ARRIVAL OF THE AIREDALE.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 88, 8 September 1863, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE AIREDALE.

LATER FROM WAIKATO. ATTACK UPON THE ESCORT AT DRURY. . THREATING ASPECT OF AFFAIRS AT WELLINGTON. (From the NeioZealandcr, 25th and 26th, Aug.) DRURY. . Sunday. At about.ten o'clock this morning, the | ''Forest Rangers,'' as fine a rough and ready a body of men as you will meet with in a day's march, made their appearance at Drury, after nearly four days' absence, the whole time being spent in the bush, and in traversing a distance of some fifty to sixty vmiles, through a dense forest, without any regard to tracks. Muci; remains to be told respecting the proceedings of this corps during the march, which it is not desirable or wise to unfold at, the present time, but there can be no doubt in the minds of impartial minded men that 100 much praise Gannot be given to them and their intrepid leaders, Capt. Jackson and Ensign Hay, for the courage and energy which they have displayed in their arduous work ; fir arduous indeed it was, and yet not a grumble or murmur passed the lips of any one. Towards the third day ihey ran short of provisions, and therefor--came upon the Drury hotel, with a good zest. From what I have gathered, I am ! convinced that this excursion and the expe rience gained in it, will be productive of immense benefit, both from the actual knowledge gained, and for the guidance of the corps in their future course. Morethan this I am not at liberty to say. After a hearty good breakfast of beefsteaks, the appetite having a keen edge put on it from 15 to 20 hours' march they formed in order, and marched towards their quarters, at the Wairoa. Nothing fresh , As usual, we had rumors that an attack was to be made at Meremer e yesterday morninsr, and with as much truth as usual ; but the time has not come yet. I have said in a former paper that the General can tell by the roll which is placed before him, the exact disposition of all the men under his command each day. Now, what I want to know is — Have we any head of the volunteer and militia body, as j a whole, who can at a glance possess the same knowledge of all the forces each day, with their changes or desirable changes, according to the various requirements? Such head is most important. Friendly Maories. — This lerm is really becoming ridiculous and contradictory. I believe it is a simple impossibility fora Maori to be what is called a friendly Maori, and not give such information as he can obtain to his friends in arms. And I do not blame him for it. It is quite clear that our government have themselves misgivings respecting theJrienJty Maoris ; or why put the list of twaddling queries to the Auckland merchants and storekeepers But if there is a real desire to prevent the enemy obtaining supplies, why not prohibit every Maori craft leaving Auckland with goods ? Why not make it a punishable offence for any European to sell goods to Maoris! Why not keep the friendly Maoris out of the way of temotation by putting them on an island! Until some stringent mensure is made Use of to prevent Maoris luxuriating in European commodities, no good will be done. Tuesday. The camp and the roads are drying up most satisfactorily; all we now want seems to be our small steamer, a few large boats, and more men, then the work must begin in earnest ; but still no good can be done with the enemy in the camp. Friendly natives will have to be removed from their present quarters before the people or the military go into the war with satisfaction. 12 o'clock. Since writing the above an orderly has galloped in lo say the escort has been attacked by natives. Troops and cavalry have gone up, but no news yet Telegraphic f Despatch. 5 p.m. The attack of the natives this morning was upon the men felling bu-h, and the object evidently was to get arms and j ammunition. The two first men attacked, upon seeing the natives, rushed to the escort, seeing them coming by, but unfor- ' tunately the natives gained 23 rifles and fired upon the escort, killing two men of the 40th lle»iinent and wounding one ol thel^th. A party of bushmen also ii red into the natives, and it is supposed knocked a few over. Three natives are killed and several supposed to be wounded. One native, in making his escape, was pulled down by a dog and there shot bj r a soldier, thus showing again the use of dogs in such work.