THE MAORI REBELLION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 868, 13 March 1869, Page 3

THE MAORI REBELLION.

THE WAIKATO AND MOKAU DISTRICTS. THE KING HAS EEFDSED TO FIGHT. STATE OF THE NATIVES AT TAUPOi, FENIANISM AMONG THE HAUHAUS. We gather from the Soutiwrn Gross further particulars relating 1 to the Mokau Natives, which thabjour nal hasobtaiued from official documents received by the General Government in Auckland. 200 Ngatimaniapofcos were assembled near White Cliffs waiting assistance. Colonel Whitmore hopes to spare 100 or 150 more men for Taranaki, as some of Tito Kowrau's followers have seceded, and given information enabling Colonel Whitmore to follow on his trail. Mr. Parris believes that the murders were committed by Tapihana, a chief of the Ngatim ani apoto. Tapihana wished to raise a war in the Waikato, but the King refused, and said if he wishes to fight he should go to Tito Kowaru. It is believed that Tapihana and his friends killed the settlers to raise a war in Tarauaki. Te Wetere expects that Tapihana, with 100 men from the North, will join him immediately. Authentic information states that a large number of the Taranaki natives, Tito to Hanetina, and men of Tangahoe hapu, whom Tito Kawaru made join him after the affair at Ngutu-o-te-mauu, have now left him disgusted and returned to their settlement at Matangaroia. Ahitana, chief of Tangahoe, sent 30 men to the meeting at Taupo. As soon as the crops are gathered, Poma and party from the Upper Wanganui, will join our forces, anxious for the fight. Te Wetere asked the Ngatiawa chiefs to assist him in rising, but they refuse to countenance hostilities. The following documents, with the Maori originals, from native chiefs at Mokau, have been received by the General Government :—: — Mokan, February 19, 1869. To Tamihana, Riwai, Heremaia, to all of you, — Salutations, — Give heed all of yon. Do nob let there be any inquiry (or search) after me ; not after me at the first;. As it is, they were i'onnd by me at Te Horo ; we were overtaken there. I sent them back from there. I was very nearly killed. The hatchet waa unloosed wherewith to kill me, but slipped. TITOKOEANGI. Mokao, Penuere 19, 1869. Go, this letter, to the heke of Maruwehi (natives lately returned from the Chat hams), to Wi Tamihana, Riwai Ketu, and Pamariki, Te Rakatau, Paekaha, aud all of you. Salutations to yon in the love of God. This is a single word to you, — live quietly at your own place at Maruwehi. Be not alarmed at what the Governor and I am doing ; leave us to ourselves. If I step along beside you, leave me to walk unmolested by you. Rest, O people, upon your high places of observation ; if ours ' (we and the Governor get deep into it) becomes a great work, leave us alone to do it. Do not go either to the left or right. When this little bird, the Pitongatonga says, Look, look, do not look. Wetere aud Ta.wha.na. Mokau, February 19, 1869. To the Kupapas, commencing at Te Pihanga, thence throughout all your boundaries. Come up to the interior. If you do not like the interior, remain quiet. Leave me and the Governor to carry on our work. Lie quietly where you are ;, look not to the right or left. Wetere and Tr,vßi»i. We have no later intelligence from the Waikato, but the following ray be new to some of our readers. The }'ew Zealand Herald correspondent atTaurnvra writing from there on the 2nd instaiit says :—": — " By an acquaintance of mine just rbturned from Taupo, I am put in possession of a few particulars of what is going on in the inland districts. The intelligence of the embarrased state of Mr. Tetley's affairs had reached Taupo via Napier, and, as might be well imagined, had caused very considerable excitement and distrust amongst the various hapjis who had ceded large blocks of land over to that gentleman on lease. The natives are said to be in a state of frenzy — driven to their wits end to know what steps to take to obtain satisfaction for the rents now overdue. The plans of some of them verge on the ridiculous ; others are more reasonable, bat all agree in one respect, that of not permitting the sheep to be removed till the claims for rent be satisfied, and a guarantee that the terms of the lease (twenty one years) be carried out. Mr. Beaumont's presence amongst them just now will tend to assuage a good deal of wrath, and it is to be hoped that before that gentleman's return he will be able to restore that confidence which is most indispensable in remote districts, where civilization is but just being introduced. The Arawas appear to be in a considerable way. The principal chiefs have to attend the Native Lands' Court, to be held at Taupo on the sth instant, when they are threatened with an attack by Rewi from the Waikato, and would have to collect sufficient strength from Matata, Maketu, Roturua, &c, to resist him ; in that case those places would be left without sufficient protection, affording an opportunity for the Uriweras which they would assuredly take advantage of. Letters have been forwarded by Te Poihipi and other chiefs of Taupo to the head chiefs of the Arawa urging them not to leave their settlements to attend the Court, as information has baen received from authentic sources 'that evil is being premeditated by the Haubans.' A pah is said to have been erected by the Hauhaus on a block of land on which Mr. Tetley's sheep are running. What is meant by this step has not transpired, and perhaps will not until more of our countrymen have fallen victims at their hands. The Arawas from Richmond, Maketu, and Rotorua, are concentrating their tribe at Tarawera, and will there await the arrival of his Honor Mr. Smith (who will preside at the Native Lands' Court at Taupo, and who by the way is sometime overdue) where some decision will be come to as to the propriety of theisr proceeding to Taupo, or otherwise having their claims investigated in the Arawara boundaries at one of the abovenamed places. Kerepoa is at Tokongamutu, busy drilling the King's troops,

whom it is said he has succeded in getting into a high state of efficiency. Last week a Hauhau at one of the out-settlements applied to one of our people for ammunition, asking him, at the same time, whether he (the European) belonged to the tribe that leillpd the Prince, stating that the Hauhaus and that tribe were brothers. The alliance may be an apt one, but it may be questioned whether the Hauhau would be the gainer on the score of respectability. The native, on being refused said he could get plenty by going into Te Papa for it, but that it was inconvenient at present, as there was a warrant out for his apprehension. The gentleman was recently at Ohinemuri, where one would think, from his jabbering about the English, Irish, and Scotch, he had been studying their respective histories. All that he did say on the subject would be perhaps better < omitted. There is nothing of importance ! from Opotiki." THE WAIKATO. The Southern Cross of 4th March, says — "We have not received any further telegrams from Waikato, and despite the gloomy aspect of things there is strong ground for hoping that the natives will not be so rash as to precipitate a war which must merge into one of extermination. Whatever may have been the intentions of the natives in the firstinstance, the prompt and determined preparations for defence that have been made may have had the effect of causing them to pause, and perhaps to abandon their hastily formed plans. In such a case, it is very probable that Rewi and the turbulent spirits with him would seek some fighting ground which held out more prospects of victory. It is not unlikely that they would proceed to reinforce Tito Kowaru's party, or would attack some of the East Coast tribes. The news is strengthened by a communication which we have received from our Tauranga correspondent, who states that Rewi has sent a challenge to the Arawas, in accordance with the old native custom, telling theji to prepare to fight. While, however, we are bound to hope for the best, we cannot ignore the prevalence of much reasonable alarm at the frontier posts. On the 3rd instant, several women, wives of settlers at the front, together with their families, came down in Quick's coach, having removed for safety. On the other hand, we may mention that Mr. Searancke, who has gone over to Alexandra, telegraphed to Auckland on the 2nd instant, for a conveyance to be sent up for the purpose of removing his wife and family ; and on the next day sent a second telegram stating that he would not now require the conveyance. We hear that on the 2nd instant several Snider rifles were forwarded to the front for Major Jackson and Messrs. Douglas and' Walker. The seventeen mepTof the Armed Constabulary who had been sent up reached Mercer yesterday, and at once proceeded on to the front. A number of natives who' had been at Point Russell previously abruptly disappeared on the arrival of the troops. We are informed, also, that a considerable number of natives are congregated' at this place, some of whom, while in a state of drunkenness, have used vague threats towards the Europeans. Not much importance need, however, be attached to threats of that character. The Hon. Dr. Pollen received no telegram whatever from the front yesterday, and we on our part received none. We may therefore not unreasonably conclude that all is at present quiet, as, had anything of importance occurred, we should have been advised of it."