THE TARANAKI NEWS VIA WANGANUI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 118, 25 May 1863, Page 3

THE TARANAKI NEWS VIA WANGANUI.

(From the Independent, May 19.) Some private letters received by the Overland Mail from Wanganui on Saturday brought the startling intelligence that Major Logan of the 57th Ecgt., had attached the rebels in full force at Tataraimaka, and had defeated them with considerable loss—the natives admitting that 100 of their number had been slain. The uncertainty with respect to dates makes this news somewhat confused and doubtful, especially when it is taken in conjunction with what appears in the Wanganui Chronicle on the 14th inst.; but as the greatest interest has been evinced by the public in the matter, we will endeavour to give an intelligible

resume of all the information thathas come to hand. The Chronicle of the 14th inst., says,— “I’wo of our Wanganui natives, who went on Taranaki to gather the latest intelligence, arrived in town on Friday afternoon, having ridden from Whareroa, 70'miles, that day. Their report, which lias since been confirmed, is that the troops at 'lataraimaka were entirely surrounded by the natives, and that they had heard heavy firing there all day on Wednesday.” Now Friday afternoon was the Bth inst., and the very latest news these natives could bring would be up to Wednesday the 6tb, while our previous intelligence by the Storm Bird from Taranaki was to the 9th inst., the Herald of that date containing news from Tataraimaka to the Bth. No mention was there made of heavy firing having taken place on the Gth, but it is not unlikely that v the natives were surrounding the Tataraimaka. The other intelligence contained in the private letters is a very different affair, and may possibly prove to have some foundation in fact. We may fairly cast aside the statement of the two natives who arrived in Wanganui from Taranaki on the Bth instant, but one of the letters we have Jseen, distinctly states that another native came into town from Taranalci on the 13 th, and brought the report of Major Logan’s successful attack and defeat of the Tataraimaka rebels. Supposing this man to have left on the 10th, or morning of the 11th, he would thus bring later news from Tataraimaka. One of these letters gives the news received by this channel, to the effect that Major Logan and his [.troops being surrounded by the natives, and cut off from wood and water, made the attack in question, and[another letter dated Wanganui,'the 14th, states that this report is fully m believed by the natives there, who were much depressed in consequence. The writer continues, “I am convinced there is some truth in it, partly because it is believed by the natives themselves, and also because it is against themselves.” Native [.reports of reverses, sustained by themselves, are often worthy of {some credit, but we carefully guard against vouching for the authenticity of the present, more especially as we are in receipt of private and rather later information tending to throw some doubt on it.