NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 418, 22 April 1870, Page 3

NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

(Condensed prom the Daily Times. J Napier, April 15. Farther particulars received from Opotiki state that Te Kooti’s band is at last all but annihilated. Numerous Sections of the Uriweras have surrendered themselves prisoners. They state that To Kooti has only twenty men with him. The Whakatoheas, who lately gave Te •Kooti twenty kegs of powder, in order to prove thoir sincerity ih surrendering, told where the powder was buried. A party having been sent to ascertain if the information was correct, found the powder, and sent it'l6 Auckland in the Sturt. The prisoners taken of Te Kooti’s people state that he has now no ammunition,having completely gutted all the Hau-hau settlements, as well as those of the Uriweras, of this article. Anative meeting was held by Mr. M‘Lean, when it was arranged that llopata and three hundred fresh itea should start on Mom lay to scour the Waikaremoana country. Their intention is to capture Uriweras and Te Want’s force. Mr. Locke has in his possession the horn used by Te Kooti to marshal his forces. It is Ms intention, I believe, to present it to tbe New Zealand Museum. The Rangitira has returned from tbe East Coast She has been of great service in enabling Mr. M'Lean to wind up the Opotiki business, and to take the Ngatiporou and prisoners to the Ngatiporou settlements. Air. Locke, win returned by the Rangatira, says that the effect of tbe late success on the East Coast has been very great ; that our allies look uponTeKooti’s influence as gone, while the doubtful natives, like the Whakatoheas, are thoroughly crushed. Maraetai, tbe pah taken by Ropata, was Te Kooti’s chosen resting place ; he bad large cultivations there as well as groat native bouses and a church. A few days before be was attacked be told the people that tbe place never could be reaobd by outforces, There are only six of the Chatham Island prisoners; fourteen were killed at Maraetai. The number of men who escaped with To Kooti is nineteen. The report of the killing of Kereopa at Ohiuemuri was not correct. Kereopa is with Te Kooti, It was Te Warn, the prisoners say, that was shot at Obinemuri. Ho and Kereopa were dressed alike. Te Want had bis leg broken, and crawled into tbe bush, where be is supposed to have died. The Wb ikatoheas (tbe one hundred and forty whom Te Kooti was said to have taken prisoners) were certainly willing prisoners. They gave him twenty casks of powder and a lot of bullets, which be removed from Opapo. and hid near Maraetai. After Kopala’s success, tbe Whakatoheas gave information regarding tbe hidden powder, all of which was found. Ropata his taken theUriweras capturedby him at Pukeroa (Maungapovvhalu), as well as Te Kooti’s women an! children, to Ids own settlement. Some of the Whakatoheas were taken in charge by Ropata, and some by William King. Mr. Locke says they are thoroughly crushed, and curse Te Kooti as the cause. Ropata’s men are described as having suffered much from their march through tlie Uriwcra country. Them feet are swollen and cut, and they are quite unfit to march back through the same country. Ropata is now organising a fresh expedition, taking new men from bis tribe, and leaving the tired ones to rest. He W ill take his force mounted. He leaves the Ngatiporou settlement on Monday for Povei ty Bay. He will make it from Poverty Bay to a place near Lake Waikaremoana, where the prisoners inform him the rest of the Uriweras are. He intends to call upon the U riweras to surrender themselves, and expects they will do so, iti which case he will bring them to Poverty Bay as prisoners. If they do not submit, be will attackthem at once. It is believed that Te Kooti will be with tbe Uriweras, but this is not certain. Ropata has recommended the Uriweras to kill Te Kooti, and bring in his bead, as the best way of saving themselves. The prisoners report that a’l the Uriweras’ powder is exhausted, and there is every possibility of iiirir submitting, or if not, of llopata finishing them. Air. il'Lcau mot the Ngatiporou chiefs rear the East Cape and formally gave up all claims r.a the ' ail of the Government to the confiscated land in the Ngatiporou district. I refe io the old confiscation. This has been done in acknowledgment of tbe great services rendered 1 y the tribe. There i i now no East C ast landquestionto settle. Borne necessary reserves have with the consent of the tribe, been made, including five thousand acres of fine rich land at Tologa Bay, fit for Settlement. I received very favorable news yesterday from Poihbii, atTaufio. He says that the Waikato wants peace. He is fall of the proposed meeting, and Mr. Ai ‘Lean agrees to it. He has not yet fixed the time. The trial of the prisoners at AVellington must wait tillllopata’s return from his present expedition, as Porter and other necessary witnesses go with him. Hakaraia’s death is thought more of at the Waikato and Taurango, than if we had got To Kooti.