LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1030, 13 March 1869, Page 2

LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

(From the Speoial Correspondent of the " Wanganui Herald.") Wereroa, 4th March. I mentioned in my last communication that the troops were about to re-occupy the position in the bush. About B}a,in.,8 } a,in., the proportion of the force stationed at Wereroa began to move, accompanied' by a portion of the Arawas ancP^the kupapas. The kupapas, after arriving at Papatupu, went forward to examine the road towards the Momohaki, and on arriving there returned and stated that the creek was impassible. Lieut.-Col. Herrick just arriving, then proposed to Colonel Lyon that he should move forward, so that he might be able to form his own opinion on the subject. Col.Lyon requested him to take Iso.i Division, A.C., and being at Papatupu I also, by permission of Lt.--001. Herrick, accompanied, them, . After leaving Papatupu, we ascended k steep rise, and following a spur for some distance, the track led down into a deep wooded gully. On arriving at the bottom, we immediately noticed that the whole bush had been inundated, and that in some parts the water had risen to the height of seven feet, and on the creek itself, where the force had encamped, it had risen between three and four feet. It is most unaccountable how, the wate,r could have risen to such a height, as, where it had risen highest, about a-mife from the creek, there was a deep gully within a few yards of the track. It can only be accounted for by supposing that the gully itself was overflowed, which is most improbable. It was most fortunate for the force that they retired as soon as they did; had they remained twelve hours longer they would have had to take to the trees, no high ground being in proximity to them. I have to report the arrival of Col. Whitmore at this camp, from, Wellington, accompanied by his new Bri- ' gade-Major, Captain Birch, late of a Napier corpa. It is much to be regretted thatLt.-Col. Herrick should have resigned at the present time. He has now been some time with the field force, and* is per- : fectly acquainted with the disposition of . the torces at the' several posts, and snorild.; a change be made it seem? most unfair that all the old colonial officers (who have seen so much service) should be passed over in favor of an officer whose name is totally unknown, not only to civilians, but also to most who have seen hard service in all parts of the island. Mr. Buchanan, a Government geologist, arrived here to-day. Ho is about to proceed to the mouth of the Waitotara, and is accompanied by two orderlies, one leading a pack horse to carry his specimens ; after which they will proceed to town. It is supposed that, being a Government geologist, his services will be required to find the tracks of Titokowaru, who is now totally lost. Surely a better time for the study of geology might have been chosen than the present.