AUCKLAND.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 90, 29 August 1877, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

August 23. The war continues at Samoa. .The rebels during the last month had en-. trenched themselves round Apia m a strong position; There they, remained for some time without striking a blow.

OA*the 12th a strong force of the King party assembled on the offensive, and marched up to the rebel entrenchments, which they, quietly surrounded. A parley was.then held between the chiefs on either side, and while it was going, on a sudden fire was opened on the* insurgents, of whom between 50 and 100 were killed. They resisted for some hours, and the" two forces kept on firing all night.. In the morning the rebels surrendered, and the King, merely taking away heir arms, set them at liberty. Among tKe guns given up were needle guns. Almost all the dead bodies were subjected to mutilation, by cutting off the heads, The victors bore these about on sticks for; some days, now and then performing War dances round them. It. is said that a good many of the more enthusiastic : drank the blood of; their victims. :The,3Europeans;are not touched. Many white men went up on purpose to see the fighting. There is great demand for stores and powder. The Steinberger party are now the • dominant faction. • ,'J: . The "Masonic. vHaR,' Waikato was decorated to-day; with great ceremony. ;TheSteUa^ has returned from Cape Maria Van Diemen. Indignation is expressed that; >she' did not visit : some island near -the .Otara .beach, .which; is strewn with -^wreckage,, fifteen miles out of the ;Stelmi&<cour.se. Had she gone it would have set at rest the suspicion that some survivors-are starving^ there. Captain Fairchild, ; having no instructions from WeUington, could 'not take action, although aware- , of the. possibility" ; of castaways being oh the islands.