HAWKES' BAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 552, 19 August 1865, Page 5

HAWKES' BAY.

TFFJLOUS POSITION OF NAPIER.

PEETA-RATTON FOR DEFENCE FROM THE HAUHAUS.

By the Star of the South, which arrived yesterday from Napier, we have Hawkes' Bay papers to "tlie loth instant. The mockery of the speech with which Sir George Grey opened the Assembly is. each mail that arrives, only more apparent. At a time when he congratulated the colony on the return of peace we had the news of the massacre of Captain Close and his companions at Taranaki : of the brutal murder of Mr. Fulloon and the captain and crew of the Kate at Whakatane : of ihe investiture of the Piperiki redoubts by some three hundred Hauhaus : of the critical p.-,?iti':n of the friendly natives on the East Coast: of the murder of Lieut. "Waring while duck-shooting at Wanganui: of the threatened massacre of the "Wairarapa settlers, in the province of "Wellington : and have now intelligence of the perilous position of Napier, where the inhabitants 'are taking active measures to prevent surprise and massacre. - Precautionary measures." says the Jfn'rk-c's Tt:: i J 'L " have we understand been taken "in these times of rampant Hauhauism, for ob- j •• viating anv alarm within the town. A mounted "party, to consist of a corporal and two privates "of the Defence force, will patrol the Spit at " ni_ r l'.T: whilst, from the same source, the police " force will be temporarily strengthened in their '• after-dark dutv. It is also the intention, as '•will be seen front advertisement, to issue '■In!! cartridge to the militia and volunteers re- " siding within the town." The Time* draws attention to the defenceless state of tho town, and the likelihood of Maori attack, and «avs. alluding to a fight between two panic l ; of Maoris, which took place during the night lately in the neighbourhood of the tewn. "Our aim in noticing this aflair is to call the attention of the authorities to the unprotected state of the Spit —the chief avenue to the town from the Northern District. We are informed that there is noe arranged signal to be used by the police in ease of danger, and the Militia have not a single round of ammunition for use in ca«" of need. Tho treachery of the fanatics is well known, and there is nothing to hinder anv number of them taking possession of the Spit, tinder the pretence of bringing in a few potatoes. &c.. for sale. Means for the protection of the town should speedily be taken."