Interprovincial Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 772, 24 March 1870, Page 2

Interprovincial Items.

THE EAST COAST. rProm the Correspondent of the New Zealand Herald.J Taubanga, March 11. On Wednesday morning a Maori chief brought information from Opotiki, further confirmed by an orderly from the same place later in the day. The latter reported that Opepe had been attacked by Te Kooti, twenty or more men killed, and all the women and children taken prisoners. This on enquiry I find not to be correct. 'The best information I can collect being as follows: —The inmates of a small pa, very near Opepe, learnt by some means that the enemy was in the neighborhood, and those who could immediately took to their boats or canoes, some women and children taking to the bush, whilst it would appear that some remained in the pa, amongst them an old man. At all events they fell into tho hands of Kooti's people, that rebel not being present. The Hauhaus demanded rum, and the old man was desired to go to Opotiki to procure souio, being told that unless he brought it without delay the lives of bis wife and children would be the forfeit. The poor old fellow obeyed, brought the rum, and was immediately butchered for his pains. Of course the old man, at Opotiki, did not omit to give the alarm, when Oapt. Walker with a party of Arawas at once started towards Opepe (another party I believe going more inland.) On approaching the pa two scouts went forward, one being the son of the well-known William Marsh, of Maketu. After waiting aorne time, and the scouts not returning, Captain Walker's people became impatient and fired some volliea into the pa, after which they entered it, and the first that met their gaze was the dead bodies of the two scout's, who had been tomahawked. The Hauhaus had decamped. For the information of your, readers I may state that Opepe is but about eight miles distant to the eastward of Opotiki. The unfortunate inhabitants had raised a considerable quantity of provisions this season—no small boon to the the destroyer. In a letter from my Whakatane correspondent at the time Te Xooti made his way through fxom Paengaroa, he says ; "Te Kooti will not caro to visit Whakatane, there being no provisions here—all gone by the floods. His raid will be on Opepo, where there are plenty." His [jroghostioutions have been verified. I :ave been informed that they have grown upwards of 1,200 bushels of maize at Opepe this season. I have been promised full particulars, names of those killed, &c, on return of a messenger sent there yesterday, which 1 shall forward by first opportunity. There was some excellent shot and shell practice to-day, both from theKosario and the Monmouth Redoubt. Persons on shore, experienced in such matters, say they have never before seen it equalled. I open my letter to state that the death of Wi Mersh's son is contradicted. My native informants state that he is at present at Maketu. It is possibly one of the same name who was killed at Opepe. March 14, We have, up to date, no further intelligence from Opotiki, confirmatory or otherwise. March 18. In my letter per Jane I intimated that I would forward further particulars respecting the affair at Opepe : since then I have received the following letter from Whakatane, but I should state that a subsequent letter from my correspondent says the whole of the details cannot be relied upon, being principally obtained from native sources : Whakatane, March 13. I proceed to acquaint you as well as I can about the Hauhaus coming to Waihau. As soon as tho news came here I went to Opotiki to learn all the particulars. There I learnt that the Hauhaus went to Waihau, whero the women and old men of Ngatira and Ngatirua were digging potatoes. They took all the women and children and then went to Amararautu, and got into the pa of Ngatirua. When the news got to Opotiki the Arawas and some pakehas went to Wairau. A few Arawas advanced to the pa, thinking there was no one in it. The Hauhaus kept quiet until they got close to tho pa, and then fired, killing Iletaraka Marsh and another Arawa. They tomahawked Marsh. The Arawas got the bodies. Ma' sh was brought here, where he is now buried. I will now tell you, a 3 well as I know, tho Whakatoheas who escaped, and those who were taken, and who were killed. Te Rauipea was at Opepe, and when ho heard the news he and his people got the boats out, secured all their guns and powder, and bolted to Te Kaha, Materini and Te

Pake (Mrs Gundrv's mother and father) were taken ; also Te Maupunaru's Te Pake was killed because he tried to shoot Te Kooti. Waretini Te Rangitataure and his wife were also killed, and Rawiri Matunuku is supposed to have met the same fate. Amongst those taken were the following:— (Mrs Awanui), her mother, Hapara, and Ani Merata's boy, Hineparu and child, Papa and child, Mary Marsh and two children, Henarieta, and, in fact, all Ngatirua and Ngatira women and children. You must know that the men of Ngatirua, Awanui, Tewai, and Te Riaki all went with Ngatihau te Maungapoketu after Te Kooti: Tuke Whakarum and some other women are supposed to have escaped to Torere, and some hid in the rocks. There is one consolationKooti got no arms or powder, as Rampia got all his away j and when Rawiri saw he had only 15 men and 10 guns, he burned the guns and tried to get away, saying to his men, " Kooti may have our bodies, but he shall not have our guns." Topia Turoa has taken about 100 men of Ngatihau (who stayed at Ohiwa) to Gpotiki, and jwill follow the Hauhaus. Kahuri Tena, Major Kemp and his force, about 300, went to the Uriwera nine days ago, and came back yesterday. They got as far as Tawhana, where he met Te Maikowha (Bennet White's murderer), with whom he made peace. Te Uriwera have promised to come in. Te Maikowha says he will fight Kooti. Kemp's force arrived at Ohiwa yesterday, but Penetito came by Puketi to brink us the news. Rakuraku is at Te Tahora, He has sent a letter to Maikowha. Paora Kingi's sister and several Hauhau swells came to Kemp's camp at Tawhana and Koreroea. They are shortly expected at Ohiwa. Kooti is supposed to have gone towards Torero and to Turanga. rFrom the Southern Cross, March 21.] The Sturt returned to Auckland yester* day afternoon. From Captain Fairchild we learn that everything was quiet. The settlers were patrolling the place, and were quartered in the Court-house at night. Ropata had not been heard of since last Thursday fortnight, when he was at Matata. He was supposed to have gone towards Waikarimoana. From Poverty Bay the Sturt steamed for Kawakawa (East Cape). The natives from Cape Runaway to Opotiki were assembling at Te Mahi. Morgan, as isoon as all his forces had collected, intended to strike inland to Kowhei and Maratai. Te Kooti was snpposed to be somewhere about the Waioeka Crorge. The Sturt next visited Opotiki, arriving there at 6 a.m. on Saturday. Kemp and Topia with all their people were there ; but intended to start again on Sunday (yesterday,) they having received five days' rations from Capt. Fairchild. The Sturt proceeded to Matata. There a large number of mounted Arawas, under Marsh and other chiefs, were marching inland, towards Opotiki, to join Kemp and Topia. Captain Fairchild next visited Tauranga, arriving at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Colonel M'Donnell left Opotiki on Friday night, intending to travel overland to Tauranga.

We have (says the New Zealand Herald) te record another of those cases of sudden death which have been so common of late. The sufferer in this case was a young man named Arthur Colgan, 23 years of age, and who was, at the time of his death, in the employ of Mr "Richard Taylor, of the East Tamaki. To all appearance, Oolgan was in excellent health, and on the morning of the 18th March he got in the cows as usual and milked them. Eeturning, however, from the byre to the house with the pail in his hand, he suddenly dropped, and was found lying prostrate by one of Mr Taylor's children, who.called her father to his assistance, when life was found to be extinct. An inquest held on the following day resulted in the verdict—" Died suddenly by visitation of God, of disease of the heart." The Hamilton correspondent of the Now Zealand Herald says :—•" I am glad to inform your readers that Capt. Beere, who was so summarily dealt with by Lieut.Oolonel Moule, for allowing Mr Firth to be detained here during the late panic, has been reinstated in command of his company, and has also received a letter of apology from Lieutenant-Colonel Moule, through that gentleman's superior officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Lyons." The Auckland Evening Star learns that the Government have for some time past contemplated connecting the telegraph line which reaches to Taupo with Cambridge. This would secure telegraphic communication between Auckland and the other provinces. Tho Star, however, hears from " a reliable source that thj King natives are very much opposed to the erection of a telegraphic Hue between Taupo and Cambridge, and that it is not probable that their opposition will be overcome without-considerable difficulty." Colonels Lyon and Moule returned to Auckland on the 18th inst. ? from Taura*

nga, to which place they had gone for the purpose of sitting on a Court of Inquiry into alleged misconduct on the part of an officer of the local forces. Owing to the death of the officer in question, the Court did not sit. The Coromandel correspondent of the Southern Cross, under . date March 18, ■writes as follows :—News has just arrived from the remote and somewhat inaccessible region of. Whangapona, of a rather awkward row between Maoris and Europeans, which arose in this wise:—There has, it is said, been a long-standing dispute between Messrs Craig and Harris, which has been referred to law, and decided, if I remember rightly, in favor of the latter, with a proviso that the former should have to remove timber already cut. A day or two ago, as Mr Craig's men were at work on the beach, near the mill, some one, supposed to be acting for Mr Harris, ordered the men to knock off and give up their tools. This request they promptly declined. A throat, I am sorry to hear was then made use of, to set the Maoris on to them, and put them into an adjacent water hole, or words to that effect. A regular row then took place; the Maoris did set on to the men, and tomahawks were brandished, if not used. The European.?, seeing numbers to be against them, and that they would be fighting with long odds against them, gave up the contest. The matter, I believe, will be investigated in one of our law courts. Mr Craig goes up to Auckland early next week.

The New Zealand Herald informs us that amongst other changes and appointments now under con&ideration will be found the following;—Lieut.-Colonel and Inspector Moule, A.C., at present commanding in the Waikato district, will have a fresh command assigned to him ; and in all probability Inspector Cumming, A. 0., will succeed the late Lieut.»Col. Eraser in his command on the East Coast. Colonel M'Donnell is reported to have gone overland to Wellington, where that gentleman is about to marry and retire into private ife.

The Now Zealand Herald, 19th March, says:—We have to record another accident arising from the rostiveness of a horse. So far as we have been able to glean them, the following are the particulars of the case:— Asa baker's cart, belonging to and driven by Mr Green, the baker, with whom was bis nephew, Joseph Grleeson, was passing along the Ponsonby-road, the horso suddenly bolted, and before he could be pulled up the lad was thrown violently into the road. Dr. Day was quickly in attendanee on the sufferer, whom he found with blood welling from each ear, but perfectly sensible. At present it would be difficult to ascertain tho precise injury sustained. It is feared tha,t there has been fracture oftheßkull, which would probably be succeeded by inflammation. At the present time young Gleeson lies dangerously ill.—The ktest papers state that the lad is in a fair way of recovery. Once on a time (says the Thames Advertiser) Schamyl, the Circassian chief, found himself and his followers in a strait. They had been fighting briskly for a long time, and had completely exhaustod their ammunition. They were on the eve of being attacked by a Kussian force, the officer in command of which knew their necessitous condition, and was emboldened by their extremity. What was to be done ? The Circassian chief was, however, a man fruitful in resource, and quick to perceive an advantage. The Kussian officer, in his eagerness to crush Schamyl, had withdrawn the garrison from a small depot at the foot of a mountain range. Schamyl's scouts had perceived the movement, and informed their chief, who was not slow to act upon tho information. Selecting a few of the most daring of bis followers, he descended into the valley, surprised the weakly-gar-risoned magazine during the night, and not only seized as much ammunition as eould be packed upon a number of hardy horses, but actually compelled the few men who had formed the garrison of the post to carry cartridges on their backs. Thus he provided his followers with the muchneeded ammunition, and not only held his own position, but drove the Kussians back into the valley with loss. We do not suppose that there need be any danger of Te Kooti following the example of Schamyl by swooping down upon the magazine in the Albert Barracks'some fine night. The fact is, it is too far off for Te Kooti's purpose. Were it not for the distance, however, there is no doubt but that ho would have a splendid opportunity of providing imself with an almost unlimited supply of

cartridges. The magazine is full; it contains powder sufficient to blow all Auckland into thin air, but it is entrusted to the safe keeping of one individual, who keeps the kojs. Further comment is unnecessary.

"We-extract as follows from the Evening Post:—ls the Governor really going to become a useful as well as an ornamental appendage to this Colonj ? Wo glean from a Northern journal that his Excellency has accepted a colonelcy in the Auckland Volnnteers. We trust that this is not meant, although described as such, to bo a merely " honorary " appointment; not only to wear another uniform, or add another decoration to those which he is already entitled to parade, but, we trust, to sot an example to the volunteers throughout the country by taking the field in per son. We do not venture to pry into the various staff arrangements that may be necessary in consequence of this new military ardour on the part of the titular Commander of her Majesty's Forces in New Zealand. His pipeclay will perhaps have to be inspected by Colonel Harrington, and he will have to take his orders from either General Branigan or General M'Donnell. He will be lower in the Army List than General Mete Eingi (Mr King.) He may thus, although the representative of her Majesty, have to obey a simple member of the House of Eepresentatives. His Excellency will, at any rate, be able to appreciate the strategic talents of his chief M'Lean, and to see for himself in what direction the friendly rifles travel, for the donation of which so much praise has been given to Mr Fox. Te Kooti and Titokowaru will both, perhaps, come out of their hiding-places to see a live Governor really in arms. Their appearance might put him into " hot water " if he gets so far towards them as Taupo. Is this step taken by the advice of his Excellency's responsible advisers ? If so, his staff will have to be constituted. Major-General Vogol will, no doubt, have charge of the commissariat and corresponding departments, in tho full costume of the Auckland Compellers, while Mr Fox will attend as orderly sergeant, to carry messages from one to the other.

From the Taranaki Herald of the 9th inst., we learn that an attempt will be made to resuscitate the Pioneer Steel Company. That journal says : —" We are informed that an arrangement has been come to between the promoters of the Pioneer Steel Company and the unpaid up shareholders, which will tend to do away with the hostile feeling that has lately existed between them. The promoters have agreed to hand over a certain number of paid up shares, to bo given to the unpaid up shareholders in satisfaction of the amount they shall have paid in calls, in the following proportion:—One paid up share for every £6 paid in calls; and where there is a balance, one paid up share where such balance amounts to £2 10s or upwards. Holders of single shares to receive a paid up share. By this arrangement all who accede to it will become paid up shareholders j and in furtherance of it the directors have issued notices that those shareholders who do not pay the amount now due before the 12th instant, will have their shares forfeited, and thus be relieved from further responsibility beyond the payment of the call lately made. The only proviso made by the promoters is, after the shares have been forfeited, the amount of the call now doe shall be paid before the 28th May next, to enable a shareholder to receive paid up shares. We understand that an endeavor will be made to get up a company in England, with a capital of at least £IOO,OOO j the directors being convinced from past experience that it is useless to attempt to carry on the undertaking without obtaining the requisite plant from England, and the services of practical men to carry on the works. Sufficient results have been obtained to satisfy those who have taken the greatest interest in the undertaking that, with proper furnaces and efficient workmen, there is no real difficulty in smelting the sand.