DISASTROUS NEWS FROM THE NORTH ISLAND.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 318, 7 August 1868, Page 2

DISASTROUS NEWS FROM THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From the Nelson " Colonist.") LATEST FROM PATEA. ATTACK 03S T AN ESCORT BY THE REBELS. REFUSAL OF SOME VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE, OWING TO HAYING TOO HE AY if WORK. The following appeared in our second edition yesterday:— The Wanganui " Herald" of Saturday last, (August Ist) states On Wednesday morning, about twelve o'clock, the escort going from Waihi to Paten, was attacked by about eighty Maories, a mile and a half this side of Waihi. The escort consisted of twelve of Von Tempsky's men and six mounted troopers. They were attacked near a gorge, and the men at once faced round with their backs to the drays. One man was dangerously wounded and another slightly. The attack was seen from Waihi, and Von Tempsky immediately marched to the assistance of the escort. Two [? friendly ] Maories were carried away. The Hauhaus fled when reinforcements arrived. The light volunteer horse at Patea have refused to serve, in consequence of having too heavy work. They were compelled to be in their saddles night and day. The men sent two of their number to represent their case to Colonel M'Donnell, who refused to see them and ordered the men to be paraded to give up their arms. The Corps refused to a man until they received their pay. The Corps was composed of forty of the most efficient men in the district, and well disciplined. On Thursday a notice was posted for thirty-five men, but only two responded who had got horses. Mr Nosworthy (who, we believe belongs to a very respectable family in Blenheim, and formerly resided there), who has a store at Patea, was thrown into the guard-room on Thursday, for what seems a very trivial offence. He remarked to a shoemaker, jokingly, that he would "go over and take the redoubt"—which constituted his offence.

A great number of Maoris are coming into the camp at Patea. Some of them stop a night, and the next morning run away. Things do not look very bright at Patea. WARNING TO SETTLERS We have been informed that Mr. Baird has been obliged to remove his family from his farm near the Wangaehu to Wanganui, having been warned by some of the friendly natives in the neighborhood, that unless a redoubt was built there he had better leave, as he was not safe from a Hauhau raid at any moment. We regret to find that the rumour of the total defeat of our troops at Poverty Bay is confirmed.

SKIEMISHES AT POVERTY BAT. DEFEAT OF THE COLONIAL FORCE BY THE ESCAPED PRISONERS. LOSS OF EIGHTY HORSES AND BAGGAGE. The following is from the correspondent of the Wellington Independent : Napier, Wednesday, 22nd July. The mail has arrived here from Wairoa, and the circumstances connected with recent firing and skirmishing, previously reported by the halfcaste, have been explained as follows— The Government force under Westrupp and "Wilson, numbering 100 strong, which had been sent out to intercept the runaways, met and opened fire upon them The fire was returned by the runaways with some effect, one white and one native being killed on our side, and several wounded. The Government party ultimately broke and fled to the bTish, r ;leaving 80 horses, and part of their provisions, clothing, and accoutrements in the hands of the Hau haus. The Hau haus then advanced upon Te Reinga "en route " for Waikaremona, but were met at the former place by Richardson's force, when a skirmish ensued and the friendlies under Richardson all bolted, as soon as the first shot was fired. The remainder of his force seem, however, to have made a stand, as one Hauhau chief was taken prisoner, who had in his possession the horse belonging to Capt. Wilson, who, as before stated, was defeated in the previous skirmish. It is reported that a friendly chief had gone over to the Hauhaus, betraying all our plans, and giving full information of our numbers to them.