RAGLAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 2018, 8 July 1870, Page 4

RAGLAN.

[FROM CUE OWN COUKESPONDENr.] July -i. I AM glad to be able to say that the report of Rtiapuki settlers having been ordered by the llauhaus to leavo their homesteads has turned out to be incorrect, and affairs are now settling dowu into their usual state of quietude.

Mr. Searancke, R.M., who, in consequence of the alarming accounts, had come over from Hamilton on Friday, presided at a public meeting held to-day, which was well attended bv many natives as well as by the f-ettlers. The duties of the Chairman were of rather an oueroua nature, for at the commencement of the meeting he had frequently to quell the outbur-ts of angry feeling exhibited by those present —some considering that there had not been sutlicicnt. cause for any panic having been got up ; others, that the reports from Kawhia had justified the steps that had been taken.

Mr. TctU!,as one of the conveners of the meeting, Mated his reasons for billing it, and read the correspondence received from C<>l. Lyon, after which Mr. Searaneke pave his opinion upon the present aspect of native affairs. 110 read two letters, which lie hud considered of po much importance, that upon their reoei.the had immediately started for Kaglan. He al.-o thought that the repoits that had been prevalent were of so serious a nature as to .justify the steps that had been taken by Mr. Todd. From conversation with the natives, and from what lie had hoard, he rould now decidedly state a« his firm opinion that there was no danger to be app-ehendei from the Kingites. lie l>clievoil that the Kin:; was uo party to the robt err :it Aotea, and that all the principal King nut ires wore most- an x ion? to maintain peaceful relations with the Europeans. There was no dorbt that threat? had been made of the Kawhia natives coming to attack Raglan, and that turbulent men like Tapiana would still make such threats. Jle (Mr. Isearancke) intended to recommend to the Government that the blockhouse should be repaired, and a small force of the Constabulary should be stationed in it. The report of the settlers being ordered away from Knapuki, resolved itself into a native t.-iliiiLt some of them that if there was any thinner threatening he would warn them of it. Mr. Seararcke opposed the idea of Ifuiie te One erecting a pa at Aotea, as anything of that kind would lie construed by the King nit ires as a sort of war-like eh:*l!cn<£?. Ileteraka Neio addressed the nippting, repeating the word* that Tapihann had made u;e of, when saying he would attack Haul an. Tne Kev. Mr. Snackenberu stated bis views on the subject. He considered 110 danger was to be feared irom the Kawhia natives ; but he thought that. it. had been a great mistake for any Kuropean to open a store in Aotea. The piece of land when.' the store had been opened formerly belonged to W'aata 'Juki, the

mall who headed the par. v that had taken (he goods. After some remarks from others present, the two following resolutions were unanimously passed : — " That the Government be requested to plaee the b.ockhouse in an eflicivnt state of repair." •' i'liat. the Government he requested to station a small armed force in the blockhouse to act as a nucleus around which the settlers could rally in any case of emergency." A rote of thanks to the Chairman, for hif efficient services in the chair, brought to ados" the meeting, and also, 1 may say, panic No. 5 in the history of Kaplan. In the evening the natives held a meeting, and the subject of building a pa at Aotea was again discussed, many of our principal chiefs against the measure, as it might be considered by tile Ivingites as a challenge. A native from Kawhia (a Kingite) spoke, and declared that it was the v ish and intention of the King and hi* advii-ers to live at. peace with the Europeans—that in any case Raglan would nevor be interfered with; and should there ugain he fighting, Wnikalo would bo the placc where they would go to. Ho said he had come to Raglan to request some of tlio Kupapa chiefs to return with him lo see lawhiao, who wished to have a conference with him. The peaceful termination to tl is little excitemeat has sadly disappointed 'lie hopes of some of the natives, who expected to have been put on Government pay, and their visions of good living and being paid for doing nothing liarr- all vanished.