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LATEK NEWS FROM NEW
ZEALAND.
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WRECK OF THE PRINCE ALFRED.
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ATTACK ON A PARTY OF THE
40th REGIMENT.
TWENTY-THREE RIFLES CAPTURED.
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By tho Gothenburg we have our files from Auck
land to the 28th August. No nctive operations had
!.nken placo since our last advices. We give the
more interesting items of intelligence : —
On the 25th, an attack was made by some natives on
a road party of the 40th Regiment. They were engaged
falling the bush on the great South road, which, in
consequence of the affair of the escort some time since,
io lminrr wirlmmtl with a view to the sofetv of parties
travelling to tho front. The road bends at the point
whero the parly were at work, and two men on one
side of the bend seeing somo 'natives creeping
through the bush towards the other side, where a party
of the 40th were nt work — made the best of their wny
to tell an escort close at hand to look out ; but the
natives were too quick, and rushing to where the arms
were piled, carried off twenty-three before tho escort
could prevent it. Some skirmishing ensued, when two
soldiers were killed nni three natives.
The General is making large preparations to attack
M Te-More, the native encampment on the left bank of
the Wnikato, about two miles from the front. The
guns have been got to within one thousand yards.
Mere-Mere is said to be strong, and the General has
expressed his admiration of the position, and from
the fact that every day s delay omy aitorus opportu
nity to tho rebels for making it stronger, he is most
anxious to cause an attack tho moment he is fully
prepared to do so, The Storm Bird will be here
towards the end of tho week, and I hope, by tho
stenmcr to Lyttelton ou the 7th, to send you im
portant news. If you knew how anxiously wo wero
interested in every movement in the North — if yon
wero situated as we are in this part of the island —
you would be nble to estimate the avidity with which
we await the result, the heartiness of the prayer wo
put up that it may bo thoroughly successful. A defeat
would he ruinous, because it would very possibly set
almost every Maori hive swarming about our cars. Wi
Thompson is in command at Mere Mere, and is said to
havo 3000athisbnck; but little reliance is to be placed
on the estimate He has been visiting some natives
with censure for their former attack on unarmed set
tlers (tho murders), and has written to the Governor,
telling him that, so fur ns his influence extends, ho will
prevent marauding and induce fun: fighting. Ho has
sent n few presents to the General— goats in milk, tur
keys nnd fowls — probably with a view to show him that
they are not yet wanting food, and do not nnticipnte want
ing it-nwise bit of policy on his part, independently of
the sjrintmo .-? notation, 'If thine enemy hunger, feed
him, &?-*..' in which it is wrapped up. I behove it will
be found Hint the letter he wrote to Archdeacon Brown,
at Tnurnngn, wns, whnt I told you it wns, n friendly
warning of danger from o'her natives, hut did not ex
press the sentiments attributed to Thompson. About
iifty soldiors have arrived from Sydney, nnd tho Tns
mnninn reinforcements were daily expected. You
will havo heard from Australia that the volunteer
movement is received favorably there. They are
much wanted, ns I see even the Southern Cross now
admits that Home wasn't built in a day, and that
Waiknto cannot bo conquered in n hurry — that n
wise general, plenty of men, abundance of ' sinew,'
and no end of patience, must be nil combined beforo
the great result is arrived nt. All to want are men
nnd patience, both the other requisites nre ours nlrendy.
Mr Mantell's oflicin1 position here appears to hnvo
ceased yesterday. I do not think there is any other
reason but the one I mentioned to you on Saturday.
The Wairnrapa mail is in to-day. Nothing particular.
A largo supply of arras was sent up thero last Friday,
for tho use of the volunteers. From the West Coast
the only news is, that Wi Tako, becoming alarmed for
his own safety, has taken to the hush. I caimot vouch
for this — hut ho is certainly absent. He lias been very
busily sending men and letters to the Wairnrapa nud
Hawkes Bay, with a view to induce them to agreo to
somo plan of mutual defence, or, as otheru say, to
somo plan of mutual attack ; nnd the latter is just
as likely to bo the truth as the former. He has met
with no success in Hawkes Bay, nnd so far ns
I can learn, with nono in the Wnirnrapa.
On the 19th instant, tho Avon again steamed up tho
river to within 1200 yards of tho enemy's position nt
Mere-Mere, nnd shelled it for some timo. Thero wero
ten Armstrong shells and twenty rocket shells dis
charged. The practice wns excellent, only three rockets
misenrrying. The natives kept close in their rifle pits
during the practice. They aid not firo nny shots in
reply. Before the practice censed, the King flag was
hoisted half-mast, and it was evident that something of
consequence had taken place, as n lnrgo number of
them instantly sprang up from their hiding places on
the flag being exhibited, and rnn over the crest of tho
hill, past the flagstaff. The flag wns lowered when
tho steamer's hend wa3 put nbout. Threo persons
wero carried up tho hill, from tho lower lino
of rifle pits, nfter the firing censed. It is
therefore belioved somo damage was done. An iron
cupola is to be placed on tho foro deck of the Avon,
nnd which has just been completed by Messrs Vickory
and Masefield, ironfounders of the city. It is of a
triangular shape, loop-holed, nnd with sliding doors on
each side. The top is covered in, and tho entrance to
it will bo from tho deck below. Three large boats
havo been recently purchased by Government, nnd aro
intended to be used ns gan-bonts on the Wnikato river.
They nre to ho iron-pluted. Tho City of Melbourne,
barque, has taken stores to the mouth of tho Wnikato
river, nnd she is to remain thero ns a hlock-sliip.
Somo dissatisfnetion is felt in Auckland that tho
Oraki natives have not been disarmed, and requested to
tako the oath ; otherwise to remove into the Waikato.
To use tho mildest phrase, their conduct during tho
past few weeks has been somewhat suspicious. Until
recently they have been disposing of their moveable
property, such as pigs, -fcc, week by week ; but now
they have left their former place of residence in
Osari Bay, and gone into a more secluded part inland,
where then- operations will not be so readily observed.
It is also reported thnt they have increased iu numbers
l.itoly. Most of tho iVioiidly ii.iU.v-j vlaiting or resid
ing hi Auckland, now wear a distinguishing badge on
the right nrni of tho cont. It is n piece of deep
colored scarlet cloth, chevroned nnd sewn on the right
sleeve. Tho badge could easily be imitated, but there
nre many natives to he seen every day in town who ap
ponr neither to care nbout it, nor yet nu imitation.
Wreck of the Prince Alfred. — ' Wnnganui, 25th
August, 1SG3. — George Hunter, Esq., Wellington. —
Sir, — I regret to havo to communicnte to you tho loss
of tho steamer Princo Alfred on her passage from this
port to Otago, with a cargo of live stock. 1 felt it my
duty (nfter calling n survey) to abandon ship and cargo
on the part of the owner, aud to net ns agent for the
underwriters or whom it may concern. I have accord
ingly lauded the greater portion of the live stock, and
have instructed n snle of the same to take plnce imme
dinlely. The wreck is now lying on tho beach at tho
entrance of Wnuganui river (high nnd dry nt low
water), and ns thero is no great probability of her
breaking up for n few days, ami on learning tliis morn
ing thnt you nro the ngeiit for Lloyd's nnd the Local
Marine Insurance Company in this province, I have
postponed the snlo of the hull, &c, until Weduesdny,
the 2nd day of September, to enable me to communi
cate with you to receive such instructions ns«yon may
deem proper to furnish, ns nlso to acquaint the Wel
lington public, to give then an opportunity to compete
for it. Subject to your approval, I beg to suggest thnt
you issue n circulnr in Wellington to that effect. — I
have the honor to remain, your obedient servant, John
Robertson, master l'riuco Alfred.'
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