PATEA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1081, 7 September 1869, Page 3

PATEA.

Messbngsebs to our Ahuriri natives arrived last evening from Patea, bringing intelligence up to the 4th inst. The following is the purport :— The friendlies under Hare Tauteka had erected two pahs at Roto-aira, They were garrisoned by about 60 men, 30 of whom were t.Wanganui ' natives. Knowing the Hau Haus to be in .their = vicinity, scouts were sent out to reconnoitre. The first scouting party sighted Te Kooti's party at Mapouriki, and then fell back and reported the circumstance. Mapouriki is a few miles north of Poutu. The next day another scouting party was sent out, but fell into an ambuscade and three men were taken prisoners... Through the interest of Taupo Hau Haus who have joined Te Kooti, these three men were spared, however, and got away to their friends. The Taupo Hau Haus. were invited by the three friendlies to leave Te Kooti and come over to them, but they declined, saying they had committed themselves and could not do so. ....'. Scouts were still kept out by Hare Tauteka, and they ascertained that Te Kooti's party had returned towards Moerangi. Meanwhile, Hare's party, not feeling strong enough, had retired back to Patea, at which place. they were. joined by Renata and his 60 men. Lieut.YColonel McDonnell had also arrived from Wanganui with a small additional force,, and more were expected to follow. It is believed that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell will head the movement against Te Kooti. He is eminently fitted to do so, with a force such as is now available at Taupo. From Runanga we hear that Henare Tomoana and his 120 men will leave there to-morrow for Taupo, and form a junction with the force under Colonel McDonnell. Kooti's present position is uncertain ; he may have returned again to Waikato, or he may be hanging about the shores of the Taupo Lake, in which latter case we hope Colonel McDonnell may be able to give some account of him. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell arrived in Napier last evening, but we have not heard of any later intelligence, beyond that four scouts'left at Rotoaira by Hare Tauteka are missing, and are believed to have been killed. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell returns to Patea this morning.