THE NATIVE REBELLION.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 171, 17 April 1869, Page 4

THE NATIVE REBELLION.

LATEST FROM THE FRONT. Not only is there actual war, actual though transitory, along the coast, but we are threatened with rumours of other wars. On Friday the district seemed quiet; Titokowaru had effectually eluded all pursuit. The distribution of the troops had been decided on, and marching orders issued. Colonel Lyon with a corps d'observation of 70 men (in addition to the local forces) was to hold Patea, while the remainder marched through the bush by Chute’s overland track to Taranaki, and there embark for Tauranga via Auckland. On Saturday all these orders were countermanded, as danger threatened from an unexpected quarter. The p.s. Sturt, which was lying at the harbor of Opunaki, was specially despatched to Wanganui with despatches to catch the s.s. Storm Bird, but, having fouled some of her macninery, only arrived on Saturday in the river. From Wanganui a special messenger was despatched the same night to Wellington. The nature of the fresh intelligence was that 300 of the Ngatimaniapotos had arrived in the disturbed districts between New Plymouth and Waihi; but whether for the purpose of reinforcing Titokowaru, or for attacking New Plymouth or the settlements on this side of the Patea, does not appear. They are described as fully armed. This put an end to any movements out of the district, beyond a force of some 70 mounted constabulary despatched by the way of the Forty Mile Bush for Hawke’s Bay, Meanwhile the two Government steamers are storm stayed in tho river.—Wangant 1 Chronicle , April 6. A special messenger came in yesterday from the West Coast with despatches from Colonel Whitmore. So far as we can learn, the despatches state that Kemp, in command of the friendly natives, had gone to Te Ngutuotemanu, while Titoko and his force were reported to be at Mokau, and would possibly soon occupy a position at the White Cliffs. Meantime Col. Whitmore will press on towards Taranaki. 60 of the Mounted Constabulary, under Capt. Richardson, have started on an overland expedition from Patea to Napier and Taupo. We are not aware what is the object of this movement. — Independent. The Government expect that Colonel Whitmore’s force will have reached New Plymouth in pursuit of Titokowaru to-day.

We learn that 60 men of the Armed Constabulary, under Captain Richardson, have started from Patea for Napier, by way of the Forty Mile Bush. They will pass through the Taupo country, where their presence is likely to prove a salutary check on the discontented Hauhaus in that quar ter; and on their arrival on the East Coast they will be placed under the orders of Major Lambert.— Post. THE CAMPAIGN IN TARANAKI. By information received on the stb, we learn that the Ngatimaniapoto are in force (400 or 600) at Mokau, intending to occupy Pakearuke, or oppose its occupation by our men. Colonel Whitmore, on receipt of this intelligence, abandoned his intended advance on Ngahere and moved his main body behind the mountain towards Waitara. The Ngatimaniapoto are short of food ; their cultivations are supposed to be on the Upper Mokau. The volunteers— European and Native—are eager to meet the enemy. Old natives thfhk this a very great ancestral take, and want to revenge Pukerangiora. Most of the natives are well disposed. The report that the Ngatimaniapoto are acting under orders from the King is not confirmed, and is not thought to be true.— lndependent. HOW A PRISONER WAS TREATED.

It will be remembered that several months ago, when, the rebels were at Kakararaea, a settler called Sandy M‘Culloch was missed. It was at once assumed that he fell into the hands of the Hauhaus, and treated as the other captives—killed, roasted, and eaten. It has now been

ascertained, from one of the prisoners, that he was captured by the Hauhaus, and made to carry potatoes, which he did for six days, when he refused to carry them any longer. Haying shown his disinclination by laying down with his burden, he was then and there tomahawked.—Evening Herald. TE KOOTI’S MOVEMENTS.

It was reported yesterday that the Government had received information that Te Kooti was at Ahikereru, 2 days’ march from the Bay of Plenty settlements, with a strong force of Uriweras, partly mounted. Titokowaru is suspected of being at Mokau, and is said to be supported by the Maori King. The country now separating the two Hauhau chiefs is not of very great extent, and is inhabited by doubtful or openly rebellious tribe, so that a junction between them, which is spoken of, is far from improbable. The Lyttelton Times publishes the following despatch, dated Napie'r, April 4th :—“ Mr. Hamlin arrived from Taupo last evening. Te Kooti is said to be at Ruatahuna, North West Waikaremoana, and threatening Poverty Bay. The Wairoa or friendly Taupos are on their way to join Rewi on his invitation. Two prisoners taken, and now in the custody of the Ahuriri friendlies, report that Te Kooti is one thousand strong. The Taupo natives expect fighting every day. The Ahuriri natives have returned from the great meeting, which ended with a resolution not to lease any more lands, and if the Europeans attack Te Kooti, the Waikatos will declare war. The Murewai, schooner, from Poverty Bay, brought a prisoner committed for trial as accessory to the Poverty Bay murders.” — Post. LATEST FEOM THE EAST COAST. The s.s. Tauranga arrived in harbor from Tauranga on Saturday evening last. There were several alarming rumors in circulation, which we are able to say have little or no foundation in fact. It was reported amongst other things that the Government had sent an ultimatum to Tawhiao (the so-called Maori King), demanding the surrender of the White Cliffs murderers, and thatr the adherents of Tawhiao had held a meeting at Orahira, near Hangatiki, at which it was resolved to accept the demand as a declaration of war. The whole story, so far as we can ascertain, is altogether unworthy of tho slightest credence. The real state of the matter appears to be this: —The Rev. Heta / Tarawhiti, as we stated some weeks ago, brought down a letter from the Maori King, in which Tawhiao stated that he and his adherents had no sympathy whatever with the murderers, and would oppose such des perate and wanton at.acks to the utmost Tawhiao also enclosed the names of the murderers for the information of the Government. On the morning following Heta Tarawhiti’s arrival he again set out, being the bearer of a letter from the Resident Minister, the purport of which has since transpired from native sources. Most of the accounts that have reached us agree in stating that Dr. Pollen, on behalf of the Government, expressed their pleasure at the sensible course which Tawhiao had decided upon following, thanked him for giving the names of the murderers, and other information connected with them, and concluded by expressing a hope that he wquld “ keep his house in order.” So fur, then, we are convinced that the rumor about the supposed ultimatum is nothing more than a guess, or an idle canard. ~ Another rumor of the same character which has somehow got afloat, and which we believe will be found to have been originated by certain pakeha-Maoris, was that an armed party of the Kgatimaniapoto was at Aratitaha preparing for an attack upon one or other of the frontier settlements. This story in its main appears to be equally unfounded with the other. The facts are, we believe, that after the White Cliffs murders, the Ngatimaniapoto tribe expected that, in retaliation, the Europeans would invade their territory, the murderers belonging to that tribe. By the advice of Rewi and other leading chiefs, an armed party was sent to Aratitaha as a kind of corps of observation, their orders being to act strictly on the defensive, and only to commence fighting when a European force invaded the Ngatimaniepoto country or crossed the boundary of the confiscated land in any other direction. We are not fully aware whether the outpost is still maintained or has been withdrawn, but we believe the latter.

We have heard also that Raihana and n party of about 50 men, including the White Cliffs murderers, were a few days ago in the neighbourhood of Maketu. They are, it is stated, under Tawhiao’s displeasure, who has banished them to their present station. Tawhiao, however, has gone much further than this —threatening in case Raihana and his party attempt to stir up strife in the Waikato to put them down by force.— Southern Gross.