NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 1111, 2 August 1871, Page 3

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE.

EOPATA'S EXPEDITION IN PURSUIT OP TE KOOTI. A short time since a rather improbable report was circulated in Auckland, and forwarded by telegraph all over the Colony, to the effect that Ropata had joined Te Kooti. Fortunately, the heroic daring and personal sacrifices of this faithful chief are too well known for this extraordinary telegram to gain any truth. We need scarcely say that the report is utterly without foundation. From the Hawke's Bay papers we find that the expedition, nnder Ropata, was divided into four parties for the purpose of searching the bush thoroughly. The different divisions came together near Te Haupapa, about the 28th of June, having searched all the country between Te Haupapa and Waikaremoana Lake. During the search they captured three men, one of whom, named Rawiri, was believed to have had Te Kooti in hiding. He belonged to that part of the country. These people could give no - account of Te Kooti. They believed that he had been captured by Ropata on his former expedition to Te Haupapa. When the division of the force ef which Captain Porter was in command was on its way to Te Haupapa, on the occasion of its halting for the night, that officer mounted a high hill in the neighbourhood, and saw smoke in the distance, which he concluded to have come from Te Kooti's camp. As soon as he joined Ropata the whole force made in the direction of the spot in which the smoke had been seen, and, after great trouble, found a camp in the bush, which had been occupied by a few persons. Considerable difficulty was experienced in finding any track from the camp, the parties having evidently separated on leaving it ; but after a day or two's search, a track was struck some distance from the camp where the people had come together again. The track was there tolerably plain. Ropata selected a party from his men, and taking the small •quantity of food which was left for the expedition, started to endeavour to follow out the track, sending Captain Porter ont to Poverty Bay with another party to bring an supplies, and to meet him on his return. If he found that the tracks led to Te Wera, Tvbere Te Kooti is known to have a cultivation which has not been destroyed, -Ropata would not have been able to go on with the supplies which he had ; and "would have awaited Captain Porter's return. Great sickness prevailed among the Ngatiporous, which made the difficulties of travelling through the country -even greater than they would otherwise •have -beea. The Uriwera chief, Makarini of Tikitiki, ■writes that on the 4th July, some of his people who dwell at a settlement on the Waikaremoana Lake, were attacked by Te Kooti v who took their kainga by suriprise, helped himself to food from their •snpplies, and took eight or ten prisoners. Te Kooti then retired into the bush. One •of these prisoners succeeded in making his escape, and reached Makarini's pah on the •6th. Makarini immediately sent word to Wairoa for assistance. There is no certainty as to Te Kootf s followers, but it is Relieved they cannot number more than ten. The native who escaped from Te Kooti, reported that when Mr. Drummond •was snrveying in the neighbourhood of T<e Reinga, Te Kooti came into his camp, took some tea, and borrowed a pannikin, 'which he "has not yet returned. There is •nothing to give any real hope of catching Te Kooti, 'but everything possible is being <lone in order to attain this object. Death op an Old Fbeehason.— The -Nelson 'Colontet says — " While the pageantry oT death "was being enacted for a young citizen suddenly ■removed from -amongst us, another funeral ceremony was unobtrusively performed for an old 3Treemason, of'6o years standing, who after many .years residence in Nelson, hasipassed awaj' at the "ripe old age of -80 years. Mr. John Street en'lteted in the -72nd Highland Regiment, called the •"Duke df Albany's Own," when only 16 years of •age. Be went to Ireland in 1809, and served •there flix years, having become sergeant of his •company. Subsequently he served some -ten jears as -sergeant of police in Edinburgh. He arrived in 'this Province in 1855, and during his iJong Tesidenoe here, "hafi obtained the respect of who "knew 'him. Mr. Street will be better reqnemberechas'fche father-of Mrs. TJoss of Taranaki. Hunt who then -resided in Bridge-street, Stetson." Reporters. — When the tax on newspapers, pro■posed -by Mr. Pitt in 1789, was nj»aer discussion in tthe House of Commons, Mr. Drake said that he ■disliked rhe tax, and would oppose it from -a motive i •of gratitude. " The gentlemen concerned in writing for them -had been particularly kind to him. i They Tiad made him deliver many well-shapen -speeches, though lie was convinced he had never gpoken so well in liis whole life." An American Mwnual<of Etiquette iately published, gravely states that the custom of placing a ■whole .loaf on a breakfast-table dates only from the Teign of Queen Victoria, The young ladies of England may to glad to know that the author of &i« work <»h bring no worse charge against them, •collectively than that they "sup heartily on Stiltton cheese and bottled stoat." A Stopper. — It it related of a certain minister of Maine, who was noted for his longsermons, with many divisions, rtiat one day when he was advancing among teens, he reached at length a kind of resting-place in his discourse, when, pausing to take breath, he asked the question, " And what shall I say moreP' A voice from the congregation earnestly responded, " Say Amen 1" A Stiw-kecked People.— A kind-hearted but weak-minded parishioner in the far north got into the pulpit of the parish chnrch one Sunday morning beforr the minister, who happened to be rather behind the time. "Come down, Jamie," said the minister, '* that's my place." " Come ye up, sir," replied Jamie, " they are a stiff-necked and a rebellions generation, the people of this place, and it will take ns baith to manage them !" A Lunar Bow. — Says an astronomer to a brighteyed girl, when talking of rainbows : " Did you ever see a lunar bow, miss ?" " I have seen a beaux by moonlight, if that's what you mean," was the sly rejoinder.