LATEST FROM TAURANGA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 17, 20 January 1870, Page 2

LATEST FROM TAURANGA.

TE KCOTI AT TE PAPA. AN ATTACK HOURLY EXPECTED. The schooner Jane arrived in harbor this morning at four o'clock, having left Tauranga at 3 p.m. on Sunday. H.M.S. Blanche arrived on Saturday night, and the steamer Sturt on Sunday afternoon. Te Kooti was still at Tu Papa, about 15 miles distant, and reported to be wearing the sword taken from Captaiu Mosson, at Oppipes. Fires have been seen iu the direction of Te Kooti's location. The Durham redoubt is manned by the friendly Maori?, the Wanworth by a fine troop of the Defence Force, with two Armstrong guns, and the Gate Pa by the | settlers on pay. All hands on pay except storekeepers, and the hotels are all closed until further orders. The settlers have been obliged to abandon their farms and crops. Great excitement prevails, and an encounter hourly expected.

Steamer Excursions to Flying Squadron. — We observe that the Circular S«w Company's steamers Lord Ashley and Airedale, and the Murray (Messrs. Thompson & Stavert) are laid on for excursion trips for visitors to the Flyiug Squadron, return tickets at single fares. The Lord Ashley leaves for Wellington to-morrow morning, and the Murray on Monday morning next. The Wangapeka Difficulties. — Is the trade of Nelson of no importance, that, the General Government should veil its proceedings with regard to the settlement of the Wangapeka land dispute in such mystery ? If not, why are not the public informed as to the intention of those who rule over us. The work of contrary has surely been long enough played, yet now we hear that it is an instruction to Mr. Marchant to survey Haast's as well as the Digger's Mount Owen. Of what service will be either of these surveys, or the delay caused by them if the two Mount Owen's be surveyed. Croquet. — Now that the season for out-of-door games has fairly set in, lovers ot the game of croquet will have opportunities of engaging in that pastime, and to those who have not possessed themselves of the necessary materiel, we would recommend a visit to Mr. Packer's Steam Turnery Works, Hardy-street, where we had the pleasure of inspecting some highly creditable specimens of Nelsonmade croquet sets. They are equal to the best English made in finish and appearance, aud in durability they may be guaranteed superior to some imported ones. I The Maoris. — Our readers, doubtless, with ourselves will, on reading the native news in this issue, ask, What about the telegram recently published by order of the General Government as to the expected immediate defeat of Te Kooti and his blood-thirsty followers ? Was the former telegram merely a political canard, or what was it ? Surely the lives and properties of our northern fellow settlers and the purses of ourselves are of more importance, even in the eye of MrFox and his coll eagues, than | the popularity of a moment which was achieved by the dissemination of — what recent events at least would make to appear as an untruth. Quartz. — Surely something will come to us from all the outcry about quartz. There is quartz at Wangapeka, said to be gold-bearing, and it should of a verity be richly impregnated with the precious metal to make amends for the loDg continued and to continue dispute respecting it — there is gold-bearing quartz at Collingwood, and quartz alleged to be goldbearing at Wakamarina; but what about the quartz outside our own doors, within our township? Is nothing to be done with regard to that? Surely a trial should be made of the Maitai quartz vein if the circumstances of which we are repeatedly informed be true, that gold has been taken from it. Departure of the 2nd Battalion 18th Royal Irish. — With regard to the removal of the troops, it is believed that arrangements at present, contemplated are that the Virago shall leave on Saturday for Napier and Wellington, embarking the detachments of the 2nd B. 18th

Regiment there stationed, and the one now at Wanganui, which is to be taken to the Empire City by one of our coasting steamers. The Women and children are to be forwarded to head quarters, which will probably leave in about six weeks time. In the meanwhile, the Challenger will proceed to Wellington to meet the Flying Squadron, and the Blanche to Tauranga, to re-inforce the Rosario, already stationed there. His Excellency the Governor was yesterday communicated with on the subject, and unless he should see reasons to alter these arrangements, they will in ail probability be those adhered to. In connection with the foregoing, we uotice in our advertising columns that tenders are invited for the transport of troops from Auckland to> Austral in.