Telegraphic Despatches.

Southland Times, Issue 974, 24 June 1868, Page 2

Telegraphic Despatches.

Wan&otiji, June 20th.-r-'Bro further intelligence of importance from Patea, except that cattle running on the Wanganui side of the Eiver Waingorangora have been driven off by the Hauhaus, and j that Smith's Hotel, near the same locality, has been burned by the savages. It has also been intimated to the settlers that the notice to quit given them will be rigidly enforced. Col. M'Donnell arrived on the 19th inst., and at a meeting held, resolutions urging prompt action on the part of the Q-overnment were approved of. The utmost confidence is reposed in Col. M'DonnelTs action, and a committee has been appointed to receive subscriptions in aid of any sick and wounded in the intended expedition. It has also been determined to offer rewards for the capture .of,, the perpetrators of the late murders. Volunteers are advertised for, and it is thought the expedition will, numbor 400. Col. M' Donnell, addressing a meeting of native chiefs, said he was authorised by the Government to raise a native contingent at Patea, and that they might join or not, as they pleased. The natives replied that they would go to "Wellington first.- Honi Kingi said it would be useless to attack the Hauhaus, but urged that they should "go to Kawhai, to the Maori King, extirpate the tree by destroying the trunk — the branches would then die." ; Wellington, Monday, 22nd. — The Governor returned to Wellington from the North yesterday. — Mr Hall lias directed the Auditor to' prosecute exProvincial Treasurer Hickson, for one of several payments made by him under warrant signed by the Provincial Solicitor under delegation of power from the Superintendent during his late absence up the coast, although the warrant was <

countersigned by the Superintendent oil his return. As this mode has always been adopted, the prosecution is considered very hard.— rA monster petition is to be presented to the Superintendent to--morrow, requesting him not to prorogue the Council while the Executive have not arranged the slip question. — The Defence Minister is in Dunedin inspecting thft Volunteers.