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Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1379, 1 March 1861, Page 5

(From the News, February 7th, 1861.,) The Bouthern Natives are now occupying the ground from Allens oorner in the bush road across Mrs. Greaves farm, over Waireka hill to tho cliffs on the beach ; on Waireka hill there are 3 or 4 pahs and in that neighbourhood several others with an immense number of rifle pits. Since the Niger boat expedition every available landing place between Oraata and Tataraimaka block is said to be guarded by rifle pits and picquets placed there every night. It seems to be the general impression on the minds of some people that the boats flora the Niger were not seen by the rebels, so far fiom this being the case it is stated that the boats wers not only watched, but parties of rebels were stationed in the different gullies, on the cliffs, and as far as the river Oakura so as >to have disputed the landirig. Amongst the southern natives are about 200 Waikatos, and^theie is no doubt but that they obtain a good deal of flour from Tatanaki «outh, which is forwarded on to Waitara. Up to this time, tho southern Natives have sent out repeatedly marauding parties from their pas at Waireka, and have succeeded in driving off, or shooting cattle horses And sheep, to the estimated value of thousands of pounds, and have destroyed property by fire to an equal amount. The Omata Stockade has been attacked at long distances by them, for the purpose evidently of : keeping the garrison there well cnpjpyed while others were doing the settlers the damage we refer to, and ' strange to say not a trigger has been pulled to keep : them in check notwithstanding the pause in active ' operations at Waitara, and the large body of men under arms at this moment in the province. At no period i of the war have the limits of safety round the town 1 been so circumscribed as at present. ' Since the rebels have been located at "Waireka, they j have collected a large number of cattle and horses which ; are sent from time to time to the Ngatiruanui coun- < try. < They are living in clover at present, they have plenty 1 of potatoes which are taken from settler's cultivations ] and as much beef and mutton as they like to eat. If ] allowed to remain there much, there it no knowing what i they will do next, they now come within 4 a mile of ] Town, and as they have always stated they would make ' ap. attack on the Town, it would not be at all surprising 1 if some night we should be alarmed by yells and firing off i guns — there is no doubt the impiession on their mind is 1 that we are afraid of them. The sooner this illusion is i dispelled the better. ' i