TARANAKI.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 52, 8 May 1863, Page 3

TARANAKI.

(From the Nelson Colonist, April 28.) At last the " no news" from Taranaki ia beginning to give place to intelligence of considerable interest. The last hope of peace being preserved is broken by the news brought by the Airedale this morning, and while we write it is more than probable that war has commenced. By special information received by the Airedale we are enabled to add a few facts later than those given by Northern papers. Great excitement prevailed at Taranaki in consequence of the natives having determined that any persons or Government forces crossing the rivers on the disputed territory, or passing along the roads, would be fired upon. All ammunition waggons or stores going up the Omata road would be stopped. Friendly natives have warned off outlying settlers, and already these were hastening into town. One family about two miles distant from Taranaki had removed all his furniture from the liouse, and had left for town. Others farther out were doing the same; and the friendly natives who had warned the settlers of iheir danger, profess to be afraid lest the warlike Maoris should shoot them for giving the information. One of a party of men (soldiers) out on the Omata road, had gone into the busb after a pig, as is believed, and had been missing for more than a week. Some people suppose that the natives had killed him, but others think he has only lost himself in the bush. The natives, according to all accounts, are determined on commencing hostilities, and they avow that their only reason for delaying so long was that they were waiting for reinforcements —a force of 200 armed Waikato's (some say 300, but this is not credited) were on the March from ' the Waikato to the Tataramaika, and were expected to arrive there on Saturday or Sunday, and the natives had openly announced that Monday would be the last day that peace would be maintained. Taranaki is a few miles distant from the Waireka camp, or Wilkinson's redoubt, and this camp is seven or eight miles distant from the Tataramaika camp. The route between these points lies through dense bush and scrub, and partly along the cliffs. This affords easy hiding for the natives, and a well laid ambush, we are told, could empty half the saddles of the force of 100 mounted artillerymen, should they attempt to pass along such a road, for the enemy could fire volley after volley without a chance of retaliation. It is considered scarcely possible foV the Europeans to keep up in 'and communication between these points, through such a road ; and the only way to do so effectually is by the s^-a. The natives have built three strong pahs at different sides of the Tataraimaika block, and in such positions as to command the river Tapuae and the greater part of Tataramaika. These are built on ground of the most broken and irregular description, very difficult of access to organised troops and impassable for horses. But it is said that they all commuuicate through the fern and scrub, and tbe natives after lying in ambush on the road could readily retieat to the pahs. Tbe force of Europeans in the district is , about 1700, with 100 mounted artillerymen, two Armstrong guns, and a large numbt-r of field pieces. The Southern Cros<t says all, or nearly all the old missionaries are said to have received warning to leave the district, "lest they should ciit their feet on broken bottles ;"' and some of them who know Waikato and the Maoris well, say they fear there is no hope of continued peace, nor can the most sanguine point io anything re-assuring in the state of things in this Province. (Prom the Wellington Independent, 30th April.) The intelligence received at a late hour last night from Taranaki, is at first sight of an ominous complexion. If we were to accept without reservation, the refeiences drawn by the Nelson Examiner from the letter of its own correspondent, we would at once jump to the conclusion "that there is strong reason to suppose that peace has been broken at Taranaki." But apart from opinions and inferences, which it is only due to human nature to suppose will be colored according to the preconceived notions or party views of the writer, let us see what the actual facts are on which such an opinion is based ? First, then, we have the Taranaki Herald of the 25ih instant, which presents the following epitome of native events : — " The native gathering at Waiwakaiho, on Saturday last, dispersed rather abruptly in the afternoon, after an interchange of presents. The reason stated by the natives for the sudden breaking up of the meeting was that they had just heard that Waikato was on the road down and had arrived as far as Mokau. As many of those present were fron. the country to the north of Waitara, they naturally wished to 'get home as quickly as possib-e. We ha c heardnothing more of this supposed taua as yet. Things are still in the same uncertain state as when we last wrote. The Taranakis have only made one move this eek that we have heard of—we will leave our readers to divine the meaning of it, lest we should be called alarmists. There being o bridge now over the Tapuae, and the crossing being, therefore, difficult from the abrupt nature of the banks, a party of soldiers had been detailed to shave them down a little, and to do a little macadamising on either side. For the latter purpose a quantity of stone had been collected from the bed of the river and put in heaps on the 1 ank. The natives heard of what bad been done, and on Sunday night or Monday morning thirty of them, headed, it is said, by Parenga Kingi, came up and threw all the stones back into the river, where it now lies. * * * The natives are offering almost incredible prices for powder and caps ; even iron sand is in some demand, a small sample of this mineral (about a pound) having been sold by come young rascals. We hear that a native (Te Meiha, alias Big Jack,) of Hauranga, who has been trying hard to buy gunpo wde r in town, has gone South with a large urn" of money. It is to be hoped that the au" thorities at Wanganui, Wellington, and even Nelson and the further southern

ports, will be vigilant, as it is quite possible this man will go a long distance in the hope of getting ammunition." Tois does not amount to anything further than that a body of headstrong natives have done a rash and foolish action, which under the circumstances is not unexpected. Doubtless, a hundred gloomy inferences might be drawn from it, but we are not alarmists, and simply judge of the affair on its own merits. It doubtless means antagonism on the part of a few individuals, but does that afford an indication of the general feeling ? This report r is authenticated, and we 6imply accept it for what it is worth. Passing from the narrative of facts as contained in the Herald, we enter the realms of imagination when we turn to the letter of the correspondent of the Nelson Examiner. This gentleman writes from Taranaki on the 27th instant, and has therefore two days later news. After alluding to the ■"* bridge and stones" narrative, substantiating the statement of the Herald, he writes : —"A few days afterwards, a 'cover party' numbering about seventy Ngaraurus, from Waitotara and elsewhere, were reported near Tataramaika. to take up a position thereabouts.. Yesterday (Sunday) reliable intelligence was received of the intention of the natives to begin fighting at both ends, that is, at Waitara and Tataramaika, the rumoured intention of the Governor to give up both places having rather strenghtened them in their determination than otherwise. The local budget of rumors of wars was not improved by the arrival of the Airedale from Manakau this morning, with the news of Rewi, who took so active a part against us during the late war, having started for Taranaki with about 200 followers. The excitement at Waikato, when the native messenger from hence reached with the intelligence ofthe military occupation of Waikera and Tataramaika, is described as very great. In reporting the above, it would be wrong to disregard the opinion expressed by well-informed judges of the Maori character, as well as by natives themselves, that the war will not be confined to this locality, but extend throughout the North Island. This will only surprise those who have shut their eyes .to truth throughout. The next mail will, in all piobability, bring to you, even should not the Airedale do so, intelligence of the resumption of hostilities." We are not in receipt of any other information which would serve to confirm ehe assertion " that it was the intfntion of the natives to begin fighting at both ends," and we, therefore, neither accept nor reject it. Tift such confirmation is received, it would be well that the people of this province should reserve their opinion of its authenticity. "• Kewi is said to have started from Waikato to Taranaki with 2oo followers." Referring to our latest Auckland files relative to this, we find the New Zealander of the 24th instant, the latest date, says, in alluding to the news from Taranaki, that — "It is reported that a few men fiom Waikato had reached Mokau on their way to Taranaki, and that Rewi had set out from Waipo with a large force," while the Sothcrn Cross of°the same date, in its latest news from Waikato, has the following item : — " About 300 armed natives ( Ngatimaniapoto) have left for Taranaki. William Thompson saw Mr. Gorst before he left, and appeared to be very much distressed at his own helplessness to check the lawless doings of the Waikato-*.'" All this is doubtless war.ike, if we are to take the isolated action of a particular section of the Waikato tribe, as evincing the determination of the whole. But does it? Previous intelligence already published casts a doubt on this, and we shall await with the greatest anxiety further news from the disaffected districts. Some weeks ago, when alluding to the condition of Taranaki, we said : "It is unfair to his -Excellency to judge by his tone towards the deputation that he was not prepared to vindicate the rights of the Queen and settlers by the strong hand, if resistance were offerred. Such a supposition is inconsistent with reason, or with what has already been done. He told the chiefs at Waikato "that he would be obstinate about Tataramaika," and what he has since as yet done, is in strict accordance with that avowal." These have been our sentiments from the beginning, these were our sentiments then, and these are our opinions now. j Cattle SHaTmknts.— lt i 3 with much regret that we hear of fche very serious losses that have been sustained by the shippers of stock, owing to the weather which the ships in this trade have lately experienced. The coming winter will, in all probability, very materially check the shipments to Otago, unless steam can be rendered more available fos the purpose. We have been informed that one of the largest of the shippers from this port, contemplates at once employing a roomy steamer of about 500 tons, with a view to prevent the recurrence of the serious losses to which he has been subjected, and that he has offered the command of her to a master well known here. General Cameron and Mr. Dillon Bell went to Auckland on the 22nd inst. General Cameron returned to Taranaki in the Airedale. The Governor tried unsuccessfully to purchase the Tataraimaka Block from the Taranaki settlers. The Provincial Council of Wellington met on the 2ith ult.