LATEST FROM AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 150, 27 November 1863, Page 2

LATEST FROM AUCKLAND.

By way of Wellington we have news from Auckland to the I6th inst.

The Wellington Independent of November 24th, says:— The news from Auckland is unimportant. No fresh engagement had taken place between H.M. Forces and the rebels nor had any more murders been committed by the Maories.

The Maories were concentrating their forces in the Waikato, and having sent away their women and children, it was thought they intended to make a stand for it. General Cameron had gone to the front with the greatest alacrity, and was most anxious to meet the Waikato braves, and so give them an opportunity of trying their skill and bravery. The troop ship Himalaya, from Ceylon, via Melbourne, arrived at Auckland on the 14th inst., with her Majesty’s 50th Kegt. on board.

There is no political news of importance. The Ministry appear to be firmly seated, ami were pushing on the business of the session with all rapidit};’. It would be a very short one, and was expected to close in less than three weeks. The Colonial Treasurer had submitted his Budget. It is an elaborate exposition of the financial state of the colony. Ministers intended asking parliament to sanction a loan of £3,000,000 — £1,000,000 was to be expended for the suppression of tlie rebellion ; £300,000 for immigration ; £900,000 for Public Works ; £IOO,OOO for arms ; £150,000 for electric telegraph, and£so,ooo for lighthouses, making a total of £2,500,000.

The £500,000 loan of last yearn lacking the Imperial guarantee, was propaiid to be observed in the loan of J£3,000,0C0. The Advertiser, of the 24th inst., contains a letter from its correspondent in Auckland, from which we take the following : Great preparations are being made by the General for the invasion of the Thames. Strong detachments of military are now at Otahuhu from the Front, under orders to embark for the seat of war. The s.s. Corio has been engaged for transport of baggage, &c., to the Thames. The men-of-war in harbor will not be idle long. Meremere is kept in our possession by a strong detachment of 500 men. The post eight miles beyond Meremere has been given up by us. By a letter received in town to-day from the Queen’s Redoubt, T learn that it is rumoured there that a man of the 2 b. 14th was killed, and three missing, they having strayed away after some horses at Koheroa. The rebels are still larking in the bush. At the Maukau last Sunday as an orderly was coming from Drury he was fired at from some high flax ; about tea shots were fired at him, one of which hit the horse, hut the man escaped; 100 men went out at once, they saw one native but could not catch him. The grand financial statement of the Hon. R. G. Wood came off yesterday, which appears to show we are progressing in commercial wealth, &c,; at the end of a speech which occupied one hour and forty minutes, he moved the following resolution :—“ That the expense of repressing the present insurrection in the Northern Island, and colonising the rebellious districts, should be provided for by loan.” He also states that there is available land for sale in the Nothern Island —at the Thames, Waikato Taranaki, and Wanganui districts—about 2,000,000 acres of land, after locating the military settlers, which would pay for all the expenses Incurred by the rebellion. The Government propose to introduce the wives and children of'the military settlers ; and they contemplate to locate 10,000 men in the Waikato, 5,000 in Taranaki and Wanganui, and 5,000 in Wellington and Hawke’s Bay, until land can lie secured in this Province for their settlement.

A reserve of 100 acres for every adult native will be kept, to be held under Crown Grants, which will absorb 500,000 acres ; this grunt will only be made to the friendly natives. It is estimated that a million acres will be required as reserve for loyal natives, who are not disposed to sell their lands ; excepting that, and half a million for roads and reserves, there will be a residue of land to he confiscated of 1,500,000 acres, which will realise <£3,000,000.

Nine natives were taken yesterday, at a place six miles beyond Waiuku ; one of them bad a broken leg.

The New Zealander gives the following information as authentic ;—“ There were 1,800 natives at Meremere previous to its evacuation, 600 at Paparata, and 1000 at Pukekawa. When the Pioneer passed with the 600 at Takapau, the chiefs said, ‘We must go at once, or our supplies will be cut ofi. The General lias possession of the water-way, and if he takes the land too, we will have no road for supplies.’ They took their departure at once up the Maramarua in their canoes, and when the top of the river was readied, they were compelled to drag their canoes across the portage into Waikari Lake, and then paddled to Ragiriri. 400 were told oft to attack the General’s position at Takapau ; they came down on Saturday night, and opened fire on the position in the dark, being only able to see the position by the flashes from the soldiers’ guns. They continued firing till a chief was wounded by one of his friends from behind ; then another man was wounded by one of his friends, when they thought it discreet to return. Since they retired to Eangiriri large reinforcements have come from the East Coast, principally Ngatiporus, amounting to 2000 The women and children belonging to this contingent have been sent to Maungatautari, which shows that they expect to have to retire before the troops. They are well supplied with food—plenty of flour, beef, potatoes, and eels; as much as twentyseven tons of flour had been supplied by the Taupo natives, who occupy the country a little above Ngaruawahia.” Ngatiporu and Ngatitematere have sent contingents to Waikato.

Papurata was occupied principally by natives fro.n Tanranga and the Thames. At Pukekohe they lost five; at Mauku four, there being eighty natives engaged in that attack—not 400 as it has been said. One of tbe rebel chiefs in the Waiulcu district has left traces of six toes on each foot.