WARDEN’S COURT, GREENSTONE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2307, 19 January 1884, Page 2

WARDEN’S COURT, GREENSTONE.

Friday, January 18. [Before H. A, Stratford, Esq., Warden.] APPLICATIONS. Lev? Hell and others, by their agent Mr Seddon, applied for a wing dam in Greenstone Creek.—The application was granted conditionally. Ah Fook and others, by their agent Mr Seddon, applied for a water-race and also a tail-race, situate near Lake Brunner road.—Both granted. Chaw Kow and others, by their agent Mr Seddon, applied for a diversion of the Greenstone Creek, near the ThreeMile.—Granted, subject to agreement registered. Bung Ye and others, by their agent Mr Seddon, applied for a diversion of the Greenstone Creek, near the ThreeMile.—Granted, subject to agreement registered. Ah Gee and party applied for a waterrace, Greenstone Creek.—Granted. Michael Clancy and another applied for a double-area claim at Quinn’s Terrace, Westbrook.—Granted. Michael Clancy and another also applied for a tunnel at Quinn’s Terrace.— Granted. S. R. Harris and others, by their agent Mr Hannan, applied for protection for water-race from the eastern Hohonu. This was objected to by E. King and party.—After hearing what was to be said for and against application, protection was granted until Court day in February next. THE HILL TRIBES IN NUBIA, AND EL MAHDI AND FOLLOWERS. The San Francisco mail brings some further particulars of the disasters which have befallen the Egyptian troops in various parts of Nubia, from the port of Souakim to Khartoum and El Obeid, from which we make the following extracts : News has been received that a great force of the hill tribes attacked .five companies of Egyptian troops which were reconnoitring outside Souakim on the sth December. Severe fighting ensued, the Egyptians being completely annihilated, and all their artillery captured. Spies entered Souakim, and reported the hill men were hovering near town. On bearing this Mahomet

Tates Pasha, anxious to efface his defeat at Tokau on tho 6th Novem-’er on account of which a court-mar lial is pending, sent forward 500 black troops and 200 Bashi-Bazouks against the hill tribes. He himself remained at Souakim, at a distance of three hours’ inarch from the town. The Egyptians were attacked by several thousands, and fought fiercely, but were cut to pieces, and only fifty, half of whom were officers, escaped. This defeat of troops hitherto regarded as the flower of the army, caused consternation here, as it tends to show that the task of opening a route from Souakim to Berber (300 miles), with the material at his disposal, is nearly hopeless. Twenty cavalry men accompanied the Egyptian forces. The total loss was 600 men. There were two European officers with the force, and the whole was under the command of an Egyptian Major. The surviving officers say they were surrounded by 5000 men. The Egyptians formed a square, the black troops being stationed on the three faces and tho Bashi-Bazouks on the fourth face of the square. The latter fell back, throwing the black troops into disorder. The blacks fought with great bravery. One gun and all their arms and ammunition were lost. In consequence of the disaster, the garrison at Souakim is reduced to 1000. The blacks fought back to back in groups'or pairs, some with clubbed muskets. Many rebels were killed. A London special says despatches received at Cairo to-day attribute the failure of El Mahdi to continue his advance on Khartoum to the breaking out of dissensions amongst the heads of the various tribes marching under his banner., Some of these advocate an advance upon Dongola (and so shortening the distance by some scores of miles towards Cairo), while others prefer an attack on Khartoum. The two factions cannot agree on a plan of oper- i ations. It is said, moreover, that the defection of Kabbabbist tribes to El Mahdi will inevitably occur if the latter forces continue their advance. A well-known native with Hicks Pasha’s army has returned from El I Obeid, whence he was enabled to escape j because of his black color. He says Hicks Pasha fought like a Hon, and was the last officer to fall. The members of his staff fell in one group. After the battle 150 soldiers were found wounded. El Mahdi gave orders that none of the wounded should be illtreated. The Arabs determined to erect a monument for Hicks Pasha on account of his great bravery, but El Mahdi forbade it. El Mahdi threatened to punish Jargalls, because he failed to join him. The Sheik sent defiance, saying he has 15,000 warriors and seven years’ provisions. The Ulma of Mecca, a body of learned men, has formally condemned El Mahdi as an imposter.