LATEST FROM TAURANGA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 19, 22 January 1870, Page 2

LATEST FROM TAURANGA.

We are indebted to Mr. Bennett, the purser of the Charles Edward, which arrived in port, this rooming, for Auckland files to 19th iust., fioiu which we learn that the number of rebels is on the increase, they having been joined by the Whangamata and Mataora natives. The Tauranga correspondent of the Evening News writes on the 16th : — Since my last we have not been attacked though each dawn of day we expect it. The Whangamata and Mataora natives have gone over to the rebels. A large number of Ngatapuhis, under Euoka are very vigilant iu our cause. The armed Constabulary are occupying the Gate Pah redoubt, whilst the Militia and Volunteers, together with friendly natives, are garrisoning the Durham aud Monmouth Redoubts in Te Papa. The Blanche's arrival dispelled any latent doubt as to our strength; and the only desire expressed is thatTeKooti will come at once aud engage us. A report has arisen that Te Kooti has in his possession Captain Moorsom's sword which he was supposed to have lost at the disastrous affair of Opepe, which I think is very probable. We have never been in a better position than at present to cope with the enemy. A native was secured in Camp on Saturday night, and is believed to be a spy, but he certainly cannot give of will not give but very little information. The hotels are all closed uutil further orders; all hands are on pay except storekeepers. Tbe settlers have all been ordered in from the outposts. In the Neios of the 19th is a postcript to the effect that Te Kooti had grown desperate, and had resolved upon fighting should his terms not be accepted.

Te Kooti. — The correspondent of the Morning Advertiser writing from Hamilton says; "The position, therefore, resolves itself into this : — Our meo under Kemp and Topia are on the heels of the euemy they have promised to deliver up to us or to kill. By a Maori custom they cannot attack him upou the King's territory without the consent of the King's party. It now remains to be seen whether that party will remain faithful to the promise they made Mr. Maclean, and will, if they do not actually assist the attack upon Te Kooti, at least offer no impediment to its taking place. On the j other haud, knowing the duplicity of the Maori character, it is possible that at the last moment Manuwhiri, Rewi, an<l those who have hitherto professed peace, may be overborne bv the counsels of the war party, kuown to exist among the king's party, and may throw in their fortunes with Te Kooti, with whom they sympathise much more than with either Kemp or Topia, and risk all in an attack upon thrfm and, if victorious, in a subsequent attack upon Waikato. Though I hope for the best, it is possible — many say probable — that Tawhiao and his ministers may have been literally humbugging Mr. MLean, and that their professions of peace were merely induced by a desire to temporise with the strouger party, and that with a chance of success in the presence of To Kooti aud his armed followers, they may now throw these professions to the "winds and come out in declared hostility. The Thames Times of Monday last has the following: — Yesterday there were several rumors current in town — one of which was to theeffectthatKempand Topia, with a number of their men, had beeu killed by Te Kooti's band. This rumor we found on making enquiry, to have no foundation in fact. Another report, however, gained ground, to the effect th:»t Te Kooti was within a few miles of Ohinemuri an>l that some alarm was experienced by the residents there and at Puriri. This seems to have been of a more reliable character, as Major Cooper sent Captain Barnett, with " twenty -five stand, of arms, to Puriri to enrol a number of volunteers for the defence of the settlement. The news is attributed to a native source, and may be unreliable, but we cannot for that reason withhold our approval of the course which has been adopted. Every fresh rumour, and every bit of., native news from the various settlements •iu the North Island,seem to point to the renewal of hostilities,

and it is but taking ordinary precaution to arm the miners in our out-districts. Though we do not anticipate a visit from Te Kooti, it 19 best to be prepared to give him a reception such as he deserves. We, Neius, learn that a body of nearly 50 natives, m"n, women and children, supposed to be Kingite Maoris, arrived late last night at Drury, apparently on the tramp for Auckland. They broke up their encampment early this morning, and were seen to disperse in several directions, all tending, however, towards town. Nothing however, could bu gathered from them. They were unarmed, but appeared to have plenty of money, which they were freely expending while carousing in little sections at the different hotels in the township. His Excellency the Governor has requested Lieutenaut Best, of the Thames Naval Volunteers, to accept his son as an honorary member of the corps. The Thames Advertiser of yesterday says — "We understand that Mrs. Robert Hair, tragedienne, is is to be married at St. George's Chnrch this rnoruing, to Mr. George Barrel!, of the Theatre Royal, and late of Dunedin and Melbourne." Thames Goldfields. — A clearing up of the Long Drive took place last week when 844 ozs. of retorted gold were lodged at the Bank. The Inverness has giveu a splendid return of 256 ounces from a little over 50 tons of stone; the Shamrock has crushed a sample of three tons which yielJed 15 ozs., and the Star of Fermanagh, Young Australian, and Lord Nelson have had crushings which returned 1^ ounces to the ton. From 60B). weight of specimens from the Flying Squirrel Claim 92 oz3. of retorted gold have b?en obtained. Colonel Rocke and the officers of the two companies of the 18th Royal Irish stationed at Taranaki lately treated the men and women of the detachment to a picnic, when, after partaking of a substantial lunch, the company amused themselves with different games. The band was in attendance and played several beautiful selections during the afternoon. The Herald says that the departure of the soldiers will be much regreted as a better conducted lot of men have never been garrisoned there. A Tokomairiro paper states that blight, apparently of the same nature aa that which attacks cabbages &c, has made its appearance amongst oats iu many fields in that, district. An excellent daily paper, the Morning Advertiser, has lately been started in Auckland, and as an inducement to the public to support it the following advertisement appears in its columns; — "Each Subsciber will receive a consecutively numbered ticket, which will entitle him to .a chance iu the Morning Adertiser Art Union Drawing for £100 Jo be paid by the proprieters to the first 4,000 Quarterly subscribers." The Peach Crop. — The Auckland N~eios says : — There was a large quantity of fine, and apparently ripe peaches, brought iuto market to-day. Such additions to the various questionable modes of quenching the people's thirst this sultry weather are most welcome to Auckland. From the Waikato we learn that the crop of this delicious fruit is uuusually large. A very handsome Jewish Synagogue has been lately erected on the Terrace, Wellington. The design is Italian. The following is the programme of amusements to take place in Wellington duriug the visit of the Flying Squadron which is expected to arrive there tomorrow : — First day, Caledonian Sports ; second day, Regatta; aud third day, a grand Picnic to the Hutt, gentlemen's tickets 155., ladies' 12s. 6d. A public ball is to be given during the stay of the fleet, gentlemen's tickets 305., ladies' 10s. The high price of the tickets for the picnic and ball appear to be giving great dissatisfaction. A number of spurious bank notes in imitation of those of the Union Bank of Sydney 'have lately been put in circulation in New South Wales. The counterfeit paper is excellently photographed, and very closely resembles the bona fide issue of the bank, the only apparent dissimilarity beiug that the letters ONE are of a light blue color in the genuine note, and of a darker shade in the forged one. The Southland papers reports the sale to Mr. G. M. Bell, of the Croyden Station, Hokauui, for the sum of £24,000. The property comprises 9000 acres freehold, 15,000 sheep, 200 head of cattle, improvements, &c.