THE WAR ON THE EAST COAST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 4, 6 January 1869, Page 2

THE WAR ON THE EAST COAST.

Napier, December 22. The friendly natives have arrived at Turanga, with 45 deserters from Te Kooti, but of whom»only ten were men. Tbe death of Wylie and three companions is confirmed. The bodies have been disinterred; An inquest has been held, and a verdict returned, ' Murdered by some person or persons un- ' known.' The exhumation of the victims showed that they had been terribly mutilated. The skull of the boy Wylie had been broken in by repeated tomahawk blows, Three, instead of five bayonet wounds, os previously reported, had been

received by the poor child. Of the others it is sufficient to say that they met with a similar, but if possible worse, fate. Two natives were killed on our side during the attack made by the Muriwai natives on Sunday upon the enemy. Mr Wylie and another European were engaged in that fight. All but som6 30 of the Muriwai natives fled, leaving the two white men and 30 natives to fight about 100 of the enemy who was defeated and driven by them through the Pipiwhaka bush. It is thought that they were the same men who were engaged with Whitmore later in the day at Patutaki, and who, in retiring, all but cut off our scouts. Turaoganui, December 18. Road and redoubt-making are being proceeded with at and from Patutahi, which may again be termed~tEe~ Front, as most of the forces are stationed for the present at that place. Since the natives have learned that Mr M'Lean is .desirous, with Mr Richmond, that the land question should be settled, they have decided .not to oppose Mr M'Lean's benevolent wishes for our welfare. Ahuriri, s.s., arrived from Waiapu. She has 70 men on board, a section of the Ngatiporou. The chief Mokena, who it will be remembered did great service in the campaign of 1865, was to come with them. He is known to be one of the most intrepid and daring of Maori chiefs. Everyone expected him here as soon as he became acquainted with the mui-der by Te Kooti of his relatives the great chief Paratene. Mokena is, however, very good at looting j but, as we have now nothing left for him to loot, his little weakness in that respect will not affect us much. Another batch of Ngatiporou is expected next week under the chiefs Ropata and Hoteni. Another of Te Kooti's prisoners arrived. He escaped upon the same day as Maria Morris, Wi Pere, and others did, and has wandered in the bush about a fortnight. The tale he tells is not very intelligible, and is evidently disbelieved by many of the friendlies here, as, after he had recounted the particulars of his escape, I saw a native present him with some tobacco, informing the fellow at the same time that it was given him 'for the lies he told.' Like all the other escaped prisoners, this one appears to have suffered considerably before reaching this place j he is very lame, horribly dirty, and believed by some to be more or less 'porangi.' I have it on good authority that the deed o_ cession, wbich transfers this district to Government, has been all but unanimously signed. JNapier, December 21. On December 19 the Murewai, from Wairoa, brought eight prisoners. The Star of the South left at 1 a.m. on Sunday for Wairoa, with 150 of Karaitiana's natives, under Henare. A large funeral followed the remains of Mrs Wilson to the grave. The militia and volunteers turned out. Scouts came from Wairoa at 3 a.m. on Sunday, and reported that the enemy was in some bush near the town. All hands turned out, but the alarm was found to be a false one. A large public meeting has been held atPorangahau and resolutions condemnatory of the Stafford Government were passed. The Sturt arrived from Poverty Bay at 3 a.m. to-day (21st). It is reported that Colonel Whitmore was engaged making roads. Fraser, with 80 men, had advanced, scouting, but there were no signs of the enemy. The Stormbird left at half-pasfr 2 this afternoon, with 200 natives under Renata Tareha. They, with 150 Karaitianas, will act independently of Dpi. Whitjoaore.

HBMDKMBaMBNBnMM___BMiMMaMa_-_a__-M Mr M'Lean has gone to Wairoa, where his presence will have a good effect. Wellington, Dec. 24. Telegrams received from Napier to-day state that 200 Urewera natives have joined Te Kooti. Five hundred friendly natives, under Deighton and Peirce, started from Wairoa to-day. — Weekly News.