The Miner and Workman's Advocate. — 1865-05-20 (London, England)

THE NEW ZEALAND WAR.  HORRIBLE MURDER OF A MISSIONARY.  We (Times) have received the following (rem our own • correspondent : SYDNEY, March 25.—New Zealand news to the 11th 'has been received. Ohantaki has been captured; 15 of the enemy were killed and 80 taken prisoners.—The Pas 'Marini natives at Opotki have taken and destroyed the schooner Eclipse, murdered the Rev. M. Volkner, and -eaten his brains and eyes. They have taken the Rev. -Mr. Grace, Dr. , Agassy, and Captain A second despatch dated Sydney, 27th March is in • corroboration of the first :—The friendly natives have taken Ohantiki and several important chiefs-prisoners John Williams was killed in the attack. The Pai Marini fanatics have visited Opotiki, hung and beheaded the Rev. M. Vokner, abandoned by and vainly calling upon his flock for aid. They .scooped out and ate his brains A. fanatic priest ate his eyes.--M. Volkner died calmly, praying.—The Treasurer's budget at Sydney has been postponed.' Relative to the war, the Melboxrne Argus supplies the following particulars :.—The news of the surrender of of William Thompson the king-maker, the leader in the council of the Waikato tribes, has not been confirmed. The telegraph, as is too often the case, gave to an Auckland canard the importance of fact. It is true that the astute chieftain was visited, under a flag of truce, by two British officers, but it is not true that he returned with them to acknowledge Her Majesty's supremacy in the land. On the contrary, though not taking part in the war, he remains aloof, not disposed, ills said, to accept any conditions short of Maori independence—a term the fatal meaning of whlch to settlement is hardly understood out of New Zealand.  From Wanganui there is literally no news whatever. General Cameron, with a f,e of 1,000 men, was by the last accounts received, at l'o.• ca, River. It was rumoured that road-making would be' commenced from this 'point towards Wanganui, but nothing certain was known. As General Cameron is acting strictly on the defensive, and as the Nttkumanu defeat has warned the natives a the danger attending offensive-operat ions on their part, there is no immediate expectation of a collision between the troops and the rebels. The local press,, which has hitherto blamed Governor Grey for the inactivity which has marked the war, is now transferring a portion of the censure to General Cameron.  Up the Wanganui River there has been some fierce fighting between the friendly natives and the rebels. The rebels had taken up a strong position on the banks Of the river, but they were driven from it with heavy loss by the friendly natives, who were led in the most gallant manner by the chiefs Aneko and Mawal ; 75 prisoners were captured. From Tauragna, on the other side of the island, we hear of the capture by the friendly Atawas of 56 rebels, including the high priest of the Pai Marire fanaticism, while on their way to the seat of war. His Eitoollency was applied to release the chief Hon Kingi, whom the East Coast tribes hold in great respect, and whose people were willing to give any possible pledge that he should remain loyal for the future. Governor Grey consented, and his resolve has been everywhere approved as a politic act. The death of the well-known chief John Williams Aipango, who visited England, and was presented to Her Majesty, is reported. .He was with the troops, and was shot while taking up an advanced position with them. Bigradier-General Waddy has been thrown from his horse, and, besides other injuries, has sustained.a fracture of the collar bone.  There are now close upon 19,000 seamen enrolled in le Royal Naval Reserve.