OMATA. [from our own correspondent.]

Taranaki Herald, Volume IX, Issue 419, 11 August 1860, Page 3

OMATA. [from our own correspondent.]

Omata Stockade, August 10, 1860. It is now some time since I last sent you any news from our stockade, and this has been chiefly owing to a dearth of matter that wonld in any shape be considoted as intetestingly connected with the pending war. But late events have been of such a Stirling natuie that this week I send you a few extracts from my journal. On Thursday, August 2nd, John Hurford, a farmer in the Omata district and attached as a militiaman to our stockade, wishing to visit his form to sco some potatoes that had been pitted left this withou l permission about 2 o'clock for the soldiers' camp on the top of the Waireka hill where he was joined by four artillerymen, and fiom thence proceeded by the bush toad to his farm where they commenced pig hunting, and it was not until they had continued for upwaids of half-an-hour that the natives appealed and fned on them, when one of the artillerymen ran across the bush and succeeded in making the stockade fiom Honeyfield's farm uninjured. The other two escaped into the bush and readied their own camp in the midaie of the night. The next day Captain Burton rode up and made arrangements with Major Hutehins to send a party of men in search of the two missing men. On the return of Captain Burton to the stockade twelve men were told off and started for the soldiers' camp, under the command of Lieut. Armstrong, where they were joined by foitj soldieis, under Lieut. Mair, and at once proceeded in seatch of the absent. The volunteets after sometime found the body of the artilleryman Gaffney, but could see nothing of poor Hurford, the party consequently returned to their respective quarters. <•■"""" On Saturday an endeavour was made through the friendly natives to learn the whereabouts of Ilurford's remains ; the descriptions given pointed only to the spot where Gaffney had been found. The, natives did not seem to imagine that more than one' white man had been killed. It appears from this that Hurfoid must have come by his death from an accidental shot, ana that the savages were not aware of his having fallen ; this may account for the body not having been tomahawkea in the usual way. On Sunday another expedition was organised to make further seirch for our missing comtade, con•istiug of eighteen men, under Lieut. Armstrong, mill foity roguiari, under Lieut. Mair. This time

success crowned their efforts, for they found Km-lbrd lying on his back on the grass land, the bullet having stiuck him in the back by the shoulder blade passing diagonally through the boay and coming out of the lower rib by the leit side. 'B* The body was conveyed to an outhouse near the stockade, when, so soon as the coffin was prepared, it was borne to the burial giouna, attached to the Primitive Methodist chapel, where a grave had been prepared next to one of his childien. The Rev. H. 11. Brown read the funeral service. The funeral was attended by Capt. Burton and all who could be spared from the stockade. Hurford leaves a widow and 8 children to struggle their way alone through the worW. With us at tho stockaao the Sabbath, generally speaking, is a delightfully quiet day : some read, otheis write, whilst some commune with their own thoughts and are still ; but this Sunday the sacred quiet has been broken by the unwonted sound of the carpenter's hammer, eveiy blow of which seemed to convey to the thoughtful the idea that it might be his cum next. It was but a few days before this when our comrade, for whom we are now fulfilling the last offices requited by his earthly body, was full ol health and comparative happiness, and even buoyant, with joy lor the future. Tuesday, August 7.— The new signal staff winch has been elected at tho Waireka hill, by our Seigt.Major Stevens, was used for the fust time and found to woik very well. The natives are reported to be on their way for Ratapihipihi, wheie they intend to erect a pa. Capt. Bui ton is taking every piecaution for the safety of the stockade and the men under his charge. Wednesday, August B.— This morning several natives were seen and shots heard in the direction of Ratapihipihi, after a short time they again disappeared in all probability towards their camp at Tapuai. Tluusday, Aug. 9.— The firing heard this morning at the soldiers camp proved to be a slight affair between the natives and soldieis. Eaily in the moin1 ing three soldiers, one only armed, accompanied James Autridge to hit. father's farm to assibt him in milking the cows, they had barely commenced operations when some fifteen or twenty natives rushed from Autridge's house and filed on the p,uty, the soldier with the rifle received a flesh wound in the thigh and another in the knee. Immediately on the alarm being given, fifty men started from tho camp to the rescue, and commenced firing on the already retreating natives i alter the skumish was over, a native mat was found near a pool of blood. The wounded man was removed to the camp wheio, I am happy to hear, he is doing well.