LATEST FROM THE NORTH.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 569, 9 September 1869, Page 2

LATEST FROM THE NORTH.

War on the East Coast. The Hawke's Bay Herald, of tfcl. &st ult., says : — ' ' : Colonel Herrick reached Kunanga on Friday last, and is engaged in forming a I defensive post there. I Te Kooti is still at Rotoaira, where he f is reported to be building a pah. Renata left this district yesterday with 46 of his men, and Peni with 14^ to support their relations in Patea,' who are threatened. Henare Tomoana leaves this day, with about 60 more, on the same mission. . . : The same paper of the 27th ult. says :— A letter was received on Wednesday last from a friendly native chief of Patea named Haare, to the effect that the Hauhaus under Te Kooti were at Poutn, on the banks of the Rotoaira Lake. " Two friendlies who had been travelling, quite unsuspicious of the vicinity of an enemy, were captured by Te Kooti's scouts and taken to the main body. A korero ensued as to whether they should be killed or not ; but, after a lengthened discussion, and on the intercession of Te Heu Heu, their lives were spared, and during" the following nightthey managed to escape. At the time the above letter left, 90 of the Patea natives, with a section of the Upokoiri hapn, were about to advance in order to watch the proceedings of Te Kooti. This news has been substantiated by a letter from Kerei, a native chief of Takapou. A letter has also, been received from Tapuaehararu, dated August 20, written by Poihipi and other Taupo chiefs. It

states thatTeKooti had arrived at Taupo, with the intention of taking up a position at Tongariro ; that he was alone — only Rewi being with him ; that a movement against him was about to be made by the friendly natives ; and that 40 Arawas, together with a number of Tapuaehararu men, were about to cross over and form a junction with the Patea natives. The letter concluded by a request that the Ahuriri chiefs would at once go to the assistance of the Patea friendlies. This they intend to do, Henare Tokamoana having arranged to start in a day or two with a hundred men. The Sturt, Colonial Government gunboat, with Mr M. Hamlin on board as interpreter, steamed for the East Coast at 10 a.m., yesterday. It is understood that the Sturt has gone for a small foree — say a hundred men — of Ngatiporo, toco-operate, it is supposed, with the native expedition now organising. The Sturt is expected back on Saturday. The Wairoa is protected by all the force available for that purpose, and the forts at Te Haroto and Tito Okura secure communication with Taupo and protect the settlement on that side. A force of nearly 200 men, composed of 90 infantry, 40 cavalry, and 40 or 50 natives, under Colonel Bewick, reached Bunanga on Saturday List. Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell has moved from Wangauui to Hare Tauteka's camp in the Taupo country. One hundred mounted natives have gone ■ from Napier to join Hare Tauteka. Theme with Hare's own cavalry and the Constabulary make a force of 200 cavalry. Captain St. George is at Taupo Lake with an available force of 100 men. The forces will not act on the offensive unless attacked or unless a certaiuty of crushing Te Kooti presents itself. Satisfactory arrangements have been made for provisioning the corps. Poverty Bay. A correspondent of the Herald writing from Tauranga on the 24th ult. says : — The Land Court, which has been sitting ]iere for six weeks, terminated their labors last week, satisfactory to all parties, the natives having given up what land the Government asked, (about 15,000 acres) the old claimants' claims passed, and the natives generally settling their own boundaries amicably. In consequence of the natives having now legally settled the ownership of the different runs they have drawn their back rents to the tune of LISOO, with LSOO paid by Government, as first instalment for the township pur. chased by Mr M'Lean nearly two years ago, makes money plentiful at present. A public meeting was held at Tauranganui, Poverty Bay, on the 23rd instant, to take into consideration the means to raise a sufficient sum of money to erect a monument to the memory of the unfortunate settlers murdered in that district by Te Kooti's band ; Major Westrup in the chair. It was proposed by Mr Evans, and seconded by Mr Poynter, that sul. scription lists be at once opened in the principal towns of New Zealand for the purpose stated in the heading of the proceedings of this meeting, and that subscriptions be limited to the amount of half-a-crown. It was proposed by Mr Scott, and seconded by Mr Kempthome, that a committee be at once formed to carry out the wishes of this meeting ; the ■ committee to consist of Messrs Evans, ' Harris, Strong, Green, and Farrell.