THE FRONT.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2020, 6 January 1864, Page 3

THE FRONT.

Important movements are now going on attlic Front, and it is not at all improbable that before long the public mind, which has enjoyed a somewhat lengthened repose, will be startled by an account of another engagement with the rebels. It may, or may not, be another Kangiriri — that will depend upon the strength of the native position, of which we have few particulars as yet ; but it is seen from the General's camp, a short distance beyond Whata Whata, whither the troops have been moved on account of the ground being more open. This advanced position is only a mile or two, we believe, beyond Whata Wliata. Judging from information we have received, there would appear to be no doubt that the rebels — the Ngatiinaniapotos — intend to make a stand. Reinforcements, it is said, have gone up to them from Waikato, and the rebels, it is stated, have not _ only one, but several formidable positions, which, if not equal, vie in strength, with that of Rangiriri. The JSTgatimaniapotos would probably think prudence the better part of valor were it not that they find themselves so closely pressed by the General, who, with" the troops which have moved forward recently, must now have nearly two thousand men. at his disposal, exclusive of the Eaglan force, who are occupying the road from Raglan towards the, general's position. This latter, as will be seen elsewhere, will be augmented by 400 men of the 50th, who left the Manukau in the ' Alexandra' yesterday morning early. WhatTvill be the result of all this, time of course can only reveal, but there is every reason to believe, as we have said, that the General is on the eve of another engagement with the rebels)* which will perhaps, and which we earnestly hope will be still more decisive in crushing the rebellion. The following letter, which has been forwarded to us for publication, will describe more in detail the movements we have referred to : —

Witukaramea, January 2. The Geneiol and forces, consisting of detachments of the 65th and 40th Regiments, left Ngaruawahia.*at 6 a.m. on the 28th December, being relieved by 180 men of the 12th Regiment. Anived at Whata AVhata, distant 13 miles, at 3"«S0 p.m. same day. Left Whatft What* on the morning of the Ist' of January, and arrived »t the camp as above »<< nine o'clock ».m, this

day. The reason the general left What* What* wm that there was too much bush around the camp, and 300 men were oii duty 1 night and day in the bush. The place where we are now is a level bit of ground for camping upon. The 12th arrived here the »arne day ; the force out here now being 800 strong. The marching here was Tery hard work. Whata What* is 8 miles from Ngaruawahia, bat the men had to march 18 mile» before _ they got there— over hills, round swamps, across rivers, and back almost to the place we left, or nearly so, without a halt. I now learn that this place is 1 0 miles fromKagkn and 17 from the rebel position. The General and staff saw it by the aid of a glass from the camp. The forces at present stationed at Raglan are to be in the rear, and will furnish the guns, iw they have better conveyance for them than we have. The little steamer ' Avon ' accompanied the force up the river. The stream becomes narrower (though I believe deeper) the further we go up; and I think the 'Pioneer' might come up — but she would never turn to go down by the river again. She is at the present time of little, if any use to the force. TVe have heard that she is broken down again — something wrong with, her engine. The strength of the Baglan forces is to be augmented to 1,000 men.