MILITARY ITEMS. ARRIVAL OF GENERAL CHUTE AND STAFF.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2682, 20 February 1866, Page 4

MILITARY ITEMS. ARRIVAL OF GENERAL CHUTE AND STAFF.

Majok-Genebai. Chute and staff, -with a considerable portion of the field force, consisting of 265 men •of the 14th Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Trevor; the Forest Bangers, under Major Yon Tempsky ; and the Maori Contingent, under Ensign MacDonnell, arrived on the return march from Taranaki, at the Patea camp, on the 6th instant. # * The whole force on nearing the camp on the right bank were met about a mile therefrom by* the band of the 18th Regiment, and which played aome stirring airs in front of the force on entering the camp. The troops afterwards crossed the river, and encamped on the left bank previous to further marching downwards for Wang&nui. Major- General Chute stopped at Manuwapu for the purpose of directing further operations with the 67th Regiment against a newly-discovered stronghold of the rebels. The noted Te TJ», the Taranaki prophet, was brought in a prisoner with the field force, having been cantured at some place near New Plymouth. He is reported to be a huge burly-looking scoundrel, and well clothed. The f nendly chief flori Kingi was in immediate charge of Te Ua. A young native female was also in custody of the friendly Maoris. Te Ua is said not to be tatooed, but is ugly enough without further additions to his visage. The General and staff arrived at Wanganui on the morning of the 10th instant, and embarked about 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 12th on board the s.s. * Ahuriri, 1 arriving at] Wellington about 5 o'clock the next morning. There were also on board the steamer a detachment (50) of the 68th Regiment, composed of men who had been serving in the Transport Corps, but were ordered to join their regiment previous to embarkation for England. On the day previous to the General's nrriral in Wellington, a largely-attended meeting of the inhabitants took place at the Odd Fellows' Hall, for the purpose of adopting an address to be presented to Major-General Chute, a« a mark of recognition on the part of the people of that city of the valuable services which he had rendered to it and the colony generally by his late campaign on the West Coast. Mr. Waring Taylor was unanimously voted to the chair. The following draft df an address was read at the meeting and adopted :— "To Major-General Chute, commanding the force* in the colony of New Zealand. " We, the undersigned settlers of the province of Wellington, New Zealand, beg to offer you our cordial congratulations on the complete and triumphant success which has attended your march from Wanganui to Taranaki, and our grateful thanks for the important services you have rendered this pro* vince and the colony at large by this movement. ' "We may be alloweoViarsaj^that the plan which you so boldly conceived, you have carried out with equal energy and courage, by penetrating the forest of New Zealand by a new and hitherto untried path; the hostile natives have at last been taught that the troops, under an able and energetic leader, can follow them wherever they may retreat, and that the bush ; will no longor afford shelter to disaffection, or allow them to offer with impunity an armed resistance to herMajeity's Government.

" By your courage and sagacityyou have in a few weeks brought to a close, on the West Coast, an expensive and ruinous war, which has lasted for some years, which has been productive of most tenons fosses to the settlers, and has entailed heavy embarrassments on the oolony, and a great expense on the mother country. We have erery reason to believe that, as a consequence of your success, the disaffeoted natives, finding any further resistance to the Government hopeless, will, by a timely submission, put an end to the disturbances that have affected the country *nd yield a willing obedience to the law; and that the oolony, by your exertions, trill enjoy the blessings o£a lasting peace." At three o'olock on the afternoon of the 14th instant, Mr. W. Waring Taylor, accompanied by his Honor Dr. Featherston and nearly all the leading merchants of Wellington, waited upon Major-General Troror Chute »t the Club-house on the beach, and presented him with An address, to which was affixed upwards of 450 signatures. The General, who received the deputation most courteously, then read the following reply : — "Gentlemen,— l thank you for the cordial reception accorded me on my arrival in Wellington. " I am happy to find that the successes of the troops under my command are such as to lead you to anticipate important results. The difficulties encountered were rendered comparatively easy by the assistance I received from all around me, and to the gallantry and endurance of her Majesty's troops, colonial forces, and native allies I am indebted for the success on which you now congratulate me. "I take this public opportunity of expressing my grateful sense of the services rendered to me by his Honor Dr. Featherston, Superintendent of your province, who accompanied me throughout the whole of the campaign. "T. Chute, Major-General. "Wellington, February 14, 1866." On the succeeding evening, at seven o'clock, a banquet to the General was given in the hall of the House of Representatives. A large number of persons were present, including the chief citizens of Wellington. The purveying department was entrusted to Mr. Peter Laing and Mr. Osgood. General Chute and staff embarked on the * Ahuriri about 12 o'plock on the night of the 15th, and arrived at Napier about 5 a.m., on the 17th. Stayed for three hours whilst communication was held with the officer commanding troops, and left at 8 o'clock, arriving at Tauranga about 9 o'clock on Sunday evening, the 18th. After a brief stay at Tauranga, steam was again got up, and arrived here about 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The following were ' the passengers: — Major-General Chute; Colonel Carey, C.8., D.A.A.G.; LieutenantColonel Gamble, D.Q.M.G. ; Major Pitt, Military Secretary; Deputy-Inspector-General of Hospitals Gibb ; Dr. Manley ; Dr. Bostock, District Inspector of Musketry; Lieutenants Marshall and Burke, 08th Regiment ; four staff clerks, eight staff soldiers, and about 50 men of the 68th Regiment, who embarked on board the vessel at Wanganui. The 'Ladybird* was at anchor at Napier when the ' Ahuriri left, having been chartered to take 150 men of the 12th Regiment to Taurauga, for the purpose of relieving the same number of the 68th Regiment, who are to be brought on to Auckland for embarkation for England. The 43rd hare been placed under orders for England; and it is stated that unless a contingency arises whioh at cannot be foreseen, the 40th will be placed under orders for embarkation iv May. Only one battery of artillery will be left in the oolony ; and the Military Train are to be likewise sent home. The 50th Regiment goes to Taranaki to relieve the 43rd; and the 14th and 18th remain at Wanganui for the present.