THE NATIVE WAR.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 452, 5 December 1868, Page 3

THE NATIVE WAR.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE SUCCESSFUL CAVALRY SKIRMISH NEAR WANGANUI. ,THE DEATH OF TE XOOTI CONTRADICTED. .THE ENEMY IN STRENGTH NEAR . TURANGANUI. WAIKATO NATIVES QUIET. [By Elect rjc Tklegrapij.] "(from our own correspondent.) We have received telegraphic intelligence from Wellington to Jhe 3rd inst. We learn from Wanganui that on the 27th November a squadron of cavalry — Mounted .Constabulary — under the command of Sub-Inspector Newland had a brush with .the enemy, and succeeded in driving them off with the loss of eight of their number. There were no casualties on our side. The news from Napier is to the effect that the chief Te Kooti, one of the principal heads of the revolt on the Ijjast Coast is not dead as reported. The rebels, whose force has been greatly strengthened, and is said to number 700 pen, are reported to be within thirty-five miles of Turanganni. It is stated also £hat they are likely to receive a large reinforcement from Rewi's tribe (Ngatimainopoto) to the extent of 200 mer. Although sinister rumors are afloat, the Waikato natives remain quiet.

Telegrams state that the rebels have lost sixty men in the late engagement with the friendly natives at poverty Bay, but this is doubtless an exaggeration. The latest news is as follows : — The engage? ment took place at Maketu, thirty miles inland, near the upper Wairoa. Accounts vary slightly as to the number killed and wounded. Twelve dead bodies have been seen, and ten guns taken. Twenty thousand rounds of ammunition have been sent to the friendlies ; that of the rebels is believed to be running short. The Hau Haus have driven large numbers of cattle inland for provisions. The welljcnown friendly chief Maniaiora is wounded in both shoulders. An old Hau Hau has been taken prisoner, but he refused to give any information, and he will probably be shot to-day. Mrs Wilson is recovering. Volunteers for Poverty Bay are invited. A field-piece is to be sent. Te Eooti is killed and Te Waru hag taken the command. Mr M'Leari has requested an European fqree, believing that he can crash Te

Kooti's party in a short time. West Coast operations in the meanwhile are purely defensive. The Lady Bird, although ostensibly leaving on Friday night for Napier, went to Wanganui to remove 350 constabulary, under Colonel Whitmore, for the East Coast. Although the Lady Bird has been laid up, being refused a passenger's certificate, no fear is entertained but that she is thoroughly seaworthy for .the trip. She is taking an Armstaong gun, cohorns, and ammunition to Napier. The Government received on the 28th ult. some bad news from the East Coast. The report going about is, that the rebels have out-flanked Major Lambert and seized some of his stores. * Later news reports that eight kegs of gunpowder have been captured by a mounted party of the enemy from, the escort, t eight miles from Poverty Bay, Two dead rebels have been found, \vho had been killed by the powder escort party. The news from Napier has created quite a reaction in favor of the friendly natives. Napier telegrams state that Tanner's Cavalry Corps (sixty) is gone as an escort for the Armstrong guns which have been taken twelve miles inland. The disposition pf the forces inspires confidence as to the result. Otaki natives overland from Waikato report that the King party is quiet. It is stated on good authority that when Mr Richmond was visiting Poverty Bay, a few days before the massacre, he expressly pointed oat to Major Biggs the folly of settlers at a distance from the redoubt, sleeping in nujii'utected houses, and he particularly counselled that Captain Westrupp, together with his neighbors Paratene, Pontoti, and his people should make themselves secure in a stockade, as their place would be the first to be visited by any party of the enemy advancing, as they seemed to be doing, from Puketapu, by the usual track.