LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 440, 7 November 1868, Page 3

LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

(From the Wanganui Chronicle. ) On. Wednesday, the 21st Oct.., Colonel Whitmore, accompanied by Mr Booth, R.M., arrived at Wereroa from Wanganui. Arrangements were at once made to move on the greater portion of the native force to Patea. The Colonel was desirous that the settlers in the Waitotara district should concentrate in case of alarm at Nukumaru, and fortify themselves in that \ excellent position. 22nd. — Colonel Whitmore marched from Wereroa with 400 natives, leaving Acting .' Sub-Inspector M'Donnell in charge with a force of 35 Armed Constables and 50 friendly natives, with the chiefs Te Oti Takarangi and Epiha Te Ao Kokiri. The force encamped that night near the mouth of the Waitotara river, in order to be able next morning to escort a herd of the contractor's cattle to Patea. 23rd. — The force arrived at Patea about noon, and Colonel Whitmore at once with a picquet took up his head-quarters about a mile out of the town of Patea, just beyond the RM.'s Court-houpe. 24th. — The whole of the Armed Constabulary, together with Captain Spiller's Company (150 men in all), were marched out to the site of the new caaip, and a chain of defensive posts at once commenced. The canteen in town was closed and orders given to opan one in the camp. 25th.— Sunday. A strong party com- ' posad of the mounted portion of the Armed Constabulary (about 20), with 40 mounted \ natives and 150 natives on foot went out to the old redoubt at Kakaramea to make a reconnoisance of Titoko Want's position. When the force got well in sight of Otoia about 200 natives were seen, and although they were observed to leave the position in considerable numbers they did not come into the open, with the exception of about sixty men, who came out at the place where Broughton's horse was killed . \ They were fired upon, but did not return \ the fire. After the friendly natives had fired a volley of defiance the whole force returned to Patea. 26th. — The whole native force moved up to-day from Patea, and took up a position on the right flank of the entrenched lines. The line of entrenchment which protects the bank of the river on the right to a swamp on the sea coast on the left, is now almost completed. Two Armstrong guns are in position on the left flank. It has been found necessary to discharge the greater portion of the Taranaki and Nelson Volunteers, as their time of service has expired, and they are unwilling to reengage. It has likewise been decided by the Colonel to discharge the bulk of the Wellington Rifles (who were in a state of insubordination) after trying the ringleaders- by court-martial. The p.s. Sturt has taken on to Patea, from Wellington, four Cohorn Mortars, Beven hundred shells, and sundry other munitions of water. A mortar on each redoubt with a few well trained men to work it may do good service. Colonel Whitmore has moved his camp from where it formerly was in Patea to the outskirts of the town,' near Mr Booth's house, and is there throwing up two redoubts. The Wanganui Evening Herald, of the 27th ult., says :— "About 30 recruits for the Armed Constabulary went down in the Sturt last night to Patea. Many of them have been in the service before, and are going for the inducement of the extra pay which is to be given to the Constabulary. Col. Whitmore is determined to keep the enemy engaged on the other side of Patea, and by this time has probably re-occupied Kakaramea." The same journal adds : — " We are informed that the whole system of managing things at the front has undergone a complete revolution. Drinking among officers and men has been checked to a proper extent, the officers quarters have been moved out of the canteen into tents, and the Colonel works in the most indefatigable manner to bring things to assume a military appearance. His work has been herculean."