TARANAKI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1356, 7 February 1865, Page 6

TARANAKI.

OCOWATH* OF T» ■f/n.e p.. .. T-i iteratahua.—Since the arrival ot tne Defence mnWer from Auckland, the inactmty that lias. .0 long paralyzed the en«rgie» of I the Taranaki settlers, appears at last by a spirit of determination to do something on the part of the Government in the shapeof locatingthe military settlers on their homes. The town acres will at once be allotted, and, as soon as circumstances will allow, the flftv-acre farms will be handed over to their future respective occupants As aP* 6 ]}" 1 nary step, on Saturday last, Colonel Warro and staff, accompanied by Major Atkinson and Mr Farn., rode to Tataraimaka, where they rOTamrftorthc night. The next morning (Sunday) the party proceeded southwards for some two or three miles to Tukitukipapa, the position of a Maori pah, formed of earthwork, exactly after the model of the English redoubts, with flanking angles and ditch complete. It is here that the natives who sent in their names as desirous of making peace in December reside. The natives on the present occasion advanced to meet the party unarmed, and, after a long conversation, Colonel Warre and Major Atkinson, with the Staff, proceeded by an inland road to Ngana,the site of the new position on the Hangatahua or Stony River; it is situated about one mile and a half from the sea. In the meantime Mr. Parris entered the pah for the purpose of answering any questions that might be asked. On the Colonel returning, which he did by the beach road, the natives came out singly and < presented themselves before him, each man making a speech expressive of his desire to live in peace and quietness. In the same order the pah was again entered, when the guns were brought out, and placed on the ground between the Colonel and Mr. Paris, amidst some more speechifying. After this, with the same ceremony, the, spears with hatchet heads were laid near the guns ; and the whole of this part of the proceedings was brought to a conclusion by a presentation of sharks' teeth, greenstones, &c. Three men—Minarapa, Rihara, and Haneti —who, from having been connected with the Waireka and other murders, are excluded from any benefit of the proclamation, came forward with their guns, and gave themselves up as prisoners, returning with the Europeans to Tataraimaka, where they were handed over to the officer commanding the garrison. Monday, January 23.

The following force left town—Captains Livesay and Bateman, Lieutenants Onslow, Money, and Longley, with 150 rank and file of the 43rd Light Infantry, heavily laden with their packs. The men, after a weary march of twelve miles over hot and dusty roads, reached Tataraimaka, the garrison of which, consisting of 212 men, with the officers, Captains Close and Hatchell, Lieutenant and Adjutant Talbot, Lieutenants Todd, Garland and Cairns, Ensigns Armphelt and Pearson, with Staff-Assistant Surgeon Grant in medical charge, the whole under command of Major Colville marched southward for the purpose of occupying Te Ngana. On the force arriving at Tukitukipapa a white flag was run up on the native staff, evincing that as yet they had not altered their peaceful intentions. Passing the pah the route running parallel with the beach was taken to within a short distance of the old crossing place of this dangerous river, when, after passing through fern increasing in height as they progressed inland, Te Ngana was reached and a rounded hillock chosen as a camp. No tracks of natives were visible, but a stout post had been stuck in the centre of the road near the river, to show that it was not the intention of the rebels to allow their lands to be taken and occupied without a struggle. On Tuesday morning, Lieutenant Ferguson marked out, on the summit of the hillock, the boundaries of a redoubt, the parapets of which, under the fatigue parties, are rapidly taking shape. All around the fern is high and luxuriant, so as to preclude the possibility of grass or other herbage finding room to grow, consequently there is but little food for cattle and horses; added to this, the surface water is from the swamps, and not at all suitable for drinking, but this will be remedied by the making of wells. So soon as the building of the redoubt is sufficiently advanced, it will be occupied by a company of the Otago contingent.—Correspondent of Taranaki Herald.

Homicide —On Monday a melancholy affair took place at Mataitawa, of which the following is, we believe, a correct account. In No. 9 Company of the Military Settlers were two men, named Francis Johnson and John Harris, and it is asserted, and we understand was proved before the Coroner on inquiry, that as the former was passing the tent in which the latter was located, Harris deliberately took a rifle and fired at Johnson with fatal effect, the ball pasing through his head and killing him on the spot. The Coroner's jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder " against the accused, and he was committed for trial under the Coroner's warrant. No inquiry has yet taken place before the Bench, but will doubtless be early entered upon. The victim of this dreadful atrocity was but 36 years of age, and unhappily leaves behind him a wife and six young children. John Harris is described as being about 25 years of age. The deceased was buried yesterday with military honours in the cemetery at the Henui.—Taranaki News, Jan. 26.

Submission of the Natives South. — The endeavours made to induce the natives south of Tararaimaka to come in under the Governor's proclamation have been to a certain extent successful, and about the end of last week some sixty souls gave in their submission, consisting of thirty men, amongst whom was the notorious Minarapa, and two others suspected of the murder of two boys at Omata, the rest being women and children. The three suspected of murder have not, we understand, been brought in under the proclamation, but have made unconditional surrender, and will be tried according to law. This will go far to facilitate the operations south now in progress, but a quiet march of the ground beyond is scarcely to be expected.—lbid.