TAURANGA. TE KOOTI SAID TO BE AT OROPI. MILITARY RIOT AT THE GATE PA.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3752, 28 July 1869, Page 5

TAURANGA. TE KOOTI SAID TO BE AT OROPI. MILITARY RIOT AT THE GATE PA.

MR. MACKA.Y REQUESTED TO STAND FOR THE SUPERINTENDENCY. (FEO3C OUR OWN COBBESPONDENT.) Taur,\nga, July 26. Natiyes assert positively that Te Kooti i8 now at Oropi, a village about twelve milea distant from Te Papa. This statement is not believed by the authorities here; nevertheless all necessary precautions aro taken, and all the available eavaliy are out nightly on picquet duty. These, with non-commissioned officers, number about 6fteen, and they have no sinexsure duty. They are certainly a most useful arm of the Rervic* 3 , and every one feels that on their vigilance and activity, the safety probably of the settle ment depends, and they are certainly deserving of honourable mention for the cheerfulness and alacrity trith which thir duties are performed. On the nitdit of, or rather the morning following, Friday, July 24, which was j>ay-d»y, a Tery serious not took place amongst the detachment of militia garrisoning the Gate Pa Kodoubt. The primary cause appears to have been intoxication, but, altercations arising on the subject of nationalities, English and Irish, a general rnSilee ensued, men drew their side-arms, some fixed bayonets, and there is little doubt that murder would hare been committed but for the strenuous and praiseworthy endeavours of a few who wore fortunately sober, and courageously snatched the weapons out of the hands of the combatants, at great risk to themselves. As far as I can learn, the following individuals distinguished themselves by active exerfonsto prevent what would otherwise have proved a sanguinary strife ; — Privates Earl, Nicholson, George, Reeves, Whi taker, Phillips, Robinson, Edmonds, Lee, and Byrne. The officer in command (Lieutenant ilallowen) was uu* able to control the insurrection, which about one o'clock in the morning had reached a ver3 formidable height, and had it not been for the courageous few who, stationed within the gate of the Redoubt seized and disarmed the mutineers as tr^ey entered fatal results might have occurred. The transaction was repoi^d to Colonel Haring* ton the following day, an^ uo rode out at once, and discharged the whole d^caehinent, officer and all. On Saturday night the cavalry did garrison duty m their place, having been withdrawn from the picqaeta for that purpose. On >Sun^ rty> July 25, a parade was 'held in the Monmo^tb Kcdoubt, when Colonel Harington comloen uG( i ()U the proceedm m of Friday night, -saying * with the exception of the few who exeiti-ct themselves to quell the disturbance, he would strike the whole detachment off pay, and they should •aiever be restored to the roll as long as he commanded i)m district. The situation of all'.iiisi on that eventful night •would have afforded a line opportunity for To Kooti, if be had known, for he could haveeaßily have settled the dispute by adding a tbird element, and could "have made easy converts to Hauhauism by me.ins of the tomnhawk. After that, the outside portion of the settlement "would have been almost at his mercy, for the picqnetn would have had to reliie, and every dwelling beyond the town might have leen burnt/. Oolonol Hariugion returned on Friday by the r St, Kilda from Wellington via Napier. The day following his return the following notice was published :—: —

"NOTICE. " Ali militiamen of this district who wish to be placed on the roster to go on pay after the 31bt July, mu<<t s*-nd in their names to tho orderly-room by 10 a.m. on the 25th iust. "A newroiter will be m ado out on that d.iy detailing men who will commence duty on the Ist August. "All previous arrangements will be abolished, and a new sjstsoi instituted

"Philip Haiungton, "Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Bay of " Plenty District. "Tnurangn, 23id July, 1869." It is intended that hereafter the militia on pay shall be more Btrictly soldiers than heretofore. They will be compelled to wear uniform, undergo drill, and devote mote of their time than heretofore to military duKe°, and become more like the militiamen of the old Waikato re^itnente. I understand it is the Colonel's intention to lecall all the foices from the out]io*t3 — For is Clarke, Galatea, and Alfred — to garrison positions on the coast line, viz , Opotiki, Whaltatane, Matata, Maketu, find Tauranga, and aftei wards act strictly on the defensive. "Pai's Pa block house is to be leoecupied by a detachment of Armed Constabulary, and I understand redoubts will be thrown up at both Europe and Kaiunai to protect the confiscated lands, and cover the approaches to Tauranqa. These will be similarly occupied. The following requisition to Mr. Mackay to allow himself to be placed in nomination for the office of LSuperintendont is in course of signature heie :— "Tamanga, July 24 1869. "To James Mackay, Esq , Civil Commissioner, Ac. 'Sir,— We, the undersigned eleotoiN of the district of Franklin, residing in Tauranga, now on the eve of an eleotion of a gent)eman to the important and responsible office of Superintendent, take leave to respectfully request you to permit yourself, to bo nominated aa a candidate, w We are aware that the multifarious duties which at present preßS on' your time and attention may induce you to heaitato before acceding to such a request, bub we think that reasons exist, exceptional in themselves, but of Bufficieut magnitude to overpower any objections which you can enterttxin. • ( 'J he famous Thames goldfields, opened mainly through your instrumentality, are only now beginning to oocvince the world of their surpassing richnes", and speedily will contain a population Unexampled in any other part of the world, which population willintroduce featuresof conduct for which we are possibly not prepared, and therefore a legislation for them will be required the most careful ftnd independent that can be obtaiued. "We have attentively watched your career, and admired the skill and tact of your diplomacy, and the firm and munly independence of your attitude in dealing with the native race. We look around in Vain amongst candidates already in the field for a combination of all these qualities, which we ftol Confident you possess. *' We need not remind you of the enormous capabilities and immense importance of our own beauti« ful district of Tauranga. ♦'Perhaps the second best harbour on the coast, with an almost; incredible area of water frontage, a fine back country known in places to be auriferous, and destined ultimately to beoonie the seaport of the Thames diggings, bub temporarily depressed through a combination of circumstances, some or most of which might have been avoided by judicious legislation, — this district stands in need of a representative man, acquainted with it« capabilities and requirements ; and such an individual we firmly believe you to be. "We therefore earnestly entreat you not to overlook our position, not to forget that events are rapidly foreshadowing the development of a chain of goldfielda between this place and Hanraki, such as has not been before ; that Tauranga is at present only occupied by a small population, its progress retarded by difficulties with the native race, and therefore in especial need of a governing head, to whom the native queation is familiar. <* In our recent and present sufferings the prospect of securing oue so qualified as yourself to become th chief magistrate of the province has afforded us a ray of hope, and we sincerely trust that you wilJ not extinguish that hope by declining to become a can. didate for that office. Mln the ©vent of your ooruentiog to stand, we pledge ourselves to give your our unanimous and j^ost cordial support, — We are, &a." (Hera follow many signatures,)

(FEOM OVJI OWN COBEESPONDENT.) July 26. The steamer 'Lady Bowen arrived from Auckland on Friday evening, having left on the Tuesday previous, and being compelled through stress of vreather to put baok twice. She brought the Rev, Mr. Morris as a passenger, I bad something ready to send by h«r, but she went too early in the mom^ ing, like those things that come like ehadowe, co depart. The ' St. Kilda arrived yesterday morning, hay. ing Dr. Pollen, General (government Agent, among her passengers. She leaves in a few minutes for Auckland.

Some of the monster shops in Paris are erecting "lifts," to bring up thoir customers to the warerooma overhead. The [lift* will be exquisitely furnished, and musical boxes will disoourse posbibly, "Such a getting upstairs." A fashionable lady Las just been ent her bill by one of these houses— amount, £2,500, with item for c*ke *ud m*deir», £200,