IMPORTANT FROM THE WEST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 102, 14 December 1868, Page 302

IMPORTANT FROM THE WEST COAST.

(BY ELECTRIC-TELEGRAPH.) [mOM OtTE own COEBESrONDENT.j (The following appeared as an Extra issued from , T//./ .jWs office on Wednesday -’'Times’Office,,- • .. Wednesday, 6 a.m. The following highly important, in** telligence reached, us last evenirig, and vtill he read.:Vitk interest.

. Wellington, /.; - . .. Tuesday, 5 p.m. On Friday last, two Maoris: came into Woodall’s a .flag of truce, bringing with them an autograph letter from Titokowaru, addressed to Colonel Whitmore, its gist being as follows : \., /. / After suridiy text.', of scripture such as : u ln one day God made the Heavens and the Earth,” and; “In one day made man of two different races, the one was to live in/England, that was the pakeha; the other in New. Zealand, that is the Maori,” —it goes on to state that the pakehas ought never to have crossed the. seas, and that he will endeavor to exterminate them.. He solemnly warns Europeans to leave Wanganui, and ends somewhat in the manner of a judge after passing sentence pf death upon a prisoner, “May the Lord have mercy on your souls.” Two Maoris have been taken prisoners and sent into Wanganui. On the person of one of these men was found a gold Albert guard, which has been identified as the property.'of the^late lamented Lieut.Hastings; also a silver. watch with the name of another officer left behind at Te Ngutn o te Manu:.. On Saturday Woodall’s Bedoubt was abandoned by the Armed Constabiilary, and the head-quarters .removed to Westmere.

Public indignation was aroused at tile übandohmenc of the' redoubt, the more so as by this retrograde movement the Wanganui Militia have been left unsupported at Stewart’s. Redoubt, 1.0 ■ ririles out from Waiigariui. On Sunday a man .was fired upon by an ambuscade, within five miles of Wanganui, between the twovposts —Westmere and Stewart’s Redoubt,

A special meeting of magistrates and inhabitants was held.on Sunday afternoon, at. the Court-house; and a plan , was drawn up by the military engineer and submitted to the meeting. Under this plan, that part of the town between the two stockades, from either point, in a line .to the river, are to be surrounded by a dr* ch and bank of the strongeslMlescriptiori. For -this work every one in town is to be pressed. The work commenced on Monday morning.

It is believed that some attempt on the town would be made on .the expiration of the usual three days of Maori warning. Colonel M'Donnell, with 300 Kupapas, have started to act against, the On Friday, they were seen at the extremity of the Bruns-, wick line.' Since then, they have’ not been not been heard, of, hut it is hoped that a good report will soon be forthcoming. ..