WELLINGTON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 431, 17 December 1868, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(from our own correspondent.) December, 10.

The news I have to send you is bad, undeniably bad, most uncomfortably so for this Province. The steamer which arrived yesterday from Wanganui confirmed the news which had been brought down overland, namely, the advance of Titoko Waru, and his warning to the inhabitants of the town to clear out, or, as he said, to "hook it." On Friday last (the 4th,) Titoko Waru sent two mounted men with a flag of truce to Lieutenant Herrick who now commands the forces there, with an autograph letter, of which a correct translation has been made by Col. M'Donnell. [The translation has already appeared in our columns.] On the receipt of this, Lieut. Herrick, who was posted with his men in Woodall's redoubt about nine miles from Wanganui, immediately ordered a precipitate retreat to Westmere, about four miles nearer the town, abandoning the redoubt to the rebels, who immediately took possession of it. This redoubt is on the edge, as it were, of an expanse of table land, the front of which slopes down rather steeply on to the road (which the redoubt completely commands) leading into Wellington. On the Wanganui side of the redoubt the land is flat, and the redoubt comparatively useless, but the natural features of the country cause the post to be very valuable to resist the advance of an enemy on the city. This redoubt, which was erected some six or seven years ago, and which has never yet been the scene of fighting, was abandoned by the gallant Lieut. Hewick at Tito's 'orders without

delay, and if that brave Hau-Hau thought that fear was the cause which led to the order being so promptly obeyed I for one would not be surprised. This retreat raised such a storm of anger in Wanganui that the " gallant " Lieutenant was obliged to retrace his steps and re-occupy the redoubt on Sunday last, which he did quite easily, the Maoris walking out as he got up to it, there being no defences for "them to hold on the "Wanganui side.

The news of the warning has caused considerable alarm in Wanganui. Immediately on it being received, a meeting of the magistrates and principal inhabitants was called, although it was Sunday, and a plan of defence for the main part of the town, proposed by an engineer attached to the 18th regiment, was submitted and approved. It was to run a strong ditch aud bank-fence from stockade to stockade, and again from each of them down to the river. On this work every man in the place was put on on Monday, and it is probable that before the time mentioned by Titoko Waru (Monday night) as that at which he should attack Wanganui, this simple fortification would be erected. As you may imagine, we in Wellington are most anxiously awaiting the receipt of the next intellu gence.

From the East Coast we have heard nothing more than has been sent you by telegraph. The Ngatiporos, after having done good service in following up Te Kooti, and after having beaten him in one or two engagements, in which he has from first to last lost about 100 men, have at length determined to go home. This is in consequence of the arrival of Col. "Wbitmore to take command. He unfortunately has made himself thoroughly disliked and distrusted by the natives of this district, and of this state of feeling the Government were perfectly aware ; and yet, in spite of this, and in opposition to Mr M'Lean's most strongly urged wishes, he has been sent there. The result we see already. One campaign is over. Te Kooti and his band are at liberty among the hills of the district. "We have up there no force to go after him, and we have disgusted our native allies who were doing the work for us.

In "Wellington itself we are in a pretty state of confusion. The Ist, 2nd, and 3rd Class Militia have been called out, as you know; that is to say, that three weeks or a mouth ago they were sworn in, but as yet nothing more has been done. They have not been called out for drill in the city once, nor given arms. It has taken the militia department all their time to frame an advertisement calling the Ist class to parade on Saturday the 12th, for the purpose of being formed into companies. Why could this uot have been done when they were sworn in ? Can you imagine any reason for it beyond stupidity or laziness on the part of the authorities ? For it is not because theirbeing required is doubted. The volunteer companies of the city are called out for actual service, and are doing garrison duty, mounting guard, furnishing patrols, and really doing something more than playing at soldiers. It is known that they are so few, (about 100, I believe,) that the duty falls very heavily on them, and while ordering them out, the officer commanding the district says—" lam sorry to give you so much work ; you'll be relieved when we can get the Militia under way." Thus, you see, from the conduct of a campaign, down to the minutiae of militia duty, everything connected with the Defence Department feels the effect of an incompetent head. [Since our correspondent wrote, 500 Militia have been paraded.] The Panama mail service is at an end. The last of the steamers has left Wellington for the Isthmus. The Post-Master-General received official notification yesterday that the Company could no longer carry out their contract. Instructions have been issued to withdraw all advertisements connected with the line and to cease to book passengers. The inter-colonial and coastal trade will, it is thought, go on as usual. There are rumours of all kinds as to the probability of the Panama Hue being kept-up, the most universal being that an American company are ready to carry it on. Of course you need scarcely be told that in the present state of affairs it is thought inadvisable for the Governor to fulfil his promise and visit the Middle Island. It is, however, only postponed. In political circles there i* nothing. The whole policy of the colony now is the war, and that, after all, is one of finance. By-the-bye, you know, I suppose, that this is the' year in which, according to Hau-Han prophecy, the Pake'has are to be driven out of New -Zealand.