NATIVE INTELLIGENCE. (From telegrams in the "Daily Times.")

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 368, 1 December 1868, Page 5

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE. (From telegrams in the "Daily Times.")

Wellington, Nov. 25. - It is proposed td have a chain of five block-houses erected at Kai Iwi. Each block-house -will cost L88, and the cost will be contributed in equal proportions by the Government and the settlers. Thus, if the settlerB raise L220, they will have all the security it ia possible to give them when tho forces are withdrawn. The Government will pay men to garrison the block-houses. Captain Smith's Company became insubordinate, their term of office having expired ; but the Government, availing themselves of tho clause, " or until legally discharged," disarmed the men and summoned them before a Court martial. They were paraded, and asked, one bv one, if they ■would return to their duty. All consented except one, who was sentenced to receive 25 lashes. The sentence was confirmed by Major Frazer and carried out. The next day the men were inspected by the doctor, their arms returned, and they resumed duty as usual. To-night's "Post" says: — "From tho appended suggestions for organising guerilla Volunteers, it will be seen that the Wanganui people aro thoroughly in earnest in their determination to put down the Hauhaus. The premium of L5 per head proposed to be offered, may at the first glance appear to be a harsh and cruel measure, but when the circumstances are carefully considered, candid men must allow that it is perfectly justifiable. Premiums are given unquestioned for the destruction of savage animals, and Tito Kowaru, To Kooti, and their followers, having placed themselves beyond the pale of humanity by their acts, can only expect to be treated as wild beasts. The news from Napier is exciting the liveliest satisfaction, and is causing quite a reaction in favor of tho Friendly natives, and increasing the regret that l)r Featherston's services, proffered long ago, were not availed of relative to the "Wanganui Natives, in the same way as Mr M'Lean's have been. Major Lambert was telegraphed to to put himsolf under Mr M'Lean's orders as soon as the double authority clashed, or the present good news would not have resulted.

Napieb, Nov. 25. To Eooti has been surrounded by the PovertyBay forces. Himself and thirty men were killed. He encamped in a valley, with cover, our people being on the hill. There were several casualtfes on our side. Had the Wairoa contingent been up, the enemy would have been crushed. Fighting is still going on.

Nov. 26. Mrs Wilson ia recovering; and her Bister, Mrs Lowry, has gone to nurao her. A field-piece has beon Benfc to the frontThe details of the recent fighting are meagre and contradictory ; but there is no doubt that a decided advantage \ras gained. The force engaged consists of the natives under Tareha, and ten Europeans under Lieutenant Q-aa-coigne. The natives are bad at making a rush, and white men are much wanted. Tho enemy was discovered on Monday on a flat surrounded by a ditch and a parapet, and is still kept there. The casualties on our side were six killed and eighteen woumded, nearly all being in the rush. Fresh orders have been sent to the Wairoa contingent to hurrv on.

November 26. Further telegrams state that 60 rebels have been killed, having been driven into a gully and surrounded and that the fighting was still going on. The increased number of the killed is thought to be an exaggeration, Mr M'Lean stating it at 20, as already telegraphed. The " Evening Post's" latest telegrams are as follows : — " The engagement took place at Makihi, 30 miles inland, near the Upper Wairoa, but accounts differ slightly as to the number of the killed and wounded. " Twelve dead bodies of rebels have been seen. Ten gunB and 20,000 rounds of ammunition have been sent to the Friendlies. The rebels are believed to be running short of ammunition. They have -driven largo numbers of the settlers' cattle inland for provisions. "The well-known Friendly chief Manaima, was "wounded in both shoulders. " An old Hau-hau was taken prisoner. He refuBed to give any information, and will probably be shot to-day. " The "bodies of two Natives supposed to be friendlies, have been found half-buried. " Te Kooti is killed, and Te Waru has taken the command." Col. M'Donnell is not making much progress in raising a Native Contingent, all the natives being thoroughly dissatisfied. The report of a general rising, which so alarmed Colonel Haultain, was the result of a letter from two Pipiriki men to the Wanganui Natives, stating that they had heard that the King had ordered the Hauhaus to rise.

November 26, 8 p.m. The.Wenganui has just arrived from Wanganui but there is nothing extraordinary in the papers. The following are the only extracts of any importance : — " Col. Whitmoro has commenced to erect blockhouses along the line fixed on at Eai Iwi. The material was carted out yesterday. It is proposed to man them with the first-class Wanganui Militia. The force under Col. Whitmore's command commenced to shift their position yesterday, from Woodall's to Stewart's Redonbt. This will draw them further from the town, and more in the vicinity of the Wanganui river. There is nothing important stirring in that direction, nor is there likely to be anything for some time to come.

November 27. Tho following is the text of a proclamation said to have been issued by tho Maori King to tho Hau-hau tribes : — " This is another word. Tho wholo Island has risen. The work for Tito Kowaru is from To Ngutu o te Manu toPukenamu (Rutland's stockade). He will not cross the Wanganui river. " Beginning at Te Ngutu. o te Manu and on to Mokau, tho work is to be done by Te Whiti. From Mokau to the Manukau the work is to be done by Bome other man. From tho Manukau by Wahanui to Auckland and to ITauraki, and from Hauraki to Maketu,the work is to be done by Tuiwi; from Maketu to Ahuriri, by some other man ; from Ahuriri to Wellington, from Wellington to Wangaehu, and no further in that direction (i.e., not to Wanganui, the reason being that that is the work of Tawhiao). Do not commit evil on the Wanganui River 5 lo\ Wanganui be tho clear place in the whole island. Although all the rest of the Island should be at war, let Wanganui be open as a window. Should any Hau-hau wish to join his relatives on the Queen's side, although he may be living in Auckland or iu Wellington, he must go by the Wanganui river only. This also is the word of Tawhiao to Rewi. Tho bit of the bridle is in the mouth of Wanganui, namely Tahana and Topia. The reins are in my hands, and shall not go out of them." A telegram iu the "Sun," under date Wellington, Saturday, says : — From later intelligence from Napier, considerable doubt is expressed as to Te Kooti's death, and our victory at Poverty Bay has been much magnified. At eleven o'clock, a telegram from Napier was received by the Government, stating that the force

under Lambert was attacked by the Hau-haua while marching to effect a junction with Wcstrupp. The Hau-haus outflanked Lambert, attacked his rear, and captured eij, r ht kegs of ammunition and arms, besides cutting off his retreat and holding the road between him and Napier. A telegram of the same date in the "Daily Times," adds :— Sad news. No signs of the Ngatiporou. The enemy, after attacking the escort and securing seven kegs of ammunition, seized the depot and 20 kegs more. Communication with the Front is cut off. The telegraph wires at Waikato have been cut or broken, but whether by Natives is not known.