SERIOUS WAR NEWS FROM PATEA.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 307, 25 July 1868, Page 3

SERIOUS WAR NEWS FROM PATEA.

TWENTY-FIVE WHITE MEN KILLED. TURU-TURU-MOKAI REDOUBT SURPRISED BY NATIVES, AND THE MEN KILLED. ■ WOMEN AND CHILDREN ORDERED TO WAN GANUI. THREATS OF WAIKATO NATIVES TO SWEEP THE COUNTRY. G-REAT EXCITEMENT IN PATEA. By the Kennedy we have received Nelson files to Thursday last, and from the subjoined telegram, extracted from the " Examiner" of that date, we have grave news from the North Island. That another war is imminent is almost certain, and it is to be hoped if such does Occur, that no more flour and sugar policy will be permitted, but that the natives may be taught such a lesson as will give permanent peace to the settlers of New Zealand. The "Examiner" has the following : At a little before nine o'clock last evening, we received the following important telegram from Wellington:— Wellington, Tuesday, 8.30 p.m. Cobb's Coach arrived from Wanganui this evening, bringing the following intelligence which had been received at Wanganui:— " A mounted Orderly arrived in Wanganui about five o'clock last evening (Monday), with a despatch from Colonel M'Donnell to Colonel Gorton, to the effect that he received a verbal reportthatTuru-Turu-Mokai, occupied by a detachment of our forces, had been attacked on Friday night, and all the men in the redoubt, without exception, killed. " Lieutenant-Colonel Gorton has issued placards calling for one hundred Volunteers, and will most probably leave Wanganui for Patea in course of to-morrow. We have had authentic intelligence from Waitotara. There the tribes have held meetings every day of the past week. They have been urged either to join the Waikato men who declare their intention to sweep the whole country right through to Wanganui, or if they refuse to remain neutral. "There is (says the account) nothing in this intelligence which should in the least alarm either the Waitotara settlers, or the people at Wanganui; but we earnestly urge a prompt response to Colonel Gorton's appeal for more Volunteers. FURTHER PARTICULARS. " Mr Williams, who brought in the intelligence from Patea in four hours, called at Wairoa, and gave notice that the women and children were to go into Patea or Wanganui for protection. " The attack on Turu-Turu-Mokai took place either on Saturday night or Sunday morning. " The numbers stated as killed are correct; but six men were wounded and left in the trenches, making up twenty-five, which is the number of which the detachment consisted. " Immediately on receipt of the intelligence at Patea, Colonel M'Donnell started with the Patea Light Horse, after having sent off Mr Williams with despatches to Colonel Gorton. " Mr Williams returns to Patea this morning with a despatch from Colonel Gorton to Colonel M'Donnell. " The excitement in Patea is intense. "An emergency meeting of Magistrates was called by Colonel Gorton, at Wanganui, at which resolutions were adopted, the general tenor of which was that the hands of the Military authorities in this district should be strengthened by the Government as much as possible."

The London Times of May 1, says : —•" Sir Charles Darling, late Governor of the colony of Victoria, has presented to Parliament a petition expressing his desire that his whole conduct in the administration of the Government of Victoria, and all its proceedings in respect to the proposed grant of £20,000 to Lady Darling, should be subjected to the fullest investigation. He submits that the whole question of the grant, the very principles upon which it proceeds, and the motives on which it originated are so intimately connected with his conduct in the administration of Victoria, and with the circumstances which led to and are consequent upon his recall therefrom, that it would be at variance with that spirit of justice in which the House of Commons is accustomed to act to arrive at a decision, upon the motion of which notice has been given, without much more full and accurate information upon his conduct."