CAMP TE AWAMUTU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 229, 6 August 1864, Page 8

CAMP TE AWAMUTU.

' |_FltOM OUH Q\VN COHIIESrONDHNT.J •' • July 6. ! Yestorday morning at daybreak, a party of twelve of the mounted artillery, under Lieutenant Rait, 11. A., and accompanied by A'eterinary Surgeon Blake, R.A., < and Mr. Mair, Interpreter, started from this camp for the Rangiawuhia, wliere tliey were joined by fifty rnnlc arid file of the fioth Regiment, under command , of Captain Blowitt.; the.se two parties then proceeded together as far as Orakau, where thov were further strengthened by fifty bayonets of tho 30th Regiment, from Kjjhi Kihi, Johnstone. 50th Regt., thus molr'ng the .eti'cSjfet.h ofvtho expedition up to .. 118 ofsgl ; r<uiks. .-|apm Hewitt, 65 thßcginient, being tii4 ! senior ToJfi'pjit, taking the rommaiul. At "about 8 o'clock the ; ftir<ie off from Orakau, the • mounted men taking .{He-lead, and proceeded a distance of about.:seven'miles without encountering any molestation, ..or serine: any.-signs of the natives. Here the infantry halted, the troopers advancing steadily until'they came fri sight, of a native position, which," by the-newly-turned soil, appeared to have been recently worked at. On riding up and viewing tho plaee, it was found to be composed of a series of rifle-pits, protected by pallisading similar to those at Pnterangi. The pits had evidently been constructed within the last two months, and by the newly-beaten tracks, both ofjnori and horses,-it is evident that the rebels have been at work at a much later period. As none of the enemy were to bo seen. Lieutenant Rait gave the order to advance. Accordingly the cavalry advanced till thev descried a native settlement at no great distance, ■which I believo is called Aratitata, and also saw about a dozen of the enemy running about the whares, and into the house of a European, who, before the commencement of the prosent war. was in the employ "of the Rev. Mr. Morgan as n stock-keeper, Mi-I Morgan having rented a gre at part of this district from the natives as a cattle run. The blacks seemed for some time quite unconscious of the approach of the armed party, who still continued to advance, when, suddenly, one of them levelled his piece nt the foremost man, and fired—happily without effect, the ball dropping short of its mark. This shot was instantly returned from the carbines of Lieutenant Rait's party, the effect of which small fusilado •' was that one native was seen to fall, severely wounded. The whole of the rebels then decamped to a belt of bush lying a short distance to the left of the settlement, yelling during their " gulopade" as only the genus Maori knows how to yell. This uproar was unmistakably made as a warning to their comrades in the bush to "keep dark."- After looking round the place, which was not overstocked with the necessaries of life, the party returned, the Mounted Artillery arriving here - at ab<jyfe.3-o'clock, p.m.. It is repotted that a stronger party will shortly proceed in the same direction ; the works of the enemy were left undisturbed. "When in connection with the above I mention that a body of natives have been seen about ten miles from Pukerimu, it will be seen that the Waikato districts are not vet free of the enemy, who doubtless, have old associations, which, in a measure, lire hound to lie Ihem to this part of the country. Another inducement for (heir visiting these latitudes during the winter, being the extreme sull'crin.us which 11 it-v arc undergoing from a scarcity of •• kai," which they are more lit cly to find here than at Taurauga. An accident, of a serious nature occurred here to-dav. !'" l i si l 1 n Pre for, 40th regt., on his return from Kihi Kihi, whither he had gone on horseback, had occasion to dismount, and in re-mouutiug his horse, one of his feet caught in the stirrup, Ihe animal starting at Ihe same time, and causing him to fall violently to the ground ; before he could rise, the fright cued animal kicked him violently- on the back part of Ihe head, brenting one of the small blood vessels ; another person being in company with him, a temporary tourniquet was made, and assistance was sent for, Doctor Styles. '10th Regt., was promptly on the spot, and Mr. Pretor, though very weak from great loss of blood, was able to proceed to this camp. T am happy to say that. Mr. Pretor is much better, and the injury inliicted not so severe as was at first anticipated. July S. Brigadier-General Carey arrived here from Auckland last evening, and of course, resumes the command of this district. The steamer ' Rangiriri,' lias succeeded in braving the rapids, and has made three successful trips up : the W'tiipa, as far as the new military settlement, of Alexandra. .Tidy 10. At eight o'clock yestorday evening, the camp was alarmed by the sound of a shot tired in the direction of that part occupied bv the Royal Artillery, accompanied by cries of " Guard turn out." A gunner of the Royal Artillery, named John Cmnmins, had gone into a hut occupied by a portion of that corps, in a slate of intoxication, and had asked a comrade named Green for a glass of rum. Green at the time having a glass of grog on the table, which he was going to drink before retiring for the night, he at tho time being engaged in conversation with five others, the whole standing in a group. The man Cummins turned round, as if going out at the door, and no further notice was taken of him, until one of the group, suddenly turning round, perceived Cmnmilis with a carbinc in his hand, which he was ill the act of raising to his shoulder. He instantly cried out, " If or God's sake,, keep down your heads," and " Guard turn out." This drew the attention of the whole party to Cummins, who at this time had tho piece to his shoulder ; some of the party stooped, while others made a rush to the door; the man instantly fired amongst the then partly scattered party, but most providentially no one was hurt, the hall passing out at the back of the wliare, whizzing past the sentry on the hospital marquees, and lodging itself, at a distance of about 100 yards, in a tree. Cummins was instantly made a prisoner. July 11. The man Cummins, of the R.A., who fired on his comrade on Saturday night last, tho account of which transaction J gave in my letter of yesterday, has been remanded for a general court martial. The mail service is now placed on a different footing ; the whole of the mails being carried by native orderlies; these men receive six shillings per diem, and .have all forage supplied to them by Government; thoy supply tliGir own horses. July It. On Sunday last, July 10th, the orderlies carrying tho mails, started as usual from Te llori for Whata Whata, and proceeded as far as a l irgo stream about midway between tho two posts, which, in consequence of the late rains, was much swollen, here they swam their horses across. It appears that there were three gentlemen on horseback, on tho opposite bank, who seeing the expert manner in which the horses of the orderlies had been taken over, availed themselves of the services of one of the men to swim their nags across tho stream ; the passage was successfidly accomplished, and as a reward, as woll as in a medicinal capacity as a preventitive against cold, the orderly was given three glasses of rum, he being wet through, the water having reached the top of the saddles. The men proceeded on their way for somo distance, the rocepient of the rum being in rear of his comrade, suddenly tho former discharged one chamber of his revolver, the report was followed by the snapping of three caps, and another report, it will be thus seen that it was evidently his intention to have fired the live chambers of his piece, but on account of tho wetness of the charges, only two exploded; the ctlior orderly states that he was fired at, but from - all accounts this seems extremely improbable ; there

linvo been two investigations held on the matter,, and the prisoner has been necpiitted of any evil intent; ho states that he fired Iris revolver because the water had entered the chambers, and had wetted the charges, with the intention of reloading it on his return home; as the man is very young, and bears a "oocl character for sobrietv, and is altogether a well conducted soldier, there 'is every reason for us to believe that the wholo affair was only a " freak of bravado" . The man Cummins of the Royal Artillery, is to be tried to-morrow morning ; tho charge on which lie stands indicted, is worded as iollows, " for shooting with intent lo kill, or do grcvious bodilv lnirm to one or more gunners of the Royal Artillery. A rather important order his been issued in the Brigade Orders of this day ; the Brigadier General Commanding, requests '' that Officers commanding outposts in the AVaikato districts, may exorcise cx~ tieme caution against sudden attacks by day* or night, this order is followed by a reference to a former one, to the effect that all guards and picqucts are to be under arms one hour before daylight, and also that on no account are unarmed men to be permitted to straggle about any distance from their posts." These important orders emanating from such a source lead to many surmises, and strengthen our former expressed ouinion, that during the winter mouths our more exposed outposts may bo visited by our sable antagonists. It is currently reported that the General will bo here at tho end of this month, when it is thought that a rnovo will take plaeo. Julv 25. This afternron a party 30 men of'the 40th Regiment, under command of Lieutenant Morgan of the same corp, arrived in camp, having come from Whata Whata, they have for some months been employed on the telegraph works between I'llkerimu and Ngaruwahia, but on,-aceoimt of the want of material, have been compelled to suspend operations for a short time, the indespensable articles which are required for the completion of the undertaking and which are so didieult to procure, are the insulators and wire, I believe that if possible they will be got from Sydney ; if they can be obtained there wo may expect in a short time to have the entire line of communication bftween this advanced position uiul Auckland completed. The poles have been erected between Ngaruavvahia and I'ukeriinu, from which latter station the line will traverse across the country to the midway camp of Oliapo, and thence direct to this station. If the state of our mail service is not improved before the introduction of the " galvanic agency," the line will soon pay for itself, for whereas now we have to waif: for ten days for a communication from town, we shall then be able to receive one in as many minutes, according to the old and wise saw that "time is money" the saving effected will necessarily be enormous. The more enterprising portion of our community, are preparing to cater for tho amusement of the garrison during the remaining dull winter months, amongst other sources of attraction, we are to have a company of Itthiopean setienaders, and if the assiduity which the members are rehearsing, and their previous celebrity in this peculiarly pleasing line of theatrical and musical performance, may be taken for a criterion of the worth of the entertainments, we may expect thatthe filling of our cup of pleasure, will more than repay the slight intrusion on our purses, it is pleasing to find that there those -udiciently speculative to venture their capital, for the amusement of the men who so much need recreation of some description, so we heartilv wish the originators of the scheme every success. July 20. The sentence of the General Court-martial, .which assembled for the trial of Cummins, of the Royal Artillery, was promulgated this morning on a garrison parade called for the purpose. The prisoner, who is a soldierly and smart looking man, was found guilty of the charges preferred against-lum, /viz.,.. " drunkeness, and shoot in t; with intent." .iiCSgi-Amrif-taking into consideration his prevjoiis barf elivSLOtciv sentenced him to penal servitude forgt&c ts£fijs.-&t' four years, two years of which 1 i^i.ij-.be<itjwiliiit£c<lby the Lieutenant General L-omiiyijsdii'ig{£L , y\c have to rejoin his regin;ent"at r ; tlio' expTrjJtion jofliis term of imprisonment. The weather stil continues fine. . * .. . Jidy 29. - yesterday evening, Sir Fran«B3Tfffl®ytM*/€Kinn, and the other gentleman appointed to investigate the seat of Government question, accompanied by Lieut.Colonel M'Xeill, A.P.C., arrived here at about 5 o'clock, and were entertained by the Brigadier General commanding. This morning, the Commissioners, accompanied by Brigadier General Carey, rode out to view the outpo.-ts of Kihikihi, and Rangiawahia. and left for town this afternoon at about: 1 o'clock. I cannot allow the visit of such important and responsible persons to pass without a few words of remark, especially when 1 consider the immense influence which the visit of these gentlemen to the interior is likely to exert in the future* prospects of this province, anil the settlement of the all absorbing topic. That they must have been struck with the resources of this vast and inexhaustible tract, of country, we cannot doubt, and they also must have been delighted with their trip up this noble AVaikato. Yet all these rich tracts of country are now brought before their notice in their most unfavourable aspects, such as the savage has left them, so are they now, except perhaps in one or two places where civilization has left a foot print in its hasty march over the conquered territory. Who, coming up the proud Waikato, can disguise his astonishment I at resources yet undeveloped. Take, for instance, the I rich coalmines of Roluii I'okaki, which for extent and richness can vie with many of our important coal iields at home. Then on leaving tho AVaikato river, and travelling along the placid Waipa, resources of another description meet the eye, —miles of the most fertile land.— land which for richness cannot be exceeded in Zealand, irrigated by never ceasing streams : what will the relative importance of this Province be when these rich tracts of country are stmilled with thivhomesteads of an agricultural community. AVhat would the flooded and heartbroken agriculturists of Sew South Wales, not give to have an opportunity granted them of settling down on the beautiiul banks of the Waipa? Chi arriving here the unbiassed visitor cannot but have his ideas of the future importance of the Province strengthened. On every hand there are presented to his notice subjects for European enterprise, lie is surrounded by a thoroughly English scene, —the land (of which large tracts are already ploughed and ready for the settlement of the farmer) is hert£ as before of the most rieli description, unci as : eye stretches southward it meets the rangesfTjof MauugataiiLari and Matemore, and to lfip ' wtfsirtbilbo towering liakepuke mountains, tlie \vV.blj£i these rich in mineral productions, and-by ViceoTnits of natives of old standing, highly auriferous. When we reflect, and view these rich and productive phritis,-.' brought under cultivation by an industrious 'and persevering class of husbandmen, and tcnantetFiSjy: thousands of our English poor, we are, however prejudiced, bound to acknowledge that the conquered' Waikato must eventually become the garden of New Zealand, and Auckland the recipient" of all its wealth.

It is currently reported that the 65th Regiment will proceed to Taranaki via Auckland, during nest month. Tlie report has not been authentically supported.