AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 172, 29 April 1864, Page 4

AUCKLAND.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (From the Weekly News, April 23.) The negotiations for peace carried on with the enemy by William Naylor, have utterly failed ; the rebels have evacuated the pah at Porewa ; and the scene of war has changed from the banks of the Horatiu to to the vicinity of Tauranga, on the East Coast. All the items of news show that the rebels in the field are as little inclined for peace as ever, and that they listened to Naylor only that they might relieve themselves of encumbrance and evacuate Porewa unmolested. On Monday, the 11th inst. fifteen rebel Maoris came into our camp at Pukerimu, surrendered their arms, and professed allegiance to the Queen. They remained all that day and during Monday night at our camp, being plentifully supplied with victuals by our commissariat. They acceded with great readiness to a proposal that they should return and bring in their countrymen, and on Tuesday left for Porewa, little doubt being felt in our camp that at least half the rebel array would return with them to give in their submission. On Wednesday afternoon, when it was expected that the grand surrender was to take place which was to give peace to New Zealand, our camp was all excitement. At length some of the ambassadors returned, and told that the main body of the rebels were coming down the river in boats, and sure enough 15 canoes soon arrived opposite the camp But to the intense disgust of our soldiers, instead of the heroes of Rangiriri and Orakau a long array of decrcpid old men, and women and children, filed from the boats, bringing with them pots, kettles, and even the firewood to cook the victuals they confidently expected from our commissariat, mats, clothes, tame birds, puppy dogs, &c., &c., while the Maori army, having thus easily got rid of its most serious impedimenta, leisurely decamped from Porewa, and a reconnoitring party could just sec the rearguard driving some cattle over the ranges, it was supposed, to Tauranga. This movement necessitated an immediate change in our operations. His Excellency the Governor, who had gone up to the Front when there seemed a chance of Naylor’s embassy being successful, immediately returned to Auckland, with General Cameron and his staff, where they arrived on Sunday morning last. Just when the news was received of the change of affairs in Waikato by the departure of the Maoris from Porewa, the : Sandfly,’ which arrived in Auckland from Tauranga on Sunday last, brought intelligence that the hostile natives in that quarter had been strongly reinforced, and everything seems to indicate that the Waikatos marched direct from Porewa to Tauranga. The ‘ Sandfly ’ loft on Saturday morning, and during the previous night the natives had thrown up a large earthwork within two miles of where our troops were encamped, in addition to several fortifications which they have been working at lately. It was reported that William Thompson was in the chief pah, and' as it was evident that the rebels were in strong’force, it was thought proper to wait till more troops were brought from Auckland before an attack was made—indeed the natives threatened to attack us. Col. Greer, in command at Tauranga, despatched the ‘Sandfly’ to Auckland, with the news of the

state of affairs, and asking for reinforcements. No time seema to have been lost by the authorities in despatching aid; for on Monday evening the ‘ Sandfly’ returned to Tauranga with the whole of the marines and a number of blue-jacketa from H.M.B. ‘Falcon’ and ‘Ouragoa’ in the harbour, and a detachment marched over from Onehunga during the day, from the ‘Harrier’ and*Eclipse.’ These, with some soldiers of the 43rd Regiment, made up a force of nearly 200 men. On Wednesday, General Cameron, Major M’Neil, Major Pitt, and Lieut. St. Hill sailed from Auckland for Tauranga in the ‘Esk.’ A number of troops were also taken by the same vessel—the moveable column, 200 strong, composed of drafts from various regiments, and 115 men of the 43rd Regt. A few hours after the ‘ Esk ’ had sailed, the • Falcon ’ left the harbour for the same destination, with 246 men of the 68th Regt., and several officers. The‘Falcon’also took 3 61b. Armstrong guns and 6 cohorn mortars, with artillerymen. The ‘Harrier’ is expected hourly from Onehunga, when she will embark a large number of troops who are now in readiness. There is no doubt therefore that the rebels, in their new position, will shortly be confronted by an irresistable force, led by General Cameron, while our troops in Waikato may be usefully employed in strengthening their hold on the country ; and, by making roads and clearing bush, preparing the land for settlement and cultivation. And at least one lesson has been thoroughly taught us by the unsuccessful result of the late negociations—that we must fight on till the Maoris, unasked by us, offer to yield. It was true that Naylor was not authorised to treat with the rebels as an emissary sent from the Government, but he could not fail to be regarded as such, as he had just had interviews with the Governor, and during the negotiations lived at our camp. The natives are evidently unsubdued ; they have merely changed the fighting ground from Waikato to Tauranga. News from the East Coast is anxiously expected in Auckland, but up to our going to press none had been received later than that brought by the ‘ Sandfly.’ A letter in our latest war news from Te Awarautu contains some important intelligence, a message having been received from Rewi intimating that the Ngatimaniapotos were willing to surrender.