AUCKLAND.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 104, 21 October 1863, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

(PKOM OUK OWN COKRI'SFONDENT.) Auekl md, sth Oct. Since my last letter the events have not been very numerous or striking in this Province either as regards war or anything else. The Spring has however now fairly set' in and we shall no doubt find that some great movement will take place witnin a week or two, indeed I chance to be aware from the most reliable sources that the long expected attack upon Mere Mere may be looked for very soon, certainly within a fortnight from this date. The preparations which General Tameron has been making with such calm foresightand such unmoved determina ion have been much greater than would have been required had it been merely the conquest of Mere Mere whicli he comtemplated as his object. Such w-.s, however, by no means the case, and the preparations were made with a view to the rapid conquest, or at least overrunning of the wholo Waikato country as soon as the conquest of Mere Mere had removed the one great, obstacle in his pa - h. Mere Mere itself — a very strong position — there is an admirable lithographic sketch of it as seen from the river in the Southern Monthly Magazine for this month, as also a description of it whicli gives an excellent idea of both its strength and its weakness. The loss which must be" sustained in taking it if the n -rives fisrht desperately, will not be inconsiderable, bat if they do stand up to it bravely until' the troops in front make the attack their doom will be sealed, as they cannot escape from his simultaneous attack on the rear. It is for this that he has been making so many preparations, as he wishes if possible to make an example of the Mere Mere men, of how little all thek skill and courage will avail against science, puck, and our unlimited resources. Beyond Mere Mere the country presents scarcely any advantages to the attacked party, as the country is provockingly open andgond. Cavalry might go at a hand gallop almost without drawing rein from the^ether side of Mere Mer to Ngai lawuhia the place at which all the natives agree in saying the war is to end, for that there they will come out and fight us in force, and either they will beat us or we them-so thoroughly that no more need be done about it. This is the almost universal view taken by thorn and is very satisfactory, as the General will without doubt, be at Ngrfiuawuhia in less than two months. The flying column, under the able command of Colonel Nixon, of the Colonial Defence Force, to whom General Cameron entrusted the district in which most of the fighting mentioned in my last took place, has succeeded in nearly driving the natives out of it already. The main body (about 600 men) finding themselves dogged day and night by a column of about 250 thoroughly good men and thoroughly determined also, thought it wise to leave the district. Thus fer the first time in New Zealand warfare has the native race been drivenignomiouslyoutof its ownfavorite fastness bf a thick forest. The extent of the forest land, about twelve miles long by seven broad, make it much more difficult to catch a small body, and although the forest is being ranged in every direction by about 300 excellent men in different parties, they have not yet come across thenativps who are known to be still lurking there, to the number of nearly 100 men, for the purpose of obtaining hin (payment) in the shape of ten white mens lives for the loss they suffered in the person of a great man named Heini (Jqmea) who was shot by a settler the other day as he was making off with some plunder from a deserted house. He was, it seems, brother to the wellk nown chief Kiwi, who is only second to Thompson in the Waikato. The party has gained nothing by its move in staying for vengeance, but should any of the ranging parties come across it, it will get a good opportunity of taking as much payment as seems desirable or possible. The news from the north is highly satisfactory. The Ngapuhi tribes begin to see that we really are in earnest, and that hitherto we have had an uninterrupted success ; their loyalty therefore begins to grow very warm, and \ am assured on the best authority lhat the Government could

enlist a Maori contingent of a thousands-men i it chose tomorrow. We have had no greai z arrivals bf-military settlers since your last- dates ' from this Province. lSo'men came up by tht Auckland from Otago, and 28 camedown by the ■* Lord Ashley from Sydney. --None have come [ from Melbourne sinr.e the Caducius, which [' brought the second 400 of the Melbourne regi ment. We learn, however, that about 400 more t are now on their way so that the Ist Regiment , of Waikato volunteers is now full. The Curacoa „ frigate arrived on the night pf the 2nd from '. Sydney, having on board the headquartes of the , loth Rest., with Colonel Hamilton in command, i who will, I believj m ow take command'of the ! 12th in the colony. There were with him 251 ' rank and file— in "all, with officers, 270 men of this tine regiment. They will form a welcome ■ reinforcement for the General's invading force for Waikato. The gunboat for the Waikato left on the same day as the Turacou (and arrived safe on Sunday last) at Manakau, as also the Eclipse, which sailed in charge of her. The Provincial Council here, Is now in session, and many very important qustions are about to he discussed ; perhaps the most important of these is the Drnvy and Waikato Railway scheme, which wil', I feel no doubt, be provided for, so that works may be begun so soon as the Bill shall pnss the Assembly. ' lt is also proposed to bring a water supply into Auckland from a distance of about twelve miles. The supply would be very good and abundant, and the cost moderate. This, too, seems likely lo be entertained by the Council. Our first toll bar Is now in full operation at Newmarket, about; two and a half miles from Auckland ; at present it yields from £5 to £6 a day.