WANGANUI.

New Zealander, Volume XXIV, Issue 2612, 17 March 1866, Page 3

WANGANUI.

(f..OM OUK OWN COUUKSI'ONnKNT.) Camp Manawapou, 28th February. As my last letter from this post con - veyed no intelligence of the proceedings connected with the force detached under Lieut-Colonel Butler, 57th regt., at Katemerae, I now beg to apprise you that about 3 o’clock tun. on the 23rd instant, a party, consisting of 1 captain, 3 subalterns, and 20U men, paraded at the Waiugongoro Camp, and marched off under Colonel Butler’s own immediate command, Tho direction taken by them was straight for tho bush, which they entered a little to the north of Katernerea. The force after entering the bush proceeded in a north-westerly direction, and kept so for about three or four miles, during which a large number of fires were lighted by the troops, and a considerable quantity of crops destroyed. Having effected his object, the commanding officer again brought the troops into the open country, and selected a camp ground near a small detached bush, about a mile from the Wuingongoro river, two from the main bush, and four from tho stationary camp at the mouth of the river. None of tho ban bans have been seen during the whole period the troops have been out.

We learn that some tribe hitherto friendly about Warea has broken out, and that a skirmish bad taken place between a party of the 43rd Light Infantry and some natives. March 3. I have little to mention from this post which would in any way prove interesting to your readers, beyond the fact of our having been exposed during the past two days to extreme severity of the weather—tlie rain falling in torrents, with a drifting wind, which made the tents anything but agreeable accommodation. The position of the camp and the nature of the ground around the post render a fall of rain much more incommodious than at the otnor pests. Owing to arrangements now in progress, it is more than probable that the greater portion of the Imperial troops will be removed before the winter sets in in the Colony. The regiments mentioned as likely to remain tire the Ist battalion 12th, 2nd battalion 14th, and 2nd battalion 18th Regiments ; the command will also devolve upon a colonel with local rank as Brigadier. March b. I am in haste for the post, and can only very briefly detail that I am in possession of information from a reliable source regarding the relief of the detachment of tiie 57tli Regiment, under command of Capt Hasted, by 1/30 men of the 2nd battalion )Bth Royal Irish from Patea. March 9. I now bog leave to transmit the few brief items which are placed within my province—namely, that a detachment of 150 non-commissioned officers and men of the 2nd battalion 18tli Royal Irish are coming up from the Patea to-day to relieve the detachment of the 57th Regiment now at this station, the latter proceeding by march overland to Wanganui, to bo there stationed preparatory to the 57 tli moving to the Auckland province. I am given to understand that a vacancy is soon likely to occur in the Brigade staff owing to the departure of the 43rd L.I. to England, which will, as a matter of course, oblige Captain Brett, now D.A.Q.G. at Wanganui, to rejoin bis corps. As a large number of troops are being now withdrawn from ihc colony it is more than possible this appointment may be abolished. The post at Nukumaru is also to be abandoned, in addition to tbo Waitotara, although I can scarcely reconcile the exposure of such an extent of country to native maurauders as that extending from Alexander’s farm to the Patea. Further proceedings will enable me to mention this matter more fully. Tbo weather has again become fine, and will, I trust, continue so until the movement of the troops have been I effected.