NGARUAWAHIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 136, 20 April 1864, Page 4

NGARUAWAHIA.

[I'l'.OM OUU OWN COUKEsi'OMJENT.] Apx-il 18. After a 9torni comes a calm, and this is very well proved at the present time by tlie dullness pervading this camp, »inee the stir, occasioned by tlie recent engagement ut Orakau, has subsided. But I have no doabt that a few of the transactions taking place about Xjiaruawuliia for the last few days will be read with interest by your readers, who are always on the alert for the " latest from the front." The .weather has continued all that could be desired, and tlie men of the ISth, 11th, and a few other stragglers, have been as busy as possible bringing in rapou and poles to make themselves com- j fortabie for the wet weather. A large whare was to ! be put up here fur iho General and staff, and this post was to be the head quarters for the winter ; but the recent horrible massacre in Taianaki has, I think, altered their intentions, proving that " the best laid schemes o' mice an' men gaug aft agley." The fatigue parties liuve been accompanied by a good number of the carts of tho Commissariat Transport Corps, and the 'Avon'has supplied the pla<e of the usual convoy, she having made several ; trips back and forwards to WLiaia Whata. Erom j the preparations that the diilrreiit regiment are < making as regards their own comfort, for the winter. . I don't think we are likely to have so much sickness as existed last season. Another important circumstance that I have to inform you of is that a spk-iuiid supply of potatoes was found a few days ago a short distance from this ouiip, and tills being tlie end of the season ohe is forcibly reminded of a polatoe harvest iield at home, by the bands of diggers and pickers that art.* daily to I be seen there straining every nerve to get all out of i the crop. Tlie credit ©T this grand distourv is due to the party who are busy laying out the iutuiv township of garuawahia. Should they be lucky enough to COllie upon gold, it will pay them better tliau iinding potatoes, though 1 c.oii't think the former article would be made much more welcome iliau the potatoes have been. i The convoy on Wednesday brought down thive native prisoners, two of tiieiii being very poorly clothed, who were on their way to the hulk. One of them was stated to be a very wealthy individual, but I could not find out liis name. 11 ow ho got into our hands I could not ascertain, as I believe he was always opposed to this war. They took their departure next morning by the iirst steamer. From Pukerimu I hear that tlie natives are coming in by degrees, and giving themselves up. But they take care to bring only the most useless description of arms with them. An acquaintance who came down from Mangatautari informed me that the gesticulations and tapers of some of these men when they saw the steamer were ludicrous. . The paddles seemed to amuse them, and they are linn in slating that the • Koheroa' is typo. Colonel Waddy and a party had gone out on 1 hursday to see if they could litul out any more bodies of them, but all they scut in was a number of old women. His Excellency the Governor and General Cameron passed here in the forenoon on their way to Auckland. It is certain that Tarunaki is to be the scene of operations in a few days, the Goth, 70th, and 40th, being under orders to proceed there immediately. I was up at Whata Whata one day this week, and the men stationed there seem to enjoy themselves first-rate. They had a good foot race for il'2 10s. a »ide, and were arranging other sports for the ensuing nights.