ATTACK ON THE CAMP AT THE HUTT.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 84, 16 May 1846, Page 2

ATTACK ON THE CAMP AT THE HUTT.

We stop the Press to announce that a considerable body of natives came over this morning at daybreak, and attacked Mr. BoulcotV* barn, in which a party of the 58th Regiment are stationed. Six soldiers were killed, and several wounded: The Maories were supposed to be about two hundred. The intelligence was brought by an express to Major Last the Commanding Officer at Wellington.

Mim. at Kai Wara. — We were very much gratified by having an opportunity, through the kindness of its proprietor, Mr. Schultze, of inspecting the New Mill at Kai Wara, which is now complete, and in operation, and the following description of it will, we doubt not, prove interesting to our readers at a distance who have at heart the welfare of the settlement. At about a quarter of a mile from the sea shore, in the Kai Wara valley, a substantial dam has been built across theKai Wara stream, by which a fall of thirteen feet is obtained. The mill is a neat and substantial wooden building two stories high, about 32 feet long and 20 feet wide, and is built of red pine. The frame and shaft of the water-wheel (a breast wheel), 26 feet diameter and 5 feet wide, is made of red pine, and the arms of mai and miro alternately. The diameter of the pit-wheel is 10 feet, that of the spur wheel 1 1 feet. The cogs of these wheels are made oirata, titoke, kohai, and manuka, the arms are made of the mai ; the pillow blocks of the pit wheel, which are usually metal, are in this instance made of main, which it is expected from its toughness will prove a very good substitute. There is at present only one pair of stones (French burrs) at work, but a second pair will be ready in the course o£ another fortnight, and the machinery is capable of turning four pair, so that the grinding powers of the mill may be increased with the increase of cultivation in the settlement, while the water power at the command of Mr. Schultze is sufficient for three mills of equal size. — A very complete dressing machine and smutting machine are also attached to the mill. The whole of the machinery appears to be constructed in the most substantial manner, and reflects the greatest credit on the engineer, Mr. Glasgow, under whose able direction the works have been executed. This mill will be of great service to the settlers on the Porirua road, and we hope will have a very beneficial effect in increasing the amount of cultivation in the neighbouring districts, more especially as the new road, now in progress, will, before the next harvest, enable the settlers to carry their wheat to be ground without difficulty; and the present prices of wheat in the neighbouring colonies, the certainty of additionalreinforcements of troops to this colony, and the supplies which will be required, in the new settlement at Otakou, appear to hold out to the settlers the prospect of remunerating prices for their produce. We feel great pleasure in recording the opening of this, the

fourth mill which has been erected in this district. It is a satisfactory proof (among others) of the energy and enterprise of the settlers, and an unerring test of the gradual progress of cultivation in the neighbourhood of Port Nicholson, in spite of the unsettled' state of the. land claims, and a host of other impediments. This addition to the number of mills in Port Nicholson will also have a useful influence on the coasting trade, as it will be an inducement to the natives at Otaki and the neighbouring districts, and on the East Coast, to send their wheat to Port Nicholson to be ground, and encourage them to extend their cultivations. We have little doubt Mr. Schultze will find his mill as profitable to himself, as it is likely to prove useful to the settlement.

In consequence of information received from the natives of Rangihasata's intention to make an attack, the troops at Porirua were under arms all Wednesday night. Since the late reconnoissanceof Rangihatata's pa, an order has been issued to assemble the soldiers at Porirua under arms every morning at daybreak. It is reported that Rauparaha has sent to Rangihaeata a portion of the sugar and flour he lately received as a present from Major Richmond.

We learn from Akaroa and Port Cooper that the natives are very troublesome to the settlers there, refusing to allow them to occupy the land, and demanding exorbitant rents from the owners of cattle stations. It is said that they are acting under the advice of Charley who has been down to the southward, and has told them that the natives at Wairarapa get high rents and that they should imitate their example. This is the same native, who it will be remembered, obtained a present of a set of sails, &c, from his Excellency the Governor.

The Military force of these colonies is to be greatly augmented : A staff of a Deputy Adjutant General, and a Deputy Quarter-Mas-ter General, together with a Brigade Major for New Zealand have been appointed. The Deputy Quarter Master General is to be stationed in New Zealand.

On Saturday last the Militia in Wellington were disbanded, and we believe it is intended to reduce the number stationed at Taita to five and twenty men, who will be placed under the command of Lieut. M'Donogh.

The road from Wellington to Petoni is now impassable at high wafer in several parts and the road up the Hutt is in such a state, that unless some steps be taken to put these roads in repair, it will shortly be impossible to convey provisions up to the troops. Every winter a smallijoutlay is required on the Petoni road, and but a small sum only is now necessary, but if the repairs are neglected much longer, the continual washing of the sea will render a considerable outlay indispensable. We hope the authorities will look to this in time, if not for the sake of the settlers, at least for the sake of the troops.

Cattle Sales. — 'At Mr. Waitt's sale on Thursday- the cattle imported by the Alfred averaged £7 per head. The highest price obtained was £10.

A good beg* nning of the season was made at Fyfe's station at Kaikoras last week by the capture of a whale, which is likely to turn out nine tons. A man of the name of Allwright belonging to Mr. Fitzherbert's station met with an unfortunate accident which from the absence of medical aid terminated fatally. The deceased was a steady active mau, and one of the best headsmen engaged in the shore fisheries.

Lime. — The Susannah Ann brought a cargo of limestone from theKaikoras for Mr. Plimmer, which is now being lauded at his new lime kiln on Lambton Quay. The lime made from this stone is said to be of a superior quality.

The Cecilia chartered by Dr. Imlay, arrived here from Twofold Bay on the 9th, after a voyage of nine days with a cargo of 130 head of cattle and 2 horses, having lost only 7 head of cattle on the voyage. The barque Mary, also chartered by Dr. Imlay, was discharging a. cargo of salt at Twofold Bay when the Cecilia left, previous to fitting up to convey cattle to New Zealand. Dr. Imlay had not determined to which port the Mary was to sail, but if she is bound for this port she may be looked for by the 26th. The Comet chartered by Mr. Dun to bring a cargo of cattle, horses, and sheep, from Twofold Bay, is expected to arrive here about •the 18th of June.

In our strictures last week on the New Zealander's mis-statements we omitted to notice that our contemporary stated no less than six 'vessels were obtaining cargoes of spars at -Kaipara, and two of the four were said to be the Mary Catherine and the Cecilia.. Now, -the Mary Catherine took in a great part of her cargo' in this' port, and the Cecilia is at

present at an anchor in this harbou^ and has certainly no intention of proceeding to Kaipara. Our Readers may judge of the dependence to be placed on our contemporary facts by the specimens we have already quoted. Perhaps the best answer to his calumnies respecting this harbour, and certainly the best description we have seen of i\, is to be found in the following evidence of Capt. Robertson of the barque Brougham, which we have extracted from the Report of the Committee on New Zealand, 3804. Do you know the harbours well ?— I hare been to Wfcrly all the harbours in Cook's Straits. 3805. Will you state whether they are good harbours, and give to the Committee your opinion of the harbour of Port Nicholson in particular? — There are many excellent harbours, but Port Nicholson, I think, from its central position in the islands, has a decided superiority over most of the harbours in New Zealand, and I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that, independent of its position, a better could not be found ; and it is only second to Port Jackson, which every person who has visited it knows is about the best in the world. Port Nicholson is a large sheet of water, entirely landlocked, and capable of forming a number of small sea ports, and one grand marine depot. The communication between town and all parts of this large basin can be carried with despatch, and the greatest facility; no dangers existing in it that are not seen, and of course easily avoided ; tlm present anchorage in Lambton Harbour I think could not be excelled ; it is similar to the cove of Sydney, onty differing by being treble its size : the bottom is excellent holding ground, and, on the whole, capable of being (under the management of an experienced man as harbourmaster, and the joint efforts of the merchants and settlers interested in it) made the most compact harbour in the world. Along the whole western front of the town there is a possibilty of reclaiming a large tract of what would then be the most valuable water frontage, the means being at hand, and affording the double advantage, while reclaiming much in front, they would be enlarging their ground behind. With regard to the facility of acoess, I can give no stronger proof than by saying, that I never have found the slightest difficulty ; I have entered it upwards of twenty times, the most part of these during the night, and a greater part against a foul wind ; I have repeatedly beat in during a north-west gale at midnight, against the tide, and without the advantage of the moon or a single star. The depth of water throughout the whole of the entrance, which is about four miles, is sufficient for the largest ship ever built ; and the narrowest part is at the entrance, between the outer reefs, about a mile in length and two-thirds wide ; when past this the passage gradually widens, the water being deep within a ship's length of the shore, and no dangers, except what are seen. As I have no inteterest in misrepresenting this harbour, you may rely on what I here say ; I think the above proof will be as well as if 1 entered into a lengthened description, and I am certain no pej son has had better opportunities of being acquainted with both Cook's Straits and its harbours than I have. 3806. Viscount Jocelyn.~\ How near can vessels lie I—The1 — The present anchorage now is abreast of the town ; it is a bay about a mile in extent, and the water is deep towards the shore: I have been within twice the length of my ship, and discharged a whole cargo in the roughest weather, a cargo which was likely to damage by water, which is flour ; I brought two cargoes of flour from South America to there ; my vessel draws a considerable depth of water, and I have been so close in that I made use of a line to haul my long-boat to and from the ship.