TARANAKI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2331, 6 March 1866, Page 6

TARANAKI.

Ovn files from the above province by the s.s. Phoebe, are to the 24th ult. POLITICAL. We observe that the members of the Legislative Council for New Plymouth, and those of the lato House of Representatives, have called a meeting of tho electors of the province for an early date. PATEA. The Superintendent of Taranaki, accom- ! panied by Mr. C. Carrington, Chief Sur.I veyor, and Mr. C. W. Hurthouse have gone to Patea, orders having been received from the General Government to survey a township at the mouth of the Patea. EAKTIIQUAKE A mild but prolonged shock of earthquake wasfelt at Taranaki on tho morning of the2lst ult. ; TAEAKAKI BACEB. The Taranaki races are advertised in the locnl journals to come off on the Ist and 2nd inst. By the next steamer we shall receive an account of them. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. Two members of the Taranaki Provincial Council, Mr. W. Watson, and Mr. J. C. Sharland, have resigned their seats. The cause is not stated. BTTSnUANGEES. Captain Jones' company lato of Tikoranki, are to be struck off duty, and Captain Corbctt's company serving with the 43rd Light Infantry at Opunake and Warea have been recalled from active service. THE BELIEF FUND. A resolution has been carried in the Taranaki Provincial Council to the effect that the | effect that the sum of £l(K)0 be paid to Commissioners out of the Taranaki Relief' Fund, when tho Government have funds to do so, for the purpose of assisting persons to occupy their farms, who would otherwise be unable to, do so : ami that the sum of £'GLIS 7s. sd. be charged against tho same fund for charitable aid. TEESn DISTUEBANCES ON THE WEST COAST. The Taranaki Herald of the 21th ult. says : — " On Saturday or Sunday last as two friendly natives, Hona aud llamuera, were coming along the coast road from Opunake, and when they had got to To Namu, about a mile this side of the camp, they Jell into an ambush composed of the Taranaki «and Waikato natives, who fired upon them, missing them, but killing one of their horses ; they were then taken ami marched oil" inland. The Waikatos under Tapihana (who i distinguished himself hi'ru in 1860 by bumI ing a lid plundering, and in 1803 by being one 1 of the Kawau prisoners,) wanted to take them

to their pai marire post at Waikoukou and kill them ; but the Taranakis objected, saying that they should have been killed when caught if they were to be killed at all, and that now they should bo let go ; and when the whole party got to Nukuteapiapi, the Taranakis being reinforced, prevailed, and they were let go. On Tuesday night, or rather early on Wednesday morning, a native, one of Hone Pihatna's, arrived at Rangiuru (near tho Poutoko). He had started from Opunake with letters, at 7 o'clock the previous evening, and reports that he Raw two fires at Kapoaia, near the wreck of the Marchioness lighted just after he passed, which, of course was in the night. Early yesterday morning another native (Mohi Tara) arrived with despatches from Capt. Horan, who has taken up a position on tho coast of Whitiora. Mohi left Whitiori at 9 o'clock on Thurday night, and in passing Tipoka, he got timely warning of the presence of the enemy by a dog rushing out at him. It was moonlight, and looking inland he saw three of the "wildmen " running down to intercept him at the crossing, but he got away safely by turning to Beaward of the road and riding hard; they fired their three shots at him but without effect. Captain Hornn, on the same day on which he occupied Whitiora, went some distance inland and into the bush, and destroyed three Jcaingas (Ahuataraua, Papakino and Whakapokaj and such of the crops as could be got at, but none of the enemy were to be seen. A letter also, received at Opunake from one of the Ngatiruanuis, states that " the pakhas had gone back to Whan Pfßnui, taking a great many horses with them, but no men (i.e., they had killed none) ; and Ketemarae and other places which had been taken by the General were now reoccupied by them."