HAWKE'S BAY.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 391, 31 October 1868, Page 7

HAWKE'S BAY.

On Monday last we stated on the authority of telegrams forwarded to the West Coast Times that a party of native scouts had heen killed by the Hau-haus. The Hawke's Bay Herald of the 17th supplies the following particulars in reference to that event:—

" The express messengers have arrived from the Wairoa district. The first on Wednesday brought intelligence that Karaitiana and his party of scouts, who left Wairoa on or about the last day of September, had not been heard of up to the 13th instant; that fears were generally entertained by the friendly natives that they had been waylaid and either detained or killed, and that a party of one hundred of the latter were about to start for the purpose of learning the fate of their friends. Great excitement prevailed among the relatives of Karaitiana and his people. "The second, on Thursday, brought the startling intelligence that definite information had been received of the fate of the party. The latter had been tali en by Te Kooti and shot. The latter had been joined Te Waru, and had entered the Wairoa district, camping ac Whataroa, only ten miles from the military settlers, who had been called in by the officers commanding. The letter of our own correspondent has since come to hand and is as follows :

Clyde, Wednesday, 14th. "Lasteveningat 9p.m., Mr Gr. Burton and Mr Gr. B. Worgan reached this township, having been all through, the inland districts, and within half a dozen miles of the Lake Waikare. They brought a report, gathered from native sources, that Karatiana had been killed by the enemy. They returned mainly in consequence of the terror of the two natives who accompanied them, who positively refused to proceed further inland. Messrs Worgan and Burton, however, succeeded in sending on letters by a woman

named Heni, whose two children were with the Hau Haus. She must have reached Waihi oq the Tuesday, as today answers have arrived, confirming the news brought to town. It appears that Te Kooti's party have captured Karaitiana's party, and have shot them and that the road from Maunga Powhatu is open—a native form of expression, meaning mischief. " Whataroa is only ten miles from the military settlement, with a good dray road the whole way. Tims, what I have dinned into the ears of the public as likely to happen has come to pass at last. The next news may be of the sack of Clyde and its environs. " Captain Tuko has sent to warn the military settlers to come in. He has called out the militia and volunteers, and done all that an active brave man can do under such circumstances. The redoubt is pretty nearly finished, and every nerve will be strained to defend the place, which may look for attack any and every day. " The Napier people nobly protested against Eraser and his men being withdrawn. I trust they will now urge that means be sent to our succour. In conclusion, I must say that I feel not one whit surprised at what has taken place, although, like Cassandra, I have cried, " Troy is fallen," without obtaining much attention. " The natives are enraged beyond all bounds at the inassaciv of Karaitiana, Ahita, Rewiti, and Karauria. Te Kootihas made a political mistake. ITis party must be rooted out of their position, or ihe district must be abandoned, No time now for humbugging speeches in the House, but action, action, action. With reference to Te Waru, it is possible he may have been forced to join the enemy."

; VICTORIA. It is officially announced that the Prussian Government, the Senate of Hamburg, the Senate of Lubeck, and the Senate of Bremen have withdrawn their commissions from their consuls in Melbourne ; and that Mr "W. A. Brahe has been recognised by his Excellency the Governor as consul at Melbourne for the North German Confederation.

A determined attempt at self destruction is thus noticed by the Ballarat Star. A man named Chamberlain, who has been for some days in custody at the western lock-up, attempted to commit suicide, ou Thursday by strangling himself. The strait-jacket had been removed for a short time, to enable him to eat, and availing himself of the opportunity, he tore up his blankets into strips and tied the ends firmly together. Having made a noose he placed it tightly round his neck, lie then secured the other end to the bars of the small grating in the door of his cell, and endeavored hy tugging fiercely to produce strangulation. He was observed, however, by a watch-housekeeper intime to prevent the execution of his design, and having been induced to submit to the straitjacket being replaced, measures were taken to prevent the possibility of a second attempt at self-destruction. On Thursday afternoon (according to the Argas), soon after 3 o'clock, a young man, whose name is at present unknown, but supposed to be Bailey, hired an outrigger boat from MiEdwards for a pull on the river. It was evident, almost as soon as he started, that he was quite unused to the management of such ticklish craft, and before he had proceeded 200 yards he was capsized. There were several persons on the spot ready to render him assistance the moment he reappeared upon the surface, but he sunk like a stone, and did not rise even for an instant. Efforts were at once made for his recovery, and in a comparatively short space of time his body was got out of the water. Life was then quite extinct, and no amount of exertion could restore animation. Deceased is said to have arrived by the Great Britain on her last trip to this colony. He was not engaged in any occupation, and, so far as is known, has no friends in Melbourne. A miner named Bergen was killed on the 9th instant (says the Age) in a shaft he was sinking in Mr Kerr's garden, Buninyong. A bucket, filled with water, fell from a height of 33 feet on his head, aud killed him on the spot. Another man, a mate of his, was also at the bottom of the shaft at the time of the accident, but he escaped without injury.

When Narvaez was on his deathbed, his confessor exhorted him to forgive all his enemies. The Spanish Premier replied that he had none to forgive. " Bethink you," said the confessor, " you must surely have had some in your life." " Oh, I have had many," said the dying man, " but then I always shot them." The minister received the blessing of the Pope, which was sent him by telegram.