THE MAOBI WAE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 188, 18 December 1868, Page 3

THE MAOBI WAE.

We make the following extracts from our Northern files : — WANGAKUI DISTRICT. The field force on the West Coast seems gradually augmenting ; nearly one hundred men having been added to it by the arrival of the John Perm, the Wanganui, and the Charles Edwards. The Wanganni papers state that the? e recruits are fine stalwart msn. — Wellington Evening Post, Dec. 16. Lieutenant-Colonel Lyon arrived at Wanganui from Auckland on the 11th instant, to assume temporary command of the colonial forces on the West Coast, in the absence of Colonel Whitmore. He was accompanied by 58 men of the Armed Constabulary, and his arrival appears to have afforded a good deal of satisfaction at Wanganui. — Ibid. Mr Williams, who rode overland from Patea to Wanganui on the 10th mat. reports all quiet in that quarter. A few of the men had gone out as far as Manatahi, and brought in seventeen horses, part of the rebel loot of past months. Drunkenness, we hear, is again becoming prevalent in the Patea camp. — Ibid. We learn that the Alhambra, whicb vessel is expected very shortly from Melbourne, via the West Coast, will bring an accession to our Armed Constabulary Force, of about 125 men. The largest portion of these were recruited in Melbourne, the others on the West Coast. A few more are expected by the Omeo from Dunedin. — Ibid. We learn from Wanganui that the Committee appointed to receive subscriptions for the defence of the town, have gone fully into the matter. The inhabitants have responded to the call made upon them to the utmost of their power, but it is feared that in the present depressed state of trade, and depreciation of property, it will be impossible to raise the sum required for the defensive works without assistance, although j tbe additions recently made to the field force render those works less imperative than formerly. — Ibid. THE WAIKATO. The determined spirit evinced by the public and openly expressed in the avowal that if peace in the Waikato be broken by the Hauhaus, the war shall be carried on by the colonists till every rebel Hau-hau is exterminated, has had a most beneficial effect. This has been assisted by the sending by the Government of parties of the Armed Constabulary to one or two posts io the Waikato district. On Thursday we, Southern Cross, received the following telegram from our apecial reporter : — " Newcastle, 3rd December. The Waipa arrived with the Constabulary at dusk last evening. The effect on the settlers is already magical. It is generally believed that the force will be stationed here at least for 12 months, or until a repetition of the Poverty Bay tragedy be rendered impossible. If this belief be well grounded, rapid strides will be soon made in developing the district"