WAR NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 920, 17 July 1869, Page 4

WAR NEWS.

[Ilawke't Bay Ihrald.)

An important despatch has boon recoivod from Captain St. Goorgo, dated Tapuohararu, 20th ult. Captain St. George report* that To Kooti is now at Moorangi, a few miles from the southern ond of tho lake. Ho has only 100 men with him, and intonds to make a ntand. He has sent letters to tho Hauhaua and few friendly natives on tho westorn shoro, asking them to join him ; but it is understood that they havo dtoUaed to do so. Tho King party are

also against him, as far as can be made out. , On his march up, the eastern shores he destroyed Te Hatapi, and killed; one ,man, perhaps^two. 1 , He , then went on to Te Kura aiid Waihi, and is reported to have burnt those places. Hori Tautika and Kingi, with their, people, had retired in the direction of Wanganui., Te Heu Heu and Paurini are reported to have been taken prisoners, or to have joined him. From Hatapi or Tauranga, the Uriwera portion of Te Koo'i's force re/urned towards their own country. 1 Ab far as can bo ascertained, these number about 100. Hotipu Tamamutu and 30 men had gone from Tapuehararu round the' lake, as far as Hatapi, to look for stray friendlies that may be hanging about the kaingas, and were to return on the 25 th inst. Captain St. George had at Tapuehararu some sixty-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, who escaped from Te Kooti, had just arrived, and stated that Te Kooti was on his way up the westorn shore to attack Tapuehararu; but Captain St. George says they are quite ready to receive him, and do not require any more help. From Captain St. George's despatch it would appear that the report of twentyone of Paora Hapi's people having been killed by Te Kooti is incorrect, only one, or at most two, having been killed j and there is reason to hopo, from other accounts, that these people are only hiding somewhere. Paori Hapi, with twenty men, and his women and children, ar« with our garrison at Te Haroto. An orderly arrived from Patea yesterday afternoon, having left Mr Birch's station on Sunday. He is the bearer of letters regarding the movements of Te Kooti, which confirm the information furnished on the 25th by Captain St. George, as to Kooti's being at Moerangi, on the west side of the lake. He had taken Heu Heu and Paurini, with nearly all the people who remained at Tokano, prisoners. Kooti had not killed any of them but wished them to join him. He had destroyed and looted Tokano. Hori Tauteka and his people were at the Hatape Falls, near Karaitiana's pah, Patea, and were daily expecting some of the Wanganui natives, to whom he had written for assistance.

Cornet Smith who commanded the Bay of Plenty Volunteers has at last reached Fort Galatea, after undergoing almost unheard of dangers and privations during ten days of most inclement weather. He escaped with four others from the fate of his companions, and was trying to make his way to Colonel St John at Tupeharuru, when he was discovered by three natives at some distance from Opepe, and tied with flax to a tree, after they had stripped him of the greater part of his clothing In this miserable position ho remained for four days, when the swelling in hiß hands having subsided, and the flax becoming softened with heavy rain, he managed to extricate one hand, and then released himself. Starting for Fort Galatea, he had to Bubsist, in that desolate country, almost entirely on grass. At the Horewiwi p«h he found the Bkins of a few potatoes which had been roasted in the ashes. Nobody was there, and he proceeded on his journey. - At the lnsfc crossing of the Rangitaiki, he was discovered by Bomo of the enemy's scouts, just about dark, and plunged into the river and swam across. The stream ia here very rapid, and his cap was floated off his head. He reached tho bank and scrambled into some long raupo, where he lay hid for some time. The enemy, seeing the cup floating down the river, fired at it. His arrival at Fort Galatea was most miraculous, and ho was warmly welcomed by his companions in arms there, as one for whoso safoty all hope had boon given up. Cornet Smith is an Opotiki settlor, and haa a wifo and family. Mrs Smith had never despaired of him. It is gratifying to bo ablo to state that, although extromely roduced, he is doing well and likely to recover.