THE EAST COAST CAMPAIGN.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2658, 7 April 1868, Page 6

THE EAST COAST CAMPAIGN.

HAUDSHIPS OF THE COLONIAL FORCES — EEDITCED TO EATING HOUSE-FLESH.—GAL-LANTRY OF THE AEAWAB. — BAD CONDUCT OF THE EUEOPEANS. The following is from an extra published by the Tauranga Record ;— . "By intelligence through native sources, received by way of Maketu, we learn that the Opotiki campaign is at an end for this season, owing to the rainy season, and the almost impassable state of the country. " Although the results have not been very important, the force engaged has been considerable, consisting of 80 of the Mounted Constabulary, 150 Militia (belonging to Opotiki), 280 Arawas, and 32 Volunteers from Tauranga, including 7 ISTgapuhis, under command of Mr -Gundry, making up a force of all ranks of 542 men. " After a passage of much hardship for many miles, during which the commissariat was at a very low ebb, as rations could not be sent after them owing to the impracticable nature of the country, the party were obliged to slaughter two horses, which they found excellent food. It was in this condition that the force came in sight of a formidable pa at one of the bends of the river. The Arawas rushed on without orders and took the pa by storm, the European force remaining behind. The desertions from the Europeans numbered about 30. The mounted constabulary were very intractable, as many as 12 out of the 80 being in the guardroom at one time through intoxication." A spectator of the skirmish says :— " About one o'clock on the morning of the 10th March we held a council of war, and the Arawas told Major St. John that they would take the lead next time. About 3 o'clock we started, and two miles from the first pa we came upon Pongakareau, another pah. They began to fire from the top of the hill upon us, a very heavy fire. When we got half way, one of our people, named Hohapa, was wounded. When the Arawas saw this man wounded, they were very angry, and charged up the pa, which they found to be deserted. They went about a quarter of a mile beyond, firing into the bush, without seeing any more of the Hauhaus. The Major then came up and wanted us to go right on to Maungapohatu, the principal pa of the TJriwera, said to contain about 400 men. The Arawas did not like this, so the chief ordered them to come back. Just after we left, the Hauhaus came on and fired at the Militia, who were about seventy or eighty; the Uriweras doing a war dance. After stopping there a quarter of an hour, we saw a Hauhau coming, so about twenty of us went down to meet him and called to him to come on. He said I am one of •E>reopa's men, and Kereopa is bringing up the forces. He said he was frightened to advance, because we had got the war paint. "We said " don't be frightened, we belong to the Uriwera." But he knew we belonged to Arawa, fired at us, threw his gun away, and bolted. We followed him ; he jumped the cliff" down to the river, then we fired at him in the river and killed him, brought him to tlie camp, and our guide belonging to the Uriwera, told us he was Hoani Koratanga, a great chief of the Uriwera, belonging to Kuatahunga. So then we had a war dance in consequence of this man that we had shot. About five minutes after Major St. John and the constabulary came up. If the Arawßß had their own way they would soon clear out the Uriwera. Let the Europeans take one road, and us take another, because the Arawas cannot do anything with the Europeans, for they have too much, order, and the Arawas do not like that. And then the Arawas get veiy little pay. The price ought to be raised." THE THAMES GOLD FIELDS. The special correspondent of the New Zealand Herald writing from Shortland on the 28th March says :— "■ There is a report here this morning that alluvial gold has been found at a place called Fern Flat, which is a distance of seven to nine miles back from the mouth of the Waio-

tahi, and over the second range from here, i I cannot positively vouch for the truth of the report, but so far as I have been able to authenticate it, there has been a find of alluvial gold, and I know that the line of countryindicated has always been looked upon favorably by those who have prospected that part. " The Deep Lead in the Kuranui has had twenty tons of stuff crushed at the Kuranui Battery, with a yield of 423 ozs retorted gold. The yield of Barry's is, I am told, a little less than was anticipated, being about 700 ozs retorted gold. Goldworthy's claim is having 10 tons put through at the present time, and a very favorable result is anticipated. The Kuranui battery will commence with 20 tons of Hunt's on Monday morning. The report of the yield out of .Kelly's claim I think you already have, namely 600 ounces out of 200 tons of stufl ; being, I take it, one of tho very best tests yet applied. It has been pouring rain here in buckets full, and the streets of this city of gold threaten to outrival the dirtiest of any city of ancient or modern times. "The Tapu Creek correspondent of the same journal says : — "I am again happy to be able to report a decided improvement in the state of affairs both mining and business. In fact tho Creek has assumed an air of importance which surprises even the oldest inhabitant on it. " Speculation in shares has commenced in earnest. We were this day visited by Messrs Reid, Wynyard, Morrin, Jones, Capt. Harrison, and others, whoso names I do not know. They were all evidently bent on ' buying in.' The first named gentleman concluded his purchase of a share in the Peseverance claim for tho sum of £400 sterling, through the agency of Mr Petrie. For a half share in Messrs Quinn and Cashell's £300 was offered and refused, and I should say taking the whole of the claims now working at Tapu each and every one of them were they to offer a share for sale would readily meet a purchaser. "The quantity of quartz now on the ground wailing for crushing is something enormous, and as far as I can learn is all of the first water. The Lord Nelson has about 20 tons ; Panama Uoute 80, and various others about the same quantity. The great cry, however, is machinery, and until that comes on the ground the richness of Tapu will never be known. As I have before asserted, I reiterate, that if proper and applicable machinery is once placed on the ground, Tapu will take its staud as the be»t | goldfield in the province of Auckland, and I would strongly advise those capitalists who ] are now buying in the different claims to see j that is the case, not only for their own peckets but for the Creek in general. "There have been several rushes lately, and were I to tell the various claims I should take up too much of your space. Suffice it to say that the diggers here, taken as a body, j appear to me the most contented I have ever ! seen. All in good spirits, and expecting to make a ' pile,' in many cases with a good chance of success."