THE FRONT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 126, 8 April 1864, Page 2

THE FRONT.

Our news from head quarters is still of preparations for the storming of Maungatautari, but our readers will perceive by a comparison of the (In to of our own correspondent's letter and that of the telegram of Tuesday that they are written on the same dav. and of course before the result of thoTeconnoisance which discovered the flight ..f'the Maoris from Maumratautari was known in the can in at Pukerimn. The principal real item of news which we have received from Piikerimu. is the account of the manner in which the native mailman, travelling between that place and Te Awamutu, was captured on Wednesday the 30th ult. He left I'ukeriinu with the mail about noon of that day, and had scarcely proceeded six miles on his downward journey when he was fired at and his horse was wounded. A rush was then made at him bv about fiftv natives, who led himself and horse awav from the road, where they shot the animal. Thev then commenced rummaging the mail, and h'na'llv lighting a fire burnt its contents, l'hicinjr two .sentries over the mailman, the main body proceeded again to the road with the intention of laving an ambuscade for Major McNeill and two orderlies, who happened to be that dav proceeding that way. but. as our readers are aware, the small party escaped übwounded. Before the party of reliefs carried away the mailman to Maungatautari they were joined by another maurauding party, who also brought in a prisoner. The second prisoner was a native named '• Jiuiniv." who was proceeding with Mr. Cantv and party to Mr Pavid Graham's sawing station at Kihikihi. and who was taken prisoner iiearh'ansdoliin. }lr. Canty had. we hear, a vervj narrow escape from being taken also. " Jimmy is well known to the inhabitants of Freeman's bav ; he belongs, we are told, to the Ngapuhi

tribe. These two prisoners when they reached Maungatautiiri are said to have been fairly treated by their countrymen,'having the same food given to""them that their captors used, namely, taua berries and wheat boiled, the Maungatantari rebel commissariat supplies being of this primitive nature. Potatoes they had none. The fact is significant, and shows where the real weakness of the rebels lies.

Aii attempt was made to open a negotiation with tlie enemy for the return of the mailman, it having positively been ascertained from Eaihi, a Thames chief, that he was really at Maungatautari. A native was sent over, who had an interview with some of the principal chiefs on the subject. Thompson, liiiiliniia, and Paora_ Te Ahuru nil spoke with great anger at tlie crime. as they termed it. of a Maori assisting us against' his own countrymen, but eventually they decided on letting him go. and he is now safe in our camp. Of the thte of the other prisoner. "Jimmy,', we have learnt nothing. An effort is being made, we are informed, by the General to put a stop to the practises of this same guerilla party which captured the mailman, and which has made itself notorious for its attacks on single individuals or small parties travelling the road. A redoubt is to be built at Te Ahuta, and as the Forest 3? angers will also be kept on the alert, there will be but little opportunity for the continuance of these predatory excursions. The leader of this gang of desperadoes, who number between forty snd fifty men, is Pirihi, of Kirikiriroa. The mailman was again fired at on Monday last after leaving Te Awaniutu. From Orakau we have intelligence that up to the Monday evening ninety-nine dead bodies had been picked up: but as only part of the bush had been searched for their bodies it was likely that man}' more would still be found. ■♦ NAVAL MOVEMENTS. The Colonial Government's gun-boat s.s.' Sandfly.' left for Taurangn yesterday evening. The s.s. ' Cork)' sails this day for Tauranea and Napier. We are glad to learn that it is the intention of Captain Turner to continue her in this trade. The Colonial Government's s.s. ' Alexandra,' leaves the 51 anukau to-day for Waikato Heads and biaglan. On her arrival at the latter port, the ' Alexandra' will, we learn, take on board a quantity of stores now at that place, and proceed with them to Taranaki, where they will be landed. «, SUPKEME COUET. Ykstkrday a civil session of the' Supreme Court was held by his Honor Judge Johnston in the Provincial Council Chambers. There were but three eases brought before his honor. One a case of libel preferred against one militia oiliccr by another. The defendant having posted up the plaintiff in the Q.C.E., as a "' liar and imposter and a coward." Damages to the extent of £50 were awarded by the Court. The second case arose out of a contract entered into between Mr. "W. J. Young and Mr. G. G. Walters for the supply of potatoes to the former. A judgment for £00 was awarded to the plaintiff. The third ease was referred to arbitration. The sitting of the Court was then closed, his honor stating, that seeing so man v of the profession present, he was led to announce that he should be glad to arrange for a sitting in Banco. so as to remove any necessity of resuming business until the next, assizes. ♦ Till-: ; PtANGATLRA'S' MAIL. Two boxes and two bags, a portion of the Sydney and Melbourne mail to Taranaki and Auckland, were discovered iu a cargo boat alongside the " Airedale' shortly after the " liangatira' had left the Manukau. These mail boxes and bags had been brought with the remainder of the mail to the Manukau by the • itangatira.' aud ought to have been delivered immediately on the arrival of that vessel. It would appear that these portions of the mail had. through carelessness, not been sent oli' from the ' Kangatira' with the rest, aud that the party whose duty it was to have attended to tlieir delivery had not sttiUcient courage to come forward and acknowledge his omission, ana state that part only of the mail had been sent ashore, but took the opportunity of a cargo boat coming alongside for cargo for the ' Airedale' to smuggle the boxes and bags into the little, operation trb s^sssisfallT

accomplish* I ''- nor was tl.c trick discovered ( ;i tlio ' Eaiiiratira was clear away. U, Wo !"mVoL however. congratulate the perj'w«n»r of this numamvre on Us complete sxw--1 The subterfuge is too shallow a one, Jor of the ' Kangatira' is answerable for .1 „ ~r o per delivery of the mails, and will no doubt be called to account for tliis piece of on his return.