LATEST FROM TAUPO.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1097, 2 November 1869, Page 2

LATEST FROM TAUPO.

On Saturday last despatches reached the General Government Agent from Lieut. Colonel McDonnell — received by electric telegraph from Haroto. Their substance is that Lieut. Colonel McDonnell and the forces under his commnnd, returned to To* kano on the 27th inst., haying been five days in the bush, hunting for Te Kooti, without having been able to find him. The weather had been dreadful — rain having fallen in a constant pour from the time the forces started until they returned to camp. The men are said to have been much worn out by their harassing march, which was over a country unequalled even in New Zealand for roughness and difficulty. In pursuance of instructions sent up by Mr. Ormond, Lieut. -Colonel M'DonneU, on the return of the expedition, thanked the Hawke's Bay natives for their services, and sent them back to their homes. This ftep was rendered necessary, in the first place, by the impossibility of supplying so large a force with food ; and, now that Waikato has, decided to leave Te Kooti to his fate, there is sufficient force, without the Ngatikahungunus, to deal with him. A prisoner was taken by our forces during their late search after Te Kooti. His name is Tawhana, a son of Kangihiroa, formerly well known in this province and who was killed at Petane by the party under Major Fraser. Tawhana was one of the prisoners sent to the Chatham Islands, and of those who returned with Te Kooti. He is believed to have been one of the chief participators in the dark deeds subsequently committed. He is on his way to Napier in charge of Renata, and may be expected in a day or two. Renata and his men are returning by way of Patea, having left Taupo on the 27th. Henare Tomoana and the remainder of the Hawke's Bay natives are also on their way back, by the Taupo road. The chief Te Heu Heu accompanies Henare, he having been sent for by the Government. Since he surrendered Te Heu Heu has shewn every desire to assist in operations against the enemy, and has evinced his sincerity by giving valuable information to the Government on many subjects. We understand it is the desire of the Government to deal leniently with this chief, whose defection was almost forced upon him by the power of Te Kooti, particularly as, through his means, much may be done to secure the good-will of the Taupo natives in the future. Lieut. Colonel McDonnell accompanied as far as Runanga the party that were escorting Te Heu Heu to Napier, when, having communicated with Mr. Ormond, through Haroto, he returned to Tokano, with the intention of immediately having another hunt after Te Kooti. Prom the capture of Tawhana it is evident the enemy is not far off, and Colonel McDonnell believes he knows where to find him. In such a country, however, as Te Kooti is now hiding in, it is impossible to be certain of success, although every exertion is being made to give an account of him. The weather has been much against our forces. Heavy and continued rain makes campaigning anything but pleasant, and, in such a country, must enormously increase the difficulty of operations. Living comfortably and securely in Napier, we are apt to become impatient for continued successes, without making fair allowance for the unprecedented physical difficulties to be encountered in such a country as that in the neighbourhood of Tongariro, or the great distance from the base of supplies at which the forces are now operating. Great services, notwithstanding, have already been rendered to the colony by the Taupo expedition, and we have no doubt they will speedily achieve further and final successes. Meanwhile we wish the gallant band every good fortune in the difficult task upon which it is now engaged.