TAURANGA.

New Zealander, Volume XX, Issue 2139, 13 June 1864, Page 3

TAURANGA.

[_frow oua own correspond cst.] Camp Te Papa, Jnne 11. Yesterday, about three p.m., the monotony of a dull campsite was abruptly broken by the cry oi a steamer, which was a tually half-way up the river before she was noticed by those who are supposed to be constantly on the look-out for vessels. It was not long before it was announced with joyous feelings, " Here comes the Sandfly." Captain Marks was soon recognised on his bridge, carefully piloting up his little charge against a strong ebb tide and a fierce wind from the southward. Captain Marks left town at half-past tour p.m, calling at the Kauwau Island, which place she left the same evening at half past nine o'clock, making the whole passage in twenty-two hours.

Since I wrote you on the Bth, there have been constant rumours of the early probability of another engagement with our brave enemy. Rauiri, the principal fighting chief of Tauranga, has sent a letter to Colonel Greer, commanding the forces in this district, to the effect that he is now ready and prepared to defend the honor and interests of his King and country. He declares himself lord aud master of the hills and dales an 1 forests of Tauranga, and that night will be the same as day to him until he has conquered and subdued our forcesi This language, in the eyes of our friendly natives, is considered to convey indications of a resolute and determined strnggle which is about to take place. General Thompson has already taken possession of a new fortification, called Te Ahiroa, which was erected by the Ngaeterangis, about eight miles distant from the Pukehinahina Redoubt. No doubt, this position has been chosen by Thompson, in order that he may be in the vicinity of Tnpaea, from whom he will have to receive his supplies. . Rewi, the redoubtable and celebrated Ngatimanial>oto Chief, is daily expected to return from VVaikato. with large reinforcements, who, on arrival, will join General Thompson's party. . Rauiri,' has already received two hundred men from Waikato, in addition to his own forces, which now makes his force upwards of one thousand strong. If the Eastern natives should succeed in passing through Rotorua, in order to take a share in the pending struggle, which it is more than probable will very shortly take place, how undesirable it is to allow oar forces to leave this district in the present uncertain and unsettled state of Maori, affairs. We ought not to be ignorant of the fact that those poor unfortunate and infatuated Waikato rebels, feeling that they have been forced„to leave their lands and their once happy homos, which have now fallen into the hands of Government, are now fighting with a savage desperation—not with the ostensible idea of conquering us, so much as to die for what they think to be their right—their lands.

Rauiri has always bonie a very high character for consistency and uprightness, not only amongst natives, but amongst the early settlers of Tauranga, who have known him from his infancy, and deeply regret the step which he has taken. He even now assures the old settlers of his affection and goodwill towards them, aud very often, when his passions are roused up to the highest point, will he declare that if the Government had not taken away his good parent and adviser, Mr. Henry Troy Clarke, R. M., that he would never have taken up arms against us. He declares that he always had a sympathy from the first with the King movement, hoping that they might by this means receive institutions amongst themselves which the Government had, till very recently, never introduced, but had allowed them in cases of disputes to settle the matter by resorting, not to law, but to arms. -When Mr. Clark •was sent down by Government as their instructor and protector, Kauiri soon found in him a friend that he had every confidence in, and remained firm until he saw that there' was no probability of .Vlr.C. returning. Despair of his return caused him to join the standard of the King. The Sifidfliy brings us intelligence that H. M.S.S. JSs/c is on her way here to take away the 43rd regiment and that our forces here are to be reduced down to 200 of our gallant 63th. It seems therefore that we are to lose our brave Waikato Militia, and Captain Pye and his valiant Colonial Defence Corps in fact, we are to.be left entirely at the mercy of the enemy. If the orders which have arrived from head quarters be carried out, and we are to be left with only 200 men, the sooner Tauranga is abandoned the.better, and widl may the natives say afterwards that they have either driven our troops away or otherwise frightened them avay. It is not howevej for as to dictate or criticise the movement's of Sir Dunean A. Cameron, he has been here himself, and kuows well our position a id our wants, aud whatresults may accrue by the hasty removal of our troops at ihe present moment, surrounded as we are by a race of men who are »>ent upon nothing but revenge for the losses which they have met with in Waikato. —12 p.m., I understand that it is very uncrtain whether Colonel Greer will allow any troops to be removed, However that may be, you will as ertain on the arrival of the Samlflly. The TaUnihga, Captain Sellars, cam 3 to anchor this mon.ing, about 8 a in. She has brought down a valuable ca'go. with a fall complement of passengers. The .Planet, Dana, master, left here yesterday for Auckland. H. vI.S.S. Elk came to her anchorage at 9 a.m. Major .Druinmond Hay, of the Colonial Defence Corps, is over from Maketu, presiding over a courtmartial.