TELEGRAPHIC.

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1173, 22 December 1868, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

Wellingtof, Saturday 19. Mrs. Witson died at Napier, to the regret of all, on Thursday last. Yesterday, a party of friendlies from Wairoa, took twenty-eight prisoners from a neutral hapu, but who were in reality spies. Eight canoes were also taken. • ' : ■■ -" ; Tiia steamer Otago -was detained at Melbourne till the 12th December, for the purpose of bringing on recruits for the Constabulary. At Wangnnui..a' memorial is being signed protesting against Whitmore's return, and asking that the defence of the district be committed to Dr. Featherston, the same as it was to Mr. M'Lean on the East Coast. The steamer this morning brings one day's later news. Finnimore's fovce, Bixty strong, destroyed fully £3000 worth of Hauhau property and two Hnuhau Maoris. Five villages, growing crop*, and canoes were destroyed, and a large quantity of stock has been retaken and returned to the owners. The force reached as far as Manawapou, and laughed at the enemy in hia very den, without; loss of a horse or man. This is the greatest event since the commencement of the present hosr.ilities. An excellent moral effect has thus been produced on both sides, this being purely a settlers' raid on the enemy. WEH-itfaTOtf, Monday, 122 p.m. Small-pox is on board the s.s. Kuikoura. Board of Health still sitting ; undecided what is to be done. Other Bteamer3 detained. Monday, 8 p.m. The Airedale, with Captain Wheeler in command, leaves Wellington at one o'clock to-morrow morning for Picton and Nelson. . The Kaikoura leaves to-morrow, if she can get enough coal put on board by her own crew.* Those of her passengers remaining in New Zealand go ashoro for quarantine on Soames' island, or on board the Ladybird, which is anchored off that island, and will remain th«re till thoy are declared clean. There is no later native news.