NEWS FROM THE HUTT.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 52, 25 February 1846, Page 2

NEWS FROM THE HUTT.

On Monday last, H. St. Hill, Esq., VM: acting under the orders of his Excellency,/; departed for the Him, for the purpose of>' placing the settlers on their land', on v arriving at the spot occupied by the aggressive natives, Mr. SiHill informed the*-, that he had placed ihe European* in possession, and that if they (they natives) interfered, either by threats, or ejecting them, i* would bo at their peril, since The Go< vernraent were determined .o protect the' wilier* at all hazards. Shortly af.erwardi, the Natives drove a person, named Gill« pie, from his land, and on ihe constable' proceeding mth the ejected party to tli« ground in question, they were escoricd rom the place by Maories, armed wit* omahawks. Mr. St Hill arrived in town:the same evening, and rf ported to his &v celleney he conduct pursued by the ■s*' nves, and stated, it ww his opinion lW unless a deraonairation.ef an armed ioo was shown k> the intruder., they wori not quit the land, /n consequence of t^ erS * e i re M SU , ed for the endermentiourf roops .hold themselves in readiness, « rocead to the Hutt on Tuesday, yesterday, morning. . ■ J \ At five o'clock, y es . erday morni , n g ( .f

I the sound of tlie bugle, the -roope fell into 1 J-ank, consisting of ihe following :— The Staff,—Lieutenant-Colenel Hulmo, 96thj Commanding iho Troops in New Zealand; Major Last, 93ih; Lieut, and Adjutant ML Ho, Acting Brigade Major, 58th; Assistant Surgeon M'Andrew, 96th. I Capt Armstrong, 99th : Capt. Hardy, [ 58ih; Capt. Snodgrass, 96th • Capt. Eyf ton. 98th, i Lieut. Elliott, 99th ; Lieut. Leigh, 99th. [ Ensign JPedder, 58th ; Ensign Master, I 58tb; Ensign Herbert, 58th; Ensign [ Page, 58th; Ensign Mundoll, 96ih; - Ensign Servantes, 96th. Will) 140 of ihe 58th ; 60 of the 96th ; ■ and 100 of the 99th. Including officers, \ non-commissioned officers, and privates, \ a force of 342 men. j Ah advanced guard was thrown out, I and the force began to march about six [ o'clock. A gun-boat was ordered to skirt the shore, for the purpose of protecting tile troope from any Outlying Maories I who might be In ambush amongst the hills t overhanging the Pfctorii Hoad. [ tfhe force arrived at the bridge about [ half-past eight o'clock. The troops reI juained at the Stockade, whilst hie Excel- \ lency proceeded to Mr. Boulcott's land, I accompanied by Major Richmond, and I several of the < fficers and inhabitants I About thirty natives were seen, who con- [ ducted themselvs in a most insolent [ manner, stating the Government had I talked a long time about troops, but they I should like to See them. One of the chiefs ■ also said, that he had received orders from l l?angihaeata to remain on the ground, j and that he might as well be thot there, j for if he left Rangihaeaia would shoot \ him, and that he would be supported by [ forces from Porirua. The Governor findl ing all remonstrance useless, returned to I the fort at the bridge. He remained some I time consulting with Col. Hulme, and j about one o'clock, the troops were moved lon for the ground occ»p : eU by the a»gres I sive na ives. The force re-crossed the I liiver by the ford mar Mr. Boulcoit's j barn, about three miles above the bridge, 1 and occupied a large Maori potatoe fit-Id I An advanced guard was then push d I a thick bUsh to anoiher potatoe I field, and on the sound of ihe the I remainder of the force moved forward. [ The na'iveson the preceeding evening had I warned ihcsellers, threateringtheirlives, I and also robbing one or two houses. In I consilience, a great number of women I and children came down below the bridge. I By the last accounts 'he troops were I encamped on the potatoe field last entered, I which field commands the path to Porirua. I Capt. W. B. Rhodes was despatched I for town, wi h orders to press as many I horses, and bullocks as possible, for the 1 Queen's service; and Captain Henderson, I K.A., received ordtrs to despatch the I detachment of the Royal Artillery for the I ariti-ipated scene of conflict. OrJers I wire likewise received, by SiirgeOn Pine, lof the 58.h, to proceed over to the Hutt. I Up to six o'clock, the boats fom H.M; I steamer Driver were busily employed I conveying men and ammunition to the I Hut.