POKENO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 139, 11 September 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

POKENO.

Queen’s Ecdoubt, August 24 th, 1863. Nothing have transpired here lately, I have felt myself quite at a loss for a subject for any communications. The weather I had drained quite dry. The country, most unfortunately, null not bear more than one description of any particular locality ; and my range of observation being necessarily confined to so narrow a limit at the present time, that subject has been exhausted.

This being the state of the case, I was naturally nsious this morning, when I noticed nothing novel on the programme of amusement for the day, what should be the matter of my evening’s letter.

These troublesome thoughts were happily dispersed about 3 p.m. by the'arrival of a present of two live nanny-goats, in milk, three turkeys, and five fowls from General Thompson to General Cameron, also a letter from the Field-Mar-shal’s own hand, “ When thine enemy hunger, feed him, when he thirst, give him drink, &c.” The present was brought into camp by some of Te Wheoro’s people, at whose pa it arrived yesterday. It was originally attended by the great Maori leader to send do vn the live stock in a canoe sent adrift, which would be certain to bo picked up by the sailor guard on the Avon, at the Bluff, but two men and three women from To Wheoro’s pa having gone up the river yesterday, advantage was taken of that circumstance to send them by that safer mode of conveyance. The General did not scruple to receive the donation in the same spirit in which it was most probably sent; though the motives which led to the gift may have been, and possibly were, of a political nature, for instance, the effect the circumstance would, have on the undecided natives supposing the present to have been refused ; they would have immediately said, “ See what a far better spirit. Wi Tamihana shews.” Other reasons also might have led to this laughable event, namely, to shew in a substantial manner, not to be mistaken, that they were not, as yet at all events, short of even the luxuries of life ; but it is hard to believe that they really thought, as the letter would imply, that we were hungry and required feeding!! I believe W. Thompson to be a fine fellow, and some of W. Te Wheoro’s people who are nearly

related to him, indignantly deny his ever having urged the massacre of every man, woman, and child; they affirm that to have been a false re-> port, got up by his word having always been “ Cght only those who fight,” Last night a canoe was Been by the sailors on board the Avon, floating down the stream ; aftef hailing they fired upon her; no answer having been returned, and still seeing no one on board, they put off, armed, in the boat, when they found her without occupants, with a double-barrelled gun and five paddles in her. I hear she drifted away from Meremere.