Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 593, 14 July 1858, Page 4

Colonial.

WELLINGTON

The SuPEEiNTENDENCT.—-In our. last we gave the majority for Dr. Eeatherston'as. 291 j since then private accounts have been received from the lower part of Wairarapa,, giving a majority of 3. Prom Castle Poinfthe numbers are 6 for Peatherston, and 9 for St. Hill, making a total majority of about 320 for the Doctor.— Wellington Indepedeht, July 7.' - - ■ The official declaration of the poll was postponed to the 15th inst., from the non-arrival of official returns from Ahuriri.

The Ambrpsine ' from."England-which had arrived at Wellington, brought out the Lighthouse for that port. Disastrous Flood otst the Waieoa.—On the 15th ult, a heavy flood, such as has not been experienced in the memory of the " oldest inhabitant"—native or European, came suddenly down the river Waivoa. The North Plat was completely covered with water, and from it were swl?pt away our native church and six W/iares, a very large quantity of wheat in stack, about 60 pigs, besides goats and fowls, as well as other property. Tbe river, which had been all

but, closed, almost immediately/ broke out. in four places, and/tKe. water subsided very quickly 'afterwards.;. We are happy.to say.thjdj the flood wai unattended by loss of b_b,,aitbbugk,tberei -Was one.or two narrow escapes. i'TherjWauoa is now confined to one outlet, and is termed ":a - gobd river "-—that is, plentyof water at the entrance for ahipping'.-;--Hiiw^e« • Eat/'Seraldi' •Jvijvy'■'''*■ J'-- '-.';■ .-:'-■ •r'' i " • •■'■:*-»•'' /' " NATIVEVITETJD AT-WHAli_.-AN_i- '

A collision,- resulting in ,the loss of several lives,. has recently taken place, between the ;Ngitipukeko tribes, residing at Whakatane^ in ;the Bay of Plenty, regarding the ownership; of a spot of land, which each party was desirous of occupying as the site for a water-mill; Apariui,the principal chief of the' former tribe, asserted his right to Te Wairere and Wainui Tawhara, both eligible sites, and suggested that a mill should 'be erected at both places, to be the joint property of the disputants." Tliis proposal was rejected by Ngatipukeko^who - threatened to take possession of Whanui Tawhara by force of arms, and • actually - erected a pah near the spot. Annoyed by, the menacing ; attitude assumed .by Jus opponents. Apanui built a pah near, them, to enable .him,.to check their movements. f . Feeling themselves^overmatched, the Nga-bipukeko, had,' r/ecour^e,. tb. ; stratagem ; and, with the intention, of, surprising the Ngatiawa, Huna,- one of their leaders; placed fifty.-of. his men in, ambush.on one side:: of the pah, directing seventy more to proceed to the other side, and attempt to draw the Ngatiawa out of their pah. Reha; the' chief of^th'e. lit-.' ter, suspecting what'they had planned, instead' of allowing; his warribrs to attack tbe erienry,' before tbem, sent put a party to surprise those, lying in ambush... They/succeeded in killing, seven ofl them, "including:Huna, with the lt>ss: of only two men. „ ; /: , ; 1 Two mor.e, skirmishes followed/ an_ a hollow peace was made, which was treacherously broken ■by the Ngatipukekb.: On the 7th ultimo, they sent a message to TJeha, Apanui's second in command, invitiiighimtbjoin5.- fishirig; party to the heads of the river. He'consented to go, and, accompanied by fourteen followers, proceeded to the place indicated: but" to their surprise, found only two men awaiting' their arrival. Reha suspected treachery, and sent three men out to: scout. They ascended to*.the top of-a rock to look out, when they saw a dog suddenly dragged behind a stone, a; proof'that' the-Tgatigukeko were lurking about the spot. At the same time a party of Ngatiraukawa appeared on the opposite bank of the river.who, in reply ; to. Reha's interrogations,; informed; himth at the men by whom they were invited ■ did not intend to come to fish. Just; at this moment one of the Ngatiraiikawa was observed slyly cocking his gun. and taking aim at the men on the rock; in their haste to get under cover, they fell, arid were all more or less hurt. The man then fired at Reha's party, the ball falling short; this was answered by a volley from the whole number, who, wbjle they were re-loading, were suddenly attacked by a large party of the Ngatipukeko. Two fell dead,: Reha ;was;sev- ;- erely wounded, and the rest fled for their lives. Finding flight impossible, Reha took- to 'the water, but was soon overtaken by his enemies in a canoe. With desperate courage he turned to face his pursuers,- leaped into the canoe,/and/ seizing two, of the foremost by the throat, plunged with them into the water. A fearful struggle ensued, but he at last .succeeded in getting tliem both under him; wheni just in time to save their lives, a young, man in the canoe who had been re-loading his gun, placed the muzzle under Reha's head, and blew out his brains. They then broke all their paddles over his lifeless corpse. Meanwhile' the party on shore had captured one of Reha's wounded followers, who had been left at his own request by his" companions,, that lie might not impede their flight: and, despite his helpless condition, they killed bim on the spot, arid mangled : his. remains.— NewZealander.