WAIKATO AND UPPER THAMES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 999, 24 November 1868, Page 2

WAIKATO AND UPPER THAMES.

(From the " Southern Cross," Nov. 21.) Nothing decisive was received in Auckland yesterday from Waikato. "War has " not, so far, come upon us there, but the danger is not yet past. Telegrams were received yesterday by Dr. Pollen, of which the substance has been courteously communicated to us. The first telegram is from Mr. Searaneke, resident magistrate at Alexandra", where the news of any hostile movement would first come. Mr. Searaneke states that he saw Hetit on Thursday, who informed him that all was quiet at Tokangamutu. Reihana and party had gone back to their settlements^ Their was immense excitement amongst the Kiiig natives, beyond the aukati, in consequence of the present state of affairs, but a strong party depre-' cated any disturbance in Waikato. Ano-< ther telegram from Mr. Rogan, at Hamil-> ton, states that a number of natives from the Upper Thames and Piako had come into Waikato, but what their purpose was is not said; We have been favoured with the following telegram from a gentleman largely interested in the Waikato, who hasjeceived it from a friend at Cambridge :— "*l have' seen the native who gave the warning to* Ngatihaua, and will write you fully tonight. I will see Tana to-morrow, and send you any information that may be necessary. Ido not apprehend any danger at present." We may say, in explanation of the above telegram, that this is the first time that we have heard of a warning having been given to the Ngatihaua, and that we view the fact as very serious and alarming* . The Ngatihaua spoken of are the Queenite section of that tribe, who,- as it were, stand between the Kingites and the Europeans who are settled in the upper" district of the Horotiu. One rather re-assuring feature, however, is that the sender of the telegram, who is not an alarmist, expects to see Tana te Waharoa, who must be in" the neighbourhood, where he certainly would not be if an outbreak was imminent. Another symptom that does not look like immediate war is that, so far as we have heard, no European settler has beenwarned to leave his place in the Waikato. As to the going back of Reihana, that would seem to show that the plans were not fully ripe, or that he was deterred from carrying out his design by Tamati Ngapora, and those who wish that peace should be preserved in the Waikato. We may say that this Reihana te Whakahoehoe, of Ngatimaniapoto, lives usually at Mokau, and would be the first to hear of, and be influenced by, the victories of Titokowaru. He belongs to the runanga of Rewi, is an intelligent and active man, and will certainly take an important part . in any hostilities, if these are entered into by the Waikatos. A native arrived in town yesterday from the Upper Piako, where he haa been in communication with the Kingites. It was said at the Piako that the King was to pay a visit immediately to that district to learn what was passing, and to give instructions how to act. The natives there, however, we learn, do not expect that there will be a disturbance at present in Waikato. It will be seen, from a paragraph quoted elsewhere, from the Thames Advertiser, that a party of Hauhaus had come down, to Ohinemuri and hoisted the King flag on the polo at Rapata's settlement, where the Queen flag usually flies. This means that the Kingites are determined to hold possession of the Upper Thames, and is a very offensive defiance to Rapata and the Queenite party, who, relying upon being backed by the Europeans, have lately attempted to " bounce" a good deal. We are informed by the Arawas who came up last night in the Tauranga that it was stated there was a gathering of Kingities in the Taupo district. A letter has also, it is said, been received by the chiefs of the Arawas from the King, stating that a rising would take place in December. Opotiki, like every other place, is full of rumours of war, but no attack or disturbance has taken place. A correspondent writes as follows from Waikato : — " Perhaps you would draw the attention of the public and the Government, through your columns, to the absolute necessity of at once issuing ammunition to the militia on the Waikato.