TARANAKI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 103, 3 April 1863, Page 3

TARANAKI.

MILITARY MOVEMENTS. Some excitement prevailed in Town on Wednesday last, when it transpired that a force of Military were under orders for Waireka. On that day bullocks and carts were pressed for immediate service, and other signs given which meant that a movement to some part of the Province was intended. On Thursday morning at B‘3o o’clock; 300 of the 57th Regiment under Colonel Warre, C. 8., Captains Woodall, and Gorton, Lieuts. Brutton, Thompson, Tragett, and Waller, Adjutant Clarke, and Asst. Surgeon Hope, together with Lieut. Ferguson and a detachment of the Royal Engineers, paraded under Mount Elliot and marched offby the Great South Road towards Omata, preceded by several carts laden with baggage and camp equipage in charge of Lieut. Cox, 57th Regt. His Excellency Sir George Grey, General Cameron, and suite, followed. The troops reached Waireka at 10 o’clock, and encamped on Wilkinson’s farm, near the southern boundary of the Omata block,- where a Stockade is to be erected. A number of the Taranaki tribe have been for several days at Wairau, a native settlement between Omata and Tataraimako, who no doubt were surprised by the sudden occupation of the territory said by them to be theirs by conquest in 1860-61, and it has given rise to considerable conjecture as to their intentions. The smoke of large fires, supposed to be signal fires, was seen at Tataraimaka and beyond it after the arrival of the troops. It was bringing back old times when the well-remembered picket bugle call of the Volunteers was sounded on Thursday evening, and 120 men were told off for inlying picket and blockhouse duty, and were marched off to their respecr tive posts. The regulation system of guards and pickets has been re-established, the Volunteers alone having as yet been called upon, but as some of the blockhouses are now garrisoned by them, a portion of the Militia, we presume, will have to take a share of the duty. The detachment of the 65th, under Captain Gresson, came in from the rifle practice ground at Waiwakaiho on Thursday, and is stationed in the Marsland Hill barracks and Mount Elliot. Six of the Volunteers, under Sergeant F. Mace, have been appointed mounted orderlies to attend upon the Governor and General Cameron. We understand that the road will bo at once made by the military between the Poutoko pah and the Omata Stockade. It is quite impossible to say what will be the issue of His Excellency’s movements at Omata, or whether the natives will interfere with him, but it is not probable that they will. Sir George Grey, General Cameron and staff, together with the Colonial Secretary and the Native Minister, have daily visited the camp and the Poutoko. It is said that on Thursday two delegates from the Taranakis met the Governor at the Poutoko. We have no: been made acquainted with the object nor of the result of their mission, but hear that they told His Excellency that they claimed all the European land around the town, when Sir George replied that they had better also claim the sun, moon, and stars. We hear also that they informed his Excellency that they would be willing to give up Tataraimaka if all the runangas north and south wished it and if he gave up Waitara to them. The Latest prom the Camp. —The military have commenced a redoubt on Wilkinson’s farm, on a hill overlooking the Poutoko and surrounding country, which they are rapidly constructing. Natives are to be seen on one of the spurs of the ranges. Provincial Council.— Yesterday Mr. T. Good was elected without opposition as member of the Provincial Council for the town district, in the place of Mr. Knight who lately resigned his seat. The atttendance of electors was not large, nor the interest taken in the proceedings nearly as great as on some former occasions. —Taranaki Herald, March I t, 1863. TROOPS FOR TARANAKI. Yesterday morning H.M.S. Harrier arrived in the Mauukau from Taranaki. The 200 men of

the 70th Regiment whom she had conveyed to New Plymouth were safely disembarked, and they immediately proceeded to encamp. It was rumoured the next day they would be marched to the Omata Stockade, thus occupying a more advanced position than that previously taken. The weather was all that could be wished on the downward trip. The news received by the Harrier, so far as we have been enabled to gather, is peaceable, the natives not having offered the slightest resistance. The redoubt which was mentioned as being constructed on the receipt of the last intelligence, appears to have been finished on St. Patrick’s Day. The s.s. Airedale embarked half the squadron of Royal Artillery told off for Taranaki on Thursday and yesterday morning, and sailed about mid-day. The horses were swam down to the vessel and got on board without sustaining the slightest injury. By a single boat and pair of slings the embarkation was effected most satisfactorily. The remaining half of the squadron will embark early next week, under the command of Captain Mercer, so that within one week from learning that reinforcements from the Artillery were required to form a light corps cavalry in Taranaki, ■ 100 sabres will be in the field. Lieutenant-Colonel Nixon went down by the Airedale yesterday, to take command of the Colonial Defence Corps, which is to operate in conjunction with the Irregular Cavalry, formed from the Artillery stationed in Auckland. No more judicious selection could be made, and we are confident Colonel Nixon will acquit himself with becoming energy in the discharge of his very onerous and responsible duties. The s.s. Airedale will return to the Manukau, and take the remaining portion of the squadron down to Taranaki next week—most probably on Tuesday. The Governor still remains in Taranaki. The occupation.of the country is being carried out vigorously, and Tataraimaka is by this time in our possession. Matters will, therefore, soon be settled one way or another. We may add, that on the arrival of the Harrier at New Plymouth no persons landed but the troops, and a small mail, and despatches for the General were put on board. —Southern Cross, March 21.