LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 984, 3 October 1868, Page 4

LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

A TKAITOR IN THE CAMP. (From the '"Wanganui Times,' correspondent.) Camp r Waihi, Sept. 21. * In my last I informed you that Tito Kowaru had crossed the Waingongora, taken up his position at Tiaporehenui, danced the war dance, and challenged our Wanganui Natives to fight. They at once accepted the challenge, but having only 120 men, sent off instantly to Wanganui for their reinforcements, as they knew that they were there ready to start. On Friday last, to their horror and disgust, they received intelligence that Colonel Haultain had gone over to Putiki, snubbed the fighting men that were ready to start, told them that if they did go to the Front they would only get 2s 6d a day, and that the Government could do without them. When Governor Hunia Kemp and the other chiefs heard this they felt humiliated because they could not accept the challenge, and when Colonel M'Donnell and the rest of them came up from Patea the Natives were preparing to start for Wanganui. M'Donnell talked them over, but none of us knew the result until an order for attack was issued. Tito Kowaru and his men were then defiantly within easy reach of us, and although our force was numerically weak the men were all eager to be led on. M'Donnell kept all quiet until yesterday morning, when the little force mustered in fighting order, and pushed forward. On approaching the enemy's redoubt at Tiaporehenui, the natives under Kemp and Hunia skirted the bush, to cut off retreat and attack upon that side, but there was a traitor in the camp. Tito Kowaru and all his men had bolted, and all that our men could do was to go in and destroy the whares and fortifications. After their return to Waihi the order from Colonel Haultain was that the whole of the forces, Natives and Europeans, were to leave Waihi this morning ; that the whole of the outposts should be abandoned, leaving all the country beyond the Tangahoi river in the hands of the rebels, and that Manawapou and Patea were the only two posts to be defended. Before this reaches you, Waihi, Turu Turu Mokai, Middlemiss redoubt, and all the country beyond the Tangahoi river will be in the hands of the enemy. The whole of the Wangauui natives start for home to-morrow, and declare they will never again fight for the Government. Reduced as our force now is, it is impossible for us to hold Manawapou and Patea. The sooner the settlers at Patea decamp, burn down their houses, and seek shelter in Wanganui or elsewhere the better. I have just been informed by a very intelligent native that Tito Kowaru's next move is to occupy Whare Matangi's village at a place called Taranaki (?) but don't be deceived by the name. It is a strong post between the Patea and Whenuakura rivers, thus placing Patea between two fires. On the north of Patea he will have all the country north of Manawapou that we have now abandoned ; and on the south the whole tract of country lying between the Patea and Whenuakura rivers, thus surrounding Patea on north and south, and compelling the Waitotara natives in the vicinity of the Whenuakura river either to join them or leave the district. That is the reason I say that as the Patea township has been so surrounded, or will be in a few days, the lives and properties of the inhabitants can only be protected by a strong standing force, it being liable at any moment to be attacked from north and south. lam no alarmist, but as I cannot understand Col. Haultain's conduct, perhaps he may have some plan for future operations that I can't see through. At present all appears dark and gloomy. My next will be from Patea.