FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14346, 26 October 1910, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

TARANAKI’S EARLY HISTORY. (From the Taranaki TPn-tiiq of I 860,) Friday, Oct. 26.—Tlie following proclamation was posted in town this morning; PROCLAMATION. Consequent on information just received, the Major-General cautions all individuals from moving beyond the protection of the outposts. ' By command, R. CAREY, Lieut.-Colonel. Deputy Adjutant-General. Headquarters, New Plymouth, Oct. 26, 1860. We have been told that a letter has boon sent from Mataitawa to a friendly Native informing him “that the \Vaikatos intend moving towards town cither to-day or to-morrow, or Sunday.” Six hundred are stated to bo at lluirangi, and 200 on their way, 10 miles this side of Mokau, The letter also requests the friendly Natives to join the enemy or remain neutral, and that if they do not, and.any of them are caught, they will bo “flayed alive.” The Wonga Wonga, from Wanganui, yesterday where she arrived on Wednesday ,anchored in the roadstead at 1 p.m. She reports all quiet at Wanganui. Mr. Hulke, arrested by the military authorities on Wednesday on a charge of sending tobacco to one of Wi Kingi’s Natives, was brought before a Court of Inquiry to-day. It appears that some time ago, a Native from Mataitawa,. forming one of a marauding party on the Bell Block, too kaWay ono of Mr. llulke's horses, took away ono of Mr. Uulkc’s horses, mal, sent by Matiu, on Monday last, 100 figs of tobacco as an inducement to the robber to give up the horse. Matiu returned without the horse, it having been sent to Ngatimaru, a tribe inland, but whether the tobacco was brought back or not we are unable to state. From a diary kept at the Hua Fort by the late Mr. W. K. Hulke, we take the following extracts; Friday, Oct. 26.—7 to 12 a.m. No signals. 12 to 6 p.m. Signal from town (with lamps)—what fires are those ? Signal to town—Six houses burnt and two guns fired. Signal from town—Where were the guns fired from? Signal to town.—From this fort. Signal from town—ls that a fresh fire, and where is it? Signal to town—Mr. Hirst’s barns, etc. Remarks—Messrs. Street’s, Hollies’, Hoskins,’ and Hirst’s houses burnt. Light scon at Mr, Hulke’s house in the bush; a shell fired at it.