NEWS FROM THE FRONT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1053, 1 June 1869, Page 2

NEWS FROM THE FRONT.

We are indebted to the agent of the General Government for the following information : — Despatches were received at 4 p.m. on Saturday last, from Colonel Herrick, dated 26 th and 27th May. A better view of the Lake was obtained on the 24th, from the top of Panekiri Bluff. The enemy appeared to have one strong position near Tiki Tiki, and their fires could be seen round several other bights and spurs, where tbey are evidently clearing ground for cultivation. Their canoes could be plainly distinguished going to and from the pa, between the different cultivations. The distance from tbe top of tbe Panekiri Bluff, to the pa, is nofc more than 1,500 yards right across. The weather was rather cold, and the men were having a couple of days to make themselves comfortable. Ropata, the Ngatiporou chief, bad gone back in the St. Kilda, to his place, for 100 of his own picked men, as he expected the strength of the enemy and their position would require a large force. Colonel Herrick was building two large boats each capable of holding fifty men, and, with the pontoons, would be enabled to land a force of 200 men at once in the neighborhood of the pa. Ifc would take ten days or so to complete the flotilla. The St. Kilda landed the pontoons and stores at the Wairoa on Thursday and, was to proceed next morning to tbe East Coast. Colonel Whitmore left Auckland in the Sturfc on the 24th inst., for Matata, and, after giving the necessary directions for the permanent establishment of tbe Taupo line of posts, would push on to Wairoa with reinforcements for Colonel Herrick. He has been very unwell, but was slowly recovering. Tbe Sturt arrived in harbour yesterday morning, with Colonel Whitmore on board. Sbe had landed 100 men at Wangawehi, under command of Capt. Scannell, on their way to Wairoa and the front. All was quiet in Taupo. Colonel St. John was about to remove his head-quar-ters to Opepe, within a short distance of Taupo Lake.