LATER NATIVE INTELLIGENCE. TIIE GREAT NATIVE MEETING AT RAGLAN.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 971, 30 March 1870, Page 5 (Supplement)

LATER NATIVE INTELLIGENCE. TIIE GREAT NATIVE MEETING AT RAGLAN.

About sixty Waikatos, with Takerei te Itau, arrived at Tnrner's on 20th Februaiy, from Te Kuiti, on their way to the great native meeting at Raglan. They left this morning for Whatawbata, where I expect they will have another day or two's halt, if provisions are forthcoming. The majority of this party are women, most of the men having gone by the way of Kawhia. Te Ao (Sophia) is not going, neither is her brother Tavvhiao. Rewi has returned some time since to Tokangamutu. He brought back Riharoa, the murderer of Lyon at Orakau. He wa9 to havo been handed over to justice, but. after a good deal of talk, I suppose a, contrary decision was come to, for he managed to escapo, and has not since been heai'd of. Had he been given up, I do not see how it would have been possible to convict him, as it would bo very difficult to obtain the evidence amongst the Kingitos. The late panic is now entirely subsided, and all tho settlers are busy harvesting their crops. The Kingites appear to think that Te Kooti is not to be caught now he is back in his old country. Tawhiao remarked, when he heard of his late escape from Tanpo, " Did Government really tiiink that a man like To Kooti was to be captured by a lot of flax critters ?" Tawhiao, the Maori King, and 500 of his followers, on the way to Raglan, are now at Aotea. The Raglan Natives have just sent them a present of 1,000 loaves of bread, 10 bags of sugar, and 500 blankets. They are expected in Raglan shortly. Great preparations are being made for their reception. Natives from all parts of tho country are flocking in fast — over 2,000 are now expected.

Resignation or Majok Brown. — We sco that Mnjor Clmrlos Brown lias resigned his seat in the Houso of Hcpiespntntivcs. Cor.ovEr, Whitmore. — Wo understand that Colonel Whitmoro hna been created Commander of the Most Honourable Order of St. Michael and St. George, for distinguished services in the field as Commandant of the New Zealand Forces.

DEATH OP COLONEL FRASER. We regret that it is our mournful duty to announce the demise of Lieutenant-Colonel James Fraser, who died at Tauran<ra on the 10th March, of a low typhoid fever, after an illness of fourteen days. The following account of his death we take from the Auckland papers :—: —

The lamented gentleman became ill almost immediately after he left for Tauranga. He had for some weeks past been suffering from rheumatic fever, from which he had almost recovered, but having incautiously ventured out in the discharge of his duties, at all times arduous, he suffered a relapse, and with the exception of an interval of a few hours, has ever since been confined to his bed, suffering from fever and ague, followed by typhoid, the sad sequel without doubt being accelerated by anxiety of mind consequent upon recent events, which need not here be further adverted to. The deceased Colonel had for several days been totally unconscious of what was going on, and in his ramblings was giving directions and otherwise successfully following up the enemy to his destruction. Dr. Armitage, of the Armed Constabulary, arrived on the morning of the 10th from the Lakes, where be had been attending the wounded Arawas, but was too late to be recognised by his deceased friend. Captain Turner and SubInspector Gascoyne were present at his last moments.

On the afternoon of the 12th March, the mortal remains of Colonel James Fraser were consigned to their last home in the cemetery at Te Papa, the resting place of scores of departed heroes, an appropriate spot for the final repose of a brave man. The officers of H.M.S. 'Rosario,' those of the Constabulary and Militia, a firing party of 100 men (composed of blue jackets from the ' Rosario,' the Thames volunteers, and the militia), and a large number of the inhabitants comprised the imposing procession. The coffin being placed on a gun carriage, drawn by a party of the Thames Volunteers, the cortege, precisely at 3 o'clock, left the late residence of the deceased officer, and simultaneously the first of twenty minute guns was fired from the ' Rosario.' Up to reaching tho burial ground, save the booming of the cannon and the officers giving command, the utmost silence prevailed, all present heing seemingly impressed with the solemnity of the occasion. The Yen. Archdeacon Brown read the sublime burial service of the Church of England in his usual impressive manner. The coffin bore this simple inscription, " James Fraser; aged 29 years."