LATEST NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2567, 5 September 1867, Page 6

LATEST NEWS.

THREATFNED OUTBKKAK OF HOSTILITIES IN THE BAY OF PLENTY.— OPOTIKI THREATENED BY TH K HAUHAUS.— DISCOVERY OF ANOTHER MUHDEK. By the s.s. Taranala we have later news from Auckland, Taurauga, Oootiki, and Hawke's Bay. The following letter of our own correspondent at Tauranga contains news of a somewhat threatening character. August 29. News has just been received overland that 300 Hauhana infesting the country between Ohiwa and Opo*iki, on the 24th Bred upon a party of friendly Uriweras posted to warn the surveyors of danger. The friendly Datives scattered and fled, one of them to Mr Keefe, a surveyor, whom he hurriedly cautioned to leave his luggage auci run. Mr Keefe, however, remained to pack up before going, and had just fiuished when the Hau liaus made their appearance within a short distance. The four men of the survey party being armed with rifles, no shots wero fired on them as they retreated ; and they fortunately found a canoe at the Ohiwa ferry, in which they escaped to an island called Hokiansa. The Jtlauhaus were close upon their heels when they embarked. Intelligence was conveyed to Opotiki, and the available force was called out, 150 infantry and 50 cavalry, the former of which were sent towards Waiocka Redoubt, and the latter, under command of M«jor St. John, started for the relief of Mr Keefc's survey party, which they found safe on Hokianga Island. The camp fires of the Hauhaus were visible at a distance of two miles. The force with the survey party returned to Opotiki, expecting a night attack there. All the natives, friendly and otherwise, concur in saying that a general and simultaneous Jittnck on all the European posts in the Bay of Plenty is contemplated within a ahort time, and there is every assurance of (he truth of this assertion. The country round Opotiki was invested with rebels. On receipt of this intelligence, arms and ammunition were sent at once by sea to Opotiki. A few days ago the skeleton, of a settler pamed Campbell, who had been missing since January last, was found about twelvemiles from Tauranga. The skeleton of hitmare and foal were found lying near. The saddle and tether rope were on the mare, and on the skeleton of Campbell was found between £6 and £10 in money, and a deposit receipt for £50. The backbone was shot through, several bullets and pieces of cartridge were picked up, aud the traces of many bare feet were discernible on the ground leading to the conclusion that he had been shot by a part of natives. An inquest, occupying the greater part of two days, was held, and a verdict given of wilful murder against some natives unknown. Suspicion attaches to the Ngatiporou tribe. Prospecting for gold in this district has been arrested by the knowledge that the intended locality is filled with hostile natives. The following additional particulars are from the Southern Cross : — Our Tauranga correspondent furnishes us with a report of an iuquest held at that place on view of the body of a man named Albert J. Campbell, formerly bclougiug to the Ist Waikato Regiment, whose remains had been discovered at Waimapa, a few miles distant from Te Papa. Colonel Harington officiated as coroner, and Mr T. Wrigley was chosen foreman of the jury. The evidence went to pi*ove that deceased had been re ported to Mr Commissioner Clarke to be missing about the beginning of January last, after going on his land in the direction of Oropi. The Defence Minister, Colonel Haultain. was at that time at Tauranga, and had been applied to to send out aa expedition in search of deceased, but refused to comply with the request. A man named Strange, living with the natives at Haerini, a few weeks ago became informed that Campbell had been murdered by the ■Ngatiporous on his land, and communicated the fact to Mr Commissioner Clarke.. A search was at once made, and the skeleton of the body found ; also the remains of a mare and foal. Near the body was found the wrapper of an En field cartridge ; also part of what appeared to have been a Maori cartridge — printed paper having been used —a round bullet, and an iron bullet. Near the foal a flattened Enfield bullet was picked up, and one of the bones of the leg was found to bft broken. Upon the skeleton being examined by Dr Hervey, it was ascertained that the two lower vertebra of the back were smashed all to pieces. The inquest was adjourned until the Tuesday following. THE THAMKS GOLD FIELD. The Southern Cross of the 27th nit says :— The news is still undecided and not satisfactory. We have seen " specimens" enough from the Thames, but in reality little or no gold. There have been noue of the holes bottomed, mid we believe there is no exteut of alluvial diggings in that vicinity, if there beany at nil. Hunt, and party have discovered very rich quartz leaders, but nothing has been done towards working the claim. The latest news is from the Southern Cross of the 29t!i uli : — The Cornstalk and the p.B. Enterprise arrived last night from Ihe Thames. Since the ground at the Puru, farther north than Kauaeranga, has been opened, a good number of men have left the township to prospect. It is auriferous ground and not unlike the Karaka creek. The work at Karakn progresses steadily. The .British claim is about 40 feet down on the lint, with no appearance of the bed- rock. Fine gold ia found at this depth, and of a bettor color than at the surface. Buildings are going up. The Shortland Hotel (Captain Butt) is already open. Mr Mulligan's Hotel is in course nf erection, and Mr NiccolV landing store i* being converted vito a public house. GO I.I) AT TAUrO. The same journal say a : — Some years h»o, an old and respected settler of thi* province' informed us of the existence of gold in the Taupo district, and expreFsed hi* opinion that, when the country whb thrown open, a very extensive goldfie.ld would" lie opened there, Recent discoveries by prospectors from Napier have confirmed the truth of this statement. Mv Grace, jim., who was recently in that district, according to the Tau rang a Eecord, stated that there were twenty diggers working at Taupo ; and the Butne paper of the 2kh informs us that a rumor was current at Tanrang.i that the number amounted to two hundred and fifty men. Of course, this is an exaggeration ; but there is reason to suppose that prospectors have been gradually working up into the Taupo district, and that gold has been obtained. Indeed, we are aware that two 'experienced -miners, who started from

Auckland some time ago. en an exploring trip to the interior, have reported, from the Taupo district thoy had ' fouiid good indications, only they apprehended the natives would turn them off. The Tauranga Eecord remarks on the same subject:— Mr Grace stales positively that two brothers of the name of Sweeny have found gold at Taupo, although he did not see the gold himself. It was currently reported and believed that £157 worth of gold had been found. This was told them by the diggers there. That the Sweenjs had found gold he had on very good 'authority. The Sweenys went to Napier first, sold their gold and then came back again. IMPORTANT GOLD DJSCOVEIiY AT COBOMANPEL. The Auckland Evening News of the 24th ult. says:— By the arrival of the Wanderer from Coromandel this evening, we are informed on undoubted authority of the fiuding of another reef of rich gold-bearing quartz at Main Creek, Coromandel, not far from King's driving dam. It is turning out well, specimens realising at the rate of 900 oz. per ton. Three or four claims have only as yet been taken up. " The same journal of the 271h ult. adds :— We stated in our Saturdays evening's issue that an important rich gold-benriug reef had been discovered at Coromandel. We now give a few particulars, furnished to us on re liable authority. It appears that a party known as Mc'lsascs's, hod been out prospecting for 10 or 11 days on the range about half a mile from th« Kapanga claim, and, upon driving a few feet struck on a reef which had all the apperauce of bearing gold. The gold was found in quartz and out of a piece weighing 2d. ozs., -Joz. and a few dwtp. of pure gold was taken. The discovery was immediately made known to Mr Lawler, who gave protection to the prospectors, At ihe time our informant left, some nine or ten claims had been taken up."