LATEST FROM PATEA.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 128, 1 August 1868, Page 4

LATEST FROM PATEA.

The following is an extract from a letter just received from Mr. T. B. Horne (formerly of Blenheim), who is with Mr. Jas. Nosworthy, another of our townsmen, located at Cai lisle, Patea. The matter is published as being likely to interest their many friends here, and proves that life is not altogether smooth in other parts of New Zealand, besides Marlborough :

“ I will tell you how we get on, and what we have to do. Soon after I arrived, the whole of the inhabitants of Patea were in a great state of mind at the murders committed by the Hauhaus at Turu-Turu-Mokai, on Smith and four ■others, and the report current was that the natives intended coming to Patea to try to get the ammunition in the magazine, but we were not afraid of their doing that; but the other day an order was posted that the Patea Light HorseVolunteers, the Militia, and the whole of the residents in the district should muster on the parade ground, so I, as well as others were there, and Mr. Nosworthy. Colonel McDonnell told us we were about a week ago in a most dangerous predicament, and at the present time standing on the edge of a precipice, as at any time we were liable to be attacked by the natives, so what he wanted was that every man able was to take up arms to do all we could to withstand an attack of the natives, if they should cotneUpwn. He said if any were here who would not do so, he had better leave the place. So as soon as he dismissed us 1 went up to him, and asked if he intended to send us to the Front; I meant those now residing in Patea township. He told me he did not, so I said if that was the case, I should he willing to do all I could to assist, but net if I

had to go to the Front. Next day we had to get arms, and the day following (Saturday week), we all turned out to help repair the redoubt—that is a place with a bank, ten feet high, and a parapet inside, just high enough to allow you to see over, and on the outside a ditch of about fifteen feet wide, and three to four feet deep, with a drawbridge, and the sentinel is posted at the gate, and another on the common, where the natives could be seen if they should attack, and every one passing or going to the redoubt is challenged with—“ Who goes there?’ and if they do not answer after the third challenge the sentinel fires, but one night we were to challenge but once and fire. James Nosworthy is corporal The first duty under arms I had was to take charge of a native prisoner, with my bayonet fixed and musket capped, and if he offered to escape to blow his brains out ; but he stopped till morning, and was allowed to go. Since that I have heard the wretch has gone to Taranaki to get up a party against the Europeans ; I cannot vouch for the truth of this report. We have to turn out to fatigue, either James Nosworthy or I every day. Fatigue means to help to build the redoubt, and once every two nights to go on a picquet, also a guard-picquet. Guard-picquet is to go away from the camp about a mile; six leaves the camp with a corporal, and he places two at the place the Captain orders, and we stop there two hours, and then are relieved by two others, to see if anything should appear. Our orders are to retire and fire if we are closely pressed ;if not, to retire without firing. I have been on picquet twi e, and once on guard. We do not return to the camp till daylight, and then we don’t go to fatigue till the following afternoon, as we have been up all night. The first time I was on picquet was near Captain Currie’s house, and a Maori prisoner was in his care. 1 was so placed that I could see the river, and if we saw canoes, to return and let them know in the house. Two of us go at one time on this duty. I was just relieved when there was a shot fired by one of the other picquets, and told to form and come to protect the women, who were leaving Captain Currie’s house, and the whole of female population in Patea were ordered into the redoubt, except those we brought up, and the men who were in the redoubt were told to throw posts, and a party of 14, including Mr. Nosworthy, were told off, Colonel McDonnell at their head, to reconnoitre the country about half a mile of a scope, I was posted as one of the sentinels in the town ; it was a false alarm, something was seen, sheep it is supposed, though it might have been naives, and if so, they must have retreated. At the time of the account of the attack on Turu-Turu-Mokai, 1 can assure you we worked at the redoubt with a will, and for five nights we had no sleep, but since that we have had two nights in bed with one eye open, and then a picquet on guard. *» * * What I have said above is the whole I can give you, and the truth.”