MASTERTON.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 430, 18 October 1866, Page 3

MASTERTON.

(Trom a Correspondent of the New Zealand Adrortlser.) Masterton, Sept. 19, 1666. Thinking you might be glad to hear how we get on up here, X Bend you the latest on dit. On Sunday last a large body of Maoris passed through here on their way to Wi Waka’s pa, to welcome back Ngiro and hia band of followers, numbering between fifty and sixty, who had just returned from the West Coast, after having been engaged against the forces under Major M'Donnefi. What the intentions of these rebels are nobody knows up to the present time, though the general opinion is that having been too harassed lately, they have come here for a little time, in order to recruit for a fresh campaign which they intend having. They seem to bo peaceably inclined towards the settlers here, but at the same they go about armed and enter the houses of the settlers asking them how many men their house contains, and other matters, which though quietly asked seem to be done for some ulterior object. The Defence Force being removed lately from here has had the effect of making them more daring than they have been for some time past, and there is no telling what it may come to if they are allowed to prowl about the country iu the manner they do, carrying arms and using threats. For instance, one of them has gone into town, and being met by several persons on the road, he was asked where he had come from and reply was from Patea and Waitotara, and that was one of those that escaped from the Manukau hulk, after having had a rest he intended to go back again and fight to the last. He was too cunning to give his name. At all events, those characters should not be allowed at largo, and especially Ngiro, who .is well known to be a daring hau-hau rebel, watching his opportunity to commit any hostile act he may think fit. I hope that though we are •nly a small but rising population, the Government will not be blind enough to shut their eyes to the fact that there is a large and powerful body of natives close to our homesteads, and that there is no telling how soon they might be taking into their heads to visit us, and leave a remembrance that will not be forgotten for some time to come. There is a saying that they are very much offended with the Governor for bribing over Te Ua, and knowing that he intends to try and use his influence in putting down Haa-hauism, they boast they will fight to death. A prophecy of theirs'is, should the planet Mars pass very close to the moon on or before the 21st inst., and to the northward, it is a sign from their angel that the they are to commence fighting again. Now this may be all nonsense, but as we know that the religion they have taken is all superstition, it may have a good deal of probability ia it to them, and, at all events, not go unheeded.

The Fourteenth Regiment. —We perceive from our Auckland files that the gallant 14th Regiment, which rendered such valuable service in this Colony, were to leave for Australia shortly. The ship Siam and barque Novelty were to commence embarking detatchments on Saturday last; and the ship Monarch as soon as the two other transSorts had sailed. The Siam would proceed to [obart Town, the Novelty to Adelaide, and the Monarch to Melbourne.

Movements oe the Gotbenoe.— Sis Excellency the Governor proceeds to Wanganui in the p.s. Sturt to-day if the weather should prove favorable. From Wanganui he proceeds to Patea in the same vessel, and it is more than probable that from thence he will go to Auckland and the Kawau. In any case it would be difficult to fix even the probable date of HisExceUency’s long-promised visit to the south.—New Zealand Advertiser, 15th Oct. The heavy rains of Thursday last caused so great a fresh in the Otaki river that the coach had to stop at the opposite side, and could not come in to its time. The mails were, however, sent across on horseback, and reached town punctually. A rumor was circulated after its arrival that Major McDonnell had fought another battle with the Hau-hauc, and given them as great a thrashing as on the previous occasion. We have no confirmation of this rumor, or of that with came down by the Sturt to the effect that two hundred rebels were coming in to lay down their arms. We have received a copy of the Wanganui Times of Friday, which makes no mention of either occurance. Unfortunately for the value of this non-confirmation, Friday’s Times was published on Wednesday evening, and circulated along the road on Thursday morning, a peculiar way of doing business that our Wanganui contemporary has got. We hear that the way in which the news reached Wanganui was that a messenger came in on Thursday morning, and said that Major MoDonneU had been having a fight and that forty of the rebels had laid down their arms. It was also said that orderlies were on the road after this messenger bringing the official intelligence.—New Zealand Advertiser, 15th October.

Thh Hokitika Star says:—A work entitled “ Nga Tapu Tapu, or the Three Foresters,” the experiences of twenty years in New Zealand, will be published on the Ist of December, The author, Mr Donaldson, has already published several works of considorableliterary merit, including “ Bush Lays and Rhymes,” “ First Step to the Maori Language! 99 and others, and as the coming brochure is to contain the outlines of a long and varied New Zealand career, have no doubt it will prove most interesting as well as instructive.

The Lady Bibd.— The Evening Post of Monday last says that the N.Z.S.N. Co.’s s.s. Lady Bird, under the command of Captain Flowerday of the s.s. Ahuriri, proceeded on her trial trip on Saturday afternoon last, after her recent overhaul. The repairs to the steamer were executed by Mr Charles Seagar of this city, and we are glad to Ray that every satisfaction was expressed by those who accompanied the Lady Bird on the trip. She is now ready for sea.