NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 344, 27 November 1868, Page 3

NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

(Abridged from the Daily Times telegrams.) At a public meeting held in Wanganui, the following resolution was passed;— “That the present policy of the Government with regard to Native affairs having failed to restore tranquility, a more vigorous policy should he at once adopted, and that in mercy to our fellow colonists a price should be put on the head of every rebel, and that such a procedure would not be opposed to the practise of European an 1, other civilized nations. “ The Hauhaus are entrenched in the bush near Puheamionga, eight miles from Turanganui, with a high look out. “A strong mounted force, numbering about two-hundred, has been seen. “On Monday great astonishment was occasioned by the arrival at the redoubt of James Wilson, a hero of eight years of age, son of the late Captain Wilson, who, with his mother, escaped the late massacre at Poverty Bay. “The mother received seven wounds, one of which was in the thigh, and another in the abdomen. She was left for dead, but managed to crawl into the pig-stye. The baby was swung by the feet, and its brains dashed out; and the sisterwas stabbed in twelve places. “James escaped into the scrub, found his mother on the third day after the massacre, and supported her by means of eggs. “One night they ventured to sleep in Bloomfield's house, but the Hauhaus came, and the two crept under the bod. “Mrs. Wilson was almost destitute of clothing. Her sufferings for six days were dreadful; but she is nevertheless expected to recover, and will be seat to Napier by tbe first steamer. “On the arrival of James, a party of one hundred men went out and escorted the poor lady to the Redoubt. They found most of the bodies eaten by the pigs or the hawks. Only one arm remained of poor Captain Biggs. Further news from Wanganui reports that matters at the front look worse and worse. The Wanganui people were never so desponding as now. Colonel Whitmore’s tactics appear to bo simply to retreat. As was to be expected, no loss than six more settlers’ houses have been burned. Four settlers, aided by the same number of stockmen, pursued the Hauhaus who set fire to Moore’s house, which stands on this si e of Kai Iwi, within gunshot of Colonel Whitmore’s camp. The “ Wanganui Times” asserts that the settlers’ party was fired on by Colonel Whitmore’s men, and were obliged to beat a retreat. The Governor met ninety-six of the Wanganui natives on Tuesday last. They complained of the abandonment of the out-posts, and expressed their want of confidence in Colonel Whitmore as a fighting commander, which induced the latter to address his Excellency, detailing the plans he had intended to have carried out at Okutuku, but which were now frustrated. The Governor called fen- a volunteer force, to be callel the Governor’s Tana, to which Kemp and others responded. When the settlers presented their memorial to the Governor, during the conversation which arose Mr. Stafford espresso 1 his entire concurrence in all that Colonel Haultain had done, and said that the Government had been thwarted in their vigorous prosecution of the war by the people aud press of Wanganui. The deputation indignantly repelled the accusations made by Mr. Stafford, declaring that, while they were anxious to defend their homes, they declined to have more than was absolutely necessary to t’o with the Commander of the Militia who hal been thrust upon them, and assured the Governor that, in saying that Colonel Haultain was incompetent, they expressed the all but unanimous opinion of the public. A scho ner has arrived from Poverty Bay. The St. Kilda »as to follow in an hour, but there is no appearance of her yet. An old woman has given intimation that an attack was imminent on the stockade. It is supposed that this has occurred, and that the steamer has been detained in consequence. Much dissatisfaction is expressed at Napier at Major Lambert's appointment, Captain Take being ragar-'od as younger, more active, and possessed of more Colonial experience. The St. Kilda arrived hero at 10 o’clock last night from Poverty Bay. The latest bulletin states that Mrs. Wilson is fu'ly expected to recover. No fighting had taken place, but the dead had been collectsand all that could be recognised buried on tho 18th. Six Friendlies were shot by To Kooti ; one escaped with several gunshot and three bayonet wounds. In a skirmish between a party of the Abuiri natives and the Hauhaus, two of the latter were shot, and tho rest ran away. The Friendlies are described as being eager for the frav, and it is supposed that a combine! attack on t’ae Hauhaus is meditated.