OPOTIKI.—SKIRMISH BETWEEN THE SETTLERS AND HAUHAUS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 919, 22 February 1868, Page 2

OPOTIKI.— SKIRMISH BETWEEN THE SETTLERS AND HAUHAUS.

[From the " Southern Cross," Feb. 13.] By the arrival, last evening, of the schooner Jane from Tauranga, we have intelligence of a skirmish, between the military settlers of Opotiki and a marauding band of Hauhaus, who have been, reported as infesting the neighbourhood for some time past. The TTreweras have been lately tkreatening a opotiki, and it is likely that their numbers have been strengthened by some of the East Coast tribes on their way back from Tokangamutu. There is some danger that the kind of attack by Hape and others on the authority of the King may have a mischievous effect, by encouraging particular tribes to take up arms, even though Tawhiao may hare decreed that there should be peace. The information was received in Tauranga by the arrival of the Colonial Government steamer Sturfc from Opotiki on Tuesday evening. The Sturt, it appears, -was bound up from Wellington, and, having occasion to put into Opotiki, gleaned the information of the attack. She came on to Tauranga, with dispatches from the Major Commanding to Mr. H. T. Clarke, Resident Magistrate of Tauranga, asking for assistance from the Arawas. The Sturt was to leave Tauranga again yesterday morning for Maketu, to get 200 Arawas, but if not successful in procuring their assistance would proceed direct to Wellington, with dispatches for the Government. It would appear from this that the Resident Magistrate and Officer Commanding at Opotiki are seriously alarmed. It is a melancholy termination of the military settlements scheme when the men are not only not able to keep their farm sections clear of the enemy, but have to get the aid of native allies to ensure the safety of the township. The skirmish is said to hay© been very short and decisive, resulting in a loss on the Hauhau side of three killed and five wounded. The only casualty among the military settlers was a bullet wound received by one of them ; but it is not expected to prove of a dangerous character. The settlers numbered about 70, all told, in command of Major St John. The Hauhaus were a band of the Urewera tribe, who have occupied the outskirts of the settlements for some time past. Our information respecting the affair is as yet rather vague, and we cannot conjecture whether it may have the effect of clearing the neighbourhood of the town.