LATEST TELEGRAMS

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 415, 10 September 1868, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS

NEW COUNTY OF WESTLAND ACT. WESTLAND REPRESENTATION ACT PASSED. DISASTROUS NEWS FROM THE FRONT. COLONIAL TROOPS DEFEATED. WITH GREAT LOSS, VON TEMPSKY, FOUR OFFIGERjS, AND FOURTEEN MEN KILLED, AND TWENTY-SEVEN WrOUNIXED, [By Electric Telegrap^.] (from oub special cokbespoxo^nt.) Wex^ngtujt, Wednesday. The new County of Westland I|ill cjonies on. for its second residing to-rqwrt^v. It proposes that the Council still consist of nine members for. electoral districts, as recommended by the Council last session. The members to be elected for two, y^ars, and to elect their own Chairman. The present members aye to cease on the. Act coming into force. The Council is; to, be a body corporate, and have control over main public roads, R^axl Boards ars to remain as at present, with rating powers. New Road Boards may be formed by the Council. The Administration of Wasjte Lands and Appropriation of the County Revenue to be vested, in the. Cofuncil. A large meeting of Ministers' supporters was held on Saturday. Mr Harrison insisted on Westland being considered in the adjustment of indebtedness proposed in the financial statement. A committee, was formed to submit a, scheme of adjustment to Government. Mr Harrison conse.nted to take L 15,000 for Westland,. The Opposition offer- thirty shillings capitation, but loans to be locally charged, the offer being really less than that of the Government's proposal. Efforts are being made to induce the Westland members to agree to become a province. Parties are closely divided. Cnrtis, Ormond, and McLean have gone over to the Opposition. An attempt was made Isst night to turn the Ministry out, by a motion in Committee of Supply that the Chairman leave j the chair. The Opposition tried to evade a division, but were forced to it, and then voted against their own motion... The Ministry is considered safe. Mr Fox.'s, nos-confidence motion comes on to-night. Westland Representation Amendment Act haa passed. A Bill has, passed the Commons to make provision for the appointment of members of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, and to remove doubts as to previous appointments. A Bill has also passed defining the powers of the Genera). Assejnbly of New Zealand, and to abolish any Province in the Colony, or alter the bounda-. ries of such Province. By the arrival of the p, s. Sturl, news i has been received from the front of a lamentable character. A Wangamd Times "extra" contains the following : — Yesterday (Monday) our forces left Waihi at 4 p.m., and at 2 p.m. encountered the enejny again at Te Ngatu-o-te-manu, but this time they were throughly prepared to give us a warm reception. Not only wore the rifle pita,, but the tops of the trees manned, and deadly vollies poured in upon our men, who, bravely pushed forward, cheered on by their officers, and returned the fire with murderous effect. Fourteen of o«r men killed, and twenty-six wounded ; twentyseven Maoris bit the ground. How many of them are wounded cannot be ascertained. Retired in good order, and are preparing for another attack. Most of our officers and men were killed by Hau Hans perched in the tops of treesYon Tempsky is dead, but he, nobly fell in battle. Captain Buck, Captain Palmer, Lieutenant Hastings, and Lieutenant Hunter are also amongst the killed. Lieutenant Rowan has been dangerously wounded.