SUMMARY.

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

SUMMARY.

Sunday, 3rd. — The Tasmanian Maid came in this morning about a daylight. The Waitara intelligence brought by her will be found in another column. An escort for the purpose of obs>eivatioti ia orcleied for Bell Block to-morrow at half -past, 6 a.m. A private of the Goth of the name of Hughes was unfortunately diowned whilst bathing in the lagoon near the Blockhouse Bell Block.

Monday 4th.— An escort of about 200 men with supplies for the Bell Blockhouse, left the Town soon after sunrise and returned to it between 11 & 12a m. without having seen any of the enemy, two shots weie however heaul soon after the escort had ciossed the Mangaone, appaiently signalling the appioach of the foice. Tuesday sth,— The LordAsldey (s.s.), ai rived from Manukau and left for Nelson in the evening. We learn by her that the Governor has left for the Bay of Islands. Several homesteads within two miles of the Town were burned by the enemy this afternoon. Wednesday 6th. — The TasmanianAfmd went south and was boaidedby fuendly Natives, iniearofthe enemy'sr position at Waireka, it was learnt that some fifty head of cattle and hoises had been sent south this moinmg, and that some cait loads of provisions had been sent fiom Warea to the enemy's camp at Waneka where the natives appeared to be numerous. The Vietm-la left to day, foi Auckland. The Natives came witlnn a mile of the Town on the Omata roatl where they iii ed at settleis collecting cattle, the fire was returned, and it is lepoited that a shot from one of the Block-houses took fatal effect in the chest of a Native. During the night some of the men at the Henui Block-house thought they saw some Natives m the field of potatoes at Fort Stapp, and fired at them, Mr. Medlands chimney was hit, no further damage appeals to have been done. The binning of homesteads was continued by the enemy. Thuisday7th.— A stiong escort with supplies left this morning for Mahoetahi, and returned m the afternoon without seeing any of the enemy. The enemy continued to burn the homesteads on the s outh side of the Town. Camp, Huirangi, Tuesday. The base of the Huirangi redoubt was laid on Sunday, and on the same day a party was told off to cudown the detached bush to the left of the opening called the "avenue." The forest woik is always an agieeable change to the soldiers, and throughout the Sunday they worked so eageily that the ring of their axes, and the crash of the falling trees drowned all other sounds The working party was covered by the 14th and though many of the men strayed a considerable distance through the bush and even treated themselves to potatoes and other pioduce of gardens, yet the Maories so far respected the Sabbath as not to fiie a shot — though the temptation was unusually trying to them Early on Monday a detachment of the 57th — a good specimen of well-seasoned soldiers, and no stiangers to campaigning — arrived from Waitara, and occupied No. 1 redoubt — the 65th were at the same time removed to the advanced position at Hunangi The bush woik was resumed and by the willing aid of the 40th the fort was completed without the slightest opposition from the Natives. We have two mortals, a 24-pounder howitzer, and an 8-inch gun mounted. The 8-inch gun is placed on the right bastion of the redoubt opposite the avenue, and commands the Pukeiangioia pa, which stands on the breast of a hill about a mile distant. A considerable humber of Natives aie seen moving about outside the pa, and it is piobable that a messenger fiom " big Ben" will give them " notice to quit" tlnough the coiuse of the day It would be well if the Maories had amongst them some good and wise chief who would addiess himself to their common sense (if they have not lost it all) and point out the utter folly of their present pioceedings, the ruin that must follow war, and the happiness that is within their grasp if they would only embiace civilization, and submit peacefully to Bntish jurisdiction, — some chief who could descruninate between the evils attending the tomahawk and the musket, and the blessings that wait on the spade and the plough when guided by steady industry. In one such addiess he would do more real good for his country men than by a thousand war speeches, for by protiactmg the war they are but afflicting themselves with a scouige of their own making and domg an injustice to Maori prosperity. The death of James Howard 65th legt , who expired on Saturday last of wounds received on the ?3 January is a sad, incident of the fortunes of war, and tends to illustrate the instability of rank, wealth, honor, &c Intheregt Howaid was always regaided with respect and deference by his comrades, foi his bearing on all occassions woiethe stamp of supeiiorlty. But it was only a few horn's before his death that his real position became known. Feeling that life was di awing to a close he sent for the officer m charge of his company (Lieut. Urquhart) and levealedto him, among other things,, that his name was not ' 'Howaid" but one as pioud and as anstocratie. Ido not feel at liberty to state the real name, but his father is a well known Knight. Some imprudent steps, of youth induced to enlist m the lanks of the aimy, and thus he exiled himself fiom the bosom of his distinguished family under the historic name of ''Howaid." No soldier was evei moie zealous in seeking opportunities of distinguishing himself when engaged with the enemy, and his aim was, doubtless to letneve by some chivah ous deed what he lost by the thoughtlessness of youth. Had he lived lie had succeeded for he was foi emost in the onslaught of the 23id Januaiy — but unhappily his death was the puce of hisgloiy, and he who was lately so full of the pioudest hopes now sleeps m the humble but honoied grave of a private soldiei. Camp, Hunangi, Wednesday. The Maoiies have been unusually quiet m this quartei dm ing the week. Although oui woikingpaities and then coveieis go fai and wide through the bush yet the Maoiies have not made the least offensive attack. The troops have leceived oiders not to file on any Natives unless the lattei fiie fust — but thesohdieis have not been put to the test, for the Maories do not show within lange Their late defeat at No. 3 ledoubt, the advance of the tioops to the fiout edge of Hunaugi, and the consequent necessity of their seeking for themselves some moie secuie retreat, (defence being useless), may be among the causes of the present quietness of the enemy. A new pa has sprung up, farther kick than Pukeiangioia, and much neaier to the Waitaia liver. Fiom the ledoubt it is scaicely visible to the naked eye, but it maybe distinctly seen thiough a glass, and is well suirounded with bush. Om' sap has not been advanced anything the last two days — if necessary it may be safely resumed some 300 yaids in advance of the redoubt. Two of the smaller ledoubte between No. 1 and the Hunangi have been filed m, but No. 3 redoubt being an important position is still stiongly gainsoned by the 40th. The abandoned lifie pits have been all filled mby our woilung parties. The General was here this morning and inspected the woiks.