The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1868. THE WAR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 290, 8 December 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1868. THE WAR.

Intelligence has been receivel of a successful atta-k upon the Hauhaus on the West Coast, which took place ou the 27ih ultimo, and in which 8 rebels were kiiled. They were attacked by the cavalry,' in - number 66 of all ranks and corps, who had ridden ftom the headquarters at Woodall's to Nukumaru, in the rear of which place the eDemy is encamped in large force. After waiting for a considerable time in concealment they perceived a large number of Hauhaus about Mr Haudley's woolshed, which had been lately burned by the rebels, and whilst some ofthe cavalry advanced dismounted, the rest followed ou horseback. Uufortuuately a carbine went off by accident, which gave the alarm aud somewhat frustrated the success of the affair, but nevertheless the whole party charged upon the Hauhaus, killing 8 with sabre, revolver, or carbine. The enemy turned out immediately and k^pt up a sharp fire, following the gallant little troop for about three miles on their way back to the camp. It is stated by spies, more or les* trustworthy, that Tito Kowaru's whole force is at Pa pat upu, and tbat he has no idea of attacking Paten. His force is supposed to be not under 800, without counting womeu and some nominal neutrals. The removal of 300 ofthe Armed Constabulary from Wanganui to Hawke's Bay - is much reprobated at Wnnganui, as leaving that ptace with utterly inadeqaate means of defence. Colonel Whitmore, however, reports that he has left in the Wanganui district 250 Armed Constabulary, 180 Militiamen, and 50 Cavalry Volunteers. The Maori contingent which Col. M'Donnell onered to raise for the defence of the Waugauui district, to be by the Government, has beeu accepted, and the force has been raised, but Kemp refuses to join it. 100 of Mete Kingi's men under- the command of Hymui aud Aperaniko, have started on an expedition against the euemy, expressing their iutention to cut off strag- j giers and do as much mischief as they cau iv their own wny. A correspondence between Mete Kingi and Wi Tako has beeu published, proving that the letter alleged to have been written by the Maori Kiug, was a forgery. As regards the view taken by the Maoris in the North of the rebel successes at the East and West Coasts, it is stated that there have beeu meetings ofthe whole of the Waikatos, and iti which the Ngatimaniapotos have indirectly takeu part, in which the Europeans have beeu assured lhat the present outbreaks are but local, and that uone of the other tribes mean to take part in them. A letter has also been received from Tamati Ngapora, conveying the sentiments of the King as well as of Tamatii and stating that no assistance will be giveft from Waikato. ' There are however in the -letter distinct statements that

. vhe Waikatos have nx>t relinquished tbe I idea of getting back the laud, but they hope to attain that object without tl>e shedding of blood. Riwi is quite at one with Tamati and the King in i_m desire for peace. The correspondent at the Front of the Hawke's Bay Herald, in noticing the intelligence brought to. the Taranganui redoubt on the 25th, by the friendly chief Henare Potae, of ihe engagement with the enemy in which Te Kooti was supposed to be killed, says that during a pause in thfl lighting tlie rebels were heard inquiring if Te Kooti was killed ; the reply distinctly heaid was 'yes.' Aguin, the voice of Te Waru was hcai'd nhiiouuciug that their leader Te Kooti being dead, he (Te Waru) assumed command. Tliis assumption of authority by Tb Waru seems to have been at all events premature, for although doubtless ae\brely wounded, as we pat hor from the fact of his Slaving been carried on a litter to his present position at Te Karetu, the arch- monster still lived at the date of our latest advices. The same authority mentions having visited the scene of the late massacre at Matewhero, aud says: — From mere excess of hai-b_iit_' Te Kooti aad his men have killed even the poor domestic animals; hot at oner, but by lingering deaths. At Captain, Wilson's the cats had been thrown alive into the water-tauks; at Messrs Hawthorne & Strong's the well was choked "wiih pigs, tlie property of those gentlemen. At Mr Wilson's we let loose a calf which had been upou the tether 13 days. We tried to secure a pretty little pet dog of Mrs WUsou's, wliich lay upon the embers (all that is left) of his muster's house; the poor thing had learned hy bitter experience to di.-ttust the advances of mankind, and would not be caught. A correspondent of the Hawkes* Bay Herald remarks that the friendly natives in that disttict have shown a zeal und earnestness which is woithy of the highest praise, having abandoned all sheep-shear-ing aud other occupations, while earning 12s. nnd 15s. a day, and marched out to meet tbe enemy aud fight the battles of the country, with or without pay. It is I true that they receive 3s 6d a day and ' rations, but it cannot be said of ijiem that it is the-love of money of mercenary considerations which have induced them to take the field. The conduct of the frieudly J natives of that district should not be for- | gotten by the settlers, and the suspicions aud doubts respecting them should not heucefonh be entertained. The Hawkes Bay Herald of the 28th uit in reference to the threat made hy Mr Stafford to the Wangauui deputation, after expressing 'his entire concurrence with all that Col. Hauhaia had dove,' s'iys, 'a proposition would probably he made, and carried, to cut Wangauui off from the rest of the colony,' that it really does seem absurd when we reflect that ministers barely able to retaiu their seats, and virtually defeated, are yet capable of talking iv such a style. It is true, ministers can do much even yet. If powerless for good, tliey are potent for mischief; aud it is certain that, if they wish to punish Wanganui because its inhabitants will not bow down and worship their idol, the incompetent Haul tai ii, there is amuch easier way iv which they can effect punishment. All ministers have to dp is to withdraw the troops from Wangauui, as they did from the East Coast, leaving as they did theie, its inhabitants to be massacred, and the thing :s done most effectually. As ministers have already proved tbe successful issue of the lirst experiment, why should they not punish other districts iv the same way? . . The 3-T. Z, Herald says that the Poverty Bay massacre reminds one of; nothing so much as the infamous atrocity of Nana Sahib at OawDlK^..--''ttid^ti»» victims

heen thrown iuto a well after beiug killed their remains would have been undesecrated, but the detail of what we read as happening to the bodies gives a deeper shade of blackness to this foul deed. Fiftyfour human beings swept out of life is terrible to. oou tern plate. But to regard the act as precursor to other acts of a similar kind is more dreadful still. We have not even the_poor consolation to know that we have English sympathy} or that we will obtain the aid of our fellow-countrj'men for asking. Tliere appears to be a fixed purpose to defame the people of this country — to exalt the savage virtues of our savage enemy* aud be conveniently , blind to his vu-.es. 11 ' '■' ' " ' —_m—_i