COL. WHITMORE'S EXPEDITION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1047, 11 May 1869, Page 2

COL. WHITMORE'S EXPEDITION.

Thbough the courtesy of the General Government agent, we are in possession ofthe following-information : — Despatches were received, via Taupo. road, on Friday last, from Colonel Whitmore, dated Fort Galatea, Xaingaroa, 4fch May, of which the following is a summary. The column under Major Roberts, accompanied by Colonel Whitmorein person, were to enter the Whakatane bush from the Taupo side at daylight on the Sth. The other column, under Major St. John, entered it from the other side on the 4th. If not opposed, both columns would meet at Ruatahuna on the 7th. St. John's force consists of 280 Europeans and 160 natives ; Roberts' division, 120 Europeans and 320 natives. The men carry four days' provisions ; a small supply of bacon is being carried on " pickaus," for issue when rations are done ; after that, the troops must live on what they can catch. Horses cannot go further than Fort Galatea, which, • howev^i, w.i]l bo a post'worth something, on the line to Taupo, which is about 30 miles off. Roberts' division, under Whitmore in person, was expected to reach Ahikireru on the Gth, and to engage at that place. Some stores have been accumulated at Fort Galatea, but little or no meat. In spite of every effort, it had not then been found possible to get up sheep, bufc they were trying it. The difficulty arises from the numerous swamps, creeks, and rivers, which proved a perfect network, and rendered it necessary that the sheep should be caught and boated across continually. The steamer Clyde had been unable to come up the river, and the force hacl to trust to canoes and whale-boats. The large number of posts (each distant a day's march from the other) lessened tbe force at every step. Whitmore had opened communications with Capfc. Moorsom's troop of cavalry and St. George's friendly natives at Heruini. Fort Galatea is at a spot on the Rangitaiki river called Wairamarama. The force had been much delayed in its advance by floods, and the non-arrival of the Sturt, owing to a seven days gale. The Sturt had been directed to go with stores to Wairoa, and to proceed to any point required. Ifc was possible Col. Whitmore might reach Waikare Moana by the 9th. The country was most awfully desert, and produced nothing hardly ; and the friendly natives, who fed themselves, would leave nothing to eat behind them. The one great difficulty was to keep up supplies for auy lengthened expedition in that wild country. Te Kooti is* reported to be at Tiki Tiki, on the lake, and an attempt would be made to cut him off. Regularcommunication being now established with Colonel Whitmore by way of Taupo road, information may be expected every two or three days. The name of Lord Russell appearing in the obituary in the .telegraphic summary ] of the English news published yesterday caused no little excitement in the city, the readers at once jumping to the conclusion ] that the reference was to tho veteran po- ' liticiau who has played so distinguished a part in modern English history. It is to- j lerably obvious, however, that the refer- - ence is not to the ex-leader of the Whig party, Earl Russell. There are two other : Lords Russell, stepbrothers of the Earl, : viz., Admiral Lord Edward, C.8., born 1805, and Lieut.-Colonel Lord Charles James, Sergeant-at-Arms to the House of Commons, born 1808. It is probably one < of these noblemen whose demise is re- '■ corded. — Melbourne Daily Telegraph. Mb. H. Abmsteong, in his farewell address as late member of the Southland ' Provincial Council, says — " I hope never '' again to bear * separation' raised — it is a ' cowardly and selfish one. If our positions , were reversed, and we had the Maori to l cope with here, we should feel hurt and j aggrieved if our fellow colonists in the 1 North Island left us to struggle alone. ' Want of an increase to her population is ; telling verj' severely upon this colony ; no new blood comes in to keep up the flow of circulation, and impart a more healthy tone, physically and socially, to our . weakened constitution, and it is nofc likely i to flow in. New Zoaland will not be * favorable known as a field for emigration i until the native difficulty is overcome by i the united efforts of all classes of both is- j lands— -until ifc has been discovered that 1 the legislation and administration for some : 200,000 people does not require tho machi- i very for a thousand times that number — until Otago ceased to look upon South- > land as a rival, and Canterbury as a formidable ono ; until provincial jealousies < and selfishness die out, and our provincial J politicians work together for the common J good of tho wholo colony. |