LATER FROM OPOTIKI.

West Coast Times, Issue 71, 16 November 1865, Page 3

LATER FROM OPOTIKI.

<From the •• Southern Cross, " Nov. 3.) By the arrival, early yesterday morning, of the Government paddle steamer Huntress, Captain Stalker, we have intelligence from Opotiki up to Tuesday last, on which day the p.s. Sturt arrived there from Matata, with 31 of the prisoners captured by the Arawos at Te Teko, and identified as the murderers of James Fulloon and the ill-fated crew of the Kate. They had been sent on from Matata by Messrs. Commissioners Clarke and Smith, and were accompanied by Mr. Mair, R.M., and the lad White, the half-caste, who was instrumental in saving the life of his father, Mr. Bennett White, of Auckland, at the time of the murders on board the Kate. Mf. Mair and the half-caste identified tho prisoners as taking an active part in the murders on that occasion, whilst the names of twenty-three out of the number are found in the warrant issued for the apprehension of Fulloon's murderers. Te Hura, the principal chief of Opotiki, and Heremona, the Taranaki prophet who introduced Hauhauism into that district, were among the number brought up in the p.s. Sturt to Opotiki. The prisoners, will, it is presumed, be tried by Court-martial, and sentenced accordingly. The half-caste lad, White, distinctly recognises amongst the number captured the murderers of Fulloon, Robinson, and Captain Pringle, of the Kate. Several Arawa chjefs were passengers in the Sturt, who could also identify the natives as those in Whakatane at the of the murders. An engagement took place between a party of our forces stationed at Opotiki and a party of Hauhaus, on the 24th ult., at apa near Ohiwa. The skirmish is described as brief, but decisive ; the rebels escaping from the pa with a loss of four killed and one wounded, and without inflicting any injury on our men. The skirmish arose in consequence of a rumour gaining currency in camp that the arch-fiend Kereopa was to be found concealed in a pa inland of Ohiwa, but on the oftack being made no tidings at his whereabouts could be traced. Actuated with the same feeling of revenge against Kereopa, an expeditionary force left Opotiki to pursue the rebels inland on the morning the Huntress left for Auckland, and also for the purpose of intercepting a party of rebels who are believed to have escaped from Waiapu, and to be occupying a pa inland of Ohiwa. The p.s. Sturt brought to Opotiki, on the 28th ultimo, Captain Hussey's company of Volunteers, who had been taken down to Waiapu in the schooner Success, in order to assist in the capture of Pukemairo Pa. The Sturt was for Wellington and Napier via Waiapu, and after, landing the Volunteers left for Matata, where she took on board tho Maori prisoners for Opotiki. She left Opotiki for Napier and Wellington, via Waiapu and Poverty Bay, a few hours before the Huntress sailed. Captain Stalker reports the airival of the * Bchooner Jane off Opotiki, on the 24th ultimo; but, owing to the strong south-west wind which blew at the time, she was unable to cross the bar. A north-westerly gale set in next morning, and she wascompelled to lie off and on. The Huntress landed her mails, and we were informed that she had lost both her anchors in the heavy weather. . The gale continued, and Captain Pringle lost sight of the vessel, which he Concluded had run down to Tauranga for shelter. The p s. Huntress has long been usefully employed in. transport service for the colonial Government, and has latterly rendered very valuable service on the East Coast, at Opotiki, Poverty Bay, and Napier, She has been brought on to Auckland in order that her machinery may bo inspected and repaired by Messrs Vickery and Masefield,

(For remainder ofNetos and Advertisements, see Supplement.)

Geneva

Brandy

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