LATEST NEWS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 188, 26 April 1860, Page 3

LATEST NEWS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.

We are 'informed- by Mr. R. Taylor, who left Taranaki on Friday last, that a small array marched out of town early on that day, to attack the native pas to the southward. It consisted of about 150 seamen and marines, from the Pelorus and Cordelia, under the command of Captains Seymour and Vernon, and about 250 soldiers, led by Colonel Gold,* two field pieces, and a company of artillerymen. About 50 bullock drays, heavily laden, accompanied the troops. It was said they had provisions for ten or twelve days. The soldiers, had completely disguised themselves, and might have been militiamen, or any other of our gallant defenders. The volunteers were resting on their laurels. The camp was seen from the Emily Allison, pitched about twelve miles from town.

By the Tyne.and Emily Allison we have received news from Taranaki up to the 19th inst., when the latter vessel left. Elsewhere will be found the continuation of the Taranaki Herald’s Journal of Events from the Bth to the 13th inst., from which it will be seen that up to that date both parties remained in the same position. On Monday, the 16th inst., IT.M.S.S. Cordelia, accompanied by the City of Sydney steamer, arrived in Taranaki roads from Sydney, with 45 officers and men of the Royal Artillery, 1 corporal and 5 privates of the .Royal Engineers, the first battalion of the 12th Foot, consisting of 139 officers and men, and Deputy Assistant Commissary General Dunn —-in all 191. The vessels also brought a large quantity of ammunition, and two 24* pounder howitzers, two 9-pouhder guns, and 6 mortars.

On Wednesday, the IBth, IT.M.S.S. Pelorus arrived; and the City of Hobart and Wonga Wonga steamers were expected every hour with the remainder of the reinforcements, which it is understood will amount in all to more than 800 men.

A movement to the sooth was expected to be made by the troops on Friday the 20th, with the view of destroying the pas of the Ngatiruanui and Taranaki, and driving them from their country.

On Monday, the 16th, 22 women and children arrived by a sailing vessel at Taranaki from Wangaroa, where danger from the natives was apprehended. The Airedale, which left Taranaki on the following day for Manakau, was to call at Whangaroa, and give what further assistance might be necessary. At Auckland matters remain as before. The information obtained by the gentleman sent to the Waikato district by the Governor is to the effect, that at _ present there is no reason for any apprehension of these tribes rising. They have been visited by emissaries of VV. Kingi, and some individuals seemed inclined to listen to their persuasions, but as a body the Waikatos are not favourable to his cause.. They are to have a great meeting four or five weeks hence, when no doubt the question of peace or war will be decided. The Committee appointed at Auckland to send assistance to the sufferers at Taranaki, have already remitted to the Superintendent there J 2500, to be used at his discretion.

A proposal has been made at Nelson, to employ the females who have arrived there from Taranaki in sewing, as it is supposed that help in this way will be more acceptable than pecuniary assistance.

We have been favoured with the perusal of a private letter received by the ‘ Tyne,’ from which we make"the following extracts. It is dated 18th April.' .. “ Colonel Gold is catching it right and left, and well he deserves it. He has stopped the mouths of the press here , but he cannot do so in other places. He has lost two of the very best opportunities that could possibly have occurred for smashing the Maories. In the first place, at the Waitara, there were said to have been delegates from all the different tribes in that pa, and had they been destroyed it would in all probability have put an end to the war before any innocent blood had been shed. Then again the Omata affair was sadly mismanaged. Only fancy the Colonel withdrawing his troops exactly at sunset, and leaving the poor settlers cut off from all the rest, without ammunition, with their wounded to carry as they could, with the heartless remark that — ‘•they had got themselves into a mess, aud they must get out of it the best way they could.’ Every one cries ‘ shame ’ at it, and the volunteers all say, that had it not been for the sailors taking the pa at that moment, they must all have been dead men. It is the opinion of all that had the advantage gained been followed up next morning scarcely a native would Lave escaped, as their retreat might easily have been cut off.

“ As to private matters, we are all getting on pretty well here ; that is to say, as well as we can on a pound each of beef and flour and Is. a day. But I fear many of the volunteers and militia will be laid up soon, as their duties are still as heavy, notwithstanding the increased] reinforcements. Every night, in all sorts of weather (and we have' had some wretched nights lately), they have to be on guard ; and we have come to the conclusion that the soldiers are here merely for ornament. The understanding here is, that as soon as sufficient troops arrive, the Ngatiruanui and Taranaki will be rooted out-—by troops to land on the coast, and others to go down by the road. I don’t think the volunteers will be allowed to go down. They have been all questioned as to who wrote the letter in the Nelson Examiner -(a letter blaming the commauder of the troops), and their reply has been, ‘ IV- o decline to answer eucli questions'. ’ ”

[From the Taranaki Herald, April 14.] Saturday, April 7.—A numerous party of volunteers and militia started at 3 a.m. with a company of military on a foraging expedition to Omata, to get in the crops. Heavy showers of rain fell soon after they arrived, and compelled them to return to town before noon. They, however, brought in several loads of potatoes, carrots, hay, oaten straw, &c. A pit wu3 discovered by some of the party in

which natives were buried, killed in the action ; two bodies were seen, but they were too decomposed to allow of further examination, but from the size of the pit it was supposed several natives must have been buried in it. There were only a few inches of earth over the bodies. Another pit was discovered by the soldiers in the pa with dead bodies in it; and it is supposed that several natives not accounted for are buried in different parts of the field. A tomahawk was picked up, a cloth cap with a bullet hole through the peak, and a kit con-

taining maori bread, a piece of a letter, two carpenters’ tools, &c. Passmore’s bullocks lying dead in Mr. iVewsham’s yard, a mare killed near the battle field perhaps by a chance shot, the horse ridden by Mr. Ford, were each seen by the party, and gave to the district a gloom no words dan describe. Nothing heard of the probable movements of the southern natives. They are believed to be fully engaged in their tangi for the dead, and we shall not hear further from them until the deputation from the two tribes return from their visit to king Potatau. Sunday, April !-th.—The Tasmanian Maid came up to-day from Waitara. W. King has intimated to the troops stationed there that he is ready to fight whenever they feel iuclined to do so, and while they keep their white ensign flying will consider they do not wish fighting, but if they will hoist a red flag he will do so too, and will be ready for engaging with them in any way they may choose. All quiet in town ; inlying and outlying pickets of militia, volunteers, and troops as usual

Ttiesday, April 10th. —The Tasmanian Maid arrived early this morning from Waitara, and was despatched*at once for Mokau. Wi 7’ako' and several natives from /Waikato in town to-day. From what we have been enabled to gather from him, we understand there is no probability of a movement amongst the Waikatos. They do not sympathise with W. King at present, and bave no intention of assisting him in his rebellious conduct. Wednesday . April April 11th. —Intelligence from the south that the Ngatiruanuis have all retreated to their homes, and have plundered some of the pas of the Taranaki tribe. We hear that the Ngatiruanuis are much disgusted with the Taranakis for inducing them to cone up and fight the Pakelia, but we suspect the drubbing they got is at the bottom of thesr present feelings. The Taranakis are busily engaged in erecting four pas, one at JFareatea, twenty miles from town, one at Warea, one at Pungairere, and another at tJinuroa. These pas are about ten miles apart, a-ml are mostly built some distance inland, but, in otam country. The Taranakis, we hear, expect to t)e followed up, and are preparing for an incursion from the British. The' arch-fiend Manahi was last seen at Umutoa, on his way to Ngatiruanui. Humour says that lie is iu disgrace with the rebels, and some of the Taranakis would give him up to his merited fate but are prevented by Ngatiruanui with whom lie is nearly related. It is said that there is likely to be had blood between the two tribes. The Airedale sailed to-day for Nelson with 70 passengers. Friday, April 13th —We were all gratified this morning to see the smoke of a steamer in the eastern horizon, which proved to be the fl/aid from Mokau. Her detention was caused by an unusual break upon the bar, which prevented her boat leaving the river until daylight this morning. The Mokau natives are reported to be steady in their loyalty and aversion to W. Kiugi’s cause. Mr. Henry Halse came on to Taranaki in the steamer, and it is understood he reports favourably of the feeling of all the sections of the Waikato tribes, in reference to Wiremu Kingi’s conduct, he lias visited iu his circuit since leaving Auckland. We are told that the Taranakis intend shortly to send up small parties, to he spread over the couutry to maraud and murder. The destruction of property on the Tataraimaka block is immense ; Mr. Greenwood’s house is described as being sacked, and the sides pulled down. Cattle, sheep, and pigs have been shot indiscriminately. All kinds of household property have been carried away, chiefly by the Ngatiruanui, who, not content with the plunder from the settlers, sacked every Taranaki pa on their way home. The Taranakis say they cannot quarrel with Ngatiruanui at present, as they will be important allies cither in the great struggle they expect to have with the Government or in another expedition to the town. After annihilating us they will then have a bone to pick with the Ngatiruanui! Both tribes are busy erecting pas.