CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL OF EVENTS.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 294, 14 August 1860, Page 3

CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL OF EVENTS.

Saturday, August 4.— J. Ross, aged 15, died this morning from bronchitis. The brig Hebe sailed to-day for Sydney. Regarding the alarm of attack this morning, we hear that it was occasioned by the presence of parties of marauding natives who plundered several houses on the outskirts of the town. A report received in town this morning of a skirmish with natives on the Bell Block, and later in the day of a second, but no particulars received beyond that the natives retreated with loss. Sunday.— We havo intelligence from Bell Block that during the skirmish yesterday, with the rebels, several natives were killed and wounded. Full particulars will be found in a correspondent's letter, in another column. Gunner Gaffney, R.A., was buried to-day in the Roman Catholic cemetery. The 65th band, and a firing party of artillerymen preceded the body, in command of Capt. Strover, R.A. The bodywas followed by a large number of the Goth regiment. The two companies of volunteer rifles, and some militia, in command of Capts. Stapp, Watt, and Atkinson, marched out to Mr McKechney's house, plundered yesterday, and brought in a quantity of lead, doors, sashes, &c. No natives were seen. The Tasmanian Maid sailed for Waitara with the General and staff. Tile Airedale left for Nelson with 109 passengers, principally women and children. The cutter Will Watch, chartered by the Government, to run between this -port and Manukau, with despatches, arrived today from Auckland with Government stores. Weather fine. Monday. —Hurford's body was found yesterday, near his own iiouse, with one gunshot wound through his heart. No tomahawk wounds. He was buried in the Independent burial ground at Omata. A large number of friendly natives escorted provision carts to-day to Omata. We hear that these natives will in future serve, in the militia, and receive pay and rations. They have been doing duty on the Waiwakaiho Bridge for some time past. The Tasmanian Maid returned enrly this morning from Waitara with General Pratt. We have so news to -report from Waitara. The Victoria sailed this evening for Manakau with despatches for the Government, and has taken three families as passengers. The Victoria is expected back immediately, and will, it is reported, return to Manakau again with any families who may desire to go to Auckland. Weather stormy, with showers. Henry Sergeant, the sailor of H. M. colonial sloop Victoria who was accidentally shot on the loth July, and whose foot was amputated, died to-day from lock-jaw. The following proclamation was issued to-day: "As it is indispensably necessary that families should leave this town, they must prepare to embark for such places as shall be decided upon." There is a general impression that an attack upon the town may be attempted by the natives, and every precaution is made to meet it. The Light Company of the 65th were brought this evening from the Henui, and camped in Liardetstreet, near the Wesleyan Chapel. The head-quarters of the 40th were moved from Fort Murray and camped on the Market Place, Devon-street. 40 men were left in the fort. The different companies of militia and volunteers had their stations marked out, and all families living outside the lines were ordered to remove into town, The trenches are being vigorously proceeded with, and palisading put up in various parts of the town ; gates are erected across the streets. The outlying picquet is brought in from the race-course and" stationed in the trenches—in fact every precaution that can be devised is made to be on the alert in case of attack. Tuesday, — A gun was heard this morning from* Omata. It was found afterwards that the people at the stockade were merely testing an old 4-pounder. Henry Sergeant was buried to-day in St. Mary's church-yard with military honors; a numerous procession of men of both services following him to the grave, preceded by the band of the 40th. At half-past 2 the trenches were manned and carefully inspected by General Pratt. The following notice was published to-day:— " All .families residing outside the lines, requiring night accommodation, are to apply to the Sergeant of Police, until further orders." Wednesday. —A steamer w ts signalled in sight this morning, and was found to be the Lord Worsley from Nelson, bound for Sydney with the English mails. She has called in here for the latest news. The natives have been committing further depredations close to the town. Last night it is reported that a large body of natives broke into Captain King's house at Bropklands, anddestroyed everything it contained, pulling down lininsg and ceilings, &c. They also proceeded toS. Joll's barn in the Avenue Road. A party of Militia and Volunteers went out tc-day to reconnoitre—they encountered no natives but found numerous tracks. Captain King's house, and several other houses have been ransacked, and on the door of W. Roberts house the following was written in chalk—" Na Waikato," i.e. "By Waikato." We are told that some nativesendeavored to effect an entrance into Prout's house on the race course, within the town belt. Two men were sleeping in it, and this caused the natives to decamp. At 7 p.m. a force of the Rifles and Militia, 80 strong, under Captains Atkinson, and W. King, and several other officers, started on a night expedition. Thursday. —The Tasmanian Maid came up to-day from Waitara. A correspondent writes:—Here we are going on much as usual, the Maoris, seemingly having devoted their attentions to the Bell Block fort; but they retain a force in the Puketakauere pah and hoist the red flag most days." Several bullocks and sheep belonging to the contractor had strayed a-.vay to the enemy, notwithstanding that Major Nelson had ordered the erection of a stockyard. The cartel's had left it unfaslened two or three nights after it had been completed, and next morning five or six bullocks were seen grazing under the Waikato pah. 81 sheep, had also strayed away. News came in this morning that a skirmish had taken place with the troops at Waireka and the rebels, and a soldier U said to have been wounded. Particulars will be seen in our correspondent's letter. The Tasmanian Maid returned to Waitara. Weather stormy with showers. The expedition of Volunteers &ud Militia returned to town , $t7a.m>...--. . .. , . ■ •;

Friday, —At an early hour this morning H.M. colonial steam sloop Victoria anshored in the roadstead, having left Maniikau on Wednesday. By her we have Auckland papers to the Bth-instant.--" Proclamation. In reference to proclamation August 6, 1860, and under instructions from the General Government, any families having relations and friends at Auckland may proceed there, but at their own expense and receiving no rations. All others will be sent to Nelson with a free^passage, but if desirous to proceed to Cauterbury or Otago, they must pay the diiference of paasage from Nelson to their destination." The above Proclaraa- ■ tion was posted in the town to-day, and we are informed that 500 persons are under orders to leave by the first opportunity for Nelson. Capt. W. King, with a party of six volunteers, went out to-day to save some effects from his house at Woodleigh which the natives had plundered. One cart load was brought into town. On going ont a second time, a native was observed on Mr. Mungeam's land trying to catch a horse—Lieut. Jonas, one of the party, fired at the native who crept away towards Mr. S. Smith's where he appeared to join, judging by the voices heard, a number of natives. These in turn were answered by others from the forest. Under these circumstances the party returned leaving the cart arid bullocks behind them. 5 pm, Wo have just heard from our Ornata correspondent that " the natives have in good earnest taken possession of Ratapihipihi again, from whence they are sending out parties to annoy us. This afternoon our sentinal, who is placed at the edge of the gully, had two shots fired at him; we all directly mustered and and returned them with interest, whether with effect I cannot say.1' ?.;From a reliable source we hear that the murderer Minarapa was wounded in the thigh in the skirmish on Autridge's farm yesterday morning. Mr. W. Carrington's house at Tapuae has been destroyed. Saturday, 10 a.m.—Tlie report of heavy guns at Gmata was heard, this morning in to'»n,;and we have delayed our publication to ascertain the'news. The impression was that an engagement was taking place, as the rebels are known to be hovering about both the Waireka camp and Oinata stockade. The explanation of the firing is that a party of natives were, owing to the vigilant watch set by Major Hutchins, seen in auibush and two shots fiied into them from the Wairoka camp, at the second they made a precipitate retreat.