TE AWAMUTU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 355, 31 December 1864, Page 7

TE AWAMUTU.

[FROM Ul7lt OlVlf COHItKSI'ONJJKNT.] December 9. A i i:w clays ago an order was isnied here that all the troops in garrison would turn out under arms every morning one hour before daylight until further orders, but for what cause we cannot ascertain. This looks rather warlike again, I think. I was almost in hopes that this eort of work had been concluded, when I heard of such elegant terms of peace being offered, but this makes things look rather different. 1 suppose they are afraid of the natives coming upon us oil a surprise. And this evening another order has been issued and given to the garrison police, to this effect.

There is a public road that leads past tl>c canteen through the Commissariat Transport Corps and up to the 40th Camp, aud to pas 3 this way the troops have to go across a bridge, and a policeman has orders now not to allow any man belonging 10 the Goth regiment to cross this bridge, but for what, reason this order has been given I cannot say. Our old friends think it rather hard that, such an order is given to stop them only; and another order was issued about a week ago that the 65th regiment was to parade for bathing every morning in the fresh water lake, not far from camp. This is the only rei'iment in tile garrison that lias received this order for bathing every morning. The other lvgimenis are allowed to bathe at what time they like. This evening a foot, race of one mile was contested between Private Hudson, Commissariat Transport Corps, ami Private Gowcr, '10th regiment, for ;C2O aside, which was easily won by the former named person. Great betting in favour of Private Cower, on account of his winning a former race some lime ago. Camp, llit.h December, 1801. The whole giirrisoji bore was last night alarmed by a loud cry of lire, the buglers of the several •umrds sounding the "alarm and assembly." It was about half-past ten o'clock. As a matter of course, the. men ol the various corps turned Out. After a few moments, when the excitement consequent upon so sudden an uhrrn had subsided, it was found that the barrack l-oom occupied by Lieutenant Halt's

troop K)f mounted artillery hud taken fire, together with la small store liouae attached to it. Such an occur fcnco in thie part of the countiy is veiy unusual, this bring only the second instance known of a disaster ot tho kind. But though such misfortune is very "infrequent, its danger is greatly magnified by tho tjreat number of whares and wooil'n structure* that have been recently creeled, and which are becoming every day elosor. We believe that a good deal of valuable property has been destroyed by this catastrophe, such as swords, revolvers, clothes, &c. As tho men wero in bod at the time, it is exceedingly fortuiJiato that no loss of life resulted from this untoivard accident. There have however been some personal losses that will be severely felt. It is known (.hut dome of tho men were possessed of considerable savings, some of them of sums to tho amount of from thirty to forty pounds!. This money, which was represented by bank notes, is, we fear, irreparably lost, unless some record of tho numbers may have been kept. There wan a very light breeze at the time, had it been olliorwiso, tho consequences must have beon vory serious, for (hero was a very largo wooden building wit hin a few y;irds, and thoaitillcry stabliis wore almost contiguous. However, tlieie was 'i vory large body of men of tho 40th Keginieiit and of tho Engineers soon on tlio spot, by whose united elfirts the firo was got under, and a considerable quantity of ammunition, saddles, rifles, bedding, swords, &c., &c., wore saved from destruction. The cause of the Cue is not yet known, but an oflicial enquiry will no doubt bo made. There is no sign of any Natives hereabouts, although there are many rumours as to their intentions and vrhoreaboutti. The men still muster under arms in tho mornings.