SPECIAL TELEGRAMS. TO THE "WAIKATO TIMES." ATTACK UPON MACKAY PLANNED BY WAIKATOS. ALARM IN CAMBRIDGE.—SHOTS HEARD. WOMEN AND CHILDREN BROUGHT INTO TOWNSHIP.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 158, 13 May 1873, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS. TO THE "WAIKATO TIME S." ATTACK UPON MACKAY PLANNED BY WAIKATOS. ALARM IN CAMBRIDGE.— SHOTS HEARD. WOMEN AND CHILDREN BROUGHT INTO TOWNSHIP.

(FKOM OUR BPFCIAI. CORBESPOKDBNr. Cambridge, Monday, 10 a.m. Mr Mackay returned here on Saturday evening. It lias been ascertained that the nttnck an him was planned by 80 Waikatos, four of whom were chosen to commit the murder. Runaru, who actually made the attack, was one of the- four. Rewi took Mackay under his own projection, and ordered the Ngatiuiamapotos to shoot any Waikato who came near their camping ground. On Saturday night, about 11 o'clock, signal fire* were seen by Air Mackay and others on Pukekura range, and shots were heard m the direction of Walker's station. A detachment of Constabulary, under Major Clare, immediately galloped oil. They returned m about ai> hour, and stated that the station had not been attacked as feared, and that they had not seen anything of the Maori*. In the meantime a number of out-settlcrs who had heard the shots came into Cambridge with tlieir families and stopped in the redoubt all night. At four o'clock on Sunday morning, n party of Cavalry, under Captain Ruccimun, and a detachment of Constabulary under Mijor Clare, started to patrole the country ; one party went to Pukenmu, and the other to Maungatautan, The tracks ofnat.v s were found by Mr Mackay, who went with. Major Clare's party. A little boy who was looking for cattle early in the morning was c'lasod by a Maori, who came suddenly upon him out of some ti-tree scrub. Colonel Lj on arrived at midnight, and went out with the scouts. Purukutu is said to be out with GO men. A number of out-set tiers lu\e c nuo in and are staying m Cambridge. 10.10 a.m. The night has passed over quietly. It is generally believed th.it the tlnee natives, the tracks of whom were seen jeslerday, hate retreated to the ranges, having, been disturbed by the Cavalry patrol on Saturday night and Sunday morning. I «nn ot opinion that they came to see whether we were on the alert or unguardod. There is no reason at present to anticipate further annoyance from them. Some people say the shots were fired at Mr Walker's cattle ; others- say they were fired a« part of a Hauhau fanatical cerei3ony r performed iiv tho sake of working up the couarge^of be actors preparatory to an attack. Auckland, Monday, 4.45 p.m. Mr DeThierry has] received a letter from the Rotorua chiefs, requesting that surveyors shall lay off 300,000 acres of land, in order to lease and sell t> the Europeans. It is said that Purukutu is lying in wait to stop-the suiveyors, but that the Rotorua natives are determined to lease their lands, and will guarantee to protect the surveyors whilst at work. Child murder is very prevalent amongst the Rotorua and Taupo natives. Sharemarket :— Bank of New Zealand, £16 15s ; South British Insurance, 38s ; Caledonian, £16 ; Bismarck, 29s ; Black Angel, 28s. A vessel named the Margaret Campbell has been wrecked &t Oamaru ; she was insured in the South British for £800. All lives saved.