WAR NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2318, 10 July 1869, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

(I/awkc's Bay Herald.)

An important despatch has been received from Captain St. George, dated Tapuehararu, 26th ult. Captain St George reports that Te Kooti is now at Moerangi, a few miles from the southern end of the lake. Ho has only 100 men with him, and intends to make a stand. He has Bent letters to. the Hauhauß and few friendly natives on tbe western shore, asking them to join him ; but it is understood that they have declined to do bo. The King party are ulbo against him, as far. as, can te made out. On bis march up %ht eastern shores he destroyed Te Hatapi, and killed one man, perhaps two. He then went on to Te Kara and Waihi, and is reported to have burnt those places. Hori Tautika and ICingi, with their people, had retired in the direction of Wangamii. Te Hou Heu and Paurini are reported to have been taken prisoners,-.or. to.'have joined him. From Hatapi or Tatmraga, the Uriwera portion of Te Kooi's force remrned towards their own country. As' far as can be aßcertained, these number about 100. Hotipu Tamamulu anii 30 men had gone from- Tapuehftraru sound the lake, aa far as Hatapi, to look for stray friendlies that may be hanging about the kaingas, and were to return on the 25th inst i Captain St. George had at Tapuehararu some Bixty-three Taupo natives, and 100 Arawas, which was a sufficiently large?force to attack Moerangi. One hundred more Arawas were on; their way up to assist. A prisoner, wlio escaped from Te Kooti, had juat arrived, and stated that Te Kooti was, on hi» way up the western shore to attack Tapuehararu; but Captain St. George says they are quite ready to receive him, and do not require any more help.

From CflptainSt George's deßpaich it would appear that the report of twentyr one of Paora Bapi's people haying been killedby Te Kopti is incorrect, only one, or at most two, having been killed ; and there is reason to hope, from other aecounts, that these peoplo are Only KWiog somewhere. Paoh Hapi, with twenty men, and his wpmen : and children^ aror with our garrison at Te Haroto. * j;

An orderly arrived ; from Patea yesterday afternoon^ having left Mr ! BirphV station on Sunday. He is the bearer of letters regarding tbe movements of -Te Kooti j which confirm the; information fwrniahed on;,ihe;;2sth by, /(Captain Si. Georgiß, as to Kooti's being at Moerangi, oh the west side "of.^tKe:''lake^}'',-He hadi taken Heu Hfeu'"and Paiiririi, witi^nearly, all the people! who rematne^ (a^ T^kjwo^ prisoners. ;. r ; 'Kpoti^'had;' ;npt jalled^anyi-!qf, them biit wished- lHem to join hjm,^ He had destroyed ond looted Tokano. ; Tauteka "and "hJs^p'eoir^ Hatape iFalla, near Karaitiima >»*pah, Patea^ and were^j daily exp^ctifigsbme^ of the "Wanganuilnativeaji to whom^iie had written.for.assistance. •;■.. ;-. ■ -^'•■■'■o.r/>!

; 'Gprnef;'£m^^ -Bay^ ;■ of ;:^PJonl^"^lunl»eralKai'^ai-- last J reached Fort Galatea, afteir undergoitig -i| almost unheard ot. dangers and priVjaiions during tenf days pf mpi^inclenae^ $JBafj tber.';-.| He eicaped witt f^ Z1^1!"j the faie of his companions/ iand: was trying" ;tc»':mnke ;his;way-'tojColpp/el^St;'; soo~k%~ : three natives at florae distance from Opepe, ; and'tiedvith fi^ atrip'p^d^Hiintp^^ejigre^ .■■.'el6tb^'g.;.'-C^Sljil;-^tiiis;v:ro :>.he^remairied^^.^fpur:;day^«^he'ii;;Jii :ftwbMingvm;^:ln>--iaridfc^h :'^d£ttie v:.'^ax^becoim^ ■;heaTpr[;;rain,;jlie^mana^d?^^^ ;one;.bjand, -randsthehi|:3fe|eia«dfbjmseUl, Starting for-- :^drt -.; Gab^e^ih^Shad'^tpl subsist, in Jiat|desolate^c^ 1?^8^ ■ entirely^; :.--At",'. tlie feHerewiwi^ pah he fbrnxdarthe skins of a^few*jpoia^ i^bek' ::whicli"o'had;-;l!cen': "tda«ted''-v-iii;:- : f.tDe; ashes, was thbye, and b^ prp-

ceeded on his jnurnov. At the last crossing of the Rangitaiki, he was discovered by some of the enemy's scouts, just about dark, and plunged into the river and swam across. The stream is here very rapid, and his cap was floated off his head. He reached the bank and scrambled into some long raupo, where he lay hid for some time. The enemy, seeing the cap floating down the river, fired at it. Hi* arrival at Fort Galatea was most miraculous, and he was warmly welcomed by his companions in arms there, as one for .whose safety all hope had been given up. Cornet Smith is an Opotiki settler, and has a wife and family, lira Smith, had never despaired of him. It la^gnrtifying to be able to state that, although extremely reduced, he is doing woll and likely to recover.