LATEST NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 28, 5 August 1863, Page 6

LATEST NEWS FROM THE NORTH.

(From the Wellington Independent, July 18.)

NEWS FROM AUCKLAND.

The removal of the main body of the troops from Taranaki, and the virtual transference of the seat of war to Auckland by the rising of the Waikatos, and preparations for proceeding against them, cause the chief interest to centre at Auckland. Briefly told, the principal items of intelligence from Auckland are these :—BOO soldiers (the 18th Royal Irish) have arrived from England at Auckland, and very shortly after their arrival they were marched as a component part of an army stated to be about 2000 men; under General Cameron, towards the Waikato country. The steamer Avon was to proceed up the Waikato river to-day (Wednesday), the 15th inst. The natives, in expectation of the visit of a steamer, were, we are informed, preparing for her reception by endeavoring to block up the river by means of falling trees across it. IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION NOTICE. \ To the Natives of Mangere, Pukaki, Ihumatao, Te Ririki, Patumahoe, Poeeno, and Tuakkau. All persons of the native race living in the Manukau district and the Waikato frontier, are hereby required immediately to take the Oath of Allegiance to her Majesty the Queen, and to give up their arms to an officer appointed by the Government for that purpose. Natives who comply with this order will be protected. Natives refusing to do so are hereby warned forthwith to leave the district aforesaid, and retire to Waikato, beyond Mangatawhiri. In case of tfyeir not complying with this order, they will be ejected By his Excellency's order. Auckland July 9, 1863. NOTICE TO THE AUCKLAND NATIVES. The following notice has been issued by the Commissioner of Police at Auckland:—

" Whereas certain evil-designed natives have declared their intention of, or have been talking about, attempting to do some evil in the town ; and it is impossihle for the police and military at night time to distinguish between friends and foes. It is therefore required of all friendly disposed Maories that they abide within their houses from dusk in the evening until daybreak ; let them not move about outside, or they will get into trouble. " It has also been ordered that every Maori found on the streets of the town after dark, be apprehended. "Auckland, July 9, 1863." As a result of the first proclamation, the " New Zealander" of the 10th inst. says : " Some natives Ngaruawhaia were in Auckland yesterday. In the evening, however, a great many natives, men, women, and chil-

dren, carrying with them their ' bokes,' kept moving out from the town."

RUMORED WAIKATO RAID UPON AUCKLAND. The " Southern Cross" of the 10th inst., contains the following paragraph:— " A letter from Raglan states that a report had reached there that the natives had determined on a raid upon Auckland, and that all their canoes had been taken up for that purpose. Similar reports have been current elsewhere, but we suspect that the recent movements of the military will somewhat modify the plans of the Waikato ' Braves' in that respect." TARANAKI. Dates from Taranaki are to Sunday the 12th July, but there is no intelligence of importance except the fuller details of Hori's trial, who has been tried for the murder of Dr. Hope, found guilty, and sentenced to death—but was afterwards brought up and tried on the charge of shooting at Lieutenant Waller, found guilty, and sentenced to penal servitude for life.

The following, given by the "Taranaki Herald," had considerable weight wjth the jury:—The day after his capture he was asked a great many questions by Messrs Bell and Farris, and gave valuable information as to the positions and number of the enemy, and without being warned in any way, was interrogated as to his knowledge of the massacre of the 4th May. He was asked ' Did you see the first shot fired ?'—to which, according to Mr. Parris, he answered ' Kua kite—otira kua rongo ou na, fyc.,' which was translated, 4 1 saw it —or rather I heard it was fired by so and so.' Some time after, when the ring and locket were found, Mr. Parris said to him, 'We have found some more things belonging to Dr. Hope near where you were hid and think you must have been concerned in killing him. How could you have helped to kill a man who treated you so kindly?' (Dr. Hope had dressed his hand a few days before the murder at the Tataraimaka camp). He answered 'Ko wai ka mohio—kua repe katoawhich was translated to mean, ' Who could know him when covered with dirt!"

On Monday, Hon was again brought for trial on the charge of shooting at Lieutenant Waller with intent to murder him on 29 th May last. By direction of the Judge He pleaded not guilty, but after evidence he was found guilty and sentenced to penal servitude for life for this offence.

Hori made the following statement: —On the Ist of May I went down south to a place called Ti Ikaroa. I went on there to wait for the Wanganui natives who were expected. When I went there I left my gun with a relation named Meihani (Mason). On the 4th of May the Europeans were killed at the Wairau. On the evening of the 4th of May a messenger came to inform us that the Europeans were killed. On the evening of the 4th of May I came back again from Ti Ikaroa, and slept at a place called Paiakamaho. On Tuesday we came on to the Kaitake; there we found the Europeans were dead. When I came there, they gave me another gun, two rings, and a pair of long boots. The man with whom I left my gun had the rifle, pair of boots, and the two rings; so mv companion kept my old gun for himself and gave me this new one (pointing to the rifle on the table). He gave me the rifle and one of the rings—not the cartouch box, but only the gun. The cartouch box and the watch were given me by my grandfather, with the locket that was appended to the watch. As they had no caps for their guns one of the boots was sold to get caps. Whec the boot was sold, the top was cut off to make coverings for cartouch boxes, the boots being too small to be worn by us. One of the rings was given to a female named Anne. I have spoken of the whole property; now I am going to show how I became possessed of it. When we go to fight, the property that is taken from the dead man is taken to the

native pah. The property taken from the dead man is not kept by the man who takes it, but it is given to one of his near relations to cause him to be brave in war. All the persons that had any property taken from Europeans on the 4th May, gave it to other parties; none • were kept by themselves. 1 hat is the native custom of disposing of the property of persons killed in war. If a person taking any trophy in war was to keep it himself, it would be considered an ill omen, and that is the reason why it is given to any other. These articles that are given (lent) to natives going out to fight are returned after the war is over to the parties who took them first.