LATEST WAR NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 687, 31 May 1869, Page 2

LATEST WAR NEWS.

We have been favored by the agent for the General Government with the following information : THE WAIKARIMOANA EXPEDITION. Despatches were received at 4 p.m. on Saturday last, from Colonel Herrick, dared 26th and 27th May. A better -view was obtained on the 24th of the Lake 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 they 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 the top of the Panekiri Bluff, to the pa is not more than 1,500 yards right across. The wea ther was rather cold and the men were having a couple of days co make themselves comfortable. Ropata, the Ngatiporou chief, had gone back in the St. Kilda, to his place for 100 more 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. It 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 the East Coast. Colonel Whitmore left Auckland in the Sturt on the 24th inst., for Matata, and, after giving the necessary directions for the permanent establishment of the Taupo line of posts, would push on to Wairoa with some reinforcements for Colonel Herrick. He ought to be at Wairoa by this time. He had been very unwell, but was slowly recovering. [Since the above was in type, the p.s. Sturt has arrived, with, we believe, Colonel Whit more on board.] TAUPO. All was quiet in Taopo. Colonel St. John was about to remove headquarters to Apepe within a short distance of Taupo Lake. WEST COAST. Three Ngatiporou chiefs, serving with the contingent on the West Coast, proceeded by the St Kilda to Opotiki to take a reinforcement of their tribe to assist in the pursuit of Titokowaru, whose whereabouts were pietty well known and who was being deserted by his men.