FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14347, 27 October 1910, Page 4

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

TARANAKI’S EARLY HISTORY. (From tho Taranaki Herald of I 860.) Saturday, October 27.—At 10 o’clock last night tho glare of fire was seen in the direction of the 801 l Block. This morning we learn that six houses on tho block, belonging to Messrs. John, Joseph, and Richard Street, J, Hirst, sen., E. Hollis, and A. Huskiu, were burnt by tho Natives. Between ten and eleven lights were seen ill another house, when two shells were thrown from tho stockade by tho 24-poumior howitror, which is supposed to have driven off the rebels and prevented the firing of this house. The pmii (encampment) of the Waikatos is said to bo at Tarnrutangi, near Air. Wills’ land, and where itawiri was shut by Kalatore in 1854. They were seen there this morning liy some friendly Natives. It is said that last night, when they fired the houses, they came near enough to the stockade to cull out “Hacremai” (come here) to the garrison. Their number is not known, Tho cutter Will Watch, from Manukau, arrived to-day, with Auckland papers to the 24th insf. Our files by the mail are to the 23rd, hut wo are indebted to Captain Hunt for a copy of the New Zealander of the 24th. A letter from Waikato, from a reliable authority, by the overland mail, arrived this evening, to a gentleman in town. Speaking of the raid of tho Waikatos, it cautions against a night attack.

WANGANUI. Thursday, October 25, 1860. Wo are at present all quiet here. Our Wanganui Natives have behaved , very well so far off. They have held several meetings luteW, and some ol the Butiki chiefs have spoken out. Mnwae, who is a man of some influence, told the Waitotara Natives last week that he would hid good-liye to all that went to Taranaki to fight, and if they returned, not to come to Wanganui, or he would fight them ami heat them as he had done before. Wi Take is still at Waikanne, where he is,planting potatoes. Inquiries have been made respecting the bullets found in the wheat, reported in your Journal of Events, hut all we can learn is that they did not go from here, as the wheat by the Sea Gull was bagged in Taylor and Watt’s premises, and only a, small portion was Native wheat bought from Kemp, a Butiki Native, and one not at all likely to make such a mistake. FROM MU. UIILKE’S DIARY. Saturday. October 37.--7 to 12 a.m. Signal from town: What were the two guns fired at last night and where Irmn? Signal to town: A round shot fired at Mr. Hirst's ami a shell fired into Air. Hulko’s garden as lights were seen there. Signal to town: Natives at Alahoctahi and one whnre on fire.