NAPIER.

Otago Witness, Issue 920, 17 July 1869, Page 3

NAPIER.

(FEOM OT7B OW2T CQBRBSPONBKNT. )

June 26th.

A hsavy gale which set in on the 19 ft has resulted in the loss of two coasting craft, the ono named the Grayling, a cutter, the other a small schooner. Both were laden with Government s'ore3. The Grayling wont down with all hands between Wairoa and Mahia ; tho schooner, named the Hero, was driven on shore at the former place, hands and cargo caved, but the vessel is quite shattered. The loss of the Grayling's cargo is regretted chiefly on account of the hardship it will entail on Herrick'a force at Waikaremoana. Herrick is known to be very short cf, provisions. The captains of the Sturt and St. Kilda, I am told, expected, and wished, to steam for Wairoa with provisions, when both steamers were orderod to Wellington, one for the express purpose of conveying the Commander of the Forces and his suite ; and I believe it is a fact both captains remonstrated, on the grounds that provisions were deficient at Herrick'a camp, and that the commanding officer could obtain a passago to Wellington by a mail steamer then hourly oxpoctod from AuckUnd. The expense of tho Sturt's voyage to Wollhtgton was calculated at LUX), by mail steamor a passage would cost six pounds. It is assorted ono of the captains positively refused to start until ho got written instructions ordering him to proceed with tho commanding officer to Wellington ; but however that may bo, it is certain Herrick might and ought to have boon supplied whilst the weather was propitious. It is seldom tho Wairoa bar can be passed with safety, and Wairoa is tho only port available for passing provisions to Waikaremoana. Poor Schon, master of the' Grayling, was the last of throe brothort, all of whom haveatdifforcnt times been drowned on this coast. The eldest brother Thomas was famous for his skilful navigation of the shallow bar harbours on this coast. The Mnrewai schooner, also laden with Government stores, had a narrow escape during the late gale. On Tuosday night last, a father and son were swept out to sea by tho tide whioh always, upon the obb, rushes with great volooity through tho entrance to tho iron Pot. as the Napier inner harbour is called. Bom the man and his boy were drowned, and their boat tumod upside down. All tho men of tht 18th Regiment detachment.

to which the unfortunate soldier belonged, turned out on Wednesday to recover the bodies; but without 'success! Everything is quiet at Mohaka, Wairoa, and Poverty Bay. Natives, supposed to be iHau-haufl) are occasionally seen prowling about the last named district, but they will not accomplish much mischief if only ordinary precautions are taken. It is Batißf actory to have to report that there is at last a fair prospect of getting a settlement of the Poverty Bay land question.. When the settlement is effected a splendid estate will become the property of the colony, and it will cost little to secure it for profitable occupation. For years the Defence Force men raised in 1863 have been hoping to receive permission to settle on the block surveyed for them two years ago at Wairengahika, and as it is contemplated to locate a body of Ngatiporous at Patutahi, in the heart of the district, 1 see no reason why Poverty Bay may not be settled in a very short time. Yesterday, Raymond, a scout, reported to have been killed, arrived at Napier from Fort Galatea. He reports the men at

that place as having struck work. It appears that four months' arrears of pay are due to the Constabulary at Galatea, and a dispute haa arisen with respect to provisions. The mon have been requested to give up their arms, but refuse. Raymond had a narrow escape on his way to Napier. Curiously enough, he unconsciously passed close to the locality where Cornet Smith was tied to a tree by Hauhaus, and where he remained bound for four days, until the incessant rama caused his flax, bonds to expand, when he contrived to extricate himself.

His arrival at Galatea caused great excitement, as he had been long given over for a lost man. He was 11 days

absent after his escape from the Opepe massacre. He is a man of herculean build, which may partly account for his having survived so long. Herrick, at Wairoa, is making good progress in the construction of a small flotilla — two flat-bottomed craft have been built, each capable of carrying 100 men ; bo we may soon expect to hear of something having been done at Waikaremoaua, Herrick is vory popular with his men.

Colonel Lambert is at present stationed at Te Haroto— formerly a stronghold of Rangihiroa, the great Hauhau leader, who was slain in Major Fraaer's gallant fight at Petane, seven miles from Napier, on October 12th, 18G6, and whose "mere" is in my possession. Te Haroto is a position, situated on a wooded range, about 36 miles from Napier on the direct Taupo and Auckland mail track. Te Haroto has been judiciously selected, as it commands the only available pass into the Taupo district. Provisions can be forwarded to within 11 miles of To Haroto by dray; the remainder of the journey packhorses are used, but the road is n<>t severe. Meat is cheap, and easily procured, and the packing is chioily performed by bullocks, 14 p: irs of those animals havinsr been supplied by the Acting Government Agents. The name gentleman has hitherto supplied the fo 'ces with mutton ; groceries, on the contrary, are procured by private contract. At Te Uaroto, as elsewhere, tho Constat ulft y are usefully employed in making iroad «, which will give us easy acoesa for the future to Taupo. The old road made as far as Colonel Whitraoro's station, and int n led to bo continued to Taupo, has not bjen finished beyond Colonel Whitmore's, as it is not generally approved of. It passes over a poor country which does not improve as one advances. Tho fall of the Stafford Ministry has created nu excitement, as it was considered inevitable Satisfaction is universally felt, and tho hopo is entertained that for tbo future facilities will bo granted for obtaining information respecting what is going on at tho front. Hitherto such has not boon th« case, and very little is really known of what Imb transpired in the Uriwera country and elsowhoro. It is said that the casualties aro very heavy, at least troblo what has been stated in despatches. As the reticonco lately imposed is gradually withdrawn, I venture to say, from information gleaned, that tho country will havo cause to rogrot that such a costly expedition should have boen initiated at nuch an unpropitioua eoaaon, and that tho rcAulta are by no moans commonsurato wi*h tho heavy expenditure and tho sacrifice of our mon.