NORTHERN NEWS.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 782, 7 November 1865, Page 2

NORTHERN NEWS.

SKIRMISHES AT TARANAKI

We take the following from the Taranaki Herald: — THE NATIVES. One day early this week, as Hemi Prora (commonly called Jem), a staunch friendly native, was out in search of wild ducks near Turiaho, about a mile from Warea, he was captured by a party of natives in ambuscade, by whom he was stripped, reviled, and dismissed with a caution but without any clothes—arriving in camp in a state which the Pai Marires would call " tu kiri kau," that is to say, with nothing to speak of but his skin. .-, Jem was attached to the 57th Regiment while it -was here, acting as guide on all occasions, at Ahuahu in particular doing good service. Since that regiment left he has attached himself to the 43rd, and was in the skirmish when Captain Close was killed, whose body (though badly wounded himself) he helped to bring away. He owed his escape this week probably, to the fact that among his captors were some from Waikato, as he is a Ngatimanipoto himself. Yesterday morning, Captain Mace, with a small party of the Mounted-,Corps, was passing a place between Warea and Hangatahua, known as the Three Hills, when he received a volley from about 30 natives lying iri ambush, wounding him slightly in the leg, and two of his force badly—W. Bullot in the neck,, and W. Oxenham in the foot. All three horses.were wounded but carried their riders to camp. Such a state of things as this is surely a disgrace to us, when a mere handful of natives, not numbering 59 in all probability, are allowed to infest our line of communication as they are now doing between Hangatahua and Opunake. Thit is no doubt in part owing to the anomalous candition of affairs created by the recent 'peace' proclamation. But if what we hear if true, this proclamation is to be at last set aside by us, as "•.veil as by the Maoris. It was reported in Wanganui that General Chute was about starting for this place to consult with Colonel Warre on a plan of operations for dealing with the natives on thi3 coast, who most certainly deserve all the punishment they will get. In lieu of

other excitement, a little arson we see is indulged in amongst our dark friends. Destruction 02" Te Ptthata by Fire. —w< bear that on Monday last a native named Tamas Watene (Thomas Watson), feeling himseli aggrieved by certain conduct of another nativt named Retimana, took a fire stick and set fire tc Retimana's whare as utu, when the fire spread to neighboring whares, and the result was the entire -village was consumed, with all the property it contained. The village stood near the junction of the Waiongana and Mangoraka. P.S.—I open my letter to state that news has just reached town of another engagement having taken place at Warea. The losses on our side were Colonel Colvi lie, badly wounded, one sergeant killed, and three privates wounded. The losses on the Maori side are not exactly known ; they were, however, seen to take away five dead bodies. The immediate cause of this action arose from an ambush having been planned by us. A party of the mounted men having been sent out as a lure ; they were returning, having seen nothing of the Maoris. It would appear, however, the Maoris saw them, and gave chase. Some of the mounted men were being pressed rather hotly, and ran into a small clump of bush for shelter, unfortunately this was the very spot selected for the ambuscade. The Maoriea fired a volley at the retreating men, which peppered clean into the centre of the ambushed party, killing and wounding the number stated. Such is the version of the affair current here.