AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XX, Issue 1129, 5 September 1863, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

[from ot;r own correspondent.] August 24, 1863. events of the l»ist fortnight have not, even in Ih j 3 warlike province, been of a highly sensation character. This is traceable to three causes: the weather, the natives, and the want of troops. The last fortnight lias been almost the only real piece of winter weather proper that we have had this season. }j V this Ido not mean that no rain has fallen, but as a rule it fell at night, and did not disturb the day's in any material degree beyond its mementos of mud and discomfort. The last fortnight has been true winter, with floods of rain, cold winds, and gales of all sorts, sizes, and degrees of (lisagreeability —the worst weather, in short, for military movements. Something—indeed a great deal —has been done, however, for every corps is full of spirit, and difficulties dont produce much effect on such staunch British men as both soldiers and civilians have been proving themselves during the last month. Nothing, by the by, could be more gratifying than the spirit of friendliness which exists universally between the regular and irregular

troops here, each vying with the other in doing the trreatest amount of hard work, and bearing hardships -with patience and good temper. Nothing has been wanting but enemies, or we should have had plenty of lighting during the past week. The natives have, however, disappeared entirely from the great wooded ranges of the Hunua and Wairoa, both which places were infested by them in great force a fortnight ago. It is not certainly known where they are, although from the appearance of unity in action which has throughout characterised their proceedings, it seems probable that they have been called in to bear a part in the first great stand against Pakeha aggression in the almost sacred district of Waikato. That the ranges are quite deserted is evident from the fact that although various bodies of Rifle Rangers and others have scoured the bush in all directions, coming upon the encampments and huts of the Maoris in several places, not a native was discovered nor any traces of their very recent presence.

Had we at this moment but 2000 diggers who might be moved forward through this forest belt, we should effectually cut off the natives from reoccupying it, and so threatening Auckland with attack. I suppose, however, we must be content to wait a bit for these men, who will certainly be a treasure to the colony if they prove of the right sort. The great event of the month—possibly the beginning of the great event of the war, and therefore of New Zealand's early history—has been the determined stand taken by the Waikato natives at a place marked in the' Southern Cross' maps of the seat of war as Meremere on the northern bank of the river. The position has been admirably chosen by the natives, and they evidently mean to hold it with gTeat obstinacy, as they are collecting there all the flower of their tribes, and have already got both Eewi and Thompson I believe on the spot. The object was evidently to stop the profane and threatening navigation of the Waikato by the Avon in the first place, and, as they no doubt shrewdly and justly conjectured, by the General's flat-bottomed tow boats full of soldiers, in the second. The first, of course, any quantity of rifles was powerless to effect; but the second was entirely successful, as it would be madness to expose our brave soldiers for half a mile's row to the fire of some fifteen hundred or two thousand muskets backed by several carronades which are in position on the low bank. This number of natives, there can exist but little doubt now, are assembled at Meremere, and they could not have chosen a better place in the whole Waikato country for their purpose of offering "battle on something like equal terms to the troops. From the nature of the banks there is but one landing place, of smalt width; and as the whole of the flanks and rear are covered by extensive swamps and katukatu or white pine woods, which abound in swampy ground, it is most difficult, if not absolutely impossible, to approach them by any way bit the front. It was supposed, indeed, that no cannon could be brought to bear on the position, with the exception of one or two that might be shipped on board the Avon for the special service. The General, however, found a way out of the difficulty by moving about 500 of the 14th men from Koheroa one night, and taking up a very fine position on the very nearest point of good sound soil, on the westward or Auckland side of the Maramarua creek. Here he has thrown up a,n excellent redoubt where Armstrong cannons will command the enemy's position in reverse, and doubtless will greatly tend to disturb them when the time for action arives. That time is not to be long delayed if I may judge by the various movements about being made by the General or under his orders. All our first class Militia and the Volunteers are to be marched to the front, i.e., to take up the positions from Papakura to Pokeno, and even across the Mangatawhiri creek, within a very few days. This will relieve about 700 or 800 soldiers, and so swell the moveable force to from 1200 to 1400 men. With this he will at once attack by water; and, although not I fear without a loss more heavy than any yet experienced in New Zealand by our troops, will take the position by assault, landing his men from the fiat boats, which are now all on the river in good order. Many of the civilian soldiers long to be at the very front; but I can't tell how far the General may go in granting their wishes in this matter; if he does I believe they will fight well—none better indeed. We much require the presence of the troops now idle in Australia, which number nearly 1200 men. Had the General but these as a reinforcement he would be able to strike blow on blow, and, 1 teei sure, compel a peace on our own terms before the end of summer from the Waikato. tribes; it would then be easy for us to deal with the Taranakis, &c The conduct of the Tasmaman Government both deserves and has our sincere gratitude, coming as it does so markedly into contrast with the conduct ot the Sydney authorities, who will only give up the troops who are there when they receive the mandate of the General —not, I should fancy, a very mild one -to send what they refused Jo Sir George Greys solicitations. Of the Victorians we expect better things, and we cannot but look forward with some impatience for the arrival of the men stationed there to the number of some five hundred. In Auckland, some persons, represented by the ! New Zealander' newspaper, have, with some success, created a panic amongst the women and children ot the place, by the most direful forebodings as tothe possible attack upon the city by natives in the night. That such a thing is possible cannot be demed, but m every precaution has been taken that can reasonably be expected, it is both unwise, and nmanly, J® tinue the strain of terror as these persons have> &>ne Colonel Carey, of the 18th regt., who now commands all the in-districts, as we may term them, taken great pains to place matters on a good footing, and on Thursday last citizens to be alarmed by the concerted sigml at about three o'clock in the afternoon- therewas most gratifying; fifteen hundred meni abouts were armed and at their p _ rendezvous in less than a quarter of an ho > gallant Colonel expressed himself perfectly satisfied. It is remarkable how. »hort a time ? erve .® Englishmen soldiers in all but the P l !* 6^ less is not of course so lively as usual in , there is no great depression and confidence in ttos future is stronger than ever; if the war is . one, it will be the greatest blessing that this could have desired after all. It is a ; rer ° fret that amid all the excitement of the war, one Sfc es dozens of natives in town day by day buying and selling—many of them more than suspected ot Unfriendliness, and yet not a case has occurred insult or injury being offered to one of these men. whatever it may say for the , s Peak 8 volumes, I think, for the orderliness and love of justice in our citizens.