LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 80, 7 April 1869, Page 2

LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

(From the Southern Cross). "On Thursday last, the 18th, Te Kooti with a party of 300, crossed the Rangitaiki River from the Hauhau settlement afc Te Whaiti, called Tauaroa, where the enemy is encamped, hourly receiving fresh reinforcements from the interior of the Uriwera country. Te Kooti then proceeded to a new settlement called Te Motu-maka, belonging toabapu of the Arawa tribe, called Ngatimanawa. There were only eleven at that settlement. Te Kooti called upon thera to come out and speak to him in a friendly manner, promising to do them no harm. Thus thrown off their guard by this brutal savage, they somewhat reluctantly obeyed, and were at ouce killed, cut into pieces, and cooked iv their own coppers. The settlement was then ransacked, and some desirable loot fell into their hands, iv the shape of a good supply of Government rifles and ammunition. These unfortunate men had done good service for the Government in their time, for which they have been handsomely rewarded — far more so than any other hapu of the Arawa. They were present at the Native Lands Court at Taupo, and only left a few days before, in anticipation that Mr Mitchell, of the survey staff, would follow them, in order to define certain land-marks on the Kaiugaroa plain, to render the investigation of that block in the Native Lauds Court more satisfactory, Mr Mitchell, nofc being at all satisfied with the reported movements of Te Kooti, abandoned the idea of completing the survey ; otherwise ifc is almost certain he would have shared the fate of the unfortunate Nga te Manawa. The scene of this tragedy was a portion of the run belonging to the Honorable A. P. Seymour, and but a few hours' ride from the place where the court was held. It will be seen the court did not break up au hour too soon. It is also fortunate that Mr. Seymour's sheep had not arrived on the run. Major Mair, himself not backed up as he ought, to have been, has been obliged to ftill back upon Opotiki.