LATEST NATIVE NEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 141, 24 October 1868, Page 4

LATEST NATIVE NEWS.

HAWKE’S BAY PROVINCE IN DANGER

The Auckland journals report that the two rival factions—those willing to open the Thames district to the Europeans and those opposed to it—have decided to settle the question by arms. A fight has already taken place, and one man shot. Natives on both sides are standing to arms. May both be successful!

From Hawke’s Bay, we learn that Karaitiana and a party of scouts have been captured by the rebels under Te Kooti and shot ; the latter being joined by Te Waru and party to the number of 150, Information reached bn Monday that the Hauhaus have entered the Clyde district, and advanced upon Maru Maru, two or three miles beyond the military settlement; that his party was advancing upon the town by the right bank of the river* while Te Waru, at the head of his own people and a number of Ureweras, was approaching it from the other side; that a large party from the Waikato co-operating with Te Kooti j part of their scheme was a simultaneous attack-upon Wairoa and Poverty Bay.«- Much ahnety,. was .expressed, for remforpembfijte*, pndL jfpgeht; reqixiests ■ forwarded f<?r a steamer, in order; that the womfen and children might be removed.

The telegraph wires being down, Mr. M‘Lean chartered the Star of the Southon his pwp.respppsjbUity, and forwarded men and supplies. It is said that upon applying to Captain Wray, of the 18 th Royal Irish Regiment, for the assistance of the regularsthe, reply was that without oi-ders he could not move a man, consequently Mr.’M‘Lean sent for the chiefs of Heretaunga, and not without difficulty, for they objected to leave their own pahs defenceless, arranged that 100 men should embark next morning.

On Tuesday last the steamer St. Raida, arrived with the. Hon., J. C. Richmond,

Captain Tuke, and 13 men under him. On the same morning despatches from Wairoa reached the. authorities, written on Sunday, the 18th. Owing to the near approach of the fanatic army, and the impossibility of defending two positions, Captain Tuke had evacuated the blockhouse, and fallen back upon Clyde—taken with him the military settlers, who thus, in all human probability, saw the last of the smiling fields which their industry had _ created. Soon after, the enemy forded the river at Maru Maru in the very heart of the settlement; crossed the Scamperdown Creek, and took position on a hill called Waingongoru, commanding to some extent rhe right bank of the river. Information had also been obtained that Te Waru, having collected his force at Waikaritaheke, was now somewhere among the hills, riot far distant; and that a third party intended coming down the river in canoes—the object evidently being to organise a simultaneous attack from different quarters. On Wednesday both steamers with the Hon. Mr. Richmond, Mr. M‘Lean, Captains St. George and Tuke, with a force of 120 men, left for the Wairoa. After discharging stores and men, it is intended to steam up the coast in order to get the assistance of the Ngatiporou, our old allies, under Mokana and ilopata. An effort will be made to secure the services of 300 of these people—the same who, it will be remembered, danced the war-dance two years ago in front of the Militia office. There are 150 men well armed at the military settlement, with a good earthwork, said to be impregnable.