IMPORTANT FROM WANGANUI.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 20, 16 July 1864, Page 3

IMPORTANT FROM WANGANUI.

News has reached town of a threatened attack on the friendly natives up the Wanganui Eiver. On Friday a letter was received by the Putild natives, the messenger delivering which had been instructed to act as a " fiery cross " on his way down, summoning the various pas to send up assistance, in consequence of an attack having been threatened by Tahana Turoa. The letter was written seventy miles up the river on the 24th June, and states that a portion of Pehi's people are at the head of the attacking party, but by •whom they are supported is not known. Big gunß and soldiers, as well as natives, were written for ; to this, however, the Putiki natives demurred, and they Btartedby themselves, well supplied with arms and ammunition on Saturday morning. The attack was looked upon as imminent, and those to whom the letter was addressed were urged not to sleep at night while travelling up. Strange to cay, Pehi was himself living at a friendly pa, and when he heard- the name of the hapu who were heading the fight, lamented the degeneracy of the times in which such an obscure party were allowed to exercise so great an influence — his own influence evidently being now of little weight. Te TJa, the high priest of the Pai Mariri, (who now declares himself a Jew) had endeavoured to resist the determination to attack, bufc finding them bent on war had bade them take the consequences. The Storm Bird will probably return from Wanganui on Wednesday, and by her we may get important news. It was generally understood that, all but some.. ten.or twenty of. the Taranakis and Ngatiruanuis had returned to their own districts. — Wellington Jndepeiident, 28th June.