TARANAKI.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 63, 6 August 1860, Page 4

TARANAKI.

[PBOM OXTB OWN COBBESPONDENT.] -August 4. Major- General Pratt arrived from Melbourne yesterday just in time to see for himself a little into our military movements. This morning all was commotion. Alarm bugles were sounded and cannonfired from the barracks on Marsland-hill. Not merely were the Natives attacking the town, but they were already in the streets, at least so said the Brigade Office orderlies. "Women and children were being hurried to the barracks, and men falling in under arms. The truth was not so bad as apprehended. A party of Natives were observed plundering houses rearward of the Colonial Hospital in broad daylight, within sight of the Devon-road. But beyond keeping many hundreds of eager men under arms the whole of the day in the centre of the town, or close to their forts, the military authorities showed no intention of doing anything. The General has been here too short a time to be identified with these tactics, which everyone will recognise as Colonel Gold's, and which were applied to the Bell settlers, who were compelled to look on and see their homesteads plundered and live stock driven off by the Natives. In proof of this, I cite the following, which was posted up at the block-house to restrain the parties interested. NOTICE. Settlers wishing to drive in their stock will have assistance, and at the same time they are warned that in the present state of affairs, it does not follow that although Natives may be seen taking cattle, &c, that any demonstration should take place from the stockade. (Signed) John Kichabdson, Lieut. 12th Eegt. Commanding Detachment. Bell Block, August 1, 1860. I can only say if this pusillanimous conduct in the presence of the enemy is to be persisted in, that the Government are bound to remove tis as well as the women and children. Every house will be plundered, and instead of our cheers ringing down the line, as they did this morning when Captain Stapp hinted at the chances of a meeting, we may pile arms until it is too late and unavailing to make use of them. On Thursday one of our Omata farmers (John Hurford) stole away from the Omata Stockade to catch pigs on his farm, about a mile and a half distant in the forest, and therefore out of sight of the stockade. He induced three soldiers (artillerymen) to accompany him. The whole were without arms. It would seem that the party had secured two pigs when they were fallen upon by Southern natives. They all ran for it, but only two reached the stockade, and these after a tedious and circuitous route. Hurford's dog returned without him, and this removed the little doubt entertained of his fate. An armed party set out, and found the artilleryman's body at the farm, dreadfully tomahawked, but no trace could be seen of Hurford. He has left a wife and nine children, already refugees in your province. I have just heard that Hurford's body was thrown in the Tapuae river (which abuts the farm) by his murderers. This information is afforded by friendly natives. A skirmish took place this morning at the Bell Block ; one native shot dead.