FURTHER ALARMING NEWS FROM THE NORTH ISLAND.

West Coast Times, Issue 1083, 12 March 1869, Page 2

FURTHER ALA RMING NEWS FROM THE NORTH ISLAND.

PROBABLE CONFIRMATION OF GENERAL MAORI RISING.

THE MAORI KING DECLARES FOR WAR.

(bt electric telegraph.)

(from oue own correspondent.)

Dunedin, March 11, 2.40 p.m.

Information has reached here, by telegraph from Wellington, believed to be reliable, which is of a most alarming nature.

It is to the effect that at" the great Kingite meeting- at Tokangamutu, near Taupo, resolutions for war were unanimously carried.

The King consequently has ordered an immediate general rising throughout the North Island.

, Preparations have been making for some time for a rupture, and the Maoris are well supplied with provisions, ammunition, and arms. The Challenger returned to port, owing to bad weather.

Since tho above was to hand, we ' have received the following from our ! Wellington correspondent :—: — ; i Wellington, March 11, 4.40 p.m. j News has been received to-day that ' the Maori King has declared war, and I the same report is current in Napier, j A native messenger from Taupo arrived j in Wanganui on the Bth, bearing letters ;' from the King to the Hau Hau Chiefs j along tho Coast. Some s-ay these are ! endowing the acts of rebellion ; others ! allege that thoy ; i: -e merely circulars, calling 1 a great runanga to decide on peace or war. j

Telegrams from Napier say thafc the greater part of the i<gatiporou, who volunteered to proceed from the Ea:-t Coast to Wanganui to join the friendly j contingent, refuse to go on. H.M.S. Challenger, which left for Sydney yesterday, put back last night through bad weather. She is now at anchor, and is said to be detained by the Government.

[Tho aboA'e was issued as an Extraordi^ nary yesterday evening.]