoured to
induce the settlers to go back to their farms, as they
had nothing to fear. It was a most fortunate thing
that his advice was not taken, and that it had not
been necessary to send oat small detached parties of
military during that day, as it was afterwards dis
covered that an ambush of three armed parties of
rebel natives had been stationed on the road be-
tween New Plymouth and Tataraimaki, with the
-.vowed intention of cutting off the first Euro-
peans who should pass that way• Still, singular
as it may seem, although the threatening atti-
tude of the natives was publicly known and com-
mented on by the Taranaki journals, no steps were
-aken by the Governor—or, at any rate, only very
imperfect steps—to guard against the danger. It
would appear that his Excellency would not believe
the Maories intended to fight, and he was deter-
mined, if pussible, not to be the first to strike a blow.
The result is soon told, and a melancholy tale it is.
Two escort parties were passing along the Tatarai-
tnaka road on Monday, May 4, when they were fired
Into by some natives in ambush. One of the escort
parties managed to retreat in safety, but the officers
end men composing the other party were, with one
Paception, shot down, and their bodies afterwards
brutally mutilated. Those killed are Staff Assistant
Surgeon W. A. Hope, 3.1.13., Lieut. T. H. Tradgett,
57th Regiment, Sergeant Samuel Hill, 57th Regi-
(nem, and Privates Edward Kelly, John Flynn,
Bartholomew Macarthy, end William Backs, 57th
Regiment. When found, the bodies presented a
'rightful spectacle, and those of the officers had been
iniost entirely stripped of their clothing. Mr. Hope
lad been shot through the right shoulder, the ball
laving penetrated both lunge and lodged near the
pine on the left side. There was a tomakawk wound
over the left side of his head and a deep spear wound
through the face and upper jaw. Lieut. Tradgett
nad been shot through the chest and through the
~high, but had no other wound. The other victims
read various gunshot wound,
and had been hacked
tbout the head with tomahawks and speared through
Ihe chest. Mr. Tradgett appears to have died almost
instantly, but Dr. Hope must have struggled hare
with his assailants. The sergeant was senior colour-
sergeant of his regiment, and Kelly had five medals.
The receipt of the intelligence produced a pro-
found sensation in Taranaki. Alarm guns werc
tired from the redoubt on Marsland bill, and mes-
engers despatched into the country to order all the
out-settiere into the town. Two hundred volun-
teers were told off for patrol duty. On the follow-
ing day the troops were marched out and took up a
position on native laud, and a redoubt was hastily
constructed. No natives were encountered.
I forgot to state that the arms and ammunition
of the murdered men and the carts of provisions
were taken possession of and driven uff by the
eatives. Sir George Grey adopted the plan of re-
garding this outrage as a murder, and thus, if pos-
stble,depriving the oircumstencee of the character of
a successful combat. An inquest was accordingly
held on the bodies, when the jury found a verdict
in accordance with the circutniatences, adding to
their verdict their opinion that, though the Govern
aunt were in possession of information of the dan-
gerous state of the road, owing to the threateneu
recommencement of hostilities, sufficient precautions
had not been taken.

The greatest excitement prevails all over the
colony. Her Majesty's ship Eclipse has just returned
with a reinforcement of 300 troops from Auckland,
and has gone back for more. The Governor has
delegated his authority to the Superintendents of
the North Island Provinces, authorising them
to call out the militia it necessary, and by the
eteamer just arrived at Port Otago a communi-
cation has been received from the Governor stating
that the G vernment have determined on occupying
the native land between New Plymouth and the
Tatarimaka, in °tier to place thereon a settlement
of persons able to protect themselves. Free grants
of 50 acres of land and one acre at the situ of the
viliages, arms, ammunition, and rations are offered
to all who will hold the land on a system o)
military tenure. Stockades are to be built on the
land. The greatest enthusiasm on the subject pre-
vails in Otago, and I have no doubt a sufficient
number of volunteers will come forward. There
are now about 30,000 able-bodied men in this pro-
vince, and it is seriously contemplated to raise a
volunteer contingent of 1,000 men.
Of course, -it is impossible to predict what will be
the result of the late outrage. By the last advises,
a large body of 'Waikato natives were marching
down to Turanaki, and if the Governor should fine
it necessary to proceed to hostilities it is very pro•

bable that the whole native population south of
Auckland will be drawn into the struggle. It may
be safely stated that fully 20,000 natives are located
in the country between Auckland and Taranaki,
and these tribes are openly hostile to the Europeans.
It is a fortunate thing that the natives appear will-
ing to confine hostilities to the old theatre—Tara-
naki; and, unless further complications arise, it is
improbable that any attack will be made upon
Auckland. The military road is now open to the
Waikato river, and fully commands the approach to
Auckland on the south, and it is not likely the
natives will be able to threaten the capital from any
other direction. One thing is very certain,—that
Sir George Grey will not precipitate matters, anc.
the colonists have every confidence in his judgment.
If wir ensue it will be nothing of his seeking, and
he will be the better enabled to strike boldly when
the necessity arises from the knowledge that every
other alternative has been exhausted.

The Waitara, that old bone of contention, has
been give❑ np by the Governor. This I have on
the most undoubted authority. Au investigatiot,
has been going on quiet ly for some time, and I be-
lieve his Excellency has decided upon handing
over the disputed land to the rival native claimants
to settle the matter among themselves. This is a
wise and politic measure, and will remove the last
plea for antagonism on the part of the " King"
natives. It remains to be seen what effect it will
have on the natives, and if it do not result in
silencing their opposition it will prove that they are
actuated only by a spirit of determined hostility.
Sir George Grey may depend on the general sup-
port of the colonists at this crisis. All eady a com-
mon danger has enlisted a common sympathy, and
although the Governor has been blamed by a large
section of the colonists, all differences of opinion art
now merged into a general expression of sympathy
and support. _ _

Most of the men of the 65th Regiment, whose
term of service is almost expired, are going to re-
main as settlers in the colony, facilities for that pur-
pose being under the consideration of the Govern-
ment. It was intended to purchase Tataraimak.
from the settlers, and place a military settlement
there.

It is satisfactory to state that, apart from the
native difficulties, the colony is rapidly progressing.
The Middle Is:and provinces, being untrammelled
with native ff.irs, are going rapidly ahead. Much
of this is no doubt due to the impetus given to every
branch of industry by the gold discoveries in Nel-
son and Otago. Some idea of the pt ogress the
Middle Island is making may be gathered from the
following comparative, statement of: imports, ex-
ports, and revenue :

IMPORTS.

1862. 1861.
North Island £1,273,293 £937,385

Middle Island .... 3,352,798

1,556,426

EXPORTS.
1862. 1861.
North Island £265,585 £212.540
Middle Island

Increase
for 1862.
£335,808
1,796,372

Increase.
553,045
998,549

CUSTOMS' REVENUE.
1862. 1661. In c rear*
North Island £141,686 £120,909 £14,677
Aldo's Island „ 256,686 134,004 122,682
Miss Rye's mission to this colony has bas been a
subject of general interest, and has, on the whole,
beau successful. Like most first attempts, some
mistakes have been made, but the experience that
lady has obtained will enable her to prosecute her
philanthropic efforts to find homes and employment
for the thousands of our fellow-countrywomen suf-
fering in England. Miss Rye was not so fortunate
in her selection of emigrants as she might have been,
and the consequence as that her protegees were a
longer time in obtaining employment than they
would have been if they had been of a better clues.
While there is a steady demand for good domestic
servants, there is but little chance for women who
have been entirely unaccustomed to work. For
governesses, sempstresses, and women of light occu-
pation, there is but a very limited opening indeed,
and any large emigration of these classes to New
Zaaland would only end in misery. Really well-
educated governesses will generally find employ-
ment, but a great proportion of those who come to
Vie colony in that capacity have not fulfilled that
condition. It is a great mistake to suppose that
any ordinarily educated person can obtain employ
went as governess here.

A movement is going on in the colony for the
purpose of bringing out families of the distresseO
cotton operatives in England, and establishing
pecial settlements in various parts of the cololis.
Several schemes are at present being discussed, but
cis yet nothing definite has been decided on.
The goldfields of the colony are steadily pro,
4ressing in exten• and value, and several ships car-
rying large freights of gold have left for England
direct. 1 reserve further particulars respecting the
New Zealand goldfields for another communication.