The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-19 00:00:00

NEW ZEALAND•

(From the Correspondent of the Times.)
WELLINGTON, Oct. 14.
The Government proclamation of last month de-
claring the West Coast war at an end has unfortu-
nately not only been treated with contempt by the
natives, to whom it granted a general amnesty, but
they have treacherously murdered the agents em-
ployed in its circulation.
On the 21st September a native policeman named
Kereti was despatched by Brigadier-General Waddy
to the Waitotara tribe. Kereti, who himself belonged
to that tribe, made the assembled natives acquainted
with the fact of the issue of a peace proclamation,
and the Governor's intention to send copies if they
felt inclined to receive them. On their professing
themselves anxious that copies should be sentKereti
returned to the Wereroa redoubt to report progress,
and set off next morning with a full supply. He had
hardly got out of sight when the report of firearms
was heard, and on Col. Trevor despatching a party
to his relief he was found stripped of his clothes and
with six bullets in his body. He survived two days
and was able to name his murderers.

At the same time that Kereti started on his first
errand, another messenger (a released prisoner named
Tarin) started with a bundle of the proclamations
in another direction, and was nearly meeting with a
similar fate. For some time it was discussed whether
he should be shot or sent as a prisoner inland, but
eventually the influence of a couple of the principal
chiefs prevailed over the voices of the mob, and
Tarin was sent back, proclamations and all.
It would have been thought that there could be
no mistake in interpreting the temper of the rebels
when they deliberately committed such outrages as
these on their own relative and friend ; but the
events of the next week furnished another instance
of that blind confidence which still induces many of
those who have known the natives long to ignore the
change which ilau-hauism has made in their charac-
ter and conduct.
Towards the end of September some natives planted
a white flag in the neighbourhood of a military post
at Patea, with a letter apparently requesting a
friendly interview (face to face, voice to voice") ;
whereupon Brigadier-General Waddy at once sent
Mr. C. W. Broughton, interpreter to the forces, to
ascertain what it was they wanted. On Saturday,
the 30th, Mr. Broughton, accompanied by an officer
and a friendly native, reached the trysting-place,
and were there met by a rebel bearing a white flag,
who asked them to visit the natives at their village,
a little way further inland. Recognising him as hav-
ing been apprehended some time ago for horse steal-
ing, Mr. Broughton distrusted his representations
and refused to go unless he firstfetched an old native
friend named Ruka, known to be living there. Ruka
was accordingly fetched, the rebels at the same time
endeavouring to remove any lurking feeling of dis-
trust by hoisting a large white flag on a very con-
spicuous hill. Ruka gave assurances of safety, and
intimated that the rebels were desirous of receiving
information about the peace proclamation, of which
they had casually heard. Mr. Broughton felt no
hesitation about going on himself, but at the urgent
request of the friendly native who had accom-
panied him from the camp he determined to wait
until next morning. Early next day several of
the rebels came down to invite Mr. Broughton up.
Among them were some who were personally known
to him, but as Ruka was not one of them he re-
fused to go. Ruka was again sent for, and came
with fresh assurances of safety. There were many
circumstances calculated to excite suspicion, and
Mr. Broughton's European and native companions
both endeavoured to dissuade him from venturing.
He, however, requested them to return to the Patea
camp, and, expressing his confidence that all was
right, accompanied Ruka and the otljer rebels to
their village. On the following morning about 7
o'clock three shots were heard, a red flag was
at the same time hoisted at the spot to which Mr.
Broughton had gone, and shortly afterwards the
white flag on the hill was hauled down. That he
was purposely entrapped and murdered there can be
no doubt. Attempts have since been made to com-
municate with the natives concerned, but in vain ;
and they have shot one of the Military Train Corps.
The Colonial Government, immediately on hear-
of Kereti's murder, issued a notice offering a reward
of £l,OOO for any one of the three natives implicated,
and an additional £lOO for each of the other two.
A similar reward will probably be issued relative to
to the murder of Mr. Broughton, as soon as it is ab-
solutely known that such is alant: Anywhere else ,
than in New Zealand the troops wmild have at: once
beerr pitt'iti motion, and condign*ptitdshment at-
tempted; but here the rule has hitherto been to treat
such -outrages as mere episodes—almost as mere
matters of course. There-is reason, however, to
hope that such is not in this instance to be the case.
The Governor was desirous of immediately proceed-
ing to Wanganui to concert measures with Briga-
dier-General Waddy ; but, as General Chute was
daily expected, it was deemed better that his Excel-
lency should wait his arrival. 'The General arrived
on the Bth inst., and the most frank explanations
and cordial desires for mutual support have taken
place on all sides. Three days ago the Native
Minister announced that military movements in con-
nexion with the late murders were on the lapis, and
if ever a commander is called upon to show the
stuff he is made of it must" be on such an occasion
as this, where Government agents are entrapped
and shot down in the manner in which Mr. Brough-
ton and Kereti have been. Colonel Gorton, of the
Wanganui Militia, , immediately on receiving
the news offered to head a volunteer expedition,
but Brigadier-General Waddy considered his
instructions did not warrant his sanctioning
any other than defensive measures. Whether Gen.
Chute will alter this miserable state of things re-
mains to be seen, but whether he does so or not the
feeling is little short of universal that we are on the
eve of a war of utter extermination throughout the
whole of the Ngatiruanui country. Even the Abo-
rigines' Protection Society must admit that further
trifling with such vagabonds can do no good. The
only effect of the late act of leniency--the issue of
a general amnesty—is to excite the contempt of
friends as well as foes. The friendly natives see
with considerable surprise that every proclamation
is more and more favourable than the one that pre-
ceded it, and I am serious in saying that there is a
conviction in the minds of many of them that if the
rebels continue to hold out they will get all their
confiscated lands returned and seed potatoesinto the
bargain. When the troops do go,
andthewcOrkimitsl
are allowed to fight as they please, short
be made with the West Coast rebels.
Great as is the indignation of the colonists, I
understand that no one feels more indignant than
does the Native Minister. For years Mr. Fitz-
gerald has manifested a chivalry on behalf of the
rebellious natives detrimental in the highest de-
gree to that influence in the State which his
brilliant abilities would otherwise have given him.
His accession to office two months since was at first
regarded with no little dismay, and was tolerated
only because the -Weld Ministry was sufficiently
strong to do what it pleased without risk. It was,
however, hoped that the responsibility of office
would render Mr. Fitzgerald's views less visionary,
and the hope was soon found to be well grounded.
His moderation in office has, with, perhaps, one
or two exceptions, been most marked, and now
the murder of his messengers carrying his peace
proclamations has opened Mr. Fitzgerald's eyes
more thoroughly than any one had anticipated. A
few days more, and most persons feel convinced
that, so far, at least, as the rebellious Ngatiruanuis
are concerned, his policy will be the, exact converse
of his hitherto favourite axiom, " The pen is
mightier than the sword." Circumstances, to be
presently narrated, have, however, probably brought
his official career prematurely to a close.
The news from the East Coast, although of an en_
tirely cheering character, is soon told. At Waipu
Major Frazer's volunteer party has been reinforced,
but some ugly pahs stop the way, and the want of
artillery is seriously felt. At Opotoki the colonial
forces, whose arrival and early success I mentioned
in a postscript last month, have completely cleared
the coast country, driving the Volkner-murdering
rebels before them. The skirmishing (for it has
been little more) does not present points of interest
requiring detail, while our casualties have been con-