TARANAKI.

Auckland Examiner, Volume IV, Issue 273, 16 June 1860, Page 3

TARANAKI.

Sunday, May 27—This morning intelligence, of a painful nature was brought into town front Waitara by a Roman Catholic clergyman, that' yesterday between 2 and 3 p.m., Mr. R. Brown captain of the Native Infantry, at Waitara, was waylaid, whilst riding after a lost horse, by a party of Wi Kingi’s natives and badly shot. This intelligence naturally treated great excitement in town and it is expected the Tasmanian Maid will come up during the day with furtheeaprticulars. At 1 p.m. the stea-

mer was in sight and anchored at 2. By her we have confirmetion of the intelligence, and find that Mr. Brown is severely wounded and in a precarious state. It appears that on riding along the road yesterday, and reaching the ford of the Waiongana river on the beach three natives, one of whom a young named Tawatahi, recently in Mr. Brown’s employ, sprang out of a bush and fired at him. The first shot struck Mr. Brown,s revolver cartouche box aed glanced off; the next shot penetrated his thigh, and a third shot passed through the left side and lodged in the body. After the first shot Mr. Brown’s horse swerved and the succeeding shots struck him as he was turning. Mr. Brown galloped back towards the camp, and being observed to drop out of the saddle was carried in inla fanting state. It is said that there were sixty natives further on, and had Mr. Brown crossed the river he could not have escaped instant death. There was a large concourse of the people on the beach when .the boat landed to ascertain Mr. Brown’s realstate and the particulars of the murderous attack.

Ihaia came up in the steamer and reported that there was no hope 'of him. W*e sincerely trust that matters are not so bad as represented, and that so energetic a settler as Mr Brown may yet be spared to us at the present crisis and not lose his life in a treacherous ambuscade. The Governor has reiterated his determination to punish the murderers ef the unarmed men and little boys at Omata, and we feel assured that he will equally not overlook the blood wantonly shed in this instance, as well as the diabolical attempt upon Mr. Commissioner Parris, by Kingi’s natives. We are the more convinced that this will be treatad apart from the question of land, because Kingi has received the utmost publicity the Herald could give to the favorable opinion held of him, in consequence of his returning a beast that he disapproved of tho murders and pillage committed by the southern allies. Such an opinion (recorded in Mr Brown’s own words in our journal vide 20th April) was more than sufficient to throw the unfortunate gentleman off his guard as he rode towards the snare laid for unsuspecting travellers. Monday.—Oar old friend Ihaia, who came up from Waitara yesterday, is in a great state of excitement about the savage attempt upon Mr. Brown’s life on Saturday. He is anxious for revenge, and is very pouri (dark) about Wi Kingi’s conduct. He is very desirous he should be at once punished—and says it was a deliberate attempt by Wi Kingi’s party to murder any person they could find on the road. Mr Brown is justly held in great estimation by the natives at the camp, and when he was brought in helpless and wounded there was a great lamentation in the Maori pa. Ihaia in giving an account of this savage proceeding got very excited, and revenge appeared to be his only desire. The Tasmanian Maid returned to-day to Waitara with Dr. White, Goth regiment. 2 medical officers are stationed at Waitara, but it is the desire of the military au-

thorities that Mr. Brown should have the utmost surgical aid. Major Nelson, 40th Regt., likewise prodded to Waitara with a party of

soldiers to take the command. The intentior being to relieve the 65th stationed at Waitart since military occupation was taken of Teira’s land. Tuesday.—The Taranakis, we are informed after their long quiet, are about to make a move. They will not at present unite their forces with Wi Kingi; but will act independently for the present in marauding parties. We again partieulary caution all persons from going any distance from town, or travelling the road to Tataraimaka, on public service or otherwise, without a sufficient escort. Their intention is to take possession of Tataiaimaka and fortify themselves there. From thence they will overrun our suburbs again, and burn, destroy, and murder. We hear this morning that 500 Natives—Ngatimaru. or our Upper Waitara, and Upper Wanganui Natives, who have come across the mountains, have arrived at

Waitara, and are building a pah at the other side of the river, at Tikorang’. Fires hive been seen in that direction, and Natives at work. The Tasmanian Maid arrived at 4 p.m.

from Wsitara, much to the surprise of all in the teeth of a northwester which (unless her mission was very urgent) should have detained her in the river. As it was, one boat was stove in communicating with her, and she put to sea in all haste—probably for Nelson—after hastily disembarking Dr. White and some men of the 65th. We are rejoiced to hear that Mr. Brown is not worse, and that some faint hopes of his recovery may bo indulged in. It is supposed that the bullet has taken an upward direction, and is lodged in the cavity of the chest, the lungs do not appear to be affected. Mr. Brown was fired at by more than three Natives. —[Taranaki Herald, Jnne 2.J