BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2126, 27 November 1868, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(from cur owx cokuesi-oxdexts.) Wellingtox, November 2Gth. Further telegrams stato that CO rebels, havo been killed, having been driven into a gully and surrounded, and that fighting was still going on. The increased number o' the killed Is thought to bo an exaggeration, Mr Sl'Lean stating it at 20, as already telegraphed. Tho Evening Post's latest telegram* are as follows:—"Tho engagement took placu at Mabihi, tJr'rty miles inland, near the upper Wairoa, but accounts diffjr slightly as to tho nuinVor of the killed and wounded. "Twelve dead bodies of robels have been seen. Ton guns and 20,000 rounds of ammunition have been sent to the Friondliea. Tho rebels are believed to bo running short of ammunition. They havo driven large numbers of tho settlers* cattle inland for provisions. " The woll-known Friendly chief Manaima was wounded in both ehouldcra. " An old Hauhau was taken prisoner-. Ho refused to give any information, and will probably be shot to-day. " The bodies of two natives, supposed, to bo Friendlics, havo been found half buried. " Te Kooti ia killed, and To Warn has taken the command." Dr Featherston returned hist night from tho West Coast. A large and hastily summoned deputation waited on liim this afternoon, to ascertain the real stato of matters on the West Coast. The Superintendent informed thorn that although it was bad enough, he thought that the circulation of false rumours such as thoso current in Wellington last Sunday had created more uneasiness than circumstances at tho present time actually warranted. The deputation said that they intended! to call a public meeting, and asked if be would take tho chair. Tho Superintendent replied that at each a juncture it waa his duly to work to the utmost of his power with tho Government for the preservation of the peace of the Island, and especially for that of the Province That ho had offered his services in any capacity to tho Government before ho went up tho Coast, and waa still willing to place them unreservedly at the disposal of tho Ministry. With that reservation he would leave himself in the hands of tho deputation. The latter returned with tho understanding that a requisition would be got up, calling a public meeting as early as possible, and that the Superintendent should bo asked to take the chair. In all probability tho shape which tho meeting will take will bo to urgo tho making of an. appeal to tho Australian Governments for, troops. Colonel M'Donnell is not making muchi progress in raising a Native Contingent^ all tho natives being thoroughly dissatlEfied. The report of a general rising, winch so alarmed Colonel Haulta'i, was the result of a letter from two Pipirild. natives to the Wanganui na'.'.ves, stating that they had heard that the King had ordered the Hauhaua to rise. Major Marshall, after riding over tho Rangitikei district, and seeing all the natives, concluded with Mr Fox that the 140 men ordered to its assistance from tho Front, would do more harm than, good, and sent instructions to prevent, their coming into the district. The messenger who rode to Wellington on Sunday, caused the greatest panic throughout his whole line of route. At Manawatu the people were preparing to leave, until Dr Featheraton's arrival eased their minds. Major Edwards is about, to start to get the Militia of tho Manawatu and the neighbouring coast into order. Mr Grant's motion at the public meeting held in Dunedin last Tuesday is regarded in the light of a joke, as if the Government of the North. Island could be more despotic than it is at present. The Presbyterian Assembly have passed tho following resolution :—" That thut Assembly, in view of tho recent calamities which have befallen certain districts, of this colony through the unhappy native war at present raging, record their sympathy with the sufferers, and appoint Sunday, the 27th of December next, to be observed as a day of humiliation and prayer in the several congregations int connection with this Church." The sitting of the Manawatu Lard. Court, after lasting 16 days, has terminated, the Judges refusing to give any decisions, because tho natives would not appear either iv person or by counsel. If delay was the only result it would matter comparatively liitlc, bwfc there is a far graver question looming ahead, viz., the settlement of the rent duo from the squatters on the block, th« payment of which has b:en suspended until the ..Court should decide the ownership of the land. It hating now failed to do so, the disputing tribes will hardly be any .longer restrained from demanding the large arrears now due ; and if they ax* not paid, will doubtless exercise their rights as landlords in a summary way. Should the tribes be brought into conflict, at this perilous crisis, it is not easy to* predict the consequences.

8 p.m. Tho Wanganui has just arrived from Wanganui. but there is nothing extraordinary in the papers. The following are tho only extracts of any importance :— Colonel Whitmoro has commenced to erect block-houses along tho line fixed on at Kai Iwi. Tho material was carted out yesterday. It is proposed to man them with the first-class Wanganui militia. The force under Colonel Whitmore's -command commenced to ohift their position yesterday from Woodall's to Stewart's redoubt. This will draw them further from tho town, and more in the vicinity of the Wanganui river. There is nothing important stirring in that direction, nor is there likely to bo anything for some time to come. Yesterday a strong detachment waa i under orders to start last night for Wairoa, to visit tho men in that redoubt. Mr Ilalcombe, J.P., writes regarding tho attack on the German pedlar as follows :—" I have taken the young man's deposition, and it is impossible to come to any other conclusion than that tho motive for tho attack was simply the robbery of the pedlar's pack, and that there ia not tho slightest ground for attaching any political importance to the act. The police are on the Maori's track, and there is ovory reaion to believe that he will be apprehended immediately. Colonel Haultain has returned. The news from Napier is exciting tho liveliest satisfaction, and is causing quite a reaction in favour of tho Friendly Natives, and increasing tho regret that Dr Featherston's services, proffered long ago, were not availed of relative to the Wanganui Natives, in the same way aa Mr M'Lean's have been. Major Lambert •was telegraphed to to put himself under Mr M'Lean's orders as soon as the double authority clashed, or tho present good news would not have resulted. Tho Post says, " Coming as tho intelligence does like gleams of sunshine when our prospects were at the darkest, we tmst it will prove the harbinger of many victories to come, and of not far distant restoration to peace and order throughout tho colony. Although, doubtless by the courage and brave conduct of our native allies, to whom we award tho highest praise, this great success has been worked out; yot wo must not forget the master spirit who guided their movements —Mr M'Lean —who h.i 3 on this occasion, as on every other in which he has acted according to his untrammelled judgment, proved himself tho most competent man in Now Zealand to deal with native affairs, whether in peace or war. All honour to him ; and we trust his hands will be loft free to complete -what he has so ably begun." The Government deny that Colonel Haultain has approved of tho Guerilla ■ Regulations, Both tho Wauganui ■ Chronicle and Herald affirmed that ho had.

Napier, November 26th. Mrs Wilson is recovering ; and her ■ister, Mrs Lowry, haß gone to nurse her. A field-pieco has been sent to the " Front. The details of the recent fighting are meagre and contradictory ; but there is no doubt that a decided advantage was gained. The force engaged consists of the Natives under Tarcha, and 10 Europeans under Lieutenant Gascoigne. The Natives are bad at making a rush, and white - men are much wanted. The enemy was discovered on Monday on a flat surrounded by a ditch and a parapet, and is still kept there. The casualties on our side were G killed • and 18 wounded, nearly all being in the rush. Fresh orders have been sent to the Wairoa Contingent to hurry on. This new 3 has been very gratefully received here. Timaru, Nov. 2Gth, 5 p.m. There is no sign as yet of the Storm Bird. The agents think that she may have put in to Akaroa.[The folio-wing appeared as a Daily Time* Extra yesterday :—] Wellington, November 2Cth, 11.41 a.m. An engagement took place at Poverty Bay on the 23rd inst. Te Kooti is supposed to be killed. More than 20 of the enemy wore killed. Of the Government Natives, four were tilled, and 12 wounded. Neither party can bury their killed. Napier, 11.24 a.m. Te Kooti has been surrounded by the Poverty Bay forces. Himself and 30 men were killed. He encamped in a valley, with cover, our people being on the hilL There were several casualties on our aide. Had the Wairoa contingent been up, the enemy would have been crushed. Fighting is still going on. The members of the M.U.I 0.0. F. in New Zealand at the commencement of toe curreut year numbered 3753. The total lumber connected with the society was 417 422 being an increase for 18b7 01 12 290 The amount annually contributed by members is upwards of L3G0,000, while averages L300.000.a year »nd the accumulated capital of aUtheLodgea •amounts to over L 2,000,000.