THE NATIVE WAR.

West Coast Times, Issue 971, 2 November 1868, Page 2

THE NATIVE WAR.

This unhappy curse upon the Colony still continues. We take the following latest details from the inter-provincial papers : — The Otago Times' Hawke's Bay correspondent writes from Napier, under date the 17th October :— " I had a presentiment, when I began to write for the daily Times, that my correspondence would very soon be of a sensational character ; and I fear the time has almost come when it will be so. In my last, I omitted mention of circumstances wbick ought not to have been overlooked. At the end of last month, there being much painful uncertainty as to the movements of the Hau-hnu party, a small scouting party was organised, consisting of a friendly chief named Karaitiana and a few of his people. A week, at furthest, was sufficient for the purpose of visiting the locality and getting such information as could be gathered from observation ; but days passed by, and the party did not return. On or about the 13th, the anxiety of their friends bad reached such a height that a strong party of the Wairoa natives, numbering about 100, was got ready to go in quest of Karaitiana and his party. The general' feeling was that they had been wajlaid and slain, and a strong desire for revenge, or, as they express it, utu, took possession of their breasts. Before, however, they started, news came in thai; their fears were not without, foundation— tb»t, in fwt, Te gootj

had received intimation of Karaitiana's departure, had laid an ambuscade for him and party, taken them prisoners, and then shot them in cold blood. This startling piece of information was accompanied by news that the Ilauhaus, leaving the inland camp they have occupied for some time, had advanced upon the Wairoa settlement, and had been reinforced by Te Warn — a chief con- ''_ quered during last East Coast campaign, and who, having taken the oath of allegiance, aud being a tolerably straightforward man, was relied upon to some extent. Te Waru added eighty fighting men to Te Kooti's force of 180, and this army of savages was, at the latest advice?, at Whatoroa— a place about fourteen miles from Clyde, the township and outlet of the district. Their advance upon the township was hourly expected, and later despatches are looked for every moment. Now that events are hurrying on, we see more clearly the fatuity of the Stafford Ministry in removing Fraser's small force. Those men have, since their removal, simply lived in garrison. Here, everything portended a coming storm, but the Government would not read the sigus of the time I',1 ', and would take no warning from any one who could They withdrew the force at a critical time — in the face of a state of things brought about by their own culpable negligence in the matter of the Chatham Island prisoners. However, that is past ; but should Wairoa be sacked — which seems imminent — at whose door will the responsibility rest? The means of defence at Clyde consist of an earth redoubt, just erected by the inhabitants, and about twenty men (raw levies), under Captain Tuke, who is a very good officer. There are arms for the residents ; and, no doubt a wholesale massacre will be averted, but out-stations, farms— there is a military settlement between Te Kooti and the township, at which cultivation has been largely carried on — and the scattered dwellihgs in and about Clyde will all be destroyed should the Hau-haus continue their advance; while settlers at isolated places in the interior cannot fail to loose their lives, or, at least, run a serious risk of being murdered. The people huddled up^ in the redoubt will be safe ; but the whole district will be given up to rapine — will, in point of fact, be " wiped out." At last advices, the military settlers who have just established themselves comfortably, has been called in. Tuke and his few men had occupied the fedoiibt, arid tlie inhabitants generally were warned to be ready to ieave their homes for the only source of protection left them, I mentioned in my last that two attempts had been made to open communication with the Hau-haus. Both were futile. A cordon had been drawn round the camp, and no one allowed to cross it under pain of death. On Thursday last Mr M'Lean returned to Napier, greatly to the relief of everyone, especially when it became known that he was armed byHhe General Government with power to act on its behalf in suppressing the insurrectiou. The means at hs disposal are small, and the situation is much complicated by the previous bungling ; but hopes are generally entertained that, notwithstanding, he will succeed in breaking the back of this miserable rebellion, and in restoring something like confidence. As it is, labour and capital ai c both leaving the district, where they can, and our exceedingly flourishing little province bids fair to sink under the adverse circumstances by which it is surrounded — the only hope of a contrary result being in Mr M'Lean's exertions. The westerly gales of the past few days— eonimoiij I apprehend, to New Zealand generally have broken down the telegraph line repeatedly, and communication has been closed ever since the Superintendent's arrival. This is most unfortunate at the present time. The new phase of affairs at the North is not yet known to the Government, or if known (for I am not quite sure of the fact), no opportunity has been afforded for reply. Men are now drilling and practising at the target all over the country, and I believe steps are about to be taken for calling out some of the militia, for tbe purpose of patrolling the town at night. it is far from an unnecessary precaution. Night after night signal fires are to be seen, extending from height to height on the ranges vi-ible to the northward. Fortunately, Napier has the security afforded by the presence in it of two companies of the 18th Regiment, which prevents anything like uneasiness among the inhabitants. Although the chief part of tho cost of warlike opera" ions will fall upon the Middle Island, its settlers are so far fortunate as to be remote from the seat of war. These disturbances are most disastrous to any place. Capital at once takes the alarm, and universal depression prevails. The miserable advantage which some few may derive from a commissariat expenditure, is but a drop in the bucket to the evils which attend upou a chronic state bf hostility. Sunday, October 18. Despatches have just (9 a.m.) come in. Two more friendly natives have been murdered, making six in all the Hauhaus have killed. They were advancing upon the township, and were threatening a simultaneous attack on Wairoa and Poverty Bay. A party of Waikatos had joined them, and their numbers were very large. Captain Tuke writes for immediate assistance, but where it is to come from goodness only knows. The steamer Star of the South is now in port, and I imagine Mr M'Lean will charter her to take sp such few men as he may be able to get. He meant to have organised a party of the East Coast friendlies, such as Morgan's people, but time has not permitted. Most likely the women and children will come to Napier. My next mrvs will be. I fear, even of a more painful character than the present.