THE EAST COAST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 261, 3 November 1868, Page 2

THE EAST COAST.

The Hawke's Bay Herald of the 24th ult. says that the steamer Star of the South lauded the native force at Wanga> wehion the 21st, from which place the men had to inarch some 30 miles to Wairoa; that on the 22ud the Star succeeded iu landing provisious and ammunition at the Wairoa, but that the Hawke's Bay natives had not reached there when the Star left. The St Hilda, with Messrs

Richmond and M'Lean on board, finding that communication with Wairoa ; was impossible from the sea on at the time, steamed for the East Coast, to obtain reinforcements from the Ngatiporou tribe. It would appear as if the statements made with regard to the vicinity of the enemy were based upon exaggerated accounts brought in by the friendly natives. Parties of the enemy's scouts may have beeu seen within a few miles of Wairoa, bat the main body have not been nearer th&n Maru Maru, if so near. There is no foundation for the story that Lock wood had been killed. An.tive scouting party, 100 strong, had just returned from Maru Maru, without having seen any enemy.

A INapier telegram in the Wellington Post of the 29th tilt, says: — The Government steamer St Ealda ha3 returned from Wairoa. There has been no fighting as yet. The rebels could not be found. 165 friendly natives landed at Wairoa, and 100 more are marching for Tauranga. The Hon. Mr Richmond and Mr Donald M'Lean, Superintendent of Hawke's Bay, are still at VVairoa. A force of 500 natives, with 22 Europeans and 3 officers, proceeded on Friday, Oct. 30, to ascertain the position of the enemy.

A Napier telegram in the Advertiser of yesterday says that a despatch just arrived reports that a message has beeu received from Taupo, dated 29th October, to the effect that there is no truth in the Statement that the Maori king intends to support the ex-prisoners. On the contrary, the king has expressed his determination to repel them if they touch upon his territory. He is incensed with them for listeoing to the dictates of the prophet in preference to his own.