NEWS FROM THE WEST COAST

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

NEWS FROM THE WEST COAST

Wanganui. —A correspondent of the I VangaI nui Times , writing from Stewart’s Redoubt, Mount Bryce, on Friday, December 4, says : “About 4p.m. yesterday, we observed smoke to the N.W., and shortly afterwards, Mr. W. Handley came into camp and told us it was from Mr. Baker’s stables, which had been set on fire by the Hauhaus. The redoubt is progressing rapidly towards completion ; it is in a splendid position for defence, and can be held by us against any number of Hauhaus. The blockhouse will be nearly finished to-morrow. Captain McDonnell, Ensign McDonnell, Mr. Rolfe, and 150 loyal Wanganui natives passed here about 12 o’clock to-day, inarching in the direction of Hewitt’s, but where bound for would not tell. All our men are in good health and spirits, and well pleased with the officers. There is a good deal of grumbling about the Government not having supplied us with either proper or sufficient cooking utensils.” The Chronicle, of Thursday, Dec. 10, states : —“A portion of militiamen left Mount Bryce on Tuesday morning, and marched nine and a half miles towards the river, where a block-house is being erected, to complete the chain from the sea on the one side and the river on the other. It seemed rather hard to the men that they should turn up the river instead of down, but it had to be done. The marching force was fifty in number. Mount Bryce continues quiet, but fires are often seen in the distance.”

Pate A. —-The correspondent of the Times, writing on December 9, says : —Since my last, little worth recording has happened up here. No sign of the enemy beyond several horse tracks near Manawapou, probably supplies from Mawhitiwhiti or Paputapu. Several men of the European Contingent discharged—some for bad conduct, others medically unfit. About 200 men of the Armed Constabulary, European Contingent, Patea and Carlyle Rifles on pay, is stationed at the advance (Booth’s house) with the exception of the Carlyle Rifles. In addition to the regular forces, thirty-eight men of the civilian population are doing regular night duty as patrols and scouts, declining to receive either pay or rations. A strong ball-proof fort is being erected, commanding the whole town. This is being done by voluntary labor, and the cost of timber and nails is about £3O, which has been raised by the maligned and dispirited settlers of Patea. The work will be completed in a week or ten days.” The Evening Post of Friday last considers the announcement that H. M.S. Chary bdis was to leave Wellington on Saturday last for Wanganui, coupled with the stationing of portions of the 18th Regiment at Napier and Wanganui, and the services of H.M. ships Rosario and Blanche on the East Coast, as a virtual renunciation of the self-reliant policy. The Charybdis was to anchor off the mouth the Wanganui river, with the little steamer Woodpecker as a tender, so that in the event of an emergency she can land 100 small arm men, 30 marines, and a 12-poundar Armstrong field-gun.