TAIIANAKI

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 301, 7 September 1860, Page 2

TAIIANAKI

{Extract from a private Letter.) , ' ' New Plymouth, August— My bear Sir—l write in anticipation of the arrival of the White Swan. A proclamation has-been posted, stating that all families will be required to leave ■this for Nelson on or about the Ist of next Tnonth, steamers having been engaged for the purpose. In accordance with this proclamation notices; have been; issued , and served upon a number of families; but as yet mine are not included; most likely they will "follow in the vessel that ..succeeds the -White Swan. My family have been suffering something •like next door to martyrdom, in the inconvenience caused by the "delay of shipments, ' and the contraction of the town by the intrepchments, within which all persons have been required to sleep, : The; consequence ' is that -families have been packed within the smallest possible compass; indeed things, are brought to such a pass by the imbecile doings of those in power that there is no alternative—we must move at'their will. ' ,;..- ; :•: ....... :-:. ■" .-.•■■.' - . As,the newspapers will inform you, we ■ have; had stirring times since the last shipment:of our: fellow-colonists. House-firing, skirmishes, and hair-breadth escapes have: been the order of the day.1 In the cases'of. ;Crann and Coad, who have fallen victims, I was in the most imminent danger. In the first instance I had just quitted the place where Crann fell; .in the second, I was on board the vessel poor Goad'had just visited when he fell; in fact, two bullets pierced the .bulwarks, and but for my prostrating myself full length on the deck I too must, have been lost; as it was, an inch or so of space made the difference. This makes, the fourth or fifth time that a bullet has been too near to be comfortable. * •;*■.■ * : * *