THE WEST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 663, 11 March 1869, Page 3

THE WEST COAST.

LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

The special correspondent of the Wa» nganui Evening Herald, writing from Wereroa under date March 4, says: —I mentioned in my last communicatian tha* the troops were about to re-occupy the position inthe bush. About 8 am. the proportion of the force stationed at Wereroa began to move, accompanied by a portion of the Arawas and the kupapas, after arriving at Papatupu, went forward to examine the road towards the Momohaki, and on arriving there returned and stated that the creek was impassable. Lieut.Colonel Herrick, just arriving, then proposed to Colonel Lyon that he should take a few men and move forward, so that he might be able to form his own opinion on the subject. Col. Lyon persuaded him to take No. 1 division A.C., and being at Papatupu I also, by permission of Lieut.Colonel Herrick, accompanied them. After leaving Papatupu we ascended a steep rise, and following a spur for some distance, the track led down into a deep wooded gully. On arriving at the bottom, we immediately noticed that the whole bush had been inundated, and that in some parts the water had risen to the height of seven feet, and on the creek itself, where the force had encamped, it had risen between three and four feet. It is unaccountable how the water could have risen to such a height, as where it had risen highest, about a mile from the creek, there was a deep gully within a few yards of the traok. It can only be accounted for by supposing that the gully itself was overflowed, which k most improbable. It was most fortunate for the force that they retired as soon as they did ; had they remained twelve hours longer they would have had to take to the trees, no high ground being proximity to them. I have to report the arrival o: Col Whitmore at this camp from Wellington, accompanied by his new Bri-gade-Major, Capt. Birch, late of a Napier corps. It is much to be regretted that Lieut.-Colonel Herrick should have resigned at the present time. He has now been some time with the field force, and is perfectly acquainted with the dispositions of the forces at the several posts, and should a change be made it seems most unfair that all the colonial officers (who iiave seen so much service) should be passed over in favor of an officer whose name is totally unknown, not only to civilians, but also to most who have seen hard service in all parts of the island.