POKENO.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 85, 28 August 1863, Page 3

POKENO.

jH Queen's Redoubt, August 7th, 1863. B The smalt steamer Avon made a trip up B the Waikato yesterday, and on arriving B- about three miles above the Maramarua B (or rather the Wangararino, as I see your B map, which 1 have jnst received, calls it,) B ; was fired upon by the natives who were ■ there assembled, and who then fled, the » ' steamer firing a few Armstrong grape shot ■ ••- and rockets after them. But Ih' ar there I was some mismanagement about the gun, ■ the regular gunner not being with her, and ■ no damage that we know of was done to ■ the enemy. ■ On returning the steamer was again n fired upon at a narrow part of the river. ■ '•■ Four deserters were brought in by the ■ escort from Drury. I believe they deserted I last year— two from the 40th Regiment, ■ and two from ilie 14th. Wf It has been fine all day, but how (even- ■ ing) the weather appears likely to be wet j ■ . and stormy. I send you the translation of a Maori letter found at the fight of Kohiroa, which 1 confirms what has been stated before concerning the infatuation under which that • people are laboring— namely, the likening 'of themselves to the Jews of old :— " Taramokoe, July Bth, 1863. _ 'Friend Witava,— Salutations to you; saltations to you all, oh people. Great is my love to you. This again is my word : I listen all of you in future ; cleave to God ■ ; - that he may be our friend, because I have I heard that you have worked (kiia mahi koutou), therefore I write to you that you cleave the faith. j , "In the war between the Philistines and Israel, God was the friend of David, and Goliath, the great and valiant man, was' killed by David. If it had been David , alone, Goliath would not have died ; but God was with David, and that great man ' •waskillel. •a ".Even bo, this is a sign for us, if we trust in our own. strength : that is wrong ; rather rest upon God. • " ?' iend^ fathevs ! let us walk circumBp^ y ,' , ° l l ?™? ]c ! hold f^t to God, 5 and take heed lest God.be angry with us. 'Let the Governor be first,' and you afterwards and ,t will be well, lest you be ike this ; for Aporo was first, and he has been caught : for Aporo is a payment for your evil. : : ' " Friends, < salutations to you Oh . people, salutations to you. This is all f rom your brother, in the grace of God •• From Hakaraia Te JLura Ataiw'hakea" This letter reminds me of a speech I heard of a chiefs making in Waikato a short time since. He said he believed if there was only one good man in Waikato God would be on their side, " But " said he, " there are ' at' least twenty, 1 ana the goodness of the twenty far exceeds the goodncs offliepakeha." ° August Bth. , Two guns were heard this morning,

* ~th"6'MrtOriespas:it is said they have two ; big Runs in^hei^poasjession. j '■ThoC:-convoyv : ckm_e-;"*ln this afternoon, Kir carriage- ana r ßinffiiMtioa ior '•■ ■:ffiAJkmimn&gu&V'y--i ■■■X^.-J. (\ jrn , iin,,alwft^ witiSiih^JMaV*fi s j :^ttX^eJ^»i%lle.'ii? insane, as he has only s^okea-dne'lOKitjyo* wards since'^i's Vjftjf tiffed He'geneVal ly fiia mopjng in a^tfp^e^^pf/'tKS'^uaiti^odTgi all day, whilst |nd laughs withfthe, spldi^;s',;an^>isj quite a pet; but^ic-lopicsawhjte^foi'/as^yhite as a Native cari lobk^ffrom%arit°df exercise and freshairiO UH/'jvnw WAH;t;;<i j The sday5 day r lias heen.'ra'thpr* fen'e' Sand lopks c!eajing>^up.|jT//Lil',is -.qiuietY/her^ to-day. . :4Che^L»o»is\again^nipAre > clj at-.the Sailor's Camp in the Mangatawhirii't -„>•> j -fWJi •We, have been 5 • favoured with [the sight' oi^privat'e letter (•cfated.^atuj-ldaiy 1 ) recei ved 1 in.'t ! o>yn, from a reJiab'le source, T^qim /whioli-jye'i makej the F -f6llowingi extract :-r-tf;Tue' steamer Avon went' up'the river 6n ; 'rbuisday j rsaw a 'of-Natii'es';' fired seven rounds oui 'of the Harrier's 12-po.und Armstrong ; burnt a village ; captured any atn'ount of fo,w! r^jt6b!;-chests anjd tools, some spankingrie\v r) cVoSs-cb ! t* f sa'Wsi ,and; olhe'r articles. Saw 18 or 20^. canoes; .could ncit capture' them, bfecause she had not sufficient hands. ' It- 100 men had been on board (50 to lfand) the steamer could have run stem-on to the canoes,, 1 and no end of booty would have .been, taken. Ido not give this information from hearsay."