PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 78, 5 April 1869, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

The Wanganui Chronicle says — By way of Taranaki we have some native information which we believe to be thoroughly reliable, and which, as forming a break in the cloud, we have much pleasure iv making public. It is a fact that Titokowaru's men are deserting him, and that iv considerable numbers. Ifc appears he has heen misbehaving himself in reference to the women in the camp; it cau be easily understood that a savage so cruel is also coarse and sensual; aud hence has arisen a disaffection amonghis followers' 3 The consequence is that the rebels are falling back, aud the most likely thing is that they will not fix upon any permanent encampment nearer this district than the old one of Te-Ngutu-o-te-Manu. So much for Titoko. Of course these facts have no bearing of any great moment on the King movement generally, the pacific or warlike tendencies of which appear at tliis moment to be undetermined, and which a very slight incident might influence the one way or the other. A rumor reaches us from the North to the effect that a coalition between Mr Stafford and Mr Fox is talked of in some quarters, but we have great doubt as to the truth of the report. If there be any foundation for this report, the power Mr Stafford possesses of "absorbing" his political opponents is certainly without a parallel, Mr Fitzberbert, Mr Richmond Mr FitzGerald, and Mr Hall, having all been subjected to the process. What is to become of poor Mr Yogel ; wili he be left out in the cold ?