LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 352, 16 September 1868, Page 3

LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

(from the patea. correspondent of the wanganui times.) Batea, 3rd September, 1868. After I wrote to you yesterday morning, Colonel M'Donnell started with a strong party for Manutahi to see after Hawkiu's sheep and some horses, &c, that had been looted by the Pakakohi. When they got to the village they found in possession of those rascals, between fifty and sixty of the sheep, the remainder they had killed ; the sheep skins were lying about in all directions and several carcasses of mutton ready dressed for cooking. They also found two of the stolen horses and other loot. Colonel M'Donnell demanded the thieves, but the chiefs insolently refused to give them up. There was the plunder, there were the thieves, but Colonel M'Donnell dare say nothing : they were protected by Colonel Haultain's famous proclamation published in your paper, which warned him not to molest those people who had not openly declared forrebellion. Then, ii3a man who was present tells me, M'Donnell gnashed his teeth, and finding that he •dare do nothing but order Ihe remnant of sheep, two horses, and other loct to be driven away, he marched back his men in disgust whilst Colonel Haultain's protected friendly natives laughed at him. These scoundrels are now robbing right and left, but they are protected by what you call Colonel Haultain's edict.

When our men returned they were perfectly savage at having their hands so tied by Colonel Haultain, that the Pakakohi plunderers were able to laugh at the degraded way in which they were obliged to retire and leave them unmolested. None of us blame Mr. Booth. He, of course must act up to his instructions. Even should those Pakakohis commence to kill as well as plunder the settlers, they cannot be molested without special orders from the Government. Look Sir ! Three times have I thrown down my pen in disgust, but as your paper is carefully read at head-quarters, I face the miserable task of talking of our degradation. Why does the Colonial Parliament allow the colony to be victimised by keeping up a. native difficulty that we could crush before the rebels had time to be encouraged, as they are and have been by the Government ? What can the natives think of us ? What can our fellow-colonists think of of us but that we are cowards ? As soon as our three months are up lots of us will serve no longer.