LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2481, 15 December 1868, Page 3

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[bi electmc tele&rakl] Wellington, Dec. 14, 7.43 p.m. Colonel Whitraore telegraphs to Colonel Haultain that the expedition is completely broken up, as the Natives are returning home for the present. That the 'immediate followers' of Mr McLean, among the JNgatikahungaru, are sulky, but that the Ngatiporou are in good spirits and willing to do all that may be required of them, now or hereafter. They would pursue the enemy (who has disappeared in the direction of Maingapowatu) if they could be supplied with food, which is impossible under present arrangements. Mr Eichmond sends the following, which, though putting the best face on matters, is not very encouraging, and is a proof of the grave mistake in withdrawing the force from Wanganui :

Turanga, Dec. 11. lam quite clear that we must concentrate and strike oa the West Coast first, After observations here, I see that converging operations to be practically successful require long preparation. I will leave this in a condition of defence, and let Colonel Whitmore take off all but forty men. Dr Pollen should send every man he can spare to Wanganui without delay. There will be time enough in the next four or five months to strike at these Eastern Hau-haus, if we are successful against Titokowaru. lam trying to get the land question settled and to reassemble the old defence force to hold a post. I propose a Ngatikahungaru and a Ngatiporou post, one on each side of the Europeans. Hawke's Bay men (Tareha's lot) are obstructive, but they leave to-day, when I hope the land difficulty will end. The local Natives are very tractable by themselves. I hope to come South with Colonel Whitinore's men—at any rate I shall not linger to go North." A rumour was circulated on Saturday that a dissolution was imminent, which has swelled to-day into a difference between the Governor and his Ministers, and resignation of the latter. The Grovernorcertainly desires to send to Australia for troops, and Mr Stafford had along interview yesterday, but the rumours are generally regarded as canards. They have, however, excited considerable interest from the fact that Mr Haughton has publicly stated something about a dissolution, which was at first thought confirmatory.