IMPORTANT NATIVE NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 15, 6 May 1871, Page 1

IMPORTANT NATIVE NEWS.

ATTACK ON TB KOOTI'S FOL-LOWERS.—TWENTY-FIVE KILLED; SURRENDER OF THE UREWERA TRIBE. , [From the Southern Ceoss, April 2T.] : ' Our Tauranga correspondent writes : —"On Friday last, Captain Gv-Mair, of the Native Contingent, and an orderly, arrived with intelligence that Major Ropata had surprised a party of < Te Kooti's followers, killed twenty- five; arid taken a number of prisoners.'' ,; ,J * Very important news reaches us last night in Auckland. Some time ago ifc will be remembered that a ! few of r the Urewera tribe gave, themselves Ufj; and two native chiefs, then residing-' at Napier, named respectively Paermratid Whenuanui, were quietly despatched by the Government to the Urewera country to see what could be done with that hitherto hostile tribe. These 7 native chiefs, being thoroughly instructed ■in the pacific intentions of the Goverment, but also their firmness to punish should such a course be necessary, ha\ v e instrumental'in gathering all' the-rem-nants of that tribe. Tired with war arid hardships, they have forsaken the wa'r path; deserted Te Eooti, Titokowat'U, and all other rebels; and placed tberriselves in the hands of the They have : foresworn all 1 their- hostile risings, and resolved to live under tkt ; shadow of the Queen's flag.' Wer understand the Government-has taken "the ' question of their future disposal' consideration, 'and that for the future *■ ■the remnants'of the Urewera tribe will be gathered' together 'at i Ruafahuna, 'which wil be their 6nlv settlement; " '-■?

From Eagkn we 1 learn- that' 'one Poutaua, of the KgatHipa, irate at ; the decision •' against : the- Ngatihaua in thte Te Aroha case, was recruiting for a-War party against the successful tribe;'the Ngatimaru. • Tbe ! Ngatitahinga' and Taenui refused to join s • him;'abd ■so far'l believe he is only supported by the Nsatinaho (Te Wheord) and <• thb Ngatihaua. ' Thereivill be' '• a large " hui" ! (gathering) at ; Kawhra shortly: a ' bu'vi al feast for two old chiefs -who died last year—Hori te "Waruybf'the Ngatiapakura, and Kihirini te' Kanaka, of the Ngatimahuta. This will' bring the two parties—Kingites and'kupap'as —-into friendly Communication'. •■>■--••■: Three hundred natives have 1 assembled in the ! Kaip'ara district, Auckland, in order to hold an uhunga; the occasion being the removal of the bones Of the old chief George 'Wyriyafd from Waitangi to Babylon. A tangi 'is ■ also to be held over the body of the young chief Hikitea, who was closely 1 related to Otene, the leading chief in Kaipara 1 . THE TIPPER THAMES': NATTVE "MEETING!.

Saturday's "Thames Advertiser," referring to the Upper Thames says :—" During yesterday mornirfg several boats and canoes' arrived' from various parts of the Hauraki district with natives assembling for the greatmeetirigs to take place at ! Ohinemuti and' Aroha. One large war canoecame over in the forenoon* from 'Wakatiwai With members' of the" Ngatipabri tribe, who paddled up the Eauwaerariga stream iti great style, amidst Calls'of weldome from the natives oh the banks. The weather" is now favorable for the meeting; but the usual delays made by natives'in 1 sembling may • bring them tfo* 1 bad weather, before they get their fighting or the speechifying concluded. We believe* that- -Mr Puekey (native 'agent); 'Mr James Mackay, arid various other gentle-' men will be present at the'gatherings:Mr Mackay; is, we believe, to make-an effort to open Te Aroha." ; """ ■'•'-' u