WHAKATANE.—THE LATE EXPEDITION. Camp Poionui, May 3.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3400, 9 June 1868, Page 3

WHAKATANE.— THE LATE EXPEDITION. Camp Poionui, May 3.

News to hand yesterday, an expedition started from Whakatane comprising the following corps (under Majors St. John and Fraser) — Hawke's Bay Division Armed Mounted Constabulary, the Opotiki Militia, the Bay of Plenty Volunteer Cavalry, and the Auckland Volunteer Engineers. The march was effected by 8 a.m. crossing the Whakatane plums and reaching the rebel pa Ruatohi the fame day. Owing to the swollen atate of the Whakatane river, the troops iwere delayed in crossing. When the Commissariat escort left the front yesterday, the troops were employed in constructing a raft to ferry them over. The rebels, who within the last week have been within six miles of our camp, have been defeated in a skirmish with the friendlies (when in search of missing horses) with the folldwing loss: Two Haubaus killed, and one wounded ; friendlies, one wounded only, four others taken prisoner.", but who by great tact escaped the same day that they were captured. It would appear, from information received from a reconnoitring party despatched under command of, Captain Richardson, that the rebels were impressed with the belief that we were not constantly on the look out for theml as sufficient food had been conveyed by them to Puketi [the site of the proposed blookhouse] to last for some few days. Whether it was their intention to attack our road party who are at work daily on tbenew road to Puketi, or not,lc»nnot pretend to say. From the front we learn the expedition will move forward until either bad weather sets in,- or their supplies are finished. The troops anticipate fetching a rebel kainga to-day, daid to be planted with potatoes, Ac, &c No doubt they have already been dbliged'to consume the rebel horses, of which 1 there are said to be plenty. The camp Poionui [the head-quarters of the' Constabulary], from which I am writing, is in charge of Captain .Richardson, with sufficient men of the Constabulary and a few Engineers to hold' it in case of attack by the rebels. To-nighfc, Sunday, I feel for my brothers in arms, as it is raining steadily, with every prospect of a continuance, and we hive .the advantage of canvas over us, which'they have not. I trust the expedition will fall across the enemy, but, person ally, I fear- the rebels \rillnot stand aa attack, —HEkritßT Sgoi»r.— -Tawrantfa Record! ■' ' '