The Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1865. TERRIBLE CONFLAGRATION AT TAURANGA. DESTRUCTION OF THE MAKETU CAMP. DISAFFECTION OF THE TAREWERA NATIVES.

Evening Post, Issue 108, 14 June 1865, Page 2

The Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1865. TERRIBLE CONFLAGRATION AT TAURANGA. DESTRUCTION OF THE MAKETU CAMP. DISAFFECTION OF THE TAREWERA NATIVES.

By the arrival of the Airedale tins forenoon we have Important news from A uckland. The Jane had arrived from Tauranga, bringing intelligence of a terrible conflagration, which broke out there on the evening of the 26th. The N. Z. Herald of June 7th, says :—The fire was first observed in the hut of Dr. Connel', and spread rapidly from hut to hut, until nothing within the redoubt was left standing but the house of Major Kirby, of the 68th, and the magazine. Every exertion was made to get the fire under, but in vain, for there was no water on the spot, the nearest supply being at some quarter of a mile's distance, and the huts occupied by the men and families of the Ist Waikato regiment were built of raupo,while the soldiers occupied tents. When the fire was first discovered and it was seen that no endeavours could arrest its progress, a rush was made to the magazine, and a large quantity of firumunition was passed out and over the walls, but so rapid wa3 the spread of the flames that very little property was saved out of the whares, not even the arms, and every now and then as the loaded rifles in the burning huts became heated they exploded, adding considerably to the danger of the scene. The loss is estimated at some £2000, and, we regret to say,that by far the largest portion of it will fall upon the men and families of the Ist Waikato Regiment' stationed at Maketu. Some of these unfortunate people have lost everything tliey possessed. At the present time both regulars and Waikato Militia are domiciled in spare tents belonging to the Commissariat. We also learn from the same source that the supposed friendly natives at larewera had joined the King party, and had commemorated their new adhesion^ by plundering the houses of Dr. Hooper and Mr. Mair, the Resident Magistrate of that district. Both gentlemen have come on to Maketu for safety. These natives have also built a strong pah on the lake atTarawera. These natives were considered by Mr. Fox, only a few months since, to be one of the most loyal. There is at present but one European resident in the Rotorua district, the Rev. Mr. Spencer. We also hear that Mr. Malr

with about five-and-thirty of the Maketu natives, had started inland, with the intention of capturing Kereopa, Thif>, however, they arc scarcely likely to effect, as, from what we know, Ivercopa is ahead far i n his road to Wanganui. At Tauranga all was quiet, hut it was boldly affirmed by the unlives tlur the <>ui*ipation of the Te Puna Block by the Government, would be the signal for a fresh striicrale. The . v chooner Rose Ann brought later news from the East Coast. The report previously given of the engagement between the men of the Eclipse and the natives of Opotiki is confirmed. The natives state that in addition to the casualties already stnted, five men were wounded. In a private letter received from Poverty Bay hist week we received news of Morgan, the friendly chief, having hoisted the Queen' j flag there ; and Mr. Glover, a passenger by the Rose Ann, from Poverty B iv, informs ua that there is every chance of a fight between the natives there, unless Morgan takes the flag down. The rebel natives) have ho objection to Morgan having the fhg in his possession' but say they will not allow it to be hoisted. Whgn Mr. Glover left, the flag was still floating opposite Mr. Reid's dwelling.