INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Issue 130, 10 November 1866, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

AUCKIAND. fHE NATIVES IN WAIKATO AND THE NORTH. The " Southern Cross " reports a very alarming state of affairs in Waikato. There is every prospect, it believes, of an irruption of the natives, ■while the country is. almost entirely unprotected The following remarks are from the " Cross," of the 25th ultimo : — "We, regret that, through the action of the General Government, the defensive strength of the military settlements in the Waikato has been so reduced that there is virtually no force to discourage a well concerted plan of invasion by the natives. The men of the 2nd Regiment of Waikato Militia have long since been ' placed on their land' — that is, rendered ineffective. The Government has broken faith with the military settlers, and thrown every possible obstacle in the" way of the men obtaining a legal remedy. All who can leave the district have already left it; and many, who have wives and families, have been lorced to leave, trusting to fortune to enable them to send assistance to those who are dependant upon them. In the midst of this unhappy state of things the Imperial regiments are withdrawn, and with them the Ist Waikato Regiment, There are, therefore, no men under arms in the Waikato ; but there is a very large, and 'in some respects a defenceless, population scattered over the delta.' " ' "To make matters more pleasant, rumors, have been, prevalent of late that :be Maoris contemplate a. descent on the Settlements. And from information of a reliable nature, which reached town yesterday, we are inclined to believe there 3 truth hi these rumors. The natives utfind. tQ strike another blow for the.

Waikato, if the colonial authorities afford them a chance of doing so with, any prospect of success. And that the authorities are doing so will be evident from the fact that there is in Alexandra about'2Oo»tand of arms, and 60,000 rounds of ammunition, without any sufficient force to guard them. Indeed, there Is no force at all ; for, as the military settlers are 'on their land,' scattered over a wide area of country, or have left the district altogether, they cannot be expected to repel a sudden irruption of the natives. And what is true of Alexandra is likewise true of Harapipi, which is more open to attack and weather than Alexandra. Now, it must not bo lost sight of that the head-quarters of Rewi Ngatinianiopoto, and the Maori King, are within fifteen miles of Harapipi ; and owing to the continual intercourse of the natives witli the military settlements, they know our weak points as well as we do ourselves. It is a mifortune that tho Governor and Government of the colony are in a locality where it is impossible to communicate with them on any emeiv genpy ; but of course, life and property in Auckland Province are not worth looking after, There is a scattered, discontented, starving population in Waikato (thanks to the Colonial ..Government) ; — let them defend themselves ; but, we ask, ought not the authorities to take steps to secure.the arms and ammunition which are now unprotected, and so remove a strong temptation to the natives to Attack our settlements ? We call upon the Superintendent, as agent foy the General Go» vermnent, to take the steps necessary to secure these arms and ammunition." There is also, according to the same journal, a great deal of discontent among the natives to the north of Auckland, consequent on the recent action of the General Government. ! TARANAKI. A late number of the " Taranaki Herald" reports that the news from the Sugar Loaves is of a very encouraging character. At the Alpha Well, on Saturday last, the gas violently forced the water, which usually stands 14 feet below the sxu'face iti the, ground, several inches •above the top of %he bore, and some jets I even rose to tho height of two feet above the ground. The water was thickly mingled with oil, and several gallons of the latter fluid were obtained. Some idea of the quantity of gas which comes up mayjie formed from the fact that a young man who went a few feet down the well after the effervescence referred to had subsided was almost suffocated, and had he not been quickly drawn up, would have lost his life. The whole of 'the past week has been occupied in tubing the shaft to a depth of- 60 feet from the top, and when the tubing is in working order, it is confidently expected that great results will be attained. The Taranaki Petroleum Company have suspended operations at No. 1 well, at a depth of 310 feet, until tho arrival' of their steam engine ; and they are noAV sinking on the Island Mihotahi. They have got down some 60 feet, but as the stuff is very hard, their progress is necessarily very slow. The People's Petyoleum Company are engaged in making preparations for more extended operations, and have stopped boring for ! the present. HAWKES BAY. THE TARAWEKA EXPEDITION. The "Herald," of the 20th ult., give's an account of the expedition which started to beat up the head-quartera of the Hau Haus in the Tarawera district, ' ' a broken and rugged country covered with wood and intersected by steep gullies," where are situated the settlements of Te Haroto and Waiparati, the latter beiug a new pah erected by the Hau Haus. The force comprised about seventy volunteers, under the command of Lieu. -Colonel Whitmore, forty-five military settlers under Major Fraser, and about 250 natives. The pah at Titioknra was found abandoned, and the force pushed 071 to the ford at Mohaka, where they were detained two days by a flood, but managed at last to cross the river on rafts of flax and timber. The close of the expedition is thus reported : — The latest news from the front, received late last night, is that LieutenantColonel Whitmore crossed the Mohaka and inarched up to Parnapa's settlement at Waiparati, without meeting any opposition. The enemy fled with precipitation before the advance of the forces. The Hau Haus sacred pole, so much talked of by the natives as possessing some mysterious charm, was cut to the ground, and a large quantity of stores, chiofly potatoes, taken possession of. From Waipar'vti Colonel Whitmore proceeded to Turanga Kurmi. Here the force fired a volley and gave several cheers, expressive of satisfaction at the successful termination of the expedition. The volunteers will reach their homes the Paora Toki Unsaid to have been at Waiparati on Saturday last, on his way to ' Waikato and Taranaki, accompanied by Anaru Matete and others. A messenger witli despatches from Wai- , kato has arrived at Waiparati. He went > back with Paora Toki. One of the fugitives from Omarunui was also seen at Waiparati, he appeared much dejected, | and did riot remain long there, but passed on towards Waikato. Potatoes were abundant in the enemy's I country, which was penetrated to the extreme boundary of the Province. The wonderful energy displayed by Lieutenant-Colonel Whitmore, and the zeal and cheerfulness which inspired all who went on the expedition, notwithstanding the difficult country they passed tlirough, affords another proof of the possession by our settlers of those qualities of self-reliance and endurance which command success. A THE RESULT OP THE LATE SUCCESSES. The " Herald," of the 30th ult, says : "Te Whetu came in yesterday from Taupo, and reports that the chiefs of that district are now anxious to come to Napier to affirm their allegiance, and take part with the Government against any future Hau Hau marauders, j . ' ' This movement is very significant, and shows that the late success against the Hau haus in this district is already producing good results in the very mterior of the island.. " The Taupo natives say that the Hau Haus have been justly punished, and that they fully deserve it, We are assured j that the; Taupo tribes have no sympathy [ with the Hau Haus, but on. the contrary ■ it would seem that they are prepared to take part against any bands of ruffian i marauders* that may again attempt to, tlireaten the peace of the district*"