The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-25 00:00:00

THE AFFRAY IN NEW ZEALAND.
The following description, from the pen of an Ame-
rican officer, Captain M.Keever, of the disastrous affray.
at Russell, will be read with interest. It is dated front
on board the frigate Brandywine :
"On the 3d of March we anchored at the Bay of
Islands. Here I found affairs in a very disturbed an-1
critical state, open hostilities having just commenced be 4
tween the natives under their celebrated chief lieki and
the English authorities at Kororarika, a town of 500
inhabitants. Her Britannic Majesty's sloop of war
Hazard was lying off the town to protect it, and a flag-
staff was erected on a neighbouring hill, which had been
cut down several times by lieki. I anchored the St.
Louis above the town, and opposite a place called the
Wahapo, where is situated a large American mercantile
establishment, and whose buildings at this time con-
tained some 60,000 dolls, worth of property owned in
the United States.
" In these difficulties between the English on the one
hand, and the native-born men of the soil on the other,
I determined to pursue a course of impartial neutrality,
and at the same time to evince, practically, my anxiety
to prevent the usual barbarity of savage warfare. To
this end, I succeeded in obtaining an interview with the
chief Ileki, and making him to understand the course I
intended to pursue. I obtained from him a pledge that
he would inflict no injury upon women or children, upon
the missionary establishments at the Bay, nor upon the
American property at the Wahapo—a pledge which he
faithfully kept.
"It was reported to me that Ileki was making im-
proper use of an American flag, which by some means
he had obtained possession of ; and, having seen it fly-
ing shortly after in one of his war canoes as he passed
the ship, I proceeded on shore, and obtaining another in-
terview with him, inquired his object in displaying the
flag of the United States ; he informed me that he had
done so purely in compliment to the ship, and in token
of friendship to all Americans. After explaining to him
the nature of a national flag, and that my country being
at peace with England he must not hoist it, as none but
Americans were entitled to its protection, he desisted
from using it.
"On the 11th of March, at daylight, the natives,
feigning a general attack upon the town, carried the
blockhouse erected for its protection, took the signal
station, and cut down the flagstaff. At meridian, to add
to the misfortunes of the day, the depot of powder he-
longing to the inhabitants by accident blew up, killing
and wounding many. The town was now hastily aban-
doned, and in the course of that and the following day
sacked and destroyed, with the exception of the churches
and mission-houses. Our boats during the morning of
the action were actively engaged in bringing off the
wounded and the women and children to vessels in the
harbour. The commander of the Hazard was mortally
wounded, and I believe in all fifteen or sixteen Europeans
were killed in the conflict, and about the same number
wounded. The loss on the part of the natives is sup-
posed to be greater.
" A request having csrne from the Hazard for the
medical officers of the ship to assist in dressing the
wounded, they promptly repaired on board, and to carry
out my neutral views, upon a similar. request from the
camp of Heki, they were directed to proceed on shore
the following day, and offer the same services, which
were as kindly received.
"Feeling called upon to afford all the aid in my power
to the housL less inhabitants, I at once offered a passage
to Auckland (the seat of government of New Zealand)
to as many as might wish to go. Accordingly, on the
13th, about 150 persons—men, women, and children—
were received on board, and in company with the sloop
of war Hazard and an English whale-ship, having on
board the remainder of the inhabitants, we proceeded to
Auckland, and landed them there on the 16th. It was
my intention to have sailed thence direct Ito Otalmite ;
but, on the eve of our departure from the bay, such
strong and urgent representations were made to me by
the agents of the American property, of the great dan-
ger to which it would be exposed in the absence of the
ship, that I contented to return immediately ; and sub-
sequent events have proved the propriety of that course.
On the 18th we left Auckland, where we met with great
kindness from Governor Fitzroy and the authorities, and
on the following day anchored again in the bay. '
All the American property was shipped aboard the
American whalers, of which several were there, and
whom I induced to receive and proceed with it to the
United States. By these opportunities I communicated
with the Navy Department, copies of which letters are
enclosed.
" The opportune arrival, on the 31st of March, of her
Majesty's frigate North Star, Captain Sir Everard
Home, relieved me from a delicate position, and left me
at liberty to proceed on my cruise. The documents
from him, in relation to an intended blockade of the
bay, together with the copy of a letter from Governor
Fitzroy, of New Zealand, are herewith enclosed. *
" The Bay of Islands has heretofore been the chief
resort in these seas for our whalers ; but the present
difficulties between the English and natives must effec-
tually close it against them for some time. It is com-
puted that there are generally not less than 150 American
whale ships cruising off the coasts of New Zealand.
" At this season of the year the sperm whalers proceed
to the north-west coasts of America and the seas con-
tiguous to Japan. I have met several who were
destined there.
" At the Bay of Islands we have had no properly
commissioned Consul for some years. This, I found,
had been a source of regret to all parties concerned.
" In the general desertion of the place, I directed
the records, seals, flags, &c., of the Consulate to be
dispatched to the care of the United States Consul at
Sydney.
" I may here remark, that, in our intercourse with
the various authorities of the ports we have visited, and
with the American Consuls, the courtesies of the
former, with the attention, kindness, and high stand-
ing of the latter, have afforded me much gratification
and pride.
" I have received on board, at Hobart Town, Sydney,
and the Bay of Islands, several sick and destitute Ame-
rican seamen, some of whom are now able to do duty,
and serve partially, to make up the deficiency in the
ship's complement.'
In connexion with the preceding letter of. Captain
M‘Keever, we lay before our readers the *following
letter from the British Minister to the Secretary of State,
furnished to the Navy Department, by which we have
been favoured with a copy :
" Washington, Sept. 6, 1845.
" Sir,—The enclosed extract of a dispatch, lately re-
ceived by her Majesty's Government from the Governor
of New Zealand, will inform you of the friendly and ge-
nerous.assistance afforded by an officer of the United
States navy, Captain ril`Keever, of the St. Louis, to the
local authorities and the European inhabitants of that
settlement, in a case of great emergency.
"In making this communication to you, I am com-
manded to express to the Government of the United
States the high sense which her Majesty entertains of
the services rendered by Captain M'Keever on the occa-
sion referred to.
" I have the honour to be, with high consideration,
" Sir, your obedient servant,
" R. PAKENHAM.
" The lion. James Buchanan, &c."
EXTRACT OF A DISPATCH FROM GOVERNOR FITZROY
TO LORD STANLEY.
" Auckland, March 26, 1845.
"The Captain of the United States frigate St. Louis,
Captain D. M'Keever, did everything that a humane and
brave officer of a foreign but friendly power could do
under such circumstances.
"He could not interfere hostilely ; but he sent his un-
armed boats, and went himself, undr frequent fire, to
succour the women and children, and convey them safely
to his frigate.
"He afterwards brought 125 souls to Ackland ; and
he is now at anchor in the Bay of Islands, ready to afford
a refuge to our missionaries and their families, should
they require such friendly assistance'