THE NORTH.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 838, 12 January 1866, Page 2

THE NORTH.

By the Lord Ashley, which arrived this afternoon, we have our ■ Northern files to the following date s : —Wanganui, 2nd January: Auckland, '4th ; rWellington, Bth ; and Canterbury 11th.

The New Zealand Herald of the 29th December says:—H. M. s. s. Eclipse, Captain Freemantle, arrived in harbor yesterday afternoon from Napier, bringing*! 59 rank and file of the 70th regiment, in command of Captain Cay. and the following officers : Captain Roger, Eieuts. Greirson, W hid burn, Howard, Ensign Leonard, and Ass : stant-Surgeon Hession. They landed at the wharf about three p.m., and marched s:raight to Otahuhu, where they will remain until the time arrives for their embarkation for England. We regret to have to record a most melancholy and fatal boat accident, which occured at Napier on Monday last, during their embarkation. A shore boat containing nineteen men (in command of Captain Roger) put off to the Eclipse, beingonly manned with one adult and a boy, and upon their crossing the bar a blind roller struck the boat and capsized it, throwing the whole company into the water. All succeeded in getting safely ashore, excepting four, the officer commanding. Captain Roger, having had a narrow escape of his life. Those drowned are—Colour-Sergeant Michael Fahy, 17 years 6 months service, native Galway; Sergeant Henry Eastwood, 8 years service, native of Manchester; Corporal John Kelly, 4 years sei-vice, native of Dublin : Private James Worrington, 10 years service, native of Mhncliester.

Tiie whol; of the 70th Regiment have now arrived, and we understand that the head-quarters will embark for England per Ida Zeigler to-morrow week. The Uawkes Bay Heratd of the 26th ult has the following later news from Poverty Bay and Wairoa. That paper says:—From the former we learn that Major Fraser, with 100 friendly natives, marched up the river on Saturday, and it was fully expected that hostilities would commence in course of Monday (yesterday)- We may assume, therefore, that war has already broken out in the district, and that next news will be important. The jjosition occupied by the enemy is at a place called Te Reinga, in '.Upper Wairoa, better known as the Wairoa Falls, situated about twenty miles from the mouth of the river. The country is rough and broken, affording good shelter to the enemy, but it fortunately ha pens th tit is as well known to the friendly natives as to the ITau Mans. The rebel force is estimated at from 400 to 500 men. The Hau ITau force has been recruited from various sources—Uriwera, Turanga, Opotiki, and elsewhere. The Poverty Bay fugitive tribes are headed by Anafu Motete, a quondam native teacher. ITe is also the chief instigator of the Wairoa tribes to rebellion. This old man was, it appears, possessed of considerable wealth, he having owned a flock of sheep, besides horses, cable and land. From this and similar cases it maybe inferred that'wealth is no restraint upon the savage propensities of the Maori, as many suppose it to be. The chief leader of the rebels, however, is Te Warn, a man of determined character, but said to be, at the same time, an open and generous foe.

A man named Patten was missing when the St Kilda left. He had not been seen for three days before ; and it was feared that he had been drowned.

Prom Poverty Bay we have the letter of our correspondent..-but we are compelled to keep it over. There is, however, no important news. We are very happy to learn that Mr Boss, whose recovery was at one time despaired of, is improving rapidly, being able to sit up, and take a little exercise daily. L)r Ormond was able to walk about with a stick, and the other wounded were also convalescent Sergeant Hodges has come back by the St Kilda, his wound having broken out afresh. Private Cain, of the Forest Rangers, has also returned, being unfit for duty.

No enemy has shown himself since the fighting. A reconnoitering party, to consist of eighty natives and 15 Forest Hangers, w r as to be sent out yesterday to see whether the llau Haus had any outposts or scouts.

The Wellington Evening Pont publishes from a correspondent of the llcache's Bay Tim-s further particulars of the engagement which commenced on Christmas Day, He writes on the 25th December : v ‘ Christmas Day-— 4 the better the day, the better the deed.’ Alter some palaver about giving up arras, and taking oaths, &c , the expected event has taken place. Te Warn refusing the proposals tendered him, the troops and friendly natives fired upon the Hau Haus, discharging some 15 rounds to clear the banks of the river, then crossing it, advanced in skirmishing order

through the Manga-aruHx settlement, and up the valley towards the small pah, situate a mile or a mile, :md a quirter inland of the settlement, and which pah; being but an apology,for a fighting one, was easily taken ; an advantage too dearly purchased by the loss of Captain Hussey; T.M.S., who was shot dead some few yards from the enemy, whilst gallantly leading on his men. One friendly native named Piperc,and a half-caste named Wm Christy,'were also killed; and two privates of the force wounded. The natives retired firing, taking to the hill, whether they were followed until it was no longer possible to discern them amidst the fern and scrub.”

Tuesday, 26th. The fugitives of yesterday were again pursued at earnest dawn this morning, and tracked five or six miles amid the hills. By four or five p.m. the whole affair was at a standstill.

A native of Mohaka, named Rxua (master of the little craft Sailor’s Bride) -was shot to-day. by the Hau Haus. The remains of the poor Huskey were to-day conveyed to their last sad resting place—a little patch of kow ai close by Te Marumaru. '

Wednesday. 27th. The wounded are all doing well under the careful attendance of Dr Scott. There is a difficulty in stating the precise number of Hau Haus killed. Kopu puts them at thirteen, and he is probably correct. A lad named Auaru, who was the only prisoner <aken, admits a Joss of seven, and five bodies were found. But lam pressed for time, and must trust to the steamer to send you a further packet of news. There was some talk of the friendly natives pushing on to the Kaluga, although it is pretty certain the natives have all cleared out

The Wellington correspondent of the Lyttekon Press writes on the 9th instant as follows:—The expeditionary force, which I stated in my last was being brought together at Wanganui, for the Patea-Waitotara country, marched out of Wanganui on Saturday, December 29-, “ full determined to crush rebellion in that direction.” The foice was made up as follows : viz., 30 of the Koval Artillery, with two six-pounder guns, under Lieutenant Cane, 100 of Her Majesty’s,:l4th Regiment, under Captain Fumear, and 150 of the Native Contingent, under Major McDonnell. On the following Tuesday, this force was followed ly 50 more of the Native Contingent, and Major Von Tempsky with the Forest Rangers. The Native Contingent was composed of the Wanganui, Rangitikei, and Aramo tribes. The .IVant/anui Timers says, with reforance to this expedition. ” The public have the utmost confidence in General Chute, and fully hope that this expedition will finally settle the disturbances in these districts.” Wnh this feeling, so different from that which has unfortu, nately hitherto existed between tbe settlers and the Commander of the Forces, there is a more deemed prospect of success. Dr Featherstou, we learn from private sources, has accomjjanied the There can be little doubt that bis presence has materially aided in removing any repugnance the Natives felt to acting in the field with the Imperial forces, and will be a great assistance to General Chute as long as he remains with them. It is generally understood that the Colonial Government do not take upon themselves the responsibility of using the Imperial troops.