FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144131, 28 June 1913, Page 5

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

TARANAKI’S EARLY HISTORY. (From Taranaki Herald. 1863.) Sunday,. June 28. —The Airedale, from Manukau this moniin, does not briny; any Native news of importance from Auckland, and we cannot find in the local journals any intelligence from Waikato of a warlike nature. Private letters do not assign any reason for tlio withdrawal of the troops. The Claud Hamilton and H.M.S. Harrier are on their way hither for the Mounted Artillery and horses and the Armstrong guns. The Airedale brought the, English April mail, and left for the Southern settlement at 3 p.m. Monday, Jv.no 20. —Ihara. from Waitara, informs us this morning that, by way of Matailawa, he has heard that 300 of the Ngatiraukawa tribe, from Otaki. .Uangitikei. etc., will shortly arrive at Tafaraimaka, with 100 of the Tanpn Natives. One hundred and seventy of the N'gatimaniapoto tribe aro bringing down \Vi Kingi, and the chief IHkaka will also shortly arrive. Waikato will not commence (oho) at Te la (on the Waikato), but will rather make a beginning here. “Kia oho tenet ka oho a To la”; i.n.. “When the}’’ have commenced here then a commencement will he made at the la.” Then there will be a general rising. The word is this: “Waitara must be the commencement.” Whether the attack ’will be made at Waitara, or Bell Block is not known by Ihaia, but ho has heard that lhaia To Wharcpa and To Patukakariki urge an attack upon Teira and his people, .while Haniironaj Paora (little Paul), Erncra (Wi Klngi’s son), ami ■Eipha (from Onaero). insist upon a hostile movement at Bell Block. Haro To Hokai has returned from tho rebels’ position at Kaitake. etc. " He reports that he found the Southern Natives in a disorganised state, in consequence of their recent defeat, and were short pf food, having subsisted for some time upon fern roots (mamaku), etc. They told him that they left the bodies of 24 of their people in the redoubt stormed by the o7th on the 4th ulto.. including three women, and that three have died since of their wonhds. Besides the chiefs H.mi Te Kaioroto and Mold Hoko, of Wanganui, Aperahama Hukuwai. of the Taranaki tribe, was killed. The rebels told Hare that they killed ‘‘a great many soldiers”; but Hare told them they were mistaken, as his tamariki (children) were in town when tho ship with tho soldiers returned from Tatarairaaka. and there was only cno dead man and very few wounded landed.

Tho troops at St. George’s Redoubt are to come in, and Tataraimaka is to be evacuated. Tho expedition started to-day with the carts to' bring up the baggage, etc., but wet weather having set in the party halted at Oakura.