TE KOOTI AGAIN IN THE FIELD.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 480, 20 March 1869, Page 2

TE KOOTI AGAIN IN THE FIELD.

ANOTHER SETTLEMENT DESTROYED. (BY ELEOTBIO TELEGBAPH.) (feom oub own cobbespondent.) Wellington, Friday. It is reported from Napier that Te Kooti took Hokoia's pah on the 9th inst., and that he afterwards crossed the river there, and destroyed the Whakatane settlement. Major Mair, with a hundred Europeans, and a hundred Natives, hastened in pursuit of him. It was not known, however, if he had been attacked. The murder of Pitcairn,the surveyor, is confirmed. The Hau-haus are reported to have sustained a loss of forty-five of their number. The Waikato party that have joined Te Kooti are only sixteen wandering Ngatiporous. The attempt to induce the Uriweras to join in the attack upon Opotiki failed. About fifty of Te Kooti's men are escaped Chatham Island prisoners. Mete Kingi has received letters stating that the Maori King had issued a proclamation, demanding an inquiry respecting the evil committed by the Ngatimaniapoto in murdering Mr Whiteley and other settlers at the White Cliffs. He calls upon the King natives and Government to assemble at Tokangamuto, to investigate the causes of the murders, and ascertain their perpetrators. Wi Tako is in Wellington, and says he thinks the King means peace. The parties who brought to Wanganui the news of the late attack on Lieutenant Hunter's escort are parties who fled at the first shot, and they greatly magnified the danger. The facta are that a party of the enemy fired at the escort, but no more harm was done than the wounding of a horse, and the smashing of a tin of coffee. Our men returned the fire, pushed on, and the enemy bolted. The escort reached Wairoa without further molestation. There is a great deal of sickness in Colonel Whitmore's camp. There are over sixty cases of camp fever, some of which are very severe.

THE GREYMOTJTH RACES.

SECOND DAT. (BY ELECTRIO TELEGRAPH.) (feom otjr own coreespondent.) Gbetmotjth, Thursday. The following were the resultß of this day's racing:— Selling Stakes: Prince Patrick, 1; Mazeppa,2; Corsair, 3. Geeymouth Handicap : Nebula, 1; Plying Jib, 2. Ladies' Pubse : Backbiter, 1; Native, 2; Nebula, 3. Huedle Handicap: Blink Bonny, 1; Don Pedro, 2.

(From the Argus.') The first day's races commenced witk the Trial Stakes, which was thought to be a gift to Plying Jib, and would most likely have been won by him but for his rider being under the impression that he had to go once more round the course, Thomas, on Corsair, winning cleverly at the post by a short head. For the Packers' Purse Janet was undoubtedly the favourite, and justified the confidence placed in her, Sulky running very gamely, and coming in a good second. The result of thisrace is, however, doubtful, as a protest was lodged against Janet, on the ground of not being qualified as a pack-horse. The great event of the day was the Town Plate, for which some crack horses competed, Nebula being the favourite, in spite of injuries she had received from her knocking about on the voyage from Nelson, though there can be no doubt that effected her running. After a capital race this event was won by Flying Jib, Backbiter running a good second, Nebula apparently breaking down about a quarter of a mile from home. The Butchers' Purse resulted in a good race between Cossack and Okair, Cossack winning cleverly by a length, although carrying 191bs. over weight. The Hurdle Pace, perhaps, was the event most looked forward to throughout the day, as the class of horses entered insured a splendid race, and the hurdles which, instead of being made of brushwood as formerly, are this year of strong sawn timber, and firmly fixed, so that the horses must either jump or fall. Unfortunately this race was the cause of a very melancholy accident, .which, cast a gloom on the hitherto universal enjoyment of the day. Gamester fell at the second hurdle, throwing bis . rider, and falling over him, and although Dr. Morice was

speedily in attendance, nothing conld be done to save the unfortunate man, who must have been killed instantly. His name was Harry Bloomfield, of Nelson, and a short time ago was digging at Charleston. He was 23 years of age, and leaves a wife and child. After a good start the horses all got well over the first hurdle, Mazeppa's rider, however, falling. At the second hurdle three of the horses, Gamester, Slim Jim, and Okair, came to grief, the rider of Gamester being fatally injured by his horse coming on top of him- Don. Pedro had now obtained a commanding lead, and was never afterwards neared, Blink Bonny and Native jumping their hurdles, but unable to overtake the Don. Native finished a couple of lengths behind Blink Bonny. In the second heat the Don had it all his own way, Native pulling up the first time round. The sad accident by which this race was attended threw a shadow over the remainder of the day's proceedings, and the final heat would not have been run but for the necessity of deciding the race, in consequence of the handicap for the next day. Don Pedro and Native were most fancied for this race, the Don having the preference. Gamester, Blink Bonny, and Mazeppa also enjoyed a good share of public favor. The Don bore out the opinion of his backers by winning thd first heat easily, taking his hurdles in a manner which drew forth repeated bursts of applause. Blink Bonny and Native also jumped well. For the second heat Don Pedro and Native only put in an appearance. Native pulling up at the third hurdle, the Don had it all his own way. For the Hack Pace there was a good muster of five horses, and a capital race ensued, being won by Mr Ashton's Billy Boy.