LATEST FROM WANGANUI.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 452, 14 January 1869, Page 3

LATEST FROM WANGANUI.

About an hour before the departure of the John Penu from Wanganui, a trooper arrived from one of the redoubts, bringing intelligence of the appearance of the enemy, not more than ten miles from the town. The cavalry and other forces were immediately ordered out, and an engagement was considered imminent.

The dispute between Col. Lyon and the Wanganui Cavalry was amicably settled on Saturday last. Captain Finnimore and his gallant men were again on full pay. Nearly 100 armed constabulary arrived in Wanganui during last week. The Charles Edward, from the Grey .River, came in on Tuesday, bringing up wards of 30 recruits; and the Wanganui landed a further addition of 62. A very large majority of them are young, strong, and hardy-looking men. The principal news from Patea is that on Monday or Tuesday last Major Cummins's house was burned down, but how or by whom does not appear. The settlers do not believe the Hauhaus could have done it. Mr Handley's has, however, been burned by Tito Kowaru. When he took possession of the Waitotara block, drove in the settlers and burnt down tieir houses, he found a considerable quantity of potatoes and corn in Mr. John Handley's barn and woolshed, and therefore spared that building until he could conveniently carry off the booty. Meanwhile the Kai Iwi Cavalry caugh some of his men there killing Mr Handley's pigs, and in return killed eight of his Hauhaus, of whom poor Maxwell sabred two and shot one. The building being of no further use to Tito Kowaru, and the recollection of what has occurred close to it being rather disagreeable, he has burnt it down, and thus got rid of the last tenement on the block.