LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 149, 19 December 1868, Page 4

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

More Murders on the East Coast! Return of the Friendlies. Utter uselessness of Richmond and Whitmore, Their return urged. The following telegram from Napier, dated Monday last, appeared in the>Eveiling Post of Tuesday, 15th instant: “ Three more murders have been committed by the Hauhaus on the persons of William Wigeley, a lad named Finlay Ferguson, and a native. Ferguson, with the two others, left Turanga on Saturday last with the intention of repairing some sheeppens on the Big River, about 5 miles below Putataki. Finding they did not return, a party of Friendly natives under Henere Markai, set off in search of them on Sunday morning., They fell in with the Hauhaus, and a messenger reports that they were still fighting when he left. The bodies of the victims were found.

On Sunday the scouts, finding no trace of the enemy, Colonel Whitmore placed the Armed Constabulary on board the Sturt, which on leaving, ran aground. Immediately afterwards intelligence arrived that the Hauhaus had been seen at Patutaki. Whitmore disembarked, and started with a party for Patutaki, but saw nothing of the enemy. The Hauhaus are supposed to have descended on the flat at night by an unknown track.

We resume the current history of events to the above date, from the Napier telegrams in the Wellington Independent :— Dec. 7.—On Thursday a detached party of the enemy were engaged by 70 of the Ngatiporou, under Eopata, and several of the Hauhaus killed ; altogether about 100 of the enemy have been killed from the first engagement. The allies then ceased the pursuit and returned pai'tly through exhaustion and scarcity of supplies, and partly disgusted at Whitmore’s command. Whitmore and Frazer are at Patutahi awaiting the return of the friendlies. It is generally supposed that Whitmore will go per Sturt to Wairoa, as being now the proper base of operations. Frazer is to go on, and they will meet each other. The expedition is virtually collapsed, unless renewed by Whitmore. Karaurea, a Ahuriri chief died of his wounds, Tanner’s cavalry returned per Ahuriri. Dec. 9.—By the arrival of the Sturt today we learn that the Ngatipom and Wai-

roa natives have abandoned the pursuit of Te Koote and gone home The Ahuriri natives are expected to-morrow with the body of the chief Karuria, which will be carried in state. Colonel Whitmore is at Turanganui waiting, but for what purpose nobody knows. The expedition against the enemy is apparently abandoned. The action of the Ministry with reference to the Wanganui and Poverty Bay Districts show wretched mismanagement. Dec. 9.—lt was the intention of the officer in command to assault the enemy’s position, which has been ride-pitted, last Thursday. The return of the s.s. Ahuriri with the news is anxiously looked for. Disgust at Colonel Whitmore’s coming is strongly expressed in a memorial to the Governor, in which complaints are justly made that in this, as in other matters, Mr. M‘Lean’s plans have been systematically thwarted. The memorial is all but universally signed. There is an immense force now at the Front, while Wanganui is left unprotected.

Dec. 11.—The s.s. Ahuriri has arrived here from Poverty Bay, with 200 Ahuriri friendly natives on board, and the body of Karurai, the loyal chief, who was lately killed in action. The body was escorted in state by the Militia and band to the Maori club. A war-dance closed the demonstration. The Hon. J. C. Richmond and Colonel Whitmore are still at Turanganui. They are doing nothing, and their inaction is utterly inexplicable. The general opinion entertained here is, that they should either follow up the rebels and inflict “ a crushing blow” with the force at their disposal, or else return to Wanganui, where protection is so much needed. Having no stomach for fighting, or following up the enemy, they are said to be trying to settle the land question, a proceeding which, under existing circumstances, is a bitter mockery.

Dec. 14-th. Colonel Whitmore ami nearly all the men taken from Wanganui to Napier are returning immediately to Wanganui. The Press and people of Napier are furious at Whitmore’s return. Napier people term him the “Grave-digger.” Five hundred first-class Militia paraded on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Richmond returns with Colonel Whitmore.

The PI. B. Herald says • —The expedition has collapsed. Whitmore’s assumption of command has proved the signal for the return from the Front of all our native allies. Thus, all Sir. M‘Lean’s able and so far successful plans are rendered abortive. Even after Government had neutralised Mr. M‘Lean’s efforts to a certain extent, that gentleman had retrieved their blunder—a certain victory was likely to be achieved, and the murderers annihilated. By the arrival of the miserable pretender Whitmore, and his second wretched failure, thousands of pounds have been squandered for nothing. Ask Ngatiporou—inquire of any and every settler here why this expedition was abandoned, and the name of Whitmore and Government, coupled -with “curses not loud but deep,”are a sufficient answer. Why the Government inflicted that inflated imbecile upon us is inexplicable except to themselves.