LATEST TELEGRAPHIC

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 256, 4 September 1879, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAPHIC

(PER press agency.

WELLINGTON.

Wednesday. It is understood tho New Zealand Times will to-morrow retract and apologise for its comments on Mayor Hutchison, The threatened proceedings for damages will not be gone on with. Arrangements have been made by the candidates by which Wairarapa electors living in Wellington will receive a free pass by special train to enable them to record their votes, Major Willis has been elected for Marton, MOTUEKA, Wednesday, B. Hursthouse returned to-day without opposition, WANGANUI. Wednesday. Nomination—Show of Hands: Fox, 200: Ballance, 400; Bryce, 400, Poll demanded on behalf of Fox. AUCKLAND, Wednesday,

Kihikihi telegram states that Eowi left his settlement at Pimi to accompany Grace to Ohinemuri with a view to assist Sheehan in the endeavor to have the Maories who fired on the survey party handed over to justice, but he was thrown from his horse and received a severe shock to the systen. He is much hurt, and quite helpless, The old man is coming round, He says those who committed the outrage are recent converts to To Whiti,

THE fIATIVE OUTfiAGR

Grahamstown, September 2nd. Mr Sheehan intended to proceed to Ohinemuri yesterday afternoon, and is only waiting the arrival of Mr Superintendent Thompson and Messrs Pucky and Wilkinson, of whose departure from Pareora to consult Mr Sheehan we were advised yesterday. It was seven o'clock before the steamer, with the gentlemen, arrived at Shortland, and they speedily proceeded to the Pacific Hotel to interview the Minister on the affair on the new aspect it had assumed. The result of the interview was that Mr Sheehan decided to postpone his visit to Ohinemuri till after the meeting of the council of the tribes at Hauraki. If this august assemblage decided that the Ngatihakos have dono wrong by firing on the survey party, the hands of the authorities, in demanding the surrender of the actual aggressors, would be considerably strengthened, and the difficulty would soon be over, and the ends of justice satisfied. However, it is beyond contradiction that Pakeha and Maori ideas of right and wrong are two entirely different things, and the Hauraki Council may prefe* 1 washing its hands of the whole affair, to causing the handing over of their fellow-coun-trymen to be dealt with according to the laws of the European, The midnight expedition to Pakara's settlement, planned for Sunday evening, and postponed again till yesterday, was abandoned for the time being. The expedition was to consist of the Thames Scottish No, 3 company, and some other Yolunteers with Superintendent Thompson and Sub-Inspector Kenny in command, Mr Thompson found

his little army, though zealous and brave almost entirely undisciplined—so much so that many of the men of ihe Thames Scottish company were unable to load their weapons properly. The plan of operation was as follows:—The expedition was to land at tho junction, and march on the Ngatihako settlement, which was to be quietly surrounded, and a demand sent to the natives for the surrender of the law-breakers. If this mandate was refused it was intended to attempt the capture. In pursuance cf this scheme, the men mustered, but Mr Thompson had to inform them thai tho expedition was to be postponed. It appears that the guide who had been engaged to conduct the force had been spirited away by his relatives, and, notwithstanding the search that was mack for the absentee, he was unprocurable. Atu Pepene, aTo Aroha native, knowing the snaggy channel of the Wailiou, had been engaged as pilot, also backed out, his reason being that if he was knocked over, the complication would be intensified, as his tribe would desire to avenge his death and mingle in the fray. Of course under these circumstances the carrying out of the intentions of the authorities was out of the question. Mr, Thompson explained the state of the case to the men, and the expedition was postponed. In the morning tho men again mustered, but in the meantime the authorities had reason to believe that Te Pakara's hapu had got wind of their intended movements, while reliable information was to hand that the Ngatihakos had been reinforced by some 30 or 40 natives, and were ready to resist force with force.

Messrs Pucky, Thompson, Wilkinson, and Kenny held a council of war, when Mr Pucky, in the face of the new aspect of the position, expressed an opinion that with the smail force available, and the character of the natives, it would be both impolitic, unwise, and dangerous to proceed up the river. The men were again dismissed, but Mr Thompson has put them on pay, and they will bo drilled twice a day by Mr Kennev.