Taranaki.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 207, 6 September 1860, Page 3

Taranaki.

' JOURNAL OF EVENT’S TO AUG. 18- . f From the Taranaki Herald.) :: Saturday , Aug. TT—Owing to the' general impression that the rebel natives contemplated ah attack upon the town, the "Royal Engineers, under the direction of Colonel 71/buld, commanding Royal Engineers, ’ and Capt. Mould, commanding the 6th company of that, corps, proceeded to-day to erect breastworks and t,o ; lay 'platforms for two 32-pounders on the : spur in year of the Marsland Hill ’ Barracks. ; 'to itroteht the south', side of that position ; from any sudden rush of the natives. We omitted to mention in our journal on the arn- ’ val of the Airedale on her last trip from Manu- ‘ kau, that we had an addition to the f»rce of the Royal Engineers of 1 sergeant, 3 cor- • porals. and 12 sappers, The Tasmanian Maid came up to-dav from Waitara. Ca]£. ‘ iSWmour. R.N.. has so far recovered from the ’ * effects of his wound as to he'aide to visit town, .although the gallant captain still uses his crutch. We hear from Waifara P’iat Walter Perry, the meat contractor’s assistant, had a . . marrow escape yesterday from falling into the hands of- the rebels.; He was- riding in quest of stock on the north; bank of the river, when he was suddenly fired at by a party of natives in ambush, and - was wounded, by .one bullet ; in his leg.- his horse being shot • through 'the J boily in two places at the same time. The gallant,, animal carried- him to the camp;and soon after died. Perry’s wound is described as severe, though not dangerous. Mr, Broadmore on. going out to his farm to r day,-ivithiii two milesfrom the town, nearly ffe.ll'into-the hands of a marauding party of natives, vyhoj were busily engaged killing his pigs. He first heard the crie3 of tlfc' pigs, and then saw two]

natiye34Htiij)iiirr ( al6nV a;l.rt'dge; : ''faiTd' J tlieTenpoii \yisely , returned.y .Siltfodlc. *;\v r iso'': was Pin the.dfreptio.n ? 'of tlie /f.v'e.tiue;Road} was -.also surprised,by the rebels,’ andATorcedittf-make. .a precipitate retreat.„ Ar party- of* Militia: and yoluntefirsi under- :the ,< command J of .Major Herbert, Captain's;: King,- Watt,' Stapp, .and Atkinson,-,proceeded to the camp at; AVaireka where the rebels were in force on’ Grayling’s, /Filkinson’s,/- and-'Brown’s farms;tlie rebels firing oii the party-r—Sergeant Free,- of‘ the Vi dunteers,;being hit, : oriv the knee: by ra ball; which furtuiiatelyi jiiowever, only inflicted a slight wound. The j Victoria sailed ' to-day for. Nelson' with 130 passengers. - The < Militia, and, Volunteers' returned ;• to* day M from O'inata at ■ 2 p.mi , -Full particulars ef ; the rex-! pedition to Omata will-be found id- our correspondent’s letter. * ; , - . Sunday , : \2--~.Thh Tasmanian u Maid .returned to Waitara to-day. v Weather" threatniug. A portion of the .Naval Brigade and a body of the 65th and 40th Regiment's !werc sent to Omata to,-day with provision carts. The rebels ,bave; thrown up strong entrench--ments across the road, and, have sunk:a large number of rifle pits on Grayling’s and Harrison’s farms, some within four hundred yards of, the camp. Several natives were seen in Wilkinson’s house, and a . shell was thrown with beautiful precision into it, knocking down the chimney and' .bursting through the roof amidst the, yells of the - savage's inside. The detachments all returned to town this afternoon. The Engineers on Marsland Hilj have carried on their work in a most spirited and energetic* manner, , having completed, the platforms and breastworks: by,4*o’clock.this afternoon iu tliatscientific way .so peculiar to corps. - : i v

Monday, escort, of 30- men under Captain Atkinson went out this morning to bring into town _ some property . from the Avenue road. Some little time after they left, tiring-was heard in that direction, and great excitement prevailed in town ou hearing that they were attacked by the rebels. The Light Company of the 65th and a large party, of Militia arid' Volunteers, were detached to their assistance. On roachina Capt. Atkinson’s party, it was found that they had been skirmishing’with some natives whj had apparently come from Capt. King’s house at Brookklands with plunder, as several of the natives had pikaus on their backs. Captain , Atkinson fearing an: ambuscade of a large number of natives, hail retreated for support, aiul, was’ followed by the rebels: almost- upon the . race-coursej .within tlie town belt. He then advanced upon the rebels in skirmishing order,' killing .line, riidiye,. wounding, another, and driving tliera into.the bush. ' The bugle sounded.the retire, and soon after the natives again advanced, setting ..fire to a house . belong: ing to Capt. W. King, and another; supposed to.be Mr., .W. Frenche’s, and then returned towards Puketotara. No casualties on our side:

Tuesday , 14— The, Tasmanian Maid came up from. Waitara. No news.- A party of mounted volunteers rode out to day to recover horses and cattle,,and fell in with natives near Mr. J. S. Smith’s. It is said one rebel was shot by Mr. Patterson. Wednesday , 15—The Tasmanian Maid returned to VVaitara to-day. Weather fine. A large party of military, militia, and volunteers went up to the Carrington road to-day witli carts for firewood. No natives were seen. Several houses have been destroyed and pillaged. Mr. W. French’s house is burned to ihe'ground.

Thursday, 16—During last night the /?aupo Barracks, recently built, near the Hemii bridge, and until lately ocuupied, by the Light. Company of. the 65th„.were burnt, ami also Mr. Flight's (the Resident Magistrates) and others in the direction of Waiwakaiho. :Some tires were seen at Omata last night.' Weather stormy, . with heavy , showers of rain. At noon the wind blew fiercely from the W.N.W., and the brig Ceprge Henderson, was driven about 2 o’clock on shore, on the ;low sandy beach near the mouth of the Henui river, abou half-a-mile from town. A large armed party of-blue jackets, with one gun and rockets, .'in. command of .Commodore Loring, military, , militia, and volunteers were .on the beach where she grounded, and a rope having beeuseut a shore by ;the Captain, and attached to the beach, the crew all safely landed, Capt. James being the last t.o leave his unfortunate brig. Nhe is almost a new .vessel, belonging to Capt. Janies, and is only insured, we regret to say, for half her val,ue. ; A targe body,of natives,.were seen in the vicinity of the lieiiui river soon after the,:vessel grounded, and the assembly was. sounded iii town, and to-night a force consisting of military, militia, and volunteers, have gone out to lieiitii. There is no t hope of .the brig being go: off. ■

Friday , 17—Twenty carts with an escort of.the 40th ami 65th Regiments, and a party of seamen .under- Commodore Loring,- proceeded. to'the wreck this morning, and have brought away’hey spars, canvas,, running rigging, aud a large,quantity, of savyn timber. „4bout noon to to-day six heavy guns were hpard fired from Omata. The. natives are in great numbers on Mr . McKeclmey’s-and A, King’s land, and in year of the .Hospital, and appear, to have, made; Mr. Shuttleworth’s hotise,their head quarters. ;120 were counted about thedatter house, and sentries, are to be seen ; stationed with fixed, .bayonets in r the road, m There js now nd doubt that several of the friemjly, natives are;.waiVei‘iug.; Itis; said that. Waka andhis -peopleffiave left . the; Hosand gone; ov.er if ,to. the ieiiemy. rebels have visited A/r.fQ. Carrington’s house, ami were on Mr. Standishe’s favm-last night, within a mile from the barracks.

The following notice was issued to-day