THE WAR IN THE NORTH.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 54, 4 November 1863, Page 5

THE WAR IN THE NORTH.

LATEST PARTICULARS.

(From the Daily Times' Wellington correspondent.)

Affairs are at a stand still, and arc likely to continue so for a little while longer. The slow progress of the war is very disheartening, and the constant disappointment which the arrival of mails without any decisive news creates, dispirits us, and makes us ready to give credence to the opinions of those who declare the war will be one of years, and that we shall yet want (to use Mr Fox's oft quoted expression) the loan of half the British army. The war correspondents mnke the most of every little affair, but after dressing up the veriest trifles, as they do, there remains absolutely nothing. At Parapata a lr.rge pah is building, and tho natives seem to be in good spirits. A Sergeant Johnstone has been shot while travelling from one redoubt to another, his companion securing his arms.'

On tt:e sth October, a party of Maoris from Mcremcre were emboldened by the seeming quiet at Wangamarino to take a little recreation, and therefore went out fishing on the river; but Mr Pickard, R. A., who was at the front, fired a shell at the canoe, which burst immediately over it, and effectually put a stop to the day's amusement, for the party instantly put back, and were seen, by the aid of glasses, to draw a helpless body from out of the canoe, evidently a man either dead or severely wounded.

From Taranaki there is nothing new requiring notice from me. At Wanganui, Colonel Lojan has directed pickets to be stationed round the town, in consequence of information received by him from Taranaki, that the natives had written letters and otherwise expressed an intention to avenge the deaths of those who fell in the late skirmishes there. The picket is only a precautionary measure, nothing definite having reached him. Taihana, an up-river chief of some rank, has returned with sixteen men, ostensibly in consequence of the scarcity of food at Taranaki, but really as some suppose with a view to rouse the river natives. It must often occur to your readers what a vast amount <<f rousing the natives in this Province and in Hawke's Bay require. To my certain knowledge, emissaries from the Waikato and Taranaki tribes have been at the game tor the last six months, still 44 the canoe is not launched." From whatever cause it may arise, it is quite certain that there is no desire on their part to fight, except under the idea that they arc themselves in danger from us. The Chronicle of the 15th says:—"The Ngatipamoana and Ngatihine (Lower Wanganui hapus) have sent the Governor a numerously signed address, accompanied by a gun, two full cartouch boxes, a bag containing 250 bullets, and an axe or large tomahawk, to which the following history is attached. It was given by Captain Cook to Manaorongo, a chief at Queen Charlotte's Sound, who gave it to one Manarunga. His wife, Kawa, gave it to her brother, Kowha, a Wanganui native, and it is said to have been the first iron implement ever seen here. From Kowha it has come down to his son Parau and grandson Komene, the last of whom has sent it to the Governor. From the ancient appearance of the tool and the broad arrow deeply stamped on both its faces, the history may not unlikely be true." The only other item about which I have to write is the publication of the whole of the papers relative to the abandonment of the Waitara. They were communicated by the Hon. Mr. Mantell, and are worthy of attentive perusal by those who can appreciate the skill with which Sir George Grey has converted two of the most decided supporters of Governor Browne's purchase into two of the most determined opp monts.