NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 346, 11 December 1868, Page 3

NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

(Abridged from the Daily Times telegrams. Wei ington, November 30. The Lady Bird proceeds 1 to Wanganui, for the purpose f ci nveying from thence two hundred and fifty of the Arimd Constabulary, un 'er the command of Col nol Whitmore to Poverty Bay. We are tol i that, the position of the enemy in that neighborhood affords an opportunity for strikin' l, a crushing blow, an i the Government expect in a few ; ays to see the annihilation of Te Kooti’s force, when the Constabulary will immediately return to Wanganui. The forces on the East Coast have been so disposed as t ■ secure the various posts and means of communication, while blockhouses have been erected so as entirely to cover the towns, Mr. M’Lean is said to have urged that the force should be sent; but when there, it is scarcely possible that it can accomplish all that is required of it in so short a time as is anticipated. The Armstrong pun was taken twelve miles inland. The forces were In goo spirits. A mess'-nger who arrived this afternoon from the West Coast, reports that, the German pe lar is dead, and that the Manawatu Friendlies have warned the settlers in the district that mischief is brewing. The actual loss of ammunition in the late attack on the escort is stated to be only eight kegs. Sixty Volunteers un ’cr the comma”d of Captain Tanner, have started for the Front in high spirits. The latest, intelligence is that, communication is again opened with the forces at the Front, and that fighting is going in. December 1. Rome of the Volunteers wbo arrive here in the Bob-Roy, distinguished themselves last, night by getting into a row with the police, and several of them were brought before the Magistrate this morning. The Governors proclamation calls nut for active service the Volunteers at Turaldna, Batca, Wanganui, Ringiriki, Manawatu, Wellington, Wairarapa, Castle Point, Napier, Poverty Bav, and Onotiki, who are irooted to assemble at the hca ’quitters of their respective corns at a ’ate to be fixe 1 upon by the commanding officers of the districts. Cobh’s coach has just arrived from Wanganui. The following is the latest news from the Font: “ Head-quaters, Woodall’s Redout, 27th November. Two snies, more or less trustwerthv, have been brought in, who rennrt *hat Ti f o Knwaru’s whole force is at Panatupu. Five of his neople wore nearly caught by our cavalry, wbo chased them the other dav, when Mr, flandlev’s house was burnt: and this has alarmed them sufficiently to compel them to keep together. “ The snies say the Hauhans have received no word from the King, and that they intent moving this way, though they have plenty of food still at Pa-mtupn. They have no idea of attacking Patca. Tito Kowarn received an attack at Moturna, and was fully prepared for it. All his people and women wore engaged. The spies cannot say what his loss was. A gallant attack was made on the enemy at Nnkumarn. in which eight hauhaus were killed. The following is the report of the officer commanding the expedition:— A postscript to a private letter receive 1 here announces that Tito Kowarn had just made his appearance close to tbo Kai Iwa stream. Roth forces » ere in sight of each other, and skirmishing was going nn. A skirmish has taken place between the escort and a foraging partv of Han-haus. Ore of the enemy was killed, and fifty i horses, one thousan 1 rounds of ammunition and seven cases of bisenita recapture k The Wairna Contingent arrive here or Monday, an ! .proceeded to the front on I Tues av. Cavalrv to tho number of six l y two, toi I escop du l v, have arrived hero. Pemde here are a n ise I at thi wi hj lrawal of the force fr>ni Wanganui, an still more at Colonel Whitmore's coming. Tho Ahuiri, with Mr. Richmond and

the volunteers from the south on board has sailed for Poverty Bay. All is quiet i TI the Waikato as yet. Six hundred “ wives, mothers, and daughters of Wanganui settlers ” have sent the Governor a petition, requesting him to forward it to the Queen. It concludes by entreating Her Majesty “to avert the extinction of ourselves and those dearest to us, under circumstances equal to, if not exceeding, the barbarities perpetrated in the Poverty Bay district. Your memorialists humbly supplicate your Majesty direct, that the efforts of this loyal and well-affected district, an of the whole inland, mav be snee 'ily supplemented by the aid of Imperial troops.” Private telegr ms from Napier are hy no meins hopeful that the propose 1 removal of the Constabulary to the East Coast will do anv good, a strong prejudice being felt against Colonel Whitmore as a commander, The total number of the Constabulary now in the Colony is 1,200.

The Wanganui Chronicle, of the Ist inst. savs :—“ At dav reak on Monday, the 3rd, 7th, and part of the 2n 1 ■ ivisions, with their head quar ers, an the Mounte ■ Constabulary, move ' in the direction of Nnkuinaru. What they have done, or not done, has not yet transpired ; hut we have been given to understand that this is Colonel Whitmore's final demonstration before leaving the Wanganui district, and tor which he barely conceals his concern.” The Heral of the same date savs, one hundred of Mete Kingi’s men, under the command of Hyman and Aperamiko, started yesterday mor- ing on an expe ition against the enemy, their expresse intention being to cut off stragglers, and do as much mischief as they can on the wav. This is a move in the right direction, and wo wish them every success.”

Another fire has nccurre' at New Plymouth, causing damage to the amount of tilo,ooo. It is supposed to have been the act of an incendiary, The fire which occurred at New Plymouth on the 24th ultimo, burned down twelve buildings in Devon Street. It originated in Bartlett’s boarding house. The insurances on the property destroye 1 amount to 1'2,000. Sunday morning disclosed the rebels within 1,200 yards of our position a f "’nodal ’s redoubt. The rebels had, during the night, thrown up a breastwork opposite our camp op the farms of Moore and Currie. Besides this breastwork, a palisading has been erected, so as to command the track leading from the high road.

The enemy opened a bri=k fire, hut, owing to the long ranee, without dome any damage. The Armstrong gun was utterly useless, The firing continued briskly all the morning, and ceased at about 2 o’clock. No attemnt was made to dislodge the enemy indeed it was c-mjeeture I that their showing front so boldly was but to cover some other movement. To prevent this the savalry were despatch d in the direction of the Brunswick line, being supported by the fi f h division. Events showed how opportune this movement was.

During the night Baker’s house, the furthest out on that line, was burned down, but the cavalry surprised a number of the Hanhaus in the act, and they speedily decampe hj