THE WAR IN AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 652, 28 May 1864, Page 18

THE WAR IN AUCKLAND.

The " Southern Cross" of the 12th mat. says : —

There is nothing of any consequence to notice from the Front. The recent reconnaissance by the troops at Tauranga, under Sir D. A, Cameron, X C.8., has made one thing evident, namely, that the rebels have evacuated "several of their posts, which they might have held for a considerable tiwe against any force that could be led against them. It is quite clear, therefore, that the lesson of the Gate pah has been useful to the natives as well as to ourselves, only the lessons are of a different kind, From the description of the Potariwhi pah, by our own correspondent, it would appear to be identical, in its outer defences, with the Gate pah ; and insignificant a 9 this kind of defence may appear, we believe it is practically the most effective the Maoris could construct. It presents so little face to shot and shell as to render a continued bombardment almost a waste of time and money. A breach may be effected, but the main portion of the work is as formidable as ever against a rush. Once tin the pah, however, and there the difficulty ends. That which is most formidable to vn assaulting party when on the outside, becomes their safeguard if they succeed in lodging themselves inside. The natives must have seen that fact. They likewise know enough of our troops to be convinced that never again might they be saved from the dreaded bayonet by a sudden panic; and therefore they abandoned their new works, modelled after the Gate pah, from which »they escaped so miraculously. It js surmised that the rebel- natives have retired to' a native village; from which their retreat by the bush at the rear to Peria is open. If so (and < we can hardly doubt it), it is just possible that our military settlers will- be I annoyed by unwelcome visitors during the

winter, and this leads us to impress uooa. the authorities the necessity for locating' the settlers in a permanent way, as* soon. as possible. It may be that when tfieGeneral advances on their present position, the rebels will once more evacuate their works, and retire upon the interior, with the view of leading a predatory Hfef or they may unite forces with the tfgatt* porous, and the turbulent natives of the Bay of Plenty, south of Maketu. , , The same journal contains the following items : — By the arrival of the Alexandra yesterday, we have later news from Maketu. Our readers will recollect the letter which the rebels addressed to the friendly natives since the battle near Matata. In consequence of the threat of the rebels, that unless the Frawas and friendly Xgatipikiaous joined them, they would go inland and massacre indiscriminately. The Chief Pakeha (Fox) and his cousin Waterhouse, went inland for the women and children .still left in the inland kiangas. On the way, Fox met several repentant Ngatipikiaous, who, ' having had enough of fighting, were returning to their fealty. They stated that from the time the rebels crossed the Waihi river to attack Maketu, until driven off by the shelling from the ships, they lost twenty men. Six of these were buried in the little acacia grove visible from Fort Colville, on the extreme right of the enemy's works. During the flight and pursuit, the same parties say the rebels lost seventy men. They crossed the Otamarakau river under heavy fire from the ships, . when the tide was full, and many lost their guns and lives in crossing. Since the action the friendly natives have dragged up t many dead bodies from this river, greatly disfigured by fish. These bodies have been buried. Fox was further informed that there had been • dispute in the rebel camp before crossing Waihi to attack Maketu. The Ngatiporoua gave such license to their tongues, and made so many boasts of what, they would ' do to the friendly natives and soldiers, that the Ngatipikuous present drew off •nd a collision was imminent. On the first, day of the attack under Major Colville the feeling ran so high between the two sections of the natives, that it was said if the Arawas had crossed with the Forest Rangers and Defence Corps, the Ngatipikiaous would have turned their arms against the Ngatiporoua. As it happened, however, this did not occur, and 1 so both tribes were taught a salutary lesson. The friendly chiefs who propose to pay a visit to the Front, for the purpose of in-ducing-their rebellious countrymen to SUb-' mit to the powers that be, assembled outside the Native Office yesterday, and were evidently in high confab upon the subject. There were representatives from almost all the friendly tribes north and south around Auckland ; and mustering in small groups, they were addressed by their respective leaders. It was understood at the close of the day that they had fully come to the determination to start on their mission as toon as possible. Paul, of Oraki, Waata Kukutai, and several other influential chiefs, were amongst those present. After the Runanga was over,. Mr Fox, with whom they had an interview^, acquainted the Governor with their decision.

The recent five in Stafford street and it» consequent enormous destruction of property has at last awakened our merchants to the urgent necessity of erecting stores more suitable for the protection of their merchandise than the flim3f inflammable structures of which the majority of business premises in ' this tovrn is composed, Ifc is not long since- - we had occasion to notice the erection of Mr Casper's Bond on the ruins of the old building. Simultaneously Messrs . Paterson - and M'Leod commenced , a similar building, in Moray Place, near its junction with the lower end of Staart street. This building, which is now finished,- with the exception of som.6 slight ornamentation 'to the fagade, is certainly the most commodious, and for & bonded warehouse, the store in the colony of New Zealand. The length - is 133 feet by rB2 feet in. breadths A cellar 8 feet 6 inches high, extends the; . whole area of the building, entrance tdjWhich , is obtained by means of street traps i at;eitherside of the building. The entrance sto the T.i upper floor is the main entrance,' -and is'of- ; such width as to allow of the ingre?3 and egrqag of drays,, should? such be found iiecea-V sary. This floor is on strong beams' supported- - „ at intervals often feet on stout timber, story, posts. The roof, whiqh is o£ one spitny is on , ■ the self supporting priqciple,iand!^we are. informed, has not its equal/ in the Australiancolonies. In the centre oftheJrdofjTanother floor has been constructed .33 feet by, £33 feet,, and which the -proprietors^ hiiiend 5 usinjf as a free store at present. -Iferis calculated J^at the cellar will- contain p fropa" i four-t(£ five thousand r casks, while the robnoffbr stowage abovewouldamouafc to, nearly iourtthousand tons alto-; . gether. T>fcbuUdi»igf • | known asthe. % Que<mVt^arehouse, Js accredit to the, i own andjito/its' proprietors^ -Thir^ architects for Messrs Pater-son andld)Leodte ,-_ building are' Messrs :Mftsbn and Q|ayton,*andthe builders Messri'Somner and Gunri. , /