TARANAKI. CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1352, 23 November 1860, Page 3

TARANAKI. CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL.

Saturday, Nor. 10.— Wheather threatening. It was known early this morning that Hi« Excellency the Govemof, has sent the Niger and Victoria, for> 400 troops, and this number made up of 250 of the 65th and ISO of the 40th will embark this forenoon. The withdrawal of troops, though quite called for as a prudential measure, muse seriously interfere with the General's plans, and he will now have to act strictly on the defensive until the reinforcements arrive. The vessels in the roadstead put to sea at noon, as the wind was blowing in strongly, and the surf getting up, the embarkation of the troops is therefore delayed. — An escort left Mahoetahi this morning to bring in the body of John Hawken, which was found just earthened over near Ngataiparirua. It is much mutilated about the head by a tomahawk, and has four bullet wounds. The body was brought into town this evening in a cart. Hawken has left a wife and two children, the youngest not much more than a week old. Saturday, Nov. 11. — There was no blow, and the steamers have returned to the anchorage. The Traveller's Bride from Wanganui, and Comet from Sydney, arrived to-day. The Wonga Wonga, hence on Wednesday, arrived off the Wanganui bar on Thursday and landed the mail and passengers. The news of the storming of Mahoetahi was received with great satisfaction by our Wanganui friends. All quiet there. Several meetings of the river natives hnd taken plnce, the object not known, but it was believed for no good. J. Hawken was buried to day at 4 p.m., tho Itifle Volunteers furnishing a firing party. His relntioni and connections* and numerous militia followed him to the grave.— News from Mahoetahi to day that several stand of arms had been f. und in the swamp, and four bodies of natives found yesterday, *nd two to-day in the fern, some of them scorched by the fire which was lighted to clear the land in the neighbourhood of the position. It is believed seveial natives who got away wounded are still lying in the bush and fern. — The usual muster of the garrison took place to day in the tienches which were -visited by Major Geneml Pratt, C.B. Monday, November 12. — The mail steamer Prince Alfred arrived to day on her way to Sydney.—During the morning the troops for Auckland embarked on board the Niger »nd Victoria. The officers *ccompanied them :— 4oth Regt., Captain Messenger and Shawe, Lieuts Hobbs, Dudgeon, and Ensign Morphy ; Goth Regt., Lieut, Col. Young (in command), Lieuts, Urquhart, Toker, VVrixon, and Pennefather. The Rifle Volunteers' band played the respective companies to the bouts. The garrison has been considerably weakened by the withdrawal of the troopf, and the duty (which it is submitted might be considerably lessened during the day) comes very heavy upon those in town. The Militia And Volunteers have to garrison two blockhouses and find guards (day), which duty did not fall upon them before, and with the outlying piquets give the men in many instances but one night in bed. — Private Lally who was wounded on Monday last in skirmish at Mangapukatea, near Puketakauere, died last night at Waitara, and also the wounded native prisoner left at Mahoetahi. — The Niger left for Manukau at 3 p.m., and the Victoria shortly afterwards. The Tasmania!! Maid was employed during the embarkation of the troops, in towing the boats off to the steamers. She reports that from appearances of natives on the north shore of Waitara, apparently lying to wait for the •teamer, Major Nelson had placed a body of men in readiness to encounter them, should they make any attempt upon her. She returned this evening. Tuesday. Nov. 13.— The Prince Alfred left at 9 this morning with' the mails. She has taken the largest mail that ha» ever been sent away from thi", there being upwards of 1200 newspapers, which is accounted for by the great demand for our Saturday's issue, containing particulars of the attack upon Mahoetahi *nd defeat of the Waikatos. — The Vasmanian Maid from Waitara this morning, brought up the Northern mailman. He reports that he met three messengers from Rewi's party at Huirangi to Waikato with the intelligence " that Waikato had fallen at Mahoetahi, and all the chiefs been killed, including five principal chiefs, of five separate tribes." These men weie men belongirg to different hapus, or tribes of VVaik ato, and one was on his way to Maketu. in the Bay of Plenty, the head-quarteis of the Ngatiwhakaue tribe, one of whose chief men had alto fallen at Mahoetahi. The mailman informed us that a party of Waikatos, who had not heaid of the defeat, were on their way to Waitnra. A gentleman writing from Upper Waikato gives it, as his opinion that any success on our pait would cause a rising amongst tke tribes. This is also our opinion, and there is no doubt that, according to native custom, they will come and avenge the deaths of their relatives where they fell.— The friendly natives at Katere, near Waiwakjiiho, have discovered that ambuscades have been laid between Bell Block and Waiongana for the purpose of cutting off uny person riding to and from Mahoetahi. Four persons rode into town from, and returned to Waitara yesterday. These gentlemen ran a great r iak, which should at least be discountenanced —We s are informed that three of Wi Kingi's party were at Mahoetahi ; one of them " little Paul," who escaped early in the action. Wednesday, Nov. 14. — A 'Gazette' was published this morning, containing a proclamation from His Honor the Superintendent, calling together the Provincial Council for Friday. — Private Lally, 65th regt., whose body was brought up from Waitara in the steamer, was buried to-day in the Roman Catholic cemetary, at 3 p.m., with military honors. The 65th band played the funeral march. — We have been informed by friendly natives that letters have been, received by Mr. Parris from Rewi, the Waikato chief, who wishes to know what will be done with the piisoners, and requests that they would send a list of the names of the Waikatos killed on the 6th instant. Thursday, Nov. 13. — The following are translations of letters received by the wounded prisoners from their at Huirangi :— Huirangi, Nov. 13, 1860. My Friend Wi One, — How do you do, and all of you in affliction (alluding to the fight at Mahoetahi.) Listen. Te Paetai, Mokau, Te Wetini, Wharangi, and Hakopa ('chief',)— the whole of you, thirty seven, are completely taken away by the Pakeha. Our sorrow is veiy great for all of you— our anguish will not soon be over. That is all. From Rewi, and all of us.

Huirangi, Not. 13, 1860. Friend Wi One and Poari, [wounded prisoners in hospital.] Hou do you do, all of you in affliction. Listen, those that have returned to us are Rairiuha, Waitere, Te Roma, and"Manihera. These are safe. Four of us [t.e. our hapu] are dead. This is all, from Tahana; P.S.— -With you is Hone who is not wounded. H M. colonial steam sloop Victoria, with her usual expedition, returned from Manukau after dusk. We have Auckland pipers to the 14th. All quiet as yet, knd the troops from hence in barracks. From privalo sources we learn that 1200 Waikato 3 were raady either to come on to Turanaki, or give trouble nearer home. Wheather unsettled and wet. F.mr sailing vessels in the oflviij, waiting fjr the weather to moderate. Friday, November 16.— The Mountain Maid fiom Sjdney, 20 days out, airived to dny, with hay for the Commissariat. — VeiseU in the rondne»d : — H.M. colonial steam sloop Victoria, brigs, Clarendon and Mountain Maid, brigantino Co-net, cutter Will Watch, and iteamor Tiwinanian Maid.