COROMANDEL.

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

COROMANDEL.

A« may be expected in the present state of things, Co^romandel is rife with reports, which, when sifted, .have hitherto proved to be of little moment. In most instances the rumours have emanated from Europeans who having but an imperfect knowledge of the Maori language, draw their own conclusions from what the natives say, or rather, what tjiey are supposed to have said, and as may easily by imagined their' own fears lend weight to what the Maories tell them. On Sunday last we heard that Te Tauraha (a chief resident at the Tiki) had told the Europeans of that locality that in consequence of a letter he had received from Waikato, he considered it was no longer safe for them to remain, and that he could not promise them security for a single day. You may suppose how we nil felt, more particularly as the 'Moa' was the only craft that happened to be in the harbor at the time. However with as little delay as possible the Resident Magistrate accompanied by Mr Drummond Hay and two or three other gentlemen went to Ti Taurha's to learn how things really were. TiTaurha handed the letter he had received from Waikato to Mr Drummond Hay, and which proved to be from Waika'o to the Ngatitauritia and the Ngatiwreunga tribes ; the principal information in the letter was, that we had lost 815 soldiers, and that the Maories had sustained a loss of H men ! ! This of course was all fully believed ! Tanrha then said that his on !y reason! for wishing the Europeans to go was, because he was afraid that if anything happened out of the common course he would be blamed, and he was anxious to wash his bands of anything of the sort. In alluding to the old Maori custom of payment. for blood he said that he could not be answerable for any steps that might be taken by other tribes, in revenge for friends or relatives slain. Yesterday morning it was reported that Pita of Kapanga had given the residents here notice to quit. However it turned out that he merely reiterated what Taurha had said, wishing to exculpate himself from all blame in case anything should o^cur to those who still remained in Coromandel. During the afternoon, Pita TeKupe (Lydia's husband) accompanied by the Chief Kaiaitiana, both of whom live at Taupatauaki, came over from thonce to the Driving Creek in in order to request the diggers and storekeepers who still remained not to think of leaving, as they said that there was no immediate fear of anything, and that they would nive the white people ample warning. They also mentioned that the dying instructions of the chief Paul, which they considered sacred, tiiged that they should be kind to the Europeans, and they hoped that we would not be suspicious on account of their being absent for a time, as they could assure us that they were only going to remove Paul's bones, which had lately been exhumed, and they would take care to warn us of any danger that might spring up even though they were away from Coromandel. This has had the effect of at least somewhat reassuring many down here. There is one thing that we are much in want of. and it his now become most essential that 'the want be supplied in as short a time as may be. I allude to vessels which we can rely on visiting our harbor either once or twice a week, tor if we were only to have say twenty-four hours to clear out in, we might be in a piteous plight indeed. Another strong reason for the necessity of this is, that we might then be able to count on receiving the news regularity, which is of course (in these unsettled times) looked for with greedy earnestness. and might be of the very greatest importance to us, inasmuch as it might render it necessary that we should instantly pack up our traps and be oil. I had almost forgotten to add that when Mr Drummond Hay was translatingthat part of the letter from Waikato, a Maori whom they called Maihi Te Mokongohi said, laughing, " Koia ra he wha ca mina mina" that is, " They are trying to eniice us ;'' and all the others fully chimed in with him. I took particular care to fiad out what the meaning of the above quoted iVlaori passage was, and a gentleman well aquainted with the language very kindly rendered it for me. 1 have to-day (20th August) heard that Pita Taurua, of Kapanga, went round to the different habitations of the Europeans, telling them that he did not wish them by any means to go, and that he had warned them away mainly to ascertain whether the Europeans were really frightened or not, as he was most anxious that all alarmists should go, he thinking that their room was better than their company. August 20.* The Junction quartz-crushing machine started ytsterday, having had some alterations and improvements effected which it is hoped will save the gold. They are now crushing some of the poorer stone from No. 5, the richer quartz from the claim being crushed by hand, and above 130oz of the precious metal have within the last three or four days been separated from about ISOlbs weight of quartz, A very few weeks move will it is thought see No. 4's machinery pumping and raising dirt; the tram road from Murphy's is completed, with the exception of 00 yards He did this at the expense of the proprietors of the quartz-crushing machinery at the Junction. Now this is accomplished it is confidently thought that our weekly yield of gold in Coromandel will be something considerable. The roads from the beach to the Driving Creek are in capital order considering the time of year, and the large amount of traffic caused by the exodus resulting from the late panic. VOLUNTEER AND MILITIA MOVEMENTS. The Auckland Volunteer Covalry furnished an escort yesterday to proceed to Otahuhu, in charge of ammunition. The usual Monday morning's parade of the Rifle Volunteers took place yesterday morning at a quarter to eleven o'clock. They were put through company movements by their respective officers until half past eight o'clock, when they were dismissed. The Rifle Volunteers will march to Otuliuliu and the front on the Ist proximo, to relieve the first-class Militia, at present doing duty there. The first-class Militia mon, nnd two prisoners who had come from the cump

without leave, left Auckland resterday for Otahuhu, to join their companies there. Quarter-master Sergeant- Robertson of the Colonial defence Corps, is now under arrest at Oiahuhn, chnrffbtl with having struck his superior officer, Inspecior Pye. while on the march to Papakura. It is believed a general court martial will be held to try the offender. The Rifle and Naval Volnuteers furnished pickets for the several blockhouses last night; n.nd the depot company, (firstMilitiamen,) furnished the garrison picket.