IMPORTANT NEWS FROM POVERTY BAY.

Timaru Herald, Volume II, Issue 65, 12 August 1865, Page 2

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM POVERTY BAY.

THE PAI MAHIRE REBEL, PATARA, SHOT. [From the Auckland Herald, July 24.] Ih M. s.s. Eclipse, Captain Freemantlo, ar. rived last evening from the East Coast, bringing most important news. She is last from Waiapu, Poverty Bay, where she landed 54 volunteers, m command of Captain Frazer, and reports that immediately after landing them, fighting commenced between the Hauhaus and the loyal natives. The volunteers were landed at Waiapu to ass^t Morgan's party, and it appears that they arrived just m time, as hard fighting took place on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the enemy losing eighteen killed and nine wounded. One native was shot dead, and five volunteers were wounded on our side. The behaviour of the loyal natives is highly spoken of by the officers of the Eclipse, who state that no men could have fought better. On the 10th instant, Mr. M'Leau, Superintendent of Napier, who was on board, received a letter from a friendly chief on shore, stating that the Pai Mariro priest Patara (Butler) had been shot by Captain Frassr fUmm: the fight, and was found dead ; the letter also <jave the above detail «£ the killed and wounded of the enemy. The same day the Eclipse shelled the rebel pa ,*t Awauui, causing great destruction, and it is

supposed loss of life, but the weather prevailing was most disadvantageous, causing the vessel to roll heavjy.

The Eclipse and St. Kilda lauded some 300 stand of arms, bjsidos ammunition, on the East Coast, for the protection of the loyal natives against the l J ai Marirus.

The St. Kilda left Waiapu on Wednesday last with Mr. M'Lean, to land some arms and ammunition at a native settlement about twenty miles south of Poverty Bay, m order to protect themselves against the Hauhaus, and, as they were going to join Morgan's party, the rebels m that district would be completely surrounded.

The place at Awanui where the Eclipse landed the Volunteers, is now m possession of the Hauhaus, so that no more forces can be landed there, and the only communication will be tli rough the heavy surf which prevails afc the Waiapu.

At Hicks' Bay, Mutakauiawa, the point is said to be entirely surrounded by Pai Marire natives, and only 100 loyal natives reside m the district, so the Eclipse landed seventy stand of arms and some ammunition for their protection. At Wangaparoa, the natives have all turned Pai Marire3, and, upon tfye Eclipse's arrival, it was discovered that Mr. Turner (a resident there) had gone, although his boat and house remained. As no natives were seen, it is supposed that they have taken him away inland. The Eclipse remained there two days, bu f , still no tidings were heard of the missing man Turner, and it was more especially suspected that foul play had boen at work, inasmuch that he was married to a native woman. The Eclipse struck on a rock m Awanui Bay (not marked down m the chart) and has since been leaking considerably, which was the cause of her coming into this port.