ARRIVAL OF THE JANE FROM TAURANGA.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 71, 31 March 1870, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE JANE FROM TAURANGA.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO THE LUNA.

RELEASE OF HAUHAU PRISONERS AT OPOTIKI.

Thb schooner Jane arrived in harbour early this morning from Tauranga, after a splendid run of twenty hours. Captain Moller informs Us that the p.s. Luna, Captain Fairchild, arrived at Tauranga on Sunday last, at 9 a.m. She left again the same evening for Opotiki and the East Coast, but had not got far when one of the cylinders broke. She succeeded in reaching Tauranga again, and some of the engineers of the Rosario went on board, and patched her up. She was to leave for Auckland early, and may be expected here tomorrow. We give the following : — [from a correspondent.] March 27, 1870, We are constantly in receipt of all kinds of rumours, some of them sufficiently alarming, many of them without foundation, but some receive confirmation, as, for example, tlie threatened incursion on Opotiki, which has not yet been contradicted. The steamer Tauranga, which arrived on Thursday last* brought Colonel Harrington and Colonel Lyons. The Luna brings the Defence Minister, the Hon. D. McLean. Colonel Harrington was doubtless glad to revisit the beautiful district in which he has so large a stake, and where he has many warm friends, who were overjoyed to welcome him once more to their pleasant , shores—for a time only, I believe, as the Colonel purposes making only a brief stay amongst us. On his arrival, as might be ex pected, he hastened to visit the scenes in which he was interested The farm, of course, first; and afterwards, the new public works now being carried out by the Thames Volunteers and Tauranga Militia, which now become au object of interest to all visitors to this locality. His formal visit to the Volunteer Camp and their portion of the works, is announced to take place to-morrow j and whatever fault he may—as Inspector of Troops—he able to find with their state of drill and condition of uniform, he can find none with the progress of the -works* -which are iv every way satisfactory and workmanlike. Such is Maori love for the excitement of warfare, that they have at all times welcomed it with delight; but war has acquired a new interest now that Europeans have learned the necessity of placing them on pay. It has afforded" tliein a new mode of obtaining a revenue, and, on the slightest pretext—by desertion—of a supply of arms and ammunition. So long as they remain in formidable numbers will they be an insuperable obstacle to pacific and prosperous settlement. Many conjectures are hazarded as to the means whereby they procure their supplies of powder. No conjecture is necessary, when it is remembered that blasting powder is at all times easily procurable at the Thames, and transmissable, via Ohinemuri, to the disaffected country. Much of the powder found in captured Maori cartridges has been discovered to be that of a blasting sort, pounded fine, for use in rifle's. '1 be desertion of friendlies accounts for their possession of other and better kinds. Nothing, therefore, now remains for the lasting and peaceful occupation of the country but the roads through Maori fastnesses, which must be kept open by means of frontier outposts or blockhouses, with small garrisons, communicated with frequently by means of mounted orderlies. The Roman roads subdued the ancient Britons. Until the recesses of the Scottish Highlands were intersected by the celebrated roads of General Wade, the clans held sovereign sway and defied intrusion, but now the flocks and herds «f industrious lowlanders roam freely and undisturbed o'er the land of the mountain and the flood. What a pity the work of road-making was not commenced sooner, when Government had the Ist Waikato Regiment, 1400 strong, wasting their time in Tauranga, in parades and pipeclay, and when the services of two regiments of Imperial troops were available as covering parties. Firing, for " competitive firing" took place at the target, Te Papa, yesterday, with tbe following results. I have not yet obtained the score, but this will show how some of the shots stood. Three distances, fifteen shots ; — Staff Sergeant-Major McDonald Thames Volunteers ... ... 39 Corporal Forbes, ditto 28 Sergeant Major Harper, A.C. ... 11 It will thus be seen that Sergeant McDonald, though first, lost by one, the opportunity of competing at Wellington. Major Kemp has released the prisoners taken near Opotiki, and Mr. McLean has gone thither to investigate.