THE EAST COAST.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3650, 31 March 1869, Page 4

THE EAST COAST.

!%$* ,9 c^ck this morning the 'TaurangV weired * apctibrtfnd stood closer iu,*hore. . It wa^onO time thought that it would nob be possible^" laud, the^iseuit intended for- Che natives, «• long t JJ3 -as "setting m f ram the south-eatt, and • he&y starf ." fe 0 ! the,b«ach, but after afwhifc th?Doto ■ was lowW, C od ™»P r ?^ion«, Voor c^rreipj&ndent, and Henare teftuiJ**?* P ufc ° ffi . J °JJ ne »" n S «>«» shore I'the1 ' the rollers lookea jT^ . f^ mi ?,* ble ' ?nds*? nd 5* w * neeeswry to wt-toh th© bsm I *™^ »«*<* take ad- , vantage of an interval. By to 'tiw lo^ * n< * Polling vigorously when the opportunity offereu, the boat *& last rose on a large wave, and. w»V swept P?«* ther bar into the Awa-O/te-i^a*. A. number of! women and children were waiting to; nee us land; which, when, We had done, Henare, in all the glory of embroidered military coat and gold band, with the additional appendage of sword and revolver, who had board , the steamer been silent and diffident, was no sooner, amongst hii own people than he became a per* . son of great importunes. He did not exactly "fight; his battles o'er again," but he described the battle which be had not seen, I dare say as well an if ho had, like Samson, slain his thousands. Imperfect as i* your correspondent's knowledge of the Maori language, he could Bee that the story did not lose anything by the way it was told, for it was accompanied by gestures aad statuesque postures to "show how fields were won," that evidently exoited the openmouthed exultation of an admiring auditory. As thetwo distinguished visitors, Henare and your correspondent;, approached the principal p», they were-. • saluted with the welcome " Haere mai }" mats were spread, and, seated in the midst of an attentive group, the korero had to begin over again. The oirole was presently joined by an elderly gentleman robed iv a dog-skin rug, and adorned with a battered old black bat, yulgo vocatus " bell-topper," which was his crowning embellishment, and considered to add muoh dignity to his appearance. He was rather dirty, but evidently a great mm, whose sententious utterance* were listened to With deference. Some young men joining the group, Henare commenced; recruiting, and obtained a list of fifteen, A breakfast of water melons was placed befoie us and* bucket of water, and on this substantial fare we were regaled, 1 and your correspondent formed an unfavourable impression of the commissariat of his entertainers ; but he did their hospitality less than justice, for in an hour or two dishes of dried fish, eels, potatoes, and kumaras, smoking from the hanga, were placed in the oirole, one, the largest, set before tb» two strangers, while six or eight people contented themselves with the smaller. After this meal the men were all summoned to fc korero on a small eminence commanding an extensive? view, and where a look-out was kept. Tbis elevation looked down upon the temporary abode of the refugees from Whakatane, consisting of about a hundred or two women and children. It was a space towards the end of the main village, and contained a few whares supplemented by one or two blanket tents. The fugitives had brought with them their stock of potatoes and other food, which were piled on a scaffold. Xhiity-five more men were added to Henare'a 1 Jist in the course of the day, making 50 in all. Tbe day passed without inoident till afternoon,' when a horseman riding a jaded steed was seen ap* proaching from Wbakatane. When he had crossed the river and unloaded himself of sundry plunder, including two rifles, a fowling-piece, and battle-axe, he disclosed his budget of news, which was to the following effect ; that Kooti was known to be now at Kokohinau, and that Mr. Mair, with his whole force of 300 men, had followed him there yesterday. A whaleboat with ten men came to Whakatane from Opotiki to-day to gain information of the state of affairs in the former place, and had returned. They left word that Ropata, with 400 Ngatiporou, are now at Opotiki, and will follow on Kooti't track to-morrow. Another messenger, who arrived Inter, stated that the Hauhaus were at Waiohau, and a unmll party of troopers (Arawas) were observing their movements, forming a force of observation. Waiohau ia about twenty miles diatant from Matata. This news is from native sources, you will say, but I bave no other at present, and must give the best I can get. Every one knows ho sir popular a character a messenger 13 foe the time being, and suoh an indi< vidual is aware that when he has told his story aud has no more to tell he is in danger of subsiding into a person of no consequence, unless he spins out for the edification of his audience, »nd at last, when fairly exhausted, has nothing for it but ta invent more. The host of your correspondent is Poia-te Rin« apu, who, with Arama Kwaka, is rangatira of the Ngaterangitiki and Wgatimanua hapus of the Arawa tribe. He has said host, but the term was soarcely applicable, for he was afterwards called mysteriously aside and told that he would be provided for in a superior manner, and have a whare to sleep in during his stay, for payment of a sum of money. This was not unfair, aud there was no other resource than to accede, for to have declined a chief's offer would have thrown yonr correspondent on the mercy of tho persons of inferior grade, where ho would have fared badly. During our repast of potatoes and kaknpi, ft tasteless fresh-water muscle, an elderly wahine seated herself beside the pakeba and addressed him compassionately: "Ah," said she, "this is only what the Maori oats." "Ifcis very good," replied the paktha. ' ' Vovy good, ia it ? Give him some more." Whereupon a fresh supply was piled up before him in epite of his protestations, the lady nodding her head benevolently as the pakeha did justice to her provisions. The day had paaaed «o far without exciting intelligence, when towards evening Mr. Simpkioa arrived from Whakatano. He Btated that he had remained behind witb2oof the forces, with a view of endeavouring to save the cattle which were left. The militia left on the 17th, and he and Mrs. Simpkina were the only onerf remaining. Their condition was desolate enough, their dwelling burnt to the ground, stores plundered, even their clothing t»k»naw*y,leaving only under-gar-monts, and not even a blanket to sleep in, except two, which they obtained by dint of entreaty from some of the stock taken from their own store. For the whole of the day on which the troopers left not a soul was to be seen ; nothing but the charred, embers of their late home, and signs of ruin everywhere. About » ■core of pigs wantonly killed by the troopers were lying about untouched ; one solitary turkey out of a numerous flock wandered sad and bewildered ; out of dozens of fowl* that had formerly supplied the family none ' remained, and desolation was on every fciclo. Mr. Simpkins went up the river to take a view towards the mill, and when in sight; of the ruins of the mill, was unpleasantly surprised to see the smoku of a fire there. He passed on further, and, when again in Bight of the ruins, Saw a second smoke. He examined, them with his field-glasi, and was convinced that they were fires. They appeared like the smoke of copper-maoris just uncovered, and then closed again. Be waa much puzzled to account for these, All the Ngatipukeko bad gone away, the troopers aud Arawas had Jeffc, and ho could only imagine either that some of Te Kooti's party had returned, or that one or two of the WhakaUne natives reported as missing still lingered about tho place. The uncertainty was uncomfortable, and, returning to Mr. Simpkins'*, he determined to take his departure, He accordingly got together his two remainiug horses, and started on his journey by the beach to Matata, after Mr. Simpkins had, with old Hapanui, set out in a canoe for a small Settlement of the Ngatipukeko up the Orina. He had cro«ed,and was about to proceed on his journey; when he saw at a distance of about half a mile a native run out of "the bush to' a canoe in the river. After looking carefully for some time, and failing to recognise tbe in* dividual, he hailed him, but the native no sooner saw him than he bolted baok into his canoe, and pulled towards him. Hot liking these appearances* Mr. Simpkins endeavoured to urge his hone to something like a speedy motion, but the poor animal was either unable or unwilling, and did not answer the applications of the stick with any accelerated pace, So slow waa . bis progress , that Mr. Simpkins could have been easily overtaken by an enemy so disposed, but he was not pursued, and arrived safely at Matata in the evening, where hie inteUigence, caused great alarm, None of the inhabitants slept, ammunition wasdis. , tributed, and all the males were put on sentry , { through the night. There were several false alarms, but the morning broke without event. ' - , ' ' ,». \ . -'. ; : , MarchJa*/ . The steamer ' Clyde' not baring arrived; according: , < to promise, and intelligence having come, th'atKootlt >"; is now iurrdunded, all the men are'going 'here" ',.'.' to gife their assistance. 'i<-- , ■ "' >'-? '^^{f^v "** ' v " J Mr. Simpkins confirms the reporfc.of the, arrival of 4. between. 300 and 400 of the Ngatip^rpVi. ,uh)dei/Ro-, > : . .■, pata, at Opbtiki, who are wait^ jmajfeuptlopsirQni the GovCTnmenfcto*join"the fd&es agamJi'Te^Kooti,' and failing tci recoil them he ooa»idei»; it likoly that they willjtaka the fieldiqn.their/bj^ic^un^W £, ' ■' - ,1 'cUinfj If tll^"MU2bl'^'AjtM^)'wSj'QßMiMiwO' > -f' i Cll'd9 1 4 "'" ' "%"

irrivei) he has 1 no mode of caress but by a toi'soine walkaloug the beach to Maketu, where the oppor-' tonities o^ despatching communications are both , wfrrquentandano-rfcaSu t The information I haVe glsAned frita BofivB«|aMdn wita Mr, SilnjJkiris I shall not be able to put in tbe form of a, connected narrative, and' shall therefore fan\ simply as incidents of the fight, to whioh the finding of Mr. Piteairu'a body was an iutroduc tion. - The day before the murder, several men of the Urewfra in Mr. Pitoairn'a employ came to Mr, Simpkini's store at Whakatane, and obtained some gooda on an order of the unfortunate gentleman, whioh was, perhaps, the last document he ever wrote. These men were his murderers on the following day He had received a letter previously, warning him not to go on with hi? survey in these words, " The man who bears this will tell you that you will alt be murdered and eaten." This caution be regarded as ironical, and meauing its opposite, an impression in which Messrs. Simpkins and Melbourne ooincided, tend he consequently attaohed so little importance to ft i* to sleep at Ohiwa, where the tragedy octourred. The murder was not known totheAratos at Ohiwa till three days afterward*, whan Mr. Simpkin ■ and Dr. Nesbitt wenbtiofcn, and found the remaius m a State of incipient decomposition. They pr«>oared «onie\3*livio, a»d, with a mat, tied it round the body, wbioh they interred, reading service over the grave. Subsequently, Major Mair arrived, and removed it to Opotiki, where an inquest was held. I have been able to procure the following diary from Mr. Wimpkins, who communicated it orally :—: — Ou Sunday, February 28, Mr. Pitcairu arrived from Pukati, with teD men, and came into my store, and, on Monday, bought some goods. They weut to Ohiwa the same day, and camped on an island called Urita. Tuesday, March 2 : Mr, Pitcairn went out on the iftafc shooting ourle-vs. All his men had gone to Rakuraku's pa but two, who came to Whakatane. About 4 p.m,, a native ntmed Nathan came to tbe island, and asked Mr. Pitcaim'a wonun where he war, and she replied that he had gone out shooting. The woman's father, on bsmg asked, gave the same answer. In the evening, at dusk, Mr. Pitcairn landed from his oanoe, when his woman asked him for bis gun, which he refused to give up. three times. A native named Kakatu rushed v,> behind bim, and struck hia with a tomahawk. This was ju*fc outs de the vhare, which they plundered, taking away his cneodolite and other goods \ going from thence bo RukaruWs i>% where Te Kooti w<is. Tho latter in.iividualj having previously, on inquiry from Rukaruka, ascertained that an hlurop^an was living on the inland, told off twenty men— ten of his own, and ten of Rukaraka's, some of whom were in Mr. Pittiairn's employ, and one was the father of the housekeeper of the unfortunate gentleman. Wednesday, March 3 : News came to Wbakatane to* Mr\ Pitcairns murder. t Yhur-day, Maroh 4 : I and a native named Hon Kauaukura went ov«r to Hohop , and 'mustered t-n men, who refused to go tojthe island because the party was coo small. Consequently, I and Hori weut without them. Went to Marsh, -md prevailed on him to bring the body over for bmial This was the tirsb intelligence that Marßh received of the murder or the presence of Kooti, but for which he and his party would haVd been ru> prised ami killed. Friday* March 5 : A. party of men under Captain Mair c&me aud exhumed the body. Captain Mair ■sked the natives ti» carry the body to Opotiki, but they rtfused, aaying there were plenty of Europeans to do it. Dr. Nesbitt arrived, with Retreat Tapsell, and we three went on to Ohiwa ou the following day, and found thirty men there under Captain Trayera, who disinterred the body, and took it to Opotiki. Sunday, March 7 : Dr. Nesuitt left, and I told him that the adofler we had a little force to protect the road the betted 'and he promised to see to it. Tuesday, March 9 : A false alarm was given at the mill of a boat having come in fiora Opotiki to buy piga. 'I his was done by the Hauhaos to distract attention.' A man came riding down from the mill, with the newt that a woman bad been taken by the Bafchaus from the field, while digging potatoea. All the natives, numbering about 80 men, then gathered into the pa. I aud Mrs. Simpkiua at night shifted over to a litile island io. the river, together with a native of Wahu, Saw fires, and heard firing at fcbe mill. Slept on the island. At night, a policeman came, and, finding no one in Whika'ane, hailed us on the island, saying that ha had letters for the Hohopi pt-ople, on which I sent over for them. Heard an alarm in the houses, and, having five tifleS we fi'-eii into the houses all nijjhb at a distance of 150 yard's and found them riadled v ith shot in the morning. . W^dne-day, March 10: Shifted into anothr-r isUnd 400 yards from the houses Hearing that the pa on th- mill Bide of the river had been taken, and John kille », I sent for ten of the Ngatikaua natives, offering them sa. e*ch to stop with me. The men were mustered, but, instead of coming to me, they went into the pa, and joined tha Ngatipukrko there, and left me in tho lurch. About nitie o'clock the mailman arrived from Taurang* on his way to Opo tiki Cape came and stopped the nuht. Were alarmtd with firiug at the mill, and eat up all night. On Thursday morning, March 11, we pat the mailman across, and sent a letter to Major Mair, warning him of the state of Whakataue. The letter waa afco addressed to the i-fficr in command ab Obiwa. The mailman waafiishten-d, and afraid to go, but I told him it was a rase of emergency, aud we were running a risk where we weie, and ha started. Immediately after, two natives came down and told us the state «>f thines at the mill, so we loaded tbe boat with about £200 woith of goods I had just got from Tanranga pulled it over to the Maud, and let the dog loose. About noon, Cape and I went on a little sandbauk. in thi river, and beard firing, and saw the tfaub.au flag flying. Expected every minute to see * foice come from Ohiwa. Mrs. 8. and Mr. Melbourne were left at the huts. We had our rifles with us. We *aw forty-Bix Hauhaus with Te Ko«ti at tbe head ti<e a volley at my house, running and shouting till they came to the hotel, when they fir«d at it. They cried out, " The pa is taken t" With ray good field-glass I could distinguish every man. Bat previously to this we observed a native in tho distance whom wo ascertained to be Kawiri, running pa«t the houses towards us, as if desirous of coming for us to have the island, on which I called to Mrs. Simpkins to pull the oanoe across and bring him over, which she w»s about to do, when three nbots were fired nt her. A Poverty Bay natire (one of the Hauhau-0 called Rawiri back, and when they met, shook hands, ru bud noeea, and talk-d for two or thrt c minutes. This we could not uuderstand, and imagined that it was the Am was who hud b> aten the Hauhaus, and were congratulating us, but: Mri. Simpkini, knowing better, Laving been fired at, was ruuning to call us. 1 lo >ked with the glass, and saw the uatives burst open Mr. Melbourne's door. Was then certain they were Hauhaus, and ran back toward* the hut to bring Mr.SimpkiusandMelbourne, who were coming towards u^, and met us near tho flagstaff. Stopped a little and looked at th« Hanhaus who came to Kellys door, where they stood for a few moments, and then burst it open. They wore clustered together and some could have been easily killed, and Cape waiated me to fire at them, but L refused, as I ouly had one bullet, beside which I considered that if we <-hot one they wonll be so enraged thab thov would overtake us, ns neither of us could run. Waa^o perceived him whom vre had supposed to be Rawir , making towards us on the opposite °ide of the river, and did not know but that we might require to fire at him in self defence When the Hauhaus got to my hous», I fir3d one shot towards them, and, still retreating, had got about a mile away when Mr. Melbourne save in, being a cripple and unarmed, and he hid himself in the bushes. Still retreated about two miles, watching the Hauhaus taking the goods out of my store and •towing themaway under the trees, and saw them appareut)y empty all the houses ; at least took the most valuable goods, the rest of which they left for the fire. There was a quantity of valuable atook, inolndinff two ten-gallon feegs of rum, and four ca ; es of ale and porter, for the hotel. The rum they emptied into smaller kega.About three miles distant saw them set fire to a native wharein the centre of the' township, and to my own house. As there was a quantity of kerosine and paint oil, * great smoke arose. We hero' met' two Aiawas coming fwm Matata; anked them who th*>y"were and how strong, and they answered they were Ngatirangittki, forty in number, on the other side of the river. Said to them, "Make ha*t« and go back with me, and -we will intercept, them." believing that we had seen some of tbe Hauhaus swimming towards the island,- 'where the boatload of goods w»b. Said to Oape^' «^ Wilt, you/go back for me on the other side V as the Arawas had a canoe, but he said "No," became he w«^ tired, and would go on retreating.- 'Tbe'tiro %'atives went across the' river aud ( left nic tbgo'-tiab'k toward* tbe houses. I bad got about half a^mile^bAck-; wlien4 ' heard natives,' and stowed myself ritofay in 'the flam till they bad passed 'jne,', and i- ea^wbo they we^e/, 1 Th»v were two A<vtiVej» of the Puta&isy^bnc&rned in . tbe-lPaHoon murder, whb* were -Qbinfng^ iiq'm^'wpt-' ' *»nee». -On© of I&W') Mty&^s%&lbl^'*!B&''- ■'" , »hd took hie spea^.igUing^ffljWmfM^^j^W could run faifccr than I could, aad:ther« w*l no

danger, as there Wrtwly W4*£ |^«^: & ,d forty of the Arawa,were goini Jowatcte Hwm aj. Itiilil time I»w ft OU C *b«ok to ride,tow«dB herand told a native on fc orWbftO \ ?n? n w hi O h he, did, aud beckon for her nob to dotno «».* «r«.,,f, toward! the went away towardi OpOfcUf. "—■« the flagstaff and »»w two native* ran&lng atnonf ■•< the burning boui*t, and Could not make out whether they were frieudiy dr, not} Until •native Ou horseback ahead oried ottt "AH right}" when we went ©Ver" io the hUts, and found eterytjhiig taisen away or destroyed, together, with four rifles, and fifty rounds of ammunition. Called the, three natives over, and found one tobe.jjßawiri and two from Hohopi, who had seen, the fires a?d stowed themselves away. When they' came o^er, we Jill started for the burning houses, and found that they " had bnen Blowing away a quantity of gonis left from the fire. Some new spades they had thrown into the creek, aud many small thiuuß belonging to my wife and oijild they had, taken, and hidiieu. ! Many ban of soap, a caae of pipe*, fifteen bottle* of porter, and about twenty pounds and a package of sugar \r ere amongat these. I threatened the first man who attempted to take any of the property, and told them to oonvey it over to the ialand. Saw them set fire to a stack of about twenty .torn wood, besidt* which were about 600 feet sawn boards. Made them, put, the fire out, got a few things together into the whaleboat, add came away. Buried some thiogs in the ground, but the plant was afterwards sprung. The whaieboat was untouched, but the boat with the goods had been, broken up. .Retreated back up the river that night. In getting out of the boat I saw a lot of things belonging to my daughter stowed away in the boat by one of the Fulloou murderers, who seizsd hold of » bottle of porter which he said he would have, but I took it from him and threw it into the river along with his gun. I think he was rather the worad for liquor, as he had put wuter into the rum kegs and drunk it. Left the boat, and went by land about £v© miles after dark to a place where my wife and a lot of the Ngatihauas were, We Had t0 stop there all night, bat not to sleep, for we hai no clothe? to lie dowa in, and they wonld not permit us to light » fire, nor lend us a blanket. I had no clothes but what I ran away in, and was ob'iged to leave tdy coat behind with £18 in the pocket, and Mrs. Simpkina was obliged to fly wich only underclothing. In the morning the widow of Hori Tunui gave me a mat, and I got a small shawl from' one of the natives oa promise of payment. Bave thus,' myself and Mrs. t-impkms, lost everything but what we stood up in, and all my daughter's clothing, whioli had just come from Auckland. Friday, 12th : At Runrise, self, wife, Cape, and another native started for Whakatane in the whalebojit. Got to the iiland, and in about twenty minutes saw a force coming fr<<m OpoSiki. Fired a shot and hoiatrd a red shawl. Heard firing in our rear, which we fancied was the Arawa coming up, but it proved to be ihe Hauhaua driving the natives out of the pa. If we had not seen the force just then, we should have been obliged to go out through the m->uth of the river, for we should have been Biirruunded. The force proved to be Captain M^ir with 120 men, horse aud foot. He came down the hill to the township. Wo heard firing all the time in the diiection of Matata, which wa» the Hauhaus diivinu the Ngatipukeko and Arawa befora them. Captain Mair said he would retreat up th* hill and wait for Major Mair with reinforcements, as he did not think he had ammunition sufficient, though I found after that they had 60 rouuds each. I tol I Captain Mair that there was a good position which had niver been takon, between the rocks and on the hill above, but he said he would wait for reinforcements. We got t» the top of the hill, halted, and saw the other forces coming up from Oputiki. We were then about 200 strong, natifea and European*. The Arawa and Ngaiipukeko. seeing tbe fore- s retreat, marched back before the enemy, and the women aud children fled towards Matata. On the arrival of Major Mair the fores came, down aud took up their position, manuing the" hills. Firing towards Alatamata still audible. A. small foroe under Major Mair Treat out towards the priest's house, iv the direction of the Grin*. Saw the Hauhaus returniug shooting pigi, *n<t sotting fire to the houses. Stayed in tbe rear, and watched them with the gla-is exp-oting them to set fire to the priest's house, winch they did, althoughif wehad attacked them there they could have been prevenud, but our force still retreAted to wait for more reinforcements. My opi >ion is that it th-re had been a soldier in the field the Hauhaus mi.hb have been cus off then. Grot back to camp. Remained that night, sent out pi<queta on the hilts, and the troops oemmenceJ the deptruction of fowlst aud pigs, killing one pig of my own for the forces, and they comraouced lulling right and left. Firing from our position all night, the enemy returning a few ahols. [lha remainder of the diary has already appeared in a previous isaue.]