The Maoris Fortifying.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2927, 1 September 1879, Page 3

The Maoris Fortifying.

GRAHAMSTOWN tint day.

A Pigeongram to the " Thames Advertiser," from its own correspondent says : — " The Volunteers may congratulate themselves on having escaped certain death. A half-caste woman connected with one of the parties has just arrived with the information that au immense number of Ngatihauas and Piakos are assembled at the settlement of the former, and are pitching up earthworks and building n. pah and whares, being determined to fight the pakehas to the death. It has been ascertained that when Mr Puckey went up in the Vivid yesterday there were a very large number of armed natives concealed in the ilax, although only a dozen or so interviewed Mr Puckey. The Ngatikoes, on whom the Government depended put every obstacle in the way, and prevented the native guide from comiug to Paeroa, and now have him in durance vile. It was reported that old Te Hira, who is now iv Piako, intends joining the enemy. Mr Puckey and Superintendent Thomson leave Paeroa shortly after noon to communicate with the Government.

Mr, Sheehan is leaving with the tide to "o up the river to meet Mr Puckey and Mr Thompson, to ascertain the truth of the above rumours. He is also sending a steamer up the Piako to see if natives have left there for Te Aroha.

WELLINGTON, Saturday. Iris said here that the Maori disturbance at Upper Thames is near the spot where Mr Blackett stated before the Railway Map Enquiry Committee "the natives stepped in and prevented the'surveyors going any further" on the survey of the extension of the ■f femes Railway being commenced. Mr Ma'ck'ay Native Commissioner, thinks that the Maoris' vM committed the outrage at the Te Aroha belong tp the Panakau tribe. Mr Mackay had several narrow escapes from serfons injury by this tribe.

A nef'ro." =who"liad learnt to read, wishing to give some of hie countrymen an idea of it said. ■•Reading is the power of hearing yith theses inateadof the ears, i