NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 390, 8 October 1869, Page 3

NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

(Condensed from the Daily Times.) W rxuxoToir, September 20. The trial of the Maori prisoners for high treason, commenced to day. Only one witness was examined in chief, and it is probable that the trial will last all this week. Tho evidence for tho prosecution is very complete. The prosecution is conducted by the Attorney General, and the defence by Mr. Allan. Mr. Travers rcfused a brief for the defence. Natter, Sept. 20. On the 17ih inst., the friendly chiefs Ropata and Kaihau visited Tokanganr.Uu, and converse I with a white man named Jack, who shot the Rev. Mr. ‘Whitely. This man states that two other white men were also concerned in the murder. On the 17 th, Colonel M‘Donnell was fired upon, while proceeding with thirty men to reconnoitre Te Kooti’s posit; cn _ Colonel Herrick and Henaro are following Te Kooti, who lias gone to Moerangi, having taken large numbers of cattle with him. Later intelligence states that Te Kooti has since been defeated by Hcnare, and that he has killed four men belonging to a Waikato hapu because they refused to join him. -This act has greatly exasperated tho Waikatos, who have applied to ihe King for permi.sion to attack and destroy Te Kooti and his people. _ A scouting party has found out that Te Kooti has retreated to two strongly fortified pahs ten miles from Tokanu. They estimate his strength at four hundred men. iwo hundred an.: fifty Wanganui nativ a are expected to join Henaro on Wednesday n ;xt. Wellington, September 21, News received from Taupo via Wanganui states that To Kooti attackoi a pah but 1 by the frioudiy chief Pourou ami one hundred men, but was repulsed with the loss of seven of his followers. - The trial of the Maori prisoners for high treason is still going on. September 23 The trial of the Maori prisoners for high treason has just been concluded. The Judge’s summing up, which was strongly against the prisoners, occupied four hours and a half in delivery, and after about a quarter of an hour’s deliberation the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Hctariki and Rewi said nothing against the sentence, but Matone urged that the fact that he had fought on the side of the Government at Kovvako, and that ho had been forced to join Te Kooti under pa n of dca-.li, should be considered in his favor. The Judge promised to represent the matter to the Go. vernor. The prisoners were then sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. The Judge expressed his regret at being obliged to pass sentence in such a form, but assured the prisoners that only the hangiii" would be carried out. Eighteen of the West Coast prisoners were released from the hulk City of Nowcast!; lo- 'ay, as there was no evidence against them, They have been landed among the local natives. Kemp, with two hundred and fifty natives, arrived at Taupo on Tuesday last. September 24. The remainder of the prisoners confined on board the hulk intend to plead guilty ou Monday, and will bo sent in the hulk to Otago. September 23 Dr. Feathers ton has returne 1 from Manawatu, having settle 1 matters satisfactorily with tho non-sellers there. Five thousand acres have befcn set apart for them as a reserve, and the Native Land Court yesterday ratifiel the arrangement. The Governor has gone overland from Wanganui to Patea. The wreck of tho Taranaki is now afloat. September 27th. Tho first sitting of the Court of Special Commission umTeTtffo Disturbed Di tricts Afctf fofdi 'Trtw'fLin.iLy,.^ One of Te Kooti’s followhrs "was tried for the murder of a frien ly native in the Poverty Bay massacre. The widow of the man whom he, with others, shot, gave evidence against him. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. Napier, September 27. On Saturday last Te Kooti with two hundred and fifty men attacked Tokano pah, which was hold by two hundred and forty nine friendlies. A severe envamini out ensued, and resulted in Te Kooti being driven off. He is being followed up. The enemy left seven dead bodies on the field, and carried several others off. Their

loss is reported to amount to thirty killed. The friendlies’ loss was seven wounded, but none kil'ed.

Between forty and fifty rounds of Enfiol J ammunition wore found on each of the bodies of the dead rebels. A general attack on Te Konti is to take place to day. The friendlies will be supdorte! by Colonel Herrrick with No. 2. Division of thfc Constabulary, ami Colonel M‘Donncl! at the bead of the Wanganui friendlies. WeltAsctos, September 28. Another of the East Coast prisoners has been found guilty of high treason. Sentence J s deferred. September, 29. Wi TamaraVo, who was on Monday last convicted of murder, committed suicide in gaol to day by hanging himself with a saddle strap which he wore as a belt. He managed to make it fast about three feet from the floor, and then threw himself forward until ho was dea '. His knees were absolutely touching the ground. Tanroa, the chief of the West Coast prisoners, is not among those committed for trial, he having been admitted to give evidence against his followers. The Taranaki has been pumped dry, and is expected to arrive hero to-morrow. September 30. TheNgatiraukaxva dissentients are greatly dissatisfie I v.ith the award in the Manawatu case. They declare it to bo their intention to return to Tohangamutu, whence they originally came. Eight of the prisoners on board the hulk were brought up for trial to-day. The trial is still (7 30 p.m.) going on, October 1. At two o’cldarnds morning the jury returned a verdict of guilty against the first ba f ch of the West Coast prisoners, to the number of eight Sentence was deferral until the remat ung seventy one are trio l and the Court then adjourned till Tuesday. An alleged Fenian is said to have prosente I two green flags, on which deaths’ heads and cross bones were depicted, to Manuliiri, it is stated that in one of the attacks recently made on Honare’s po-ition by To Knotj. Tallin, the latter’s most influential chief was killed. Tahau was Te Kooti’s right hand man, and the chief orator of his band. His death will, therefore, be a severe blow to Te Kooti.