LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 533, 16 February 1869, Page 2

LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

(From our Special Correspondent) Camp Nnknmani, Sunday mornino-,

Trooper Monrad has just arrived from Wairoa, and reports that lie had been fired on by three rebels near Mutoroa, yesterday. Tie immediately returned to Capt. Hawes, who went, out with a portion of the force, and discovered that n body of not less than fifty natives had passed in the direction of Okutnkn from the Waitbf.ara He believes that the rebels are in considerable force at; Okntukn. Trooper Monrad was despatched last night, but owing to '-. the darkness of vhe night, aftercropsing- the Waitotara. he missed the : road and slept on the sand-hills all i night, arriving at head-quarters : about 7 a.m. The reinforcement of '■ Arawas arrived here yesterday, | Captain Newland has left, and has ! received instructions to proceed to the East Coast to take command of the Constabulary, which are-stntioned there under Capt. Spiller. Most of, the' Wanganui natives, with Col. i McDonnell, are, stationed at'Karaka | flat, and also a portion of the Armed ! Constabulary. Any movement of! the force is impracticable for the! present, the late heavy rains ha vino- j made the Waitotara river impassahle! The scouting party is increasing, several of the Wanganui Volunteer Cavalry having- joined. Col. Whitmore has commenced a road to the Karaka table. It will be a most laborious task, the hills on both sides of the gully being- a ] most pre . cipitous.

Col. Haultain is still at Nukumaru. He has visited all the outposts, and ie is probable will remain until some movement has been made. He bad an interview with Major Kemp on Saturday, when he told him that, though 'he held the rank of. Major, he would only receive captain's pay. He pointed out to him that there were several European officers holding- the rank of ■Lieut-Colonels, hut who only received Inspector's pay, and that Kemp was receiving- more pay than Lt.-Col. Lyon ; upon which Kemp exclaimed "'So much the worse for the Government that they should allow it " Up ]~n . ,, n ,, w ? |,,,j n n ( . ( ! at The different posts seven Colonels and Lr -Colonels. To-moriw a general court-martial will be held

here on two men of the Armed Con- | stabulary, who will be tried for dci. section—a report of which you will on tHe first opportunity. > • Monday eveningl. Colonel Haultain has proceededto Wang-anui this evening-, bui will J -probably return tomorrow, and it is | expected will remain here until the ! arrival of Major Richmond. A ; movement is to be made tomorrow, an order having- been issued for Capt. Swindley to proceed to Wairoa with a detachment, composed of the scouts a porrion of the natives, and some of the constabulary. They carry with them three days' provisions, and are to attempt to discover th e position of the natives, [f traces ar e seen crossing- the Whenuakura they are to be i followed up. A considerable number |of the constabulary have been dis- ■ charged to-day, some as being- medically unfit, others as bad characters. Dr Brown is chief medical officer in the district, and has almost daily ito ao from one post to another. He | appears popular amongst the Con--1 stabulary, but he is determined to weed the force of all those whom be considers unfit, and there is little d<>iibt that many more will be dis- . charged. Be Walker proceeds with I the expedition to take charge of the medical d-partment. The pack horses accompany the party, and the the men will be crossed in canoes.