WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 652, 28 May 1864, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

(kbobc thh daily times correspondent.)

Wellington, 19th May.

When I wrote to you on the 13th, I gave yon all the particulars then known relative to the anticipated attack of natives en Wanganui town ; and I gave reasons why a warning from friendly natives, under present circumstances, required that all due attention should he paid to it, notwithstanding that several similar warnings tad during the last year or two resulted in nothing. The mail of the 14th from hence, will have put you in possession of the •* Chronicle's" account of the steps taken to prevent the rebels coming down the river, and informed you that the natives epenly friendly to the Government bad been joined, by others, by some of Pebis people among the rest, never heretofore looked upon as likely to side with them. Fehi, although a King Chief, and one of the most influential of the up-river Chiefs, has been all along very desirous to teep peace at Wanganui, though favorable to fighting at Taranaki ; but from all that I can gather this particular threatened attack and defence arises from religious causes alone. The Pai Marire, or "followers of the good Mary" as they im piously call themselves, were full to the bong with fanaticism ; and believing themselves to be strong enough for anything, determined at once to attack the settlers, confident that all disproportion of numbers, &c, would be made up by the angels promised to them by the Virgin. The natives who determined to oppose them seem, to some extent at least, to have been actuated by a contempt for the new religion, and consisted both of Queen and King natives. The determined stand thus made against the fanatics was thought likely to prevent a collision, but who can reckon on what men (imbued with a belief that the gods are for them, and their enemies doomed to destruction) will or will not do ? The leader,' Matene, is said to have eaten the brains out of Captain Lloyd's head, thereby rendering himself peculiarly sacred— an especial iavorite among the favorites of heaven. All was prepared, and confideut of success they started from Piperiki, sixty miles distant from Wanganui. The accounts received are entirely native accounts, and differ exceedingly. It is very difficult to make plain their confusion, and the whole is liable to revision when the true version comes to hand. I wish, therefore, particularly to guard aayself as being in any way responsible for the correctness of the details. The Government natives took up a position on a river islet which had been understood )to be the intended field of battle. The landing of the Marire on it was to be the declaration of war. It appears to have been a sort of pre-arranged duel, the stnallness of the numbers of the fanatics being made up by the power of Gabriel or Mary. The Pai Mariri came and landed, and according one account then yelped Hau, Hau, Hau for a couple of hours. This word is the invocation for help from heaven, and is uttered in a yelping dog-like sound. They then rose and discharged three volleys on the Government natives before the fire was returned. But another account says that one of *the leaders of the other party, Kerete, fired on the Pai Marire three times fcefore the latter let fly a volley in return, two statements directly opposite to each other. Jf they had not already landed as above stated (about which there is a doubt), the rebels now did so and a hand to hand fight took place. The straggle proved the truth of the Great Frederick's saying, that heaven mostly favors the largest battalion, and the Pai Marire, who numbered about 120, were defeated with great slaughter by the Government force of 400. The number killed on the side of the rebels is said to be eighty, and the wounded twenty more, while on the Government side there were twelve killed, and several wounded, but the exact number is doubtful. When further particulars are received, I think it Tery likely that the rebel killed will be materially lessened ; but the fact of a great victory being obtained ia certain, and it will effectually tend to prevent the spread •1 the dangerous fanaticism out of which the fight arose. Of the five leaders of the Government natives no less than four were killed. Kereti was a catechist of the Rev. Mr Lampiller, a Roman Catholic priest in the neighborhood, first in command, he was the first to fall. Riwai belonged to Turakina, and his death will probably at tmce embroil his inland tribe. Of Apereniko nothing particular is stated, but the fourth of the dead leaders, Henri, was formerly a violent kingite. Mete Ringi, a fee intelligent Patiki' native, a very friendly chief, one who has several time's ktely visited Wellington and been very active in inducing the Government to settle the Rangitikei land dispute, is the only •ne of the five unhurt. A French me•hanic employed in the erection of a mill at the R. C. Mission Station was also Killed; he, with the Rev. Mr Lampiller

having been in the thick of the fight on the Government side. The Pai Marire aiso lost some of their chief men, among whom was Matene, the eater of the brains. Hore Patene, the son of the old chief of the same name who was killed at Taranaki— a chief of considerable distinction — was also shot together with his uncle. Altogether, it has been a very serious affair for both parties ; but if the relative numbers killed are anything like correct, it is- a far more crushing affair than even the late native fight at Maketu ; and with it will do much toward convincing both settler 3 and natives that, however few there may be, there are, nevertheless, some friendly natives on whose aid we may rely. I have not told you when the fight occurred, but it took place either on Friday or Saturday last (the 13th or 14th). The stories differ, as also do they differ relative to the place at which it occurred, Borne accounts fixing it on the island, and some on the river bank at Ranara or London. The news reached Wanganui on Sunday morning, and wa3 brought down here next day by the Storm Bird. We anxiously await further particulars, because we are led to believe that the Government natives were following the rebels in the several directions in which they had escaped. Ammunition has been sent up to them, and it is not unlikely that flushed with victory they may make their first success still more notable. This is the first step to war at Wanganui. Threatened as it often has been, it has come at last, Fortunately, the cry of " Wolf !" was not disregarded, though it had been only a cry before ; and it is singular that Hori Patene, who wrote to warn the Putiki of the danger they ran in helping the Government, was shot in the fight by these very natives. Mr White, as lex • plained in my last, has done his duty, and the result proves him to have done it well. The surrounding tribes will now inevitably be drawn into it, and Wanganui will, without doubt, become one of the battle fields of New Zealand. Application has again been made to Auckland for more troops ; but meanwhile I am told that an order has come down to the native magistrates not to attempt any more arrests of natives implicated in the Northern War, because the peace must be maintained at all hazards, the Government not being prepared for war in this Province. This was written before the Wanganui news could have reached Auckland, and prepared or not prepared for it, the Govern ment has no resource but to strengthen the force in this Province without an hour's delay. You wiil learn from Auckland that more native chiefs are following in Naylor's wake, and attempting to induce the Waikatos to submit. The pressure brought on the Government by the military 19 said to be the foundation for these proceedings. Sick and tired of the war as the military have heretofore been, they are ten times more so now the scene is shifted to TauI ranga, and as they see no end to it, they wish it over. With all our care it spreads and will spread, and the work for the military to do is really no less now than it was at the commencement, Waikato wa3 then thought to be the root, and when destroyed, it was believed the branches would wither of themselves. But the branches have apparently taken root, and there is much to be done ere peace can be hoped for — such a peace as we have been accustomed to insist upon. The Panama correspondence is not yet published. Mr Stevens you kuow has returned from Auckland, and I understand somewhat shaken by his perusal of the MS, feeling clear that ministers have at least a lawyer's case, if nothing more. The determination of the Ministry to oppose the contract in the Assembly is said to be most thorough. Mr Selfe was instructed by the mail of last week to offer the I. X,. M. Co. the Canterbury guarantee. The N. Z. S. N. Co. have orders to prepare a steamer for the Seat of Government Commissioners use, nexi August, to fix upon the new capital. Ido not know the reason of this delay, but perhaps the Ministry are going to test the truth of delays being dangerous — the longer the delay, the more chance they may think of something 'urning up. • We have no further news from the Pelorus since last steamer. In consequence of the N. Z. S. N. Co. having obtained the West Coast contract again, every boat ia fully employed, and unless they purchase o'her vessels, we shall be left to chance steamers for trading with the diggings. The Titania sailed for the digaings last Monday. Our latest dates irom Wanganui are Monday the 16th, the Superintendent and the Defence force having arrived the day before. The Queen met with a slight [ accident to her machinery, and instead, of sailing for the North on Sunday, was detained until Monday.

BAD NEWS FROM THE PJBLOEUS. P.S.— The Star of the South has just

arrived from Havelock with unsatisfactory news from the diggings. The river had risen 30 feet and swamped nearly all the claims. Great distress in consequence. Diggers finding their way overland to Nelson. Many are ,waiting to return to the south — enough to fill several steamers. Several stores had been rushed — two men severely beaten, one supposed to be dead.