IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1409, 6 June 1865, Page 5

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

SUBMISSION OF WILLIAM THOMPSON AND OTHER INFLUENTIAL CHIEFS.

By the arrival of the gunboat Sandfly, Captain Fox, from Taranaki, the Ministry have

received important dispatcher, o( which the

contents briefly state that telegrams have been receive! (27th May) at Auckland from Brigadier General Carey, C.8., Mr. Main-

waring K.M., and Mr. G. Graham, M.H.R., to the effect that William Thompson, Matutaera, "The Maori King," and other influential chiefs of the King party, had signed the declaration of allegiance and submission. The Hon. Major Atkinson, Minister for Colonial Defence, had left Taranaki for Auckland.

Fight with the Natives at Opotiki. —H.M. s. Eclipse arrived in harbour yesterday, at noon, from a cruise on the East Coast, whither she had been dispatched to attempt the capture of the murderers of Mr. Volkner, and ascertain whether it was true* as reported, that Kereopa had been taken, and was being kept a prisoner at Opotiki. We regret to say that the Eclipse has not been successful in capturing anv one concerned in the murder at Opotfki, and it would seem that Kereopa is not there at all. The result of the cruise shows most indubitably that the natives at Opotiki are still wholly under the influence of the Pai Mariie faith, and are not inclined to return to friendly relations with us by giving up, or driving from amongst them, the emissaries of TeUa.. The Eclipse sailed from Auckland on Friday, the 19th instant, having on board Mr. Fulloon, Government interpreter, and the native Tiwai, who is so well known in connection with the affair at Opotiki. The vessel arrived off' the Whakatane Point on Saturday morning, where communications were entered into with the Ngatiawa there. Early on Sunday morning the Eclipse sailed for Opotiki, where she arrived at eight o'clock the same morning. There was naturally some hesitation felt about going ashore, but Tiwai, seeing some men on the beach who displayed a white flag, expressed \m willingness to venture, and having been put ashore, went up to the settlement. He returned in the afternoon. Shortly after midnight, Captain Fremantle ordered four boats to be manned, with the design of landing, surprising the natives, and capturing some $ of the murderers of Mr. Volkner, who, it had been ascertained, were living there. The boats contained in all forty-seven men and twelve officers, under the command of Captain Fremantle in person. It is said that the beach was made, and the men landed without the Maoris discovering them ; but however that may be, the attempt to surprise proved a failure. Very likely the natives suspected the possibility of such an event, and were on the alert; for the party, soon after landing, found, not only that they were discovered, but that they were to be opposed. Of course it was at once seen that the object of the expedition was frustrated, and an immediate retreat was begun. Indeed, there was some risk that the men would be cut off from the boats, it being found that an ambush was laid for this purpose. The Maoris opened a brisk fire, but fortunately with little effect — only one casualty having occurred amongst our men, —a corporal of marines received a gunshot wound in the arm. It is stated that two Maoris were killed by the fire of the Eclipse's men, one of them being a chief called Hakarariki. With the exception mentioned above, the retreat to the boats was safely effected. It being evident that nothing more could be done at Opotiki, the Eclipse weighed anchor for Te Kaha, where she Jay till Tuesday morning, at eight o'clock. From Te Kaha she went to a place called Waihou, where Captain Fremantle and Lieutenant Boughay landed, and had an interview with the famous Patara. Leaving Waihou on Wednesday •morning, the Eclipse went to Oinaio, where Wiremu Kingi came on board and informed Captain Fremantle that Ephraim, the half-caste, who put the rope round Mr. Volkner's neck, was in the neighbourhood. It was resolved to attempt his capture by surprise in another way from that adopted at Opotiki, but uufortunately it had no better result. Tiwai and two of the ship's boys went ashore, the boys beiug clothed with blankets to disguise them as Maoris. A short time after they had gone ashore, a shot was heard, and Captain Fremantle landed with some men to give aid. They found that Ephraim had been captured by Tiwai and his assistants, but bad managed to get away again. While being dragged down to the beach, Ephraim made a sudden effort, and shook off his captors. One of the lads immediately fired his pistol at him, but missed, and Ephraim avoided any further shots by darting in amongst a crowd of women. The Eclipse then went back to Te Kaha, which she left for Auckland on Thursday. Some stay was made at White Island, where many of the officers landed.— Southern Gross, Mav 27. I H.M.S. Sandfly, Capt. Fox, which arrived here this morning, at eleven o'clock, left Manakau on the 2Gth May, with a company of the Colonial Defence Force on board, and arrived at Waikato the same day. Left Waikato on the 27th for Taranaki, where she arrived on the 2Sth, and transhipped the men of the Defence Force into the Ahuriri, for conveyance to Wanganui. After shipping some commissariat stores and a number of military settlers, proceeded to Opuuakai, arriving there on the 29th, and landing passengers and cargo. The Sandfly then left for this port. Captain Fox reports experiencing heavy weather from the time of leaving Manakau.— Wellington Evening Post, May 31. Eetukn or the Troops.—Yesterday a considerable number of the troops arrived from the front, having marched from Alexander's Farm Camp. They were expected a week ago, but have been detained by. the bad weather; part of the march was per-

formed during the night, to preveut, vre suppose, the possibility of an attack by the natives. Of the 70th Eegiment, 265 of all ranks arrived; of these 125 left to-day in the Ahuriri, for Taranaki, under the conv mand of Capt. Hill, Lieut. Huskisson, and Ensigns Young and Travers; and 140 remain in town, under the charge of Captain Backhouse, Lieuts. Leake, Grierson, and Tylden, Ensign Leonard, and AssistantSurgeon Hession. Of the 50th, Queen's Own, 138 rank and file arrived under the command of Colonel Hamley. Of the 68th L.1., 246 rank and file came into town, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Morant, the other officers in charge being Capts. Grace, Clement, Casement, and Seymour; Lieuts. Clark son, Stewart, Marshall, Bolden; Eusign Palmer, and Staff Assistant Surgeon (} ra ce.— Wanganui Chronicle, May 27.