THE NATIVE OUTBREAK.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 93, 12 October 1868, Page 248

THE NATIVE OUTBREAK.

THE WEST COAST.

THE EEONT. TnE Pate-a correspondent of the Wanganui Chronicle, under date October 3rd, writes as follows:

The retrograde movement from Waihi to Manawapou has been rapidly followed up by the abandonment of that post and Ivakaramea, and the concentration of the whole of the force in the camp at Patea. In my last letter I gave a short account of the attack by the rebels on the two escorts ; the skirmish, while it lasted, was very smart, aud it was noticed on this, as on all former occasions during the present war, that the rebels fired with great precision. Captain Smith reached Manawapou the same night ami was not again molested. The rebeL, however, followed the convoy under Lieutenant Hirtzell to within a mile of Kakaramea. It was very for tunale that the convoy's met when they did, as from the strength and disposition of the enemy, Lieutenant Hirtzell must have been compelled to retire on Manawapou, and probably with a heavy loss. The conduct of both escorts was very good. After what had occurred, Captain Smith did not consider it prudent to remain longer than was possible at Manawapou, and as soon as the dray's were loaded, and the poor man who bad just been killed, buried, he left again for Patea. When the Maori bridge was reached, it was f-uud that it been partially destroyed, a large bole being burnt iu the centre, and some of the joisrs shifted. This occasioned a delay' of some two hours, whilst the bridge was being temporarily repaired; the rebels, however, notwithstanding that they were close at hand, offered no interruption, and at 2 p.m. the Patea camp was reached. The native who generally carries the overland mail to New Plymouth left Manawapou about two hours before the convoy for the purpose of fetching the mail, which this time was a very heavy one, from Patea, and as he has not since been heard of, has no doubt been taken prisoner; it is said he was afterwards seen with the ambuscade, party.

Two men, Whitelock and Edgecombe, are in confinement, charged with supplying the rebels with ammunitian. A preliminary examination was held this morning but the result is not 'known. There are certainly some very suspicious circumstances in support of the charge. These men left Manawapou on the same night that the force had fallen back on that position from Waihi, and visited Nahina Waukina, a fishing village about four miles from Tanghoe, on the Waihi side. I hear that a considerable quantity of ammunition has- been found in Whitelock’s box, and that his house at Hauhua is the only one not destroyed. ' Yesterday the following notice was issued by the commanding officer:— Major Eraser would strongly recommend to the settlers in Patea who have families there that they should take advantage of the steamer Sturt, hourly expected, find send the womenand children to Wanganui j a free passage for them-will be provided and a moderate amount,of .luggage taken free.' Major Fraser’s precaution is very wise one, but the ; position' ; of. some families is unfortunately such that they are compelled to remain here at .all risks, Every pregaution.is being taken

to protect the small bit of land left in our possession, and the post on the south bank of the Patea river has 1 been strengthened and numbers about one hundred men, under command of Capt. Smith. To-morrow all available men will be employed in intrenching- the town on the inland side. There is no information whatever of the movements, of the enemy; he is supposed to be inconsiderable force at Manutah. He will no doubt not leave us many days without some hint of bis intentions. DBILL. The Wanganui Chronicle, of the 6th October, says:—Wanganui is now one entire camp. Drill in the morning : drill in the evening; volunteer cavalry exercise at some other hour. It is a capital thing to handle arms properly, whatever comes of it.

The Wanganui Times, of the same date, observes The men of the Ist and 2nd class militia who are not perfect in their drill parade daily, the former in the morning and the latter in the evening, for exercise. Men who had learned their exercise some years ago have only to attend periodical parades. This is as it should be. Every young colonist should learn the use of the rifle and be thankful for the opportunity of doing so. The Hauhau spies may now carry back a better account of us.

THE DEFENCE MINISTER. The Wangauui Times, of the 6tb October says:—lt is expected' that Colonel Haultain will arrive in Wanganui by the p.s. Sturt to-day.' We have been told by some of the ladies o 1 Wanganui that the women in general intend to turn out, suitably armed, to give him a very befitting reception. We at first looked upon it as a mere expression of indignation and Gontempt. but the matter is so generally spoken of that it it quite possible the women, us in most other matters, will have it their own way.

AEEAIBS AT TnE FBONT. Under this heading the Times draws a very gloomy picture;. The Armstrong guns are of no use, as there are no artillerymen to man them. Yon Terapsky’s men, 75 of the best in the force, are disbanded ; and within a week from this date there will not be half-a-dozen experienced officers left. Officers who have seen service will not coutiuue to serve under the present Government. Col. M'Donnell having resigned it is doubtful whether he will do anything but bold on untii uis successor arrives. On Saturday iast Titokowaru had advanced to a strong post, about six miles up the Patea river, on the north bank. As Col. Haultain is hourly expected in Wanganui, he will have a fine opportunity of heading his force and reaping laurels J

RESIGNATION OF COLONEL M c DONNELL. The Evening Herald says:—Col. McDonnell has sent in his resignation as officer commanding the Forces. A spy, who lately left the camp of the enemy, imparted to Col. M‘Dounell some valuable information. The Colonel cannot now act upon it. THE king’s PROCLAMATION. The following translation of the proclamation issued by the king, and circulated among the disaffected natives, is published by the Thames Advertiser : This proclamation is from Tokangamutu, and is sent round to all the “ pooti” in the land of Canaan. This is my instruction to the “poo,ti.” My friends: The tele-, graph of, the .Atua has decended. to me, and this is my word to all the “ pooti ” living at * * Don’t occupy your thoughts with Titokowaru’s doings. Leave him alone to do his work; it is a work which has been given him by the Lord to do. Though, he should eat men, leave him alone—it is his own thought. My word to you is—Don’t interfere, leave him to do his work. Bather do you attend to the former word—in the first proclamation. This word:—The year, is. a soft year—a good year; the lily is out. Leave down the weapon. The word of our Lord’s telegram is that men should be chosen out. of each “ pooti” as posts for the door; that when the month arrives, and the foot is firmly planted down, that is the time. This is the word of the wire—listen to it. October is the month in which the whole island will arise, and there will be no end. —Erorn me, >. s Tawhiao, King. . The. Southern pros®, after.-casting 'doubt upon' the ' authenticity of the document, absurdly construes' it to mean that a year of peace is now to begin, and a rising to take plage next October, . . '; :

Importation o ’ Oats.— -During the past week 3,468 bushels of oats have been imported into the Province from Canterbury-:—1,800 bushels having arrived by the Jupiter on the Ist inst., and 1,668 by the Nora, on "Wednesday! The Telegraph. —The new Post Office on the Government reserve is now so far completed as to admit of the' occupation of that portion intended for the Electric Telegraph Office. The Telegraph business has. accordingly been removed from the temporary office at Mr Carver’s to the new building. Later prom Wairoa. — From Wairoa we learn that the rebels, being strongly reinforced, are assuming a threatening aspect towards the settlement, and that considerable apprehension is felt by the population there of a probable attack. Mr Stafford’s Speech. — We have been requested by several friends to reprint, from the Hansard, the speech made by Mr Stafford on the “ alarm ” motion by Mr M c Lean. In comparing the abridged report of that speech, published in the Wellington Independent, and the only one which has yet been republished in this Province, with that in the authorised report, we find sufficient reason to induce us to comply with their request, and we accordingly give the speech a place in our columns.