LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 361, 17 September 1863, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Caution to Militia and Volunteers. —The New Zealander says It has been notified through the Government Gazette , that his Excellency the Governor in Cbiincil has declared the full application of the Mutiny Act and Articles of War as regards all officers, commissioned or otherwise, and privates, serving in the various Defence Forces throughout the Colony. ** Sevei’al Militiamen having lately been fined for non attendance at parade, it may he as well to mention that all first and second class men must attend, even if not armed or enrolled. An order came from Auckland by the Storm Bird , that any Volunteer Company failing to keep up its strength to the number of 40 men besides the Captain, is to be considered defunct. The Officers commissions will lapse, and the men be embodied in the Militia. Choral Society. —The adjoiuned meeting of the above society took place on Monday evening last, pursuant to advertisement, for the election of office bearers and permament committee, when the followinggentlemeu were unanimously elected, —Conductor, Mr. Allen ; Secretary, Mr. A. Owen ; Treasurer, Mr. Finnimore ; Committe, Messrs Boyle, J. "Woon, and G. Beaven. We understand there is some difficulty at present in ob taining a Pianist, it is left in the hands of the‘committee to appoint some one suitable for the office. The three tribes on the Lower Wanganui who seceded from the Kingite party about nine or ten months ago, have for some time been desirous of expressing their loyalty to the Queen at the present crisis j and on the 7th inst a large number of them assembled at Putiki, and conferred with the Chiefs there, as to the best mode of conveyiug their sentiments to the Governor. Mr. White we are told was asked to be present but declined, preferring probably to leave the Maoris to express themselves in their own way. The result was the drawing up of a document half address half report of their meeting, of which the following is a translation : • Wanganui, Sept. 11, 18G3. To Sir George Grey. 0 fattier, salutations ! O our loving father in the protection of our Lord Jesus Christ! O friend Governor, living at your house at Auckland, salutations ! . We are living here at our place at Wanganui, with our Pakeha magistrate, hearing of the murders committed by the Mapries. Great is

our sorrow for that evil conduct of the Maories against the Pakehas. Our thought is this. Great is the error of the Maories; they alone, without cause or provocation, are fighting against the Pakehas —that is, murdering ; and from this darkness spreads over this island. Formerly, murder was committed by a Maori named Malcetu, who was quietly surrendered by the Ngapuhi. The second was by Hone Heke, because he was jealous of the nag: as a sign of the establishmentsof the Queen’s power in this island. That was.wrong, because Hongi sent to England for Pakehas ; and hence their coming, and the sale by Ngapuhi of that end of this island. Te ftauperalia’s at Wairau was next. The Pakehas diligently searched for the cause of this, but did not seek revenge. Then Mokau at Wellington murdered the Pakehas. The next was at Wanganui. The beginning of this was from a Pakelia lad, but it was done accidentally by that lad. Murder was soon after committed by the Maories, and hence grew the evil to this place. The people of this tribe, however, were theu ignorant. Soon after a Pakeha was killed by fierawini, who was quietly given up for his misdeed. Next was Waitara by Te Rangitake, ou account of land. That was done openly ; tliey did not murder ; but the Taranakis did. The Taranakis' committed murder again at Tataraiinaka, even till Te la. O Maories. and Pakehas, see the wrongful ground of the wars on this island. No murder" has been committed by the Pakehas ! On September 11th, 1863, we all met at Putiki, in the Wanganui district. Mete Kingi got up and cried, “Hearken, O people, let us -write that it may be known we are the Governor’s children ! ” Hunia Arona rose, saying, “ I agree to sign my name as a child of the Governor.” Hori Kingi te Anana rose and said, “ I am pleased at your words that you sign as the Queen’s children.” Hemi Nape rose and said, “It is right, O people, for us to sign our names, and that it should be known that we stand fast in our determination not to kill or steal. Do not suppose the evil is caused by the Pakehas. No, it is caused by us Maories.” Kepa Rangihiwini rose and said, “I agree with your words ; this is our right road.” Paora rose and said, “ Now we first see the light; I agree to the course you propose.” O Father, Governor, salutations! This is the consent of the Nga Poutama, Ngati Hail, and Ngati Tane tribes, who now send our names and bodies, and a gun into your hands to protect us. All respecting us shall in future be determined by you. The above document which has been signed by about 70 of the leading men of these tribes -is to be sent to the Governor, together with a double-barreled gun and a full cartouch box, as a testimony of loyalty to the Crown, as well as an intimation that the Governor holds the inana of their lands. The gun selected has a sort of historical interest, as being called “ Nga Hokowhitu” after an ancestor of the Wanganui tribes, and having belonged to Old Tui’oa, E Kuru and several other great chiefs, bnt move especially as having been the first gun received by native- for land sold to Europeans in this proviuce. We are requested to correct a ’trifling error with respect to the deposit of the Waitotara purchase money, which was lodged at the New South Wales Bank instead of at that ot New Zealand as the natives at first intended

RANGITIKEI. The inquest on Mr. Rayner is adjourned till to-morrow. The various persons on whom suspicion had fallen seems to have cleared themselves more or less satisfactorily, and tip to che present time nothing has been elicited which could fix the guilt on any individual with certainty. We are glad to find that the Provincial Government has offered a reward of £IOO for the discovery of the murderer, a step which we hope will soon lead to the mystery being cleared up ] particularly as a very general impression prevails, that the two boys if not themselves the murderers must at all events know more of the matters than they have yet communicated. We are glad to learn that Mr. Holgate who was last week reported at Rangitikei as “ missing” is still alive and well. The report probably arose from some caller not finding him at home.

MANAWATU. A meeting, presided over by F. Robinson, Esq., J .P., was held at the Awahou hotel on Saturday evening, in consequence of a notice issued by Major Rookes, tliat he intended swearing in, arming, and commencing to drill the militia of the neighbourhood on the 16th instant. W. L. Buller, Esq., R.M , haying stated that he had, at the settlers’ request, most strongly urged the Government to station part of the Defence Force at Manawatu, for the purpose both of helping to defend the settlers’ homes and of keeping open the communication between Wanganui and Wellingten, but that his solicitations were unavailing, went on to say that he thought it would be to their advantage to be armed, but would use his best endeavours to forward the wishes of the meeting to the proper quarter as quickly as possible. Resolutions were passed, recognising the critical position of the Manawatu settlers ) expressing their determination to do their utmost to hold the district in case of a native outbreak ; but declaring that, as there was no prospect of a part of the Defence Force being stationed among them, it would be highly injudicious to arm the settlers and drill them as militia, and expressing the earnest hope of the meeting that the notice to that effect would be withdrawn, as being really calculated to render tlieir position more critical ; the issue of revolvers, however, to all capable of using them would be felt as a boon. The general feeling was that, if the settlers should have to leave the Manawatu, the King party would again claim the land ; and that the withdrawal of 'the settlers would deprive the resident natives, most of whom profess loyalty, of a rallying point if attacked by the Kingites, and thus lead them to join the latter for their own safety, rather than from any desire to join in the rebellion: The views expressed at the meeting* as to the inexpediency of arming and drilling so scattered a population, without a regular concentrated force to support them, seem sound ; but of courso Major Rookes can only obey the orders he receives.

. OT A GO. , , The news from "hence is of a distressing character, as regards fearful vyeather and loss of life. The heavy rains mehfciojied iu our last accounts were succeeded by strong frosts ami heavy falls of snow. From all quarters we hear accounts of men missing the road and being lost in the ranges, coaches driven into snowdrifts, and parties of miners snowed np and "put".off from all communication with the depots. Serious fears were felt for the safety of the numerous small parties scattered about the outlying country, beyond the Lake Wakatip and Danstan diggings. The winter had been hitherto so mild that a great many miners had been tempted to venture back to the lonely gullies ami, mountain fastnesses where they had been doing so well before the winter. With many of these places communication is at the most favorable season difficult in the extreme, and it is quite impossible to travel to or from them when the season is at all severe. The snow is feet thick for hundreds of square miles, and even on the regular lines of route the travelling is attended with considerable danger. On the evening of the 18th ult., intelligence was received jn town by the police to the effect that 40 men had been killed by an avalanche, not far from the Dunstan. The men were ,in their tents, situate at the foot of a steep precipitous cliff, and the mass of snow accumulated on the mountain suddenly fell on them. Only one man lives to tell the tale ; over thirty feet of snow covered the tents and men. News was afterwards received that over 500 diggers are snowed up in a distant gully, and that they had only three day’s provisions when the last man who had been able to get away left the spot. Great efforts were being organized to relieve them if possible.' At Tuapeka the mailman was caught in the snow, and had to throw away the letter bags in order to save his life. He and an old resident were actually 20 hours in getting four miles into Town. The snow poles put up to mark the tracks had been in many cases stolen for firewood ; and there was no doubt that great numbers of lives had been lost"in consequence, as the appearanee of the country was so altered by the snow that even old residents could scarcely find tlu-ir way. Numbers 6f people were frostbitten, and in some cases amputation of the frozen limbs had been found necessaiy.

A gang of armed robbers, supposed to come from Australia, had secured the inmates of an inn between the Dunstan and Ilogburn, and robbed nine persons who applied for admission.

AUCKLAND. Copper Bullets for the Pakeha.— Our contemporary’s issue of yesterday contained a very proper warning to the shopkeepers, and others in Auckland, against the practices of certain “ friendly ” Maoris, who go about the town procuring coppers in exchange for silver. Yesterday our attention was drawn to the movements of a desiguing-looking native who was actually then engaged in the same pursuit, and the pockets of whose great coat appeared to contain small but weighty parcels. It may be a moot question whether, copper being “ contraband of wai-,” coined copper comes under the same category. We should imagine that it did ; but be this as it may, we cannot understand that any Europeans should bo found wicked or foolish enough to furnish the enemy with the direct means of taking the lives of the brave men at. the front, who occupy the position of danger in order that we in Auckland may obtain comparative security. Any penny pice which finds its way to the Maoris may become the messenger of death or mutilation even to the European himself who parts with it, and surely men who would shrink with horror from the idea of supplying cartridges to a Maori, should be none the less cautious in giving that which is almost as dangerous, the very munition of war of which they possess, and have always possessed, the most deficient supply—metal for the construction of bullets. Our shopkeepers if they were desirous of obtaining silver in exchange for copper, the very reverse of which is, we believe, the case, could easily do so by sending accumulated copper coin to any of the bank establishments. The South Road bush felling parties will now work securely, for the parties engaged are well armed, and will not have their rifles far from them. One large contractor has offered his men £1 for every Maori he dislodges, besides the wages he will daily earn ; and some of the men being old diggers, it is thought that on these terms the Maoris within reach would uot find their heads fit their shoulders very long. His Excellency Sir George Grey, we perceive, by the Gazette of the 12th ult., has been apprised by the Secretary of State that her Majesty will not be advised to exercise her power of disallowance of “An act for establishing Potal Communication wfth Great by way of Panama.”

A handsome silver cup has been presented by Mr. Lewison, jeweller, of Queen-street, a member of No. 1 Company of the Auckland Rifle Volunteers, to be competed for by the members of the Volunteer Force. The appointment of the time, place, and regulations under which the cup will be shot for, has been left entirely to the judgment of the gallant Major commanding, an arrangement which cannot but fail to give general satisfaction.

It will be seen by a notification from His Excellency the Governor, that the Lords of the Admiralty have ordered the sums of twenty pounds to be paid to be paid to each of the three Maoris, from the pilot station of the .Manukau, who so gallantly assisted in saving a part of the crew of the unfortunate Orpheus, and have also requested the Governor to thank these brave men for their noble conduct on that occasion. The names

of the Maoris referred to are Neliana Whangai, Himiona, and Roma. . j Mr. Hunt, also, the father of one of the officers of the Orpheus, has added a sum of £lO to this amount, which, with the other gratitutes, will be paid on personal application of the above-named Maoris at the Native Office. It is thought that the canoes of the enemy as well as of all natives in the neighbourhood' of the diaffected districts, who have, up to this .time, refused or neglected .to lay down their arms, or take the oath of allegiance, should be seized as quickly as possible. As an instance of the ease, and stealthy rapidity with which large bodies of natives maybe removed from place to place, we give narration ot the following fact, on the correctness of which our readers may rely : —One evening last week, about the hour of eight o’clock, the persons employed at the saw mills of. Messrs. Heron, David, and Co., Cabbage Bay, were suddenly started by a volley of loud cheers at their very doors. It appears that after dusk Turaia, the chief of the Ihames, with a hundred men in three large war canoes, had ascended the creek leading to the mill, and the cheers came from the natives as they jumped on shore. Taraia, who came from one of the . settlements bn the line of coast between Coromondei harbour and Cabbage Bay, then went up to. the houses and entered into conversation with the Europeans, telling them he had arrived for the purpose of assuring them of his friend y intentions towards the persons employed af that establishment ! The conjunction of Venus and the Moon,, which occurred on the evening of the 18th insk, has not been without its effect upon the Maori mind. The eon junction of the moon with this star occurred,, they say, in 1845, just previously to the sacking and destruction of Kororarika, and taking the moon as an emblem of the Maori nation, and Venus as that of the Pakeha, some of them aigue that the former will swallo.v up the latter, the more especially as the advance of the moon at the time of the conjunction was northward upon the star. — New Zealander^.;,. arrival of the “ Tyburnia.” —The Tyburnia arrived yestei’day from London with immigrants, and we regret to say that a number of cases of small pox have occurred -during the voyage which will render it necessary for her to be placed in quarantine. The Tyburnia was signalled yesterday morning, and Mr. Pilot Burgess went off and found her anchored off Rangitoto. On nearing the vessel, however, he was informed that some of the passengers had been attacked with small pox. At the request of Mr. Burgess the Captain threw overboard a bottle, enclosing a report of the voyage. It appears that the Tyburnia left Gravesend on the 2nd June, and that the small pox broke out ten days after her departure. Thirty-five cases had occurred, nine of which only were serious, and the re had been one death, that of a male adult fifty years of age. It is satisfactory to know that the last case occurred on the 22ud of last month, since which the disease has subsided. Of course the greatest precautions will be taken to prevent any one visiting the vessel or leaving it. The Tyburnia is to be brought up as far as Rangitoto passage this morning, and it is proposed to establish a quarantine ground for her near the reef It is absolutely necessary for the safety of the community that no attempt should be made to board the vessel. Persons having fx-iends on board might be induced to attempt to do so through ignorance, but we would warn them of the heavy penalties they are liable to for infringement of the quarantine regulations. It is impossible yet to say how long it will be necessary to keep the Tyburiiia in quarantine. It is to be hoped that her detention will not be of long duration, but in the meantime the greatest precaution is necessary. We are iuformed that the Tyburnia has about 400 passengers on board, principally nonconformist settlers. While on this subject we may say that there has been a meeting of the medical men in Melbourne, at which i*e-vaccina-tion was recommended, when the vaccine cicatrix was not perceptible on the arm ; but it was not to be done compulsorily. At the same time we may state that there was a degree of quackery about this recommendation . which called forth some adverse criticism from the Melbourne press, . It occurred about the commencement of last month, and the case of the Tyburnia .brings it to mind. We need hardly "call attention to the precations which have been taken k in all the Australian colonies and at Otago. The maxim that “ prevention is better than cure” could not be better applied than in our case.— Southern Cross, Sept. 15. Mr Richard Harper was found guilty of the murder of his wife, and sentenced to death.

Aporo has been convicted of breaking into Mr. Gorst’s School anil stealing the printing pre§s, &c. ; and has been sentenced to two years imprisonment. The native Arapeta who committed a rape on a settler’s wife has also been convicted and sentenced to six years penal servitude. The enrolment of Volunteers for Waikato was progressing favourably. Twenty had arrived from Otago and 200 more were expected shortly. Eighty had arrived from Sydney, fifty more were to follow in two or three days, and 200 more were waiting for a passage. At Melbourne 400 bad already been enrolled, and there was every prospect of hundreds possibly thousands more being so. They are said in all cases not to be riff-raff but carefully picked men, many of them decorated with Crimean and other medals and possessed of ti ustworthy certificates of good conduct'.

r J lie troops from Hobart Town had arrived, and'tlie remainder of the 40th Hegt and Royal Artillery (in all between 41-0

and 500 .men) were on their way from Melbourne, so that what with Queen’s troops and Colonial levies it was expected that in the course of two or three weeks, General Cameron would receive reinforcements to the extent of 15,00 men.

INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. [From a Correspondent of the New Zealander .] Queen’s Redoubt,August Btli. Two guns were heard this morning, which it is thought may have been from the Maories, as it is said they Lave two big guns in their possession. I have seen the man who was brought in a few days ago on suspicion of dealing with, the natives. I believe he is insane, as he has only spoken one or two words since lii.s capture. He generally sits moping in a corner of the guard-room, whilst the native prisoner often plays and laughs with the soldiers, and is quite a pet ; but he looks white, or as white as a Native can look, from want of exercise aud fresh air.

I was very much surprised to see an account in the Southern Cross concerning the “ Maori Spy where it was said lie made “certain revelations” relating to the proposed movements of the enemy, owning himself to be an emissary from Ngaruawahia. I may say all here were very much astonished to see that account, of the trial of a man who had never been up befoi'e the court. He is, in fact insane. The history given of him is this (I know not how true it 1 is) : that he gave himself up as a deserter from the 12th Regiment, I think it was, some months ago, and has been confined at Otahuhu until discharged, because no one could recognise him ; a few days days after he was again captured and brought here. The “revelations” the correspondent of the Daily Southern Cross mentions were the.following : The men in the guard-room got the Maori prisoner to pretend to hang the “ spy,” thinking, I believe his silence, was all sham, when the “Maori spy” expressed himself iu the following ominous words, “ That’ll do now, give over !” On August 10th, a native was taken prisoner at the Bluff, but on examination was proved to be one Hone Te Kotuku’s men, who were returning from Taupiri, bringing down provisions to Oamerou, at which place the Government have appointed that chief and his men to stay. News have V een reached that Tnmuhuia, of Ngaruawahia, son of Potatau the First’s youngest brother, was shot dead on the occasion of the steamer firing on the enemy on her late trip up the river.

A person on board the Avon when s.he went up che Waikato on August 12th, gives the following account of the trip : The natives have congregated in considerable force in the vicinity of the old Maori pa, called Meremere, which, by reference to the map, will be seen to be situated at a beud of the river two or three miles above the Wangamarino. They have formed a line of rifle pits, about 200 yards long, on the ridge of a hill rising from the river. On a higher elevation to their left, and farther from the Waikato, there appears to have been formed a kind of redoubt, which looks as if commanding a spur running, I believe, to the Maramarua, and which is most probably cut up with rifle pits. To thir right also their hills are covered with pits and earthworks, but the whole of the ground is open with the exception of the river bank, which is covered with te-tree and small scrub. The banks on either where the steamer lay are swampy and with thick bush growing out of the rushes.

On the steamer anchoring we saw the natives running about the hills, and a large number came down to tlie water’s edge and hid in the before mentioned scrub ; Captain Sullivau tired a shell from the Armstrong gun, but* we could not see what effect it had, the wind blowing the smoke right on to the enemy. The gun was pointed at a large body of them who were near the river, and when the smoke cleared away they were under cover, so it frightened them at least. I noticed too as soon as the gun was begun to be manned the heads, which were before visible above the rifle pits, disappeared one by one till none could be seen when it was fired. A rocket, making less smoke, was tried next, and fell, as it appeared to us from the steamer, just in the midst of a rather large party of the “wily,” there were not many there a second after, ITl.be bound. The uext rocket fell short, and the next went over the first ridge as did the second shell. As the trip was merely one for reconnoitremg, these shots were fired only to try the range and what effeet they would have on the enemy. The steamer now wore round to return when the natives opened fire on us from the river bank below their position, out of the before-mentioned scrub ; at the first shot up leaped the “Harriers” to every place from where they could get a shot, and returned the fire in good earnest, but the range was too far ; just at this moment we were all astonished to hear the report of a big gun, and to see the water dashed up just astern of the steamer. The natives had opened fire with their one field piece, loaded with all manner of odds and ends. Firing now ceased from that position, and we quietly dropped down for about 200 yards, all on the look out at the bushy banks. Passing a small patch of flax land on our right, we were just saying all was over, when bang! bang ! "bang ! from out of the flax, and ditto ditto from on board an instant after ; the natives had come down the Mara mama and stole up the Waikato, taking up their position ready for our return. Thefiring was kept up sharp while we were within .range, the sailors manning

every loophole. One man was struck in the head by a small shot of about the size, I should say, from the looks of the wound of a buck shot. The ball passed through his cap and scalp, not hurting the bone. We returned without any othe r incident of importance, the steamer coming to .her former moorings at 'the Sailors’ camp; This, though a very small affair, is, I believe, the first time "the natives have brought their artillery into the • field ; the one fired to-day was, 1 should think, a three-pounder. This position at Meremere is very strong ; the scrub on the river bank would render lauding difficult, and I saw no spot of firm ground on this side where guns could be planted to shell the rifle pits. If the Maramarua runs, as I believe it does, at the back of the far hill, troops perhaps could he landed there who might act in conjunction with a party from the river, but this will all be settled before long, as they will not be allowed to hold such a defiant position so near our headquarters. All the talk hero now is about Meremere, and the expected attack on the enemy’s position there, which, it is generally thought, will come oft' as soon as the fine weather has set in. I think most probably the..- ; s,earner will tow the flatbottom boats up the river when a landing will be effected below the first lot of rifle pits. This affair, if the natives are there in anything like force and will stand, will most likely lead to as sharp an engagement as we have yet had with the Maori. Of another trip on Friday, August 14 he writes, — The General and Staff left here at 9 a.m., and went up the river to the mouth of the Wangamarino. It is proposed to build a stockade bn this spot, from whence the position of the enemy at Meremere (two miles distant) can be clearly distinguished. Ou first coming in sight of the hills on

which the natives are now working, and when about 4 miles distant, we were astonished at the appearance of a large red and white flag flying, from their headquarters I suppose. This flag I think must be at least thirty feet long by perhaps sixteen broad, and most likely denotes that some of the bigwigs are in command there ; indeed, it is said that Wi Thompson and Rewi have come down to them. The flag is not one of the com • moil fighting ones but one of the few real King’s ensigns. Shortly after we had anchored at the Whangamarino the flag was lowered, why I cannot say. There must be a large number congregated at Meremere ; almost all the time (about three hours) we were anchored off the creek we conld distinguish a continual stream of the enemy walking up one particular ridge to their right, which ridge I believe runs down .to the Mara- < mama, and is commanded by the earth work I mentioned in my last as having the appearance of a redoubt. During the space of about half an. hour two hundred and twenty-one natives were counted passing across the field by a telescope pointed to that spot ; and many more could be seen on the adjacent hills to the left and rear, over the whole surface of which they appear to be working hard at the rifle pits, &c. I have no doubt many of those seeu were women, as some had burdens on their backs, which the warriors would not condescend to carry. It will be a sharp tug when that position has to be stormed, for it Thompson is there we may expect to find all the flower.of Maori chivalry round him, ai.d with their field-pieces—(it is said they have two) —they will be in all likeliiood very valiant considering themselves as good as the pakeha 1 forgot to mention a little incident on our do wuward passage of the Manga tawhiri, which shows the difficulty of navigating that narrow winding stream. Turning one of the sharp bends of the liver, the steamer did not answer quick enough to her helm, and before she could be stopped she ran against an overhanging kaikatea tree, which leans considerably over the river ; fortunately her way being very slight, she received no further damage than having oue of the supports for che iron plating at her bows broken. Often the small.scrub on the river banks near thebnouth, hangs over the deck and strikes against the paddle boxes. The General and Staff' after al>out three hours’ scramble through the fern and scrub, looking out for the best position for the stockade, returned on board and to the Queen’s Redoubt. As we came down the river we could see the tents pitched on a fern hill sloping down to the river, the banks of which, at this spot, are thickly covered with brush and scrub. Exactly at the point of land formed by the meeting of the two streams, and joining the position where the tents now are, there is a hill as if made for a military post, and where the stoekade will most likely be erected, its sides, facing the two rivers, are almost perpendicular and of considerable elevation, but it is covered with scrub, which would have to be cleared. The landing place is at the termination of the track from Kolieroa, which ends in a steeps hill down to the river.

In front and beyond the Vangamarino is a rather large flax swamp, beyond that kaikatea bush, and beyond that again Mevernere. News was brought in on August I.4th, from the Wangamarino, that two of the friendly natives, with a white flag flying, proceeding up the river, had neon sh >t by the 14th from the new camp. Major McNeill immediately started to learn fi e particulars of the event. It appears that two of the natives from Taroa weie paddling up the .stream, for what purpoo*

doth not appear, and not answering when hailed, were fired upou, when they leaped into the river and got away ; the sentries thinking they had been shot, which fortunately they were not. From the Buckingham Redoubt at Kolxeroa can be seen a large hew Maori pa now in course of formation on the hills behind Paparata. It is supposed that the natives who have lately come from the liunua are there assembling. On the night of the 15th two shots were fired at the sentries of the Wanganrnrino camp by some natives who came down the river in canoes to the flax swamp on the opposite side of that small creek ; five or six shots were returned by our men, but no further interchange of those pleasant messages, called bullets, took place during the night. The force at that camp is diligently employed in clearing the scrub off the proposed site of the stockade. Three large punts -were forwarded, on August 17th, to the Maungatawliiri. This makes six now ready for use. The natives on the hills of Meremere were getting up. their courage on that day with the amusement of a war dance, and arrived at such a pitch of valour that they came down in rather a large body to within easy range of an Armstrong gun from the new’ camp, and fired some shots at the 14th there stationed. Unfortunately there was no big gun at our position there, at the Wangamarino, so the 14th tried a few rifle shots, but the range was too much for- any execution to be done. Captain Mercer went down to Auckland, August l‘Bth, for the purpose, it is said, of bringing some Armstrongs up the river. Mr, Armitage brought in word from the Bluff that a young native, who had deserted from the Maori pa there to the enemy, had been sent back, Thompson saying he did not want him. Mr. A, said he reported that the General, W. Thompson, was very short of tobacco, and offered to give potatoes for that article, it the pakeha general would consent to do so. The native said that the Maori commander was in the habit of walking backwards a»d forwards before the redoubt at Merimeri just like our General. At 12 o’clock, noon, on August 19th, the steamer started from the Bluff, towing a punt loaded with stores, &c., which she left at the new camp, and then proceeded up the river to within 1300 yards of the enemy’s position. Captains Sullivan and Jenkins were on board.

After letting go the anchor near the proper left bank of the river we opened fire on the natives, whom we saw in great force about their earthworks. Directly we commenced firing they hoisted their flag, which they kept flying until we returned. Twenty rockets and - twelve Armstrong shells were thrown into their position, some of them falling in the centre of large bodies of the enemy, and I have no doubt doing some extensive execution.

At one time they commenced, firing from the old pa near the river, when Captain Sullivan aimed and fired a shell at them, which was a splendid shot, and effectually silenced them in that quarter. The rochets were fired from two'tubes, placed one on each paddle box - ; once they both hung fire for a short time, when some one cried out, ‘Unrig fire, lie down and instantly all were flat on the deck except myself, I believe, who could not comprehend what it was all about: Fortunately they both went off without accident, or I might have paid for my ignorance by being blown to atoms by the exploding shell. "We were all on the look-out through the loop-holes, expecting every moment to receive a volley from the shore during the time we were shelling them : but I suppose they thought better of it, and did not for fear ol being seen by the 14th at Wangamarino. ~ : The foolish fellows have cleared away all the scrub I mentioned as lining the hank of the river, and which would have been a great drawback to our landing. As we were returning I saw the natives ascending the hills, and assembled

on the ridges in great numbei\s. I also saw three wounded (or dead) carried off, so that there was something done, and the day was not wasted with such a result.

On August 20th the enemy were noticed crossing the Waikato in great numbers, from Meremere to the opposite bank of the river. It is not known whether all have left the first-named place or not, and several suppositions have been hazarded as to their probable intentions. The desertion of their works may be only a ruse (they having probably returned at night) to draw the soldiers on. Or it may be that a large party, and not all of them, are gone over to lie in wait for the steamer, as she always anchored near the opposite hank from their position. But the last and not least probable reason for the desertion, if so it shall really prove, is this : that in their position they were open to the annoyance of being shelled without being able to do any injury whatever to us in return.

Oh ! how the old chiefs would shake their'time-honoured spears in anger and vexation at seeing that deadly “ambush” again and again returning to vomit its messengers of death without let or hindrance. No use then for the injunction and constant cry of the chief, Kia maia, hiamaia , Be courageous ! be courageous ! there was nothing to show their bravery upon. No wonder they, a short time since, proposed to fight openly on both sides, and if we would have no “ambushes ” up the river they would have none on the roads.

On August 22nd we learn the enemy were still in great numbers on tlieir old position at Meremere, and it is highly probable that they have been employed

sils which had been left behind Md not forming works on the opposite side of the river, so as to “ out Herod Herod,” or i in other words to lie in ambush for the steamer, which has not been up the river since last Thursday. The City of Melbourne had been seen outside the Waikato bar, but had not entered the river in consequence of the rough weather. On the 23rd a canoe was seen by the sailors on board the Avon, floating down the stream ; after hailing they fired upon her ; no answer having been returned, and still seeing no one on board, they put off, armed, in the boat, when they found her without occupants, with a doublebarrelled gun and five paddles in her. I hear she drifted away from Meremere. A European, who escaped from Meremere on the 25th during the shelling, where he had been detained by the natives, was brought into camy from Wangamarino this morning. He had been living with Ponui, a chief at Rangiriri, and was not allowed to go away since the breaking out of hostilities. He reports there aae three or four Europeans now in that quarter, one of whom is a 65th man, who, he says, will come over when he can. This man, who formerly belonged to a cavalry corps in India, will probably be of some assistance to the General, knowing, as he must, some little of the strength and positions of the enemy. He reports about 1,100 to be now congregated at Meremere.

A most unfortunate accident happened on August 9, at Papakura, by which an old settler, Mr. William Hay, has been seriously injured. Some gentlemen were examining a revolver, and iu pulling it about, it unfortunately went off, the ball entering Mr. Hay’s face, but glancing off the cheek bone, passed away. It is trusted that the wound will not be of a serious nature.

G'apt. Ring’s revolver, which was lost at the time of the ambush attack, was found while the men were felling bush on the South road.

The militia are every week getting into better order and discipline. It must ever be boi’ne in mind that discipline is the first lesson in military rule.

Another sad accident occurred at Papakura on August 12th, if not from careless, at least from the incautious use of firearms, but fortunately ithasnot resulted in the loss of life. A person', believed of the militia, was doing something to his revolver in the tent, when it went off, the ball passing through the tent, and entered the body of a poor fellow near at hand, of the name of Vickery. Hopes were entertained of his recovery. Queen’s Redoubt. August 28th 1863. Yesterday I went up the river Waikato in the ration boat (one of the flat bottom ones) to tne camp at Wangamarino, where the 14th and a company of the 12th regiments are now stationed. They have made great progress, and changed the aspect of the countiy since last I was there. The camp is at present pitched on the samegronnd on which they first encamped and is accessible from the river Waikato by a road cut through the bush, and on the side of the hills for a distance of two or three hundred yards.

The fern has been cleai-ed from the vicinity of the camp gi*ound, as also has the sci*ub and heavy bush from the summit of the hill to the front, which I mentioned iu a former communication as ovei*looking the Wangamarino and Waikato rivers.

On this hill a half stockade, half redoubt, is in course of formation. The front and left sides are of earth and fern constructed in the usual way, and ai-e almost completed. The right and rear are being formed of large split piles eighteen or twenty feet high, and many of them over a foot through. A trencli will be dixg completely round the whole. The gronnd enclosed in this redoubt is being cleared of the heavy bush stumps, and levelled.

In fi’ont of the stockade the guns now stand, and 'play upon the enemy, when seen in any numbers through an opening in the bush, which is here veiy heavy, both down to the Wangamarino in front and indeed along its whole bank to a con-sidei-able distance to the left and to the Waikato on the right. The work'parties fron the camp are diligently employed in clearing this bush, and if they px-ogress as favourably as tliey have done of late, in a very shoi’t space of time thei-e will be not a tree left standing to tell where but so lately a thousand reared their feathery branches to the sky. Immediately below the guns the immence swamp commences at the river, and stretch os away in the far distance to the left front, where it is bounded by a range of low hills. Through this vast flat you catch a "glimpse hei'e and there of the Wangamarino and Wakangutu Jrivers, which have all the appearance of canals, runxiing in many places in a direct line for a considerable distance and being of almost the same width throughout. About half-way between the 14tlx camp and the Mei’emere, stands a small clump of bush in the midst of the low land, in which the Maoi’is used to gather, and annoy the camp by firing at all times of the day and night on the sentries. This innocent amusement was not put a stop to until the gnus had been got into position, and had played upon them one day when they little expected such treatment since which they have not shown in that spot ; in fact thex’e have -been very few visible even at Mermere for the last few days, for whenever a few are seen congregated there, Lieut Pickax’d, who has charge of the two guns at Wangamarino, and has got the coi’rect distance, sends them a notice to quit in the shape of an Armstrong shell which notice is generally attended to at double quick time. To the left of the 14th camp, and about

f>hree hundred yards distant, stands the new. redoubt, called the Suffolk, now occupied by a company of the 12th regfc. This post commands the road from Koheroa, and is situated on the site of some rifle pits formed by the enemy before the late battle of the 17 th ult. Monday, August 31. Mr. Scott, of Pukekohe whom I informed you in my last had been shot by the Maoris, has been brought In and has gone to town. The case was as follows. His son, an hour before the attack, had to leave him, and advised his going to the church (the stockade), which he pi’omised to do, and was soon after getting on his horse when he saw four Maoi’is, Who fired at him from 15 to 20 yards distance and then rail away. One ball took effect iu lx is leg. He managed to crawl into the next house, and there he lay from two o’clock until the next night, when the party coming home discovered him and at once went for assistance.

The two young men supposed to be missing have turned up. Mr. Scott has since died, of his wounds. There have been several cases of flogging lately in the Camp of the soldiers, the offences generally being theft of the property of settlers, in some cases insubordination, and drunkenness on duty. A man of the 18ih was taken down to Otalnilni on the 19th, to be tried by a General Court Martial for striking his commanding officer on the passage out from England. A Pakeha coming down from Raglan on August 22, in passing a small settlement about twelve miles up the coast, saw a considerable number of armed natives, some of whom left, to come forward, but others remained. Another defalcation in the Friendly Native Corps from this place occurred on the 18th. Forty seven of those who have been looked upon as perfectly friendly have deserted our cause and gone to the Waikato. They have been tracked and their whereabouts pretty correctly known. Whatever some may think of them, it is at all events pretty clear that they have acted just as an intermediate line of communication between the Pakeha and the Waikatos, both for klakai and information. Tiie sooner this rotten cord is cut the better. The twenty-eight men who went from Waiuku over the Waikato, at the Heads, have returned to their quarters, with the exception of ten ieft on board tlie City of Melbourne, which now lies anchored inside the Heads. Wairoa. August 10th, 1863.

On Saturday last three of the settlers were partly scouting and partly looking out for stray cattle on the skirts of the Maori land on the Taupo side of the river wlien they came on tlie Maori trail by which the Maoris conveyed provisions from the mouth of the Waii’oa river to the natives in the Hunua Ranges. Not meeting with any very recent tracks on this trail they pushed on a little further in search of some other track, and fcame on an empty Maori whare. Of course they instituted an immediate search into its contents, but they found little to reward |their the principle articles they met with being some old insurance policies, effected in England by by Mr. W. H. Walker, of the Hunua (a species of paper, by the way, on which the Maoris would set no Very high value), and .fifteen or sixteen copper farthings wrapped up, singularly enough, in a copy of the words and music of “ God Save the Queen.” It is to be presumed that the Maoris thought the farthings ted by their contact with so loyal a piece of music, for they had left them to repose in company with the insurance policies. On their return the three explorers saw at a short distance from them five Maoris quietly travelling along the trail beforementioned, and hid themselves to watch their pi’oceedings. The Maoris did not see them, nor did they appear to notice the tracks which the white men had made on their path. The Maoris were coming from the direction of Taupo, and the three Europeans, after having seen them pass out of sight, a few head of cattle belonging to one of their number and return ed.| On their return a small party of settlers went out to see if they could make any more discoveries as to the proceedings of the five Maoris, but they saw nothing more of them. They found, however, some tracks on the Maori path of some natives going towards Taupo and conjectured that those they had seen had been down to see how things were at the deserted Maori settlement at Otau, on the Wairoa, and that having satisfied their curiosity had retraced their steps. It is an unfortunate circumstance that when the Maoris sacked Captain Calvert’s house, they took among other spoil, an excellent telescope. As from |the commandings positions they occupy in the ranges, they have almost a bird’s-eye view of the Wairoa Valley, the possession of this telescope will place them almost as much an fait of our m'overnents as. any number of spies could do, and certainly at much less risk to the individual employed in taking the observations. The discovery of the insurance policies (or more correctly speaking, ofjthe receipts for sums paid on the policies), belonging to Mr. Henry Walker, induced a number of settlei’s to visit that gentleman’s house at the foot of the . Hunua fanges. On arriving at the house it was soon pretty evident that a domiciliary visit: had been paid to it by the agents ’of'King Potatau as the floor was found evenly littered over with fragments of papers, of old clothing, old curtains, &c.,so evenly that it appeared that some trouble had been taken to give the floor a uniform coating. Fortunately everything of much value had-been removed from the house some -time before to a place of safety, and the cooking utenbeen injured. A lookinglglass also had been

taken from its frame, but was not broken Or taken away. It is said that a a great many Maoris are collecting at a place called Kauakaua near Taupo. What their ostensible object may be in this gathering, is not exactly known , though it is supposed to be to have a tanyi over an old chief lately defunct. That reci’uiting for the war is their ultimate object there cannot be much doubt.