THE MAORI PRISONERS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 577, 6 November 1869, Page 2

THE MAORI PRISONERS.

SMAET SKIRMISH WITH THE NATIVES. TE KOOTI WOUNDED. LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS. EEPOETED FEESH DISCOVERIES. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (FROM OUR OWN" CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, Wednesday. The Maori prisoners leave for the south by the s.s. Eangatira, as soon as the weather permits. They are seventy-four in number. Their sentences have been commuted to various terms, from three to seven years.

The chief Tauroa is in the latter category. The batch includes all the Pakikohi hapu except the old men, who were discharged, and two boys who are to be placed on board the H.M.S. Blanche. A party of the Ngatiporou garrison at "Waihi, who were out scouting, came upon a party of Tito Kowaru's men at Ngapuhi. Three men and two women were captured, and two men who were trying to escape were shot. They proved to be well-known rebels, and were armed with double-barrelled guns. An old woman who was taken tells a circumstantial story of Te Kooti being in the Upper "Waitara, close to Tito Kowaru. He had been badly wounded, but is recovering.

Friday. Later Auckland news has been received.

A dividend of £3 per share has been paid by the Long Drive Company. 2071bs of specimens had yielded 915 ©zs of gold. The yield from the claim for the month of September was 3911 ozs, and for the month of October, up to the 15th, 25300z5. Mr T. B. Grillies, one of the candidates for the Superintendency of Auckland, charges the other candidate, Mr Williamson, with buying up th e whole Auckland Press.

The Southern Gross gives Oillies the lie direct. In the Pride of Karaka claim there has been a dividend of one shilling. Some prospectors at Ohineinuri report the discovery of rich quartz. A small house in Capel street has been burnt down. The s.s. Bangatira sailed for Dunediu yesterday with the Maori convicts.