TARANAKI.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 50, 15 December 1860, Page 3

TARANAKI.

—♦ — CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL OF EVENTS. [Prom the Taranaki Herald.'] Saturday, Nov. 10.—Weather threatening. It was known’ early this morning that His Excellency the Governor had sent the Niger and Victoria for 400 troops, and this number, made up of 250 of the 65th and 150 of the 40th will embark this forenoon. The withdrawal of troops, though quite called for as a prudential measure, must seriously interfere with the General s plans and he will now have to act strictly on the defensive until the reinforcements arrive. The vessels in the roadstead put to sea at noon, as the wind was blowing in strongly and the surf getting up, the embarkation of the troops is therefore delayed.-An escort left Mahoetahi this morning to bring in the body of John Hawken which was found just earthed over near Ngataiparirua. It is much mutilating about the head by a tomahawk, and has four bullet wounds. The body was brought into town this evening in a cart. Hawken has left a wife and two children, the youngest not much over a week steamers have returned to the anchorage. The Traveller’s Bride from Wanganui and Comet from Sydney arrived to day. The Wonga hence on Wednesday, arrived off the Wanganui bar on Thursday and landed the mail and passengers. The news of the storming of Mahoetahi was received with great satisfaction by our Wanganui friends. All quiet there. Several meetings of of the river natives had taken place, the object not known, but it was believed for no good J. Hawken was buried to day at 4 p.m., the Rifle Volunteers furnishing a firing party. His relations and connections and numerous militia followed him to the grave.—News from Malioetahi to day that several stand of arms had been found in the swamp, and four bodies of natives found yesterday and two to-day in the fern, some of them scorched by the fire which was lighted to clear the land in the neighbourhood ot the position. It is believed several natives who got away wounded are still lying in the bush and fern. —The usual muster of the garrison took place to day in the trenches which were visited by Major General Pratt, C.B. . Monday, 12.—The mail steamer Prince Alfred arrived to day on her way to Sydney.—During the morning the troops for Auckland embarked on board the Niger and Victoria. The following officers accompanied them4oth Regt., Capts. Messenger and Shawe, Lieuts. Hobbs, Dudgeon, and Ensign Moiphy; 65th Regt., Lieut Col. Young (in command), Lieuts. Urquhart, Toker, Wrixon, and Pennefather. The Rifle Volunteers’ band played the respective companies to the boats. The garrison has been considerably weakened by the withdrawal of the troops, and the duty (which it is submitted might be considerably lessened during the day) comes very heavy upon those in town. The Militia and Volunteers have to garrison two block-house, and find guards (day) which duty did not fall upon them before, and with the outlying piquets give the men in many instances but one night in bed.—Private Lally, who was wounded on Monday last in the skirmish at .Mangapukatea, near Puketalcauere, died last night at Waitara, and also the wounded native prisoner left at Mahoetahi.—The Niger left for Manukau at 3 p.m. and the Victoria shortly afterwards. The Maid was employed during the embarkation of the troops in towing the boats oft to the steamers. She reports that from appearances of natives on the north shore of Waitara, apparently lying in wait for the steamer, Major Nelson had placed a body of men in readiness to encounter them should they make any attempt upon her. She returned this evening. Tuesday, 13. —The Prince Alfred left at 9 this morning with the mails. She has taken the largest mail that has ever been sent away tiom this, there being upwards of 1,200 newspapers, which is accounted for by the great demand for our Saturday's issue, containing particulars of the attack upon Mahoetahi and defeat of the Waikatos. —The Maid from Waitara this morning brought up the Northern mailman. He reports that he met three messengers from Rewi’s party at Huirangi to Waikato with the intelligence “that Waikato had fallen at Mahoetahi, and all the chiefs been killed, including five principal chiefs, of five separate tribes.” These men were men belonging to different hapus, or tribes of Waikato, and one was on his way to Maketu, in the Bay of Plenty, the headquarters of the Ngatiwhakaue tribe, one of whose chief men had also fallen at Mahoetahi. The mailman informed us that a party of Waikatos who had not heard of the defeat, were on their ’way to Waitara. A gentleman writing from Upper Waikato gives it as his opinion that any success on our part would cause a rising amongst- the tribes. This is also our opinion, and there is no doubt that, according to native custom, they will come and avenge the deaths of

their relatives where they fell. —The friendly natives at Katere, near Waiwakaiho, have discovered that ambuscades have been laid between Belpßloek and Waiongana for the purpose of cutting off any person riding to and from Mahoetahi. Four persons rode into town from, and returned to Waitara yesterday. These gentlemen run a great risk, which should at least be discountenanced.—We are informed that three of Wi Kingi’s were at the Mahoetahi; one of them “ little Paul,” who escaped early in the action. Wednesday, 14.—A Gazette was published this morning containing a proclamation from His Honour the Superintendent calling together the Provincial Council for Friday.—Private Lally, 65tli regt., whose body was brought up from Waitara in the steamer, was buried to-day with military honours. The 65th band played the funeral march.—We have been informed by friendly natives that letters have been received by Mr. Parris from Rewi, the Waikato chief, who wished to known what will be done with the prisoners, and requests that they would send a list of the names of the Waikatos killed on the 6th instant. Thursday, 15. —The following are translations of letters received by the wounded prisoners from their party at Huirangi;— “ Huirangi, Nov. 13, 1860. “My Friend Wi One, —How do you do, and all of you in affliction (alluding to the fight at Mahoetahi.) Listen, Te Paetd, Mokau, Te Wetini, Wharangi, and Hakopa (chiefs)—the whole of you, thirty seven, are completely taken away by the Pakeha. Our sorrow is very great for all of you—our anguish will not soon be over. That is all. “From Rewi and all of us.” “Huirangi, Nev. 13, 1860. “Friend Wi One and Poari, [wounded prisoners in hospital.] How do you do, all of you in affliction. Listen, those that have returned to us are Eainuha, Waitere, Te Roma, and Manihera. These are safe. Four of us cur hapa] are dead. That is all, from “Taiiaxa.” “P. S. —With you is Hone who is not wounded.” H-M. colonial steam sloop Victoria, with her usual expedition, returned from Manukau after dusk. We have Auckland papers to the 14th. All quiet there as yet, and the troops from hence in barracks. From private sources we learn that 1,200 Waikatos were ready either to come on to Taranaki, or give trouble nearer home. Weather unsettled and wet. Four sailing vessels in the offing waiting for the weather to moderate. Friday, November 16.—The Mountain Maid from Sydney, 20 days out, arrived to day with hay for the Commissariat. —Vessels in the roadstead : 11. M. colonial steam sloop Victoria, brio-s Clarendon and Mountain Maid, brigantine Comet, cutter Will Watch, and steamer Tasmanian Maid. HAWKE’S BAY. By the Satellite we have The Herald of the 10th instant. On the 31st ult., Mr. Fitzgerald, the Superintendent of the Province and its Representative in the General Assembly, met and addressed his constituents in reference to the course he had pursued during the late session. As a whole, he again expressed his general approval of. the. course pursued by the Governor and his advisers with reference to the Taranaki war, and of the Native policy of the present Ministry. He explained how it was that the apportionment of the original Provincial Debt between Wellington and Hawke’s Bay had been left a question for settlement in the next Assembly, partly as the honourable gentleman seemed to intimate through the Canterbury members turning against Ministers after they had got their own “little bill” (the Railway Bill) passed safely through. The consequence was that as matters now stood, both parties would be obliged to fall back upon the provisions of the New Provinces Act, under which Hawke’s Bay was answerable for a proportion of the interest of the Wellington permanent debt; but it was shown that, at the time of separation, the only permanent debt was about £35,000 of the Gladstone loan—the other sums having been borrowed from the Union Bank for a period of ten years. Another object that he tried to effect was the alteration of the land regulations, including the appointment of a board. But as nearly every Province required some alteration, however trifling, in its regulations, and as so much time had been lost in debates upon the war, &c., and a good deal of buisness on hand, the whole subject was deferred by mutual consent till next session, which would probably be held at Wellington, about March next. With regard to the land board, however, the wishes of the Council would yet be carried out, for the Colonial Secretary had promised that the powers held by the Governor under the Waste Lands Act, 1858, should be delegated to the Superintendent of the Province. This he (Mr. F.) hoped to receive by the “White Swan.” .... The “ majority of one ” against the attempt to upset the New Provinces Act, Mr. Fitzgerald regarded as a sign that the Act was growing into favour, for it originally passed only by a majority of 5, with 7 Wellington members absent. There was only one thing he would wish to sec altered in the New Provinces Act [Qy —ls not this “ only one thing ” rather an important feature of the Act?] that the Superintendent, instead of being elected by the Council, should be elected by the people. He could see many disadvantages from the Superintendent being elected by a small Council. He might find himself, on a division of opinion, entirely in the hands of one member; and altogether he would be more under the control of the Council that the people probably -would wish. Strongly supporting the Government as he did, Mr. Fitzgerald admitted that lie was not sorry they were defeated on Dr. Featherston’s motion with respect to the refund of the sixth of the land-fund which Ministers had stopped; for the result was not unpleasant to the Provinces: Auckland would pocket about £4,000, Hawke’s Bay some £12,000, Wellington about £IO,OOO. A large proportion of the English Loan is still on hand in Auckland and Wellington ; and the feelino- of the House was, that any funds which might’be required after it was expended should be obtained by loan, with interest and sinkingfund, so as to leave something for posterity to pay Before concluding, Mr. Fitzgerald said he had long since given notice of his intention to resign, and that he now held office but temporary—indeed he had returned thus early in order to have matters straight for an early meeting of the Council, that no difficulty might interpose immediately after that meeting in the way of that body choosing another person to In -Id the office of Superintendent. — New Zealander.