LATER FROM THE EAST COAST.

Marlborough Press, Volume VI, Issue 56, 15 July 1865, Page 3

LATER FROM THE EAST COAST.

MORE FIGHTING. The ‘ Herald ’ of the Ist inst. says : The Tawera, which loft the East Cape on the evening of the 28th tilt, has brought intelligence of two skirmishes between the Ilau liau and friendly natives ; four of the former have been killed, one of the number being a chief of some importance. An attempt was made by the Ilau Halt to surprise Morgan's party, hut they were driven off with a loss of one killed and three wounded. The friendly natives were taking up strong positions and mustering their forces. Patara and the Ilau Haus were also being reinforced. In the two skirmishes the friendly natives had no loss, except one man slightly wounded. THE WAR ON THE EAST COAST. The same journal of the 4th, inst says : Readers of this journal have been apprised, from time time, of a series of skirmishes which have taken place at Waipu, on the East. Coast to the southward of East Cape, between Queen natives under a chief named Moke mi (Morgan), and tlie Ilau Ilau natives, who muster strong in that district since the murder of Mr Volkner. and u ’lio have hit terly been receiving accessions of .strength. The progress ol this conflict cannot fail to interest the settlers of this province, as well as adjacent parts of the Auckland province seeing that success on the part of the Him Halts would have a most disturbing effect, while their defeat, with or without the capture of their leader Patara, would most probably he the forerunner of peace in this | art of the colony. Morgan has very naturally claimed assistance from the General Government, and received it to a considerable extent through Air M'Lcttn. In the ‘Herald’ of the 24th ult.. we recorded the spirited cap tire, hv 'Morgan, of one of the enemy's pahs—the Ilau Ilau loss having been seven killed ami six wounded, and that of the loyal natives, three killed and three wounded. The latter took two prisoners, three Hags, and a number ol muskets. Our issue of the Ist inst., contained an account of two other successful skirmishes, in one ol which four of the Ilau Haus were killed including a chief of some importance ; iti the other an attempt was made by the enemy to surprise Mor gut’s party, but they were driven off with a loss of one killed and three wounded. In neither did the friendly natives sustain any Ess, except one man slightly wounded. The last news, to hand by the St. Kilda on Saturday, is not, however, quite so favorable Another important engagement is reported, in which the friendly natives fought with great spirit, having killed upwards of twenty of the ilau Halts, with a loss of eight killed and four wounded oil their own side. 1. nforlimatoly, through inadvertence on the part of some of Mor-

gan’s people, the enemy gained a great advantage in the re-capture of the pa from which, a fort-night before, they had been summarily ejected. It appears that the young men left, in charge of the pa rushed out to assist in the fighting ; ami advantage of this was taken by the Unit llatis to enter it without resistance. '1 hey killed one or two infirm old men. made prisoners ol the women and children ; and, it is said, got possession of a quantity of ammunition. Two of the women were afterwards sent to Mokena. with an otter to give up the rest if he would make peace, but this lie declined to do. Although not dispiritel by this coniretnnp Morgan and the friendly natives have sent by the St. Kilda an urgent, appeal for assistance, which has been so far responded toby Mr M'Lcan, in his capacity of agent to the General Government, that Lieut. Higgs ami his volunteers 'about MO in number) were immediately ordered to proceed to Waiaptt. Mr Higgs and If) men had left a day or two before, for the Wairoa, intending to relieve the 15 who wore first stationed in that district ; but the Mah in which saile lon Saturday evening last, had instructions to call at Wairoa for the whole party and thence to proceed to East Cspc:

Air Dcighton, the Resident Magistrate of the Wairoa, is* at the scene of hostilities, affording every assistance and advice to the friendly natives ; and although the force of volunteers now sent is not large, its presence will have a great moral effect upon the body of natives who have been sogallantly fighting on behalf of the Queen’s supremacy, and may he largely instrumental in bringing this little war to a successful termination. 0 it is not unworthy of notice that the first attempt to capture the Opolilci has been made by Morgan, and that the first Europeans who have joined in the effort are volunteers of this province. The impunity with which these murderers have been permitted to pro'll at large is a sta it upon the British character, which nothing will remove hut their capture and condign punishment. The arch fiend, Kereopa, has escaped, but 1 atara remains at the head of the lluu liaus of the East Coast. . Upon the receipt of the hist intelligence, the chief Renata called upon the Superintendent and offered his services as a volunteer to proceed to East Cape It> take the part of Morgan in the contest now going on.