TARANAKI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 419, 24 April 1863, Page 5

TARANAKI.

MILITARY,! MOVEMENTS. (Prom the Taranaki Herald, April 11.)

Below will be be found the rumors to which reference is made by our Wellington correspondent : —

We reported in our last the starting of a force to occupy the Tataraimaka block from St. Patrick's Redoubt on Wilkinson's farm The force consisted of 200 men of the 57th, under Colonel Warre, C.8., Captain Wooilall, Lieutenants Brutton, Tiiompson, Tragett, Cox, Waller, Lieutenant and Adjutant Clarke, and Assistant Surgeou Hope ; also 100 Royal Artillery as a mounted corps, with two guns, under Captain Mercer, It.A., and Lieutenants Rait and Picard, R.A., together with 6 of the Royal Engine, rs, under Major Mould, U.E. His Exc.lieucy the Governor, Lieut-General Cameron, C.8., and staff, the Hon. MrDnmctt, Colonial Secretary, the Hon. Mr Bell, Native Minister, and Mr Parris, Assistant NativeSecretary, and suite, arrived iroin town at the redoubt at 9.30, and soon after their arrival the force moved south tard; xht: detachment of the 70ih, under Jvlojor Mullock's detachment at Mace's farm, oocupvhig the redoubt, vacated by the 57th ; the 70th, under C'apt liwlston, taking the place of Major Mullock's detachment at Mace's farm. A long train of commissariat cart?, wirh the baggage ai.ul military- stores, &c, in charge of Asst.. Com. General Maulc aud Capt Tiavers, L.T.G., impeded the pro-. gress of the troops, and. it was •■after a tedious march of several hours that (he force readied the Timaru river, the northern boim.lary oi the Tataraimaka block, no natives having been seen on the line of march. The troops were flatted and encamped on' M'DotialJV farm, where a well extended cinnp wits formed'; the* Governor, the General and suite having proceeded to (he extremity of the. block, there iloaui, whose baingu is the "gate," over the Katikara, the southern boundary of the block, with a few of his people, weicoraed the Governor with the usual "Hsere mai, haercinai," and speeches. These people wete in fighting costume, but had whiU- flags flying ; and we lu-ar that Hoani told his Excellency to " sit on his hind," (Tataraimuka.) It was decided, after choosing several sites, to build a redoubt on Bayly's farm, near tiie edjje of the cliff over-hanging the road near the Katikara river and commanding the surrounding country., The troops have been employed, as the weather permitted during the week, on this defence and. which we hear'is rapidly nearing completion. During the week several rumors have been circulated in town respecting the conduct of ths Southern natives since the occupation of Tataraimuka. As we have no means of getting at the truth of any of these, we will only mention one or two which we believe to have some foundation. It is said that Hoani's proceedings on Saturday last have been disapproved by the ivvi (tribe), and that in consequence he has been summoned before a runanga and ordered to hold no communication with the troops. We also hear that the occupation of Tataraimaka has been made without any consent on the part of the natives; and as it is said no communication of any kind has been had, it may be concluded that the silence of the natives is ominous. We have heard from natives in townj'°that they are preparing to resist not only the occupation of Tataraimaka but also of Waireka, and that natives trom the south are gathering in Taranaki. We have also been told that a letter has been received from- a native down, the coast, telling the friendly natives to be tupato (on their guard.) We give these statements as we hear them, for what they are worth, and we do not vouch for the truth of them.

The General has not returned from Tataraimaka, but his Excellency, Mr Domett, and Mr Bell returned on Monday, and his Excellency has since remained in town. We hear he has been detained by the non-arrival of the mail steamer.

Au armed party of natives remain on guard' at the gate, and no European is allowed to go beyond Tataraimaka. Parenga Kingi was absent when the troops occupied the block, and we hear he was very muulr excited when he heard that Tartaraimaka was in the hands of the soldiers.

We have received the following from a native in constant communication with the South: We have only his word for its being true, and we hope that part of it, at least, may prove false. The '•Terms" (not of peace, as that already exists, but of reconciliation, we suppose) offered by the Government to the Taranaki tribe are these:— ,' ' ,' "1. That Waitara shall be adjudicated. ; "2. Thattheir offencesshall bewiped out.' (Koanga hara ka murua.) , : • "3.'That the Government will not go upon (take) any Maori land." ; ■■■_ "■_ The words of Mr Bellwere these—''When; he and the Governor heard that' the"'rdad't'o. Waireka was etopped, they ( went Tin& otfcUptdd 'that place; when,they saw "that Tatftraiiiiaksy 'waselosed against theni, tli;ey' win't dbWnfand-. occupied.that place: they'arelho\¥ liyihg,:tli6re: quietly, and if any man cqmesr'tb friterfe're'" iwith them they shall look'to^it.'^" BUtJ'Tara^ nkki made rio Jansivef.-i-i \.->; ■- ■■'• •^""■^

Our informant states also that the feeling ot Taranaki and Ngatiruanui is decidedly hostile, and that there will probably be war, if they get the assistance of other tribes to whom they have sent.

Latest Intelligence.—We are infomjcl that the Governor has received a letter from the Southern chiefs, hut do not know the purport of it. A reply from his Excellency left town at 2 p m. yesterday (Friday.)