A NARRATIVE OF LATE OPERATIONS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 3, 9 May 1848, Page 3

A NARRATIVE OF LATE OPERATIONS IN NEW ZEALAND.

(From the United Service Magazine, Dec., 1847) (Concluded from our last) As all things, after they have occurred, are narrated with UNKNOWN by the natives, it is now distinctly known lint thou |ilaii \ias to throw a atroin- bco.i m K.,rol't!„a,i\.mco.l (urtic-, anil at tin.- lioisliu ; ut' a 11,- u, tin lii-i.l. ofl'u- ]uli, us di-fondoi, »,i; lo „„i ~J atuck in I ..,,t ,-.l„k the aiubuJicr- atl.-.-Uil i'.i t', ■ i ■ „ ami thus j.lav-L'il tii. soliluis liittuuauly iho .imbu.h'..as ili-toi.it-l , a t,„ K jl, n.tiio, ll.fi a sl,u-, but -iniv nu.U. i chul s-v. it ..„> cill.'.l out m Ins biok-'li ElylLli, '■ 1\,.,.,ik c ,„ l.„.:, ," ..ml tin. i.tun li, uitlllli a \,ty .Imrt ih-lino,, .nil iliiin.t c mcv.il.il by brush iou,l, v-ci,- ill. i-j . ' The 1M.1i..,. ..muruiu, Inn Lit-it.M-L.-iio!!,,! i,-,t hj,,.. tit. ni,.,-„, ut, Mllm g h.-moi. to 1,11,,,. ,„ ■!„■ b,-t uLUiun ll.i} -.oiikl, Ik ruaUtil ui-uu liio Alwiks, hI„.

had not time or space to retreat, and they then for th first time felt what the British soldier is when engaged hand to hand; and though they fought manfully and well, even returning twice and tlirice to the charge, Ihey were taught the lesson, that only in fighting behind trees and palisades they have a good chance with tho Pakehas, as they call us; their leader, Kowettee, only escaped hy hiding himself under the bodies ol the slain. The marine force, I need not say, nobly supported their character on this and every other occasion during those events. In the evening, the officer commanding finding he could make no impression, retired towards the pah of the friendly natives, carrying with him his wounded men, and leaving the killed on the field; and the latter were honourably interred by their foes, who oven sent for one of the neighbouring missionaries lo read the burial service over their remains. The troops remained for a shot time with Tomati Waka and his people, subsisting in a great measure on their bounty ; for so inefficacious were the arrangements on the first expedition into the interior of New Zealand, that the same country which, mi the second alKiir of the same nature, fun ished us with transport, and abundance of cattle and hour for food, scarcely provided a day's sustenance for lhcm; but for this we had to thank the easy disposition of our chief, who was not made, as regarded his friends, of that stern sti'ff of which Pictoit was moulded, if we are to believe the memorable ordei he is stated to have made to the idle Commissary. The expedition then made a long and toilsome march along the left bank of the Kerri Kerri, and embarking, sailed for Auckland, bavin? effected nothing, principally for want of artillery and ignorance of the country. Before finally leaving the bay, iiowcver, a hoat expedition, under Major Bridge, 58tii, started for the purpose ot destroying the pah of a chief in alliance with tl» enemy; and after a scene of great confusion, from the darkness of the night and the grounding of several boats in the river which they ascended, they succeeded in their object without loss, having found the place empty of human beings, but hy no means destitute c-l pigs and other animals, which became the booty of the captors. It is impossible to account for the apathy of the nati' cs on the occasion, as they were distinctly heard on the banks, and could easily, in that narrow river, have inflated severe loss upon the invaders. In the mean time Colonel Despard hart sailed with the flank companies of the 99th, and three officers of the 90th Regt., from Sydney, for the purpose of assuming command in New Zealand, and altering the appearance of militaiy affairs there, with what success will afterwards be sicii. Lieutenant, now Brevet-Major Eardly Wilmot, lud also arrived from Hobart Town, with some small Lnss pieces, more adapted for firing salutes from a yacht than for brcacning a New Zealand pah, the timbers of which are as thick as a man's body, and many of the posts trees firmly rooted in the ground, and cut down to the requisite height. About a week after his arrival a second expedition sailed for the purpose of attacking a new and stronger pah, distant about sever, miles from the first one, which had been voluntarily destroyed, audi after surmounting the greatest difficulties and hardships the troops sat down before it about the Ist or 2nd of June, having a body of friendly Maories with them. The small camp was distant only 300 yards from tlu pall, and sheltered in a great measure from its fire by a small rise in the ground; while immediately in rear of it a small running stream of beautiful water supplied us with that necessary of life in abundance. On the. right flank a small hill formed the key of our position bordered by a dense forest communicating with the pah, and which by a strange neglect was not properly garrisoned, and which led to an event afterwards to be related. At daylight in the morning the batteries of New Zealand flax for the small brass pops were reported ready, and after a message to the enemy, which they treated most ignoniiiiiously, the guns opened, but so badly constructed, and so narrow were the paiapets on which they were mouutcd, that (hey all rolled over into, the soft mud. No effect was produced by the sah-o, and half an hour elapsed before the Maories auswcrcif it, which they ilid on seeing our line drauu ouf un--sheltered, as if on parade, an absurdity which was not again committed. From that time daily skirmMu-s took, place between the belligerents, in which the lolly of sending men with red coits to fight in the bush was apparent, and which was the cause ol the loss of many brave men. The site of the gun was changed two or three times; on one occasion two guns were placed within li.jMy yards of tbe left flank of the pah, but were silenced b« the incessant stream of musketry,and quietly removed in the dark. The labour of officers and men was great, and during the whole time that they lay there, evei. boots could not be taken off at night, and clothes wenunchanged, and this too in the middle of winter. The climate, though moist in the extreme, was favourable, and beef, grog, and dudeens were abundant, also potatoes, which our enemies had not time to remove fioethe camp where ihey had stored them for then own use. Towards the end of the month a 32-ponnder, through the exertions of Lieut. Clark, of the Hazard, and of ihc now indefatigable Commissary, was brought into camp, and soon began to knock the sticks about: aud if ammunition had been plentiful, and time given, a bre.it it must eventually have been effected, but from the pontive orders given not to fire at night, the damages ..f the day vrere repaired in the darkness, and it was'tmly modifying to bear the hammering of the foe as tin -, effected that purpose: suffice it to say, that when t'-L morning broke, no trace of the previous day's mischief could be observed. Ob the Ist July Cols. Despard and Hulme were oa the hill before mentioned, watching the effect of the. 32-pounder, which was about half way up its ascent, when the attention of those in camp was attracted by a violent commotion; and in an instant the weak guard of twelve men of the 58lh, some friendly Muorie>. tii* gallant commanders, and others, were seen making tic best use of their legs down the hill, upon the summit of vbich the hostile savages were seen firing upou the retreating reds, and pulling down the Union Jack Hying in Tumati Waka's unfinished pah. If it had not been for the loss ot life, the scene was rather iudiei uiis, as conspicuous among the racers were a pair of broad' red-slriped trowsas, which cut the most extraordinary evolutions during their involuntary descent. The kill was almost immediately retaken by Major Bridge, SStli, the Maories retiring, having failed in their principal objett, the destruction ol our staunch ally Tomati Waka, tho head of the friendly confederacy, who, furtuuately for himself, instead of being m his small pah on the occision, as was his wont at that time of tho day, had just come down into the camp. The surprise was well executed, and a captain's guard was henceforth stationed there, but too late tj prevent the disj.iat of seeine; the L'nwu Jack they hud taken llyin;,- under their liiilitiii,- Hi; in the interior ot the pah. On the cnlejicl', ren.rn t" tl> canip urdeis win immediately given lor the men tu dine and pie;uii fir the assault, tlicn eagirly desued by all. ui .1 mens of .gaping the constant bauomcu' »e wci. aud accordingly the whole fom with the exception of a few men uudtr a ijuarteruiiit.r leu m ramp, and forty mm on the hill, under Cap!. Thompson, Kill, advanced ut thne in the afternoon to uwault the fcrmidible and uulin urlird .1.-u. Not a A„i was tired upon the advancing putics, nm was a v.und heard iroui the lutenoi, until aftet laving .loimi hi a mull

nu-iahi about tlvrty vards distant, the bugle sounded, and with should Hie whole spring forward, and then commenced fr.-tn the defenders a deadly rattle, more li'ic the file firing rf * n-pimuit, and all within the ppice ff a few y..[<K In less -ban tea minutes one third of the force were hnrs dt lombat, and had not the bugle then Bounded the retreat, almost cTery man would have been destroytd ; but as it w;-s the stormers retired, leaving about fifty men of the 96th Regiment, hi ifcr Cup*aia Ensign W ilmot. to maintain a skirmishing fire, to cail the attention of the enemy oft' (row the maimed, which enabled the poor tell '«s uitli the exception ff one cr two, to be aided in th.it c?r.tpc. l.eut.-Colonel Hub-e ws very conspicuous, and his cnol bravery was the admiration of <nrry beholder, as. s. com* in command, bin services were un a'twnle. The friendly Ma >ii«s. thinking us m jilmen for ihe attempt though admiring the reckless t.f it, give io assistance, they deeply (ic|il<n<d the fito! consequences of attacking such a pi re. and at an aujjle nt whisli tho Runs bad never lwu bmc. Allws over by hnlf-i a»t three, and the M mrie- darced the'i fi ndKh war d .nee in triumph, m.ii at night masted ati\e at in'crvuls an iinfoiiuntte m-m .-I the 99th, whum Uh-j bad .v. anded and taken prisoner in the morning, vrhcu ing, contrary to orJc*: biscrScs w-tre bca.ttcndii-g/ The small camp was filled with tlu rn-aniof the nounded, and the two had idbi-r.i>u"du'i:*'o perform, fully sufficient to occupy three times thai number. Ntxt day the Missionary Arch dt neon p cv .iled in. ou Ihe Mamies to jih w us to h:ve 11k* mad. they at fi.st trying to btipu atp, as is their custom that in future cases of utiack wr should send them wrrd 1 and (.ecordiuedv, with the exception -f Captain Giant, of the sStk, th.y were ii'tcried near the camp. The body of Lieut, riiilnotts, i» IN., was taken to Wumiati. dht.nt cbous five miles, wliere thpre is a church) a*e\ and interred with funeral tioi'ourt; as was aUo tht o>.pic of the inucMam ntul Lieut. B?atiie, of the Dflta. v,ho died of his wound* L'eut. Phtipoits, a sin of the Hishop of Exifc-r, was shot through the beast, vainly trying to tfleet i.n entrance ; In* body w a not mutilated, with the exception of the scalp bem* removed, as were told, as an oii'-rifg-to their great prophet. We rema-ued until the 9ih ot July before the pah, the colcnel very undecided as to retiring or otherwise; m lan, at one time he had given orders tj the cngimer about blowinc up or burying guns, &t , prepa au»y to retreat, but fortunately 1 litemd to th2 urgent entries of others, and to the in J tenant s.d citations of the .deadly Maories. Abi-ul eleven o'clock a repoit was made to him that the e vmy wcr 1 iv;-cu.iiias the pah, and at thiee o'clock ol ib' miming of tbe 10th the friendly Maories entered in J fuuud that their cuutrrymcu had gone, leading a l , unda.icc of fivd and plenty of Maorie valuables, in U e sLape of tawv. ai s, nnd rnusquets, which of course tin v were ollrnci to t> ke. VVhen div b oi; t at-ea-ch w-5 made for the body of C'j.'ain lirant, in l '. n r .er disturbing numbers of the Miuiiu graves he vri, faund, but it was only up-n undressing him, fir the purpose of waning him, that it oas discpveied Ik had brei frigh'fully mutiist»d, as the tnunstersj after eicisii-g ihe fish, had pulled on and carefully buttoned bis troiuess oser the denuded b.mcs Poor fellw 1 he had a very strong presentiirtn*. of decth, which mi-st have been instantaueous. E\c y «nc was struck with astonishment at the strength oi the pah, iind the temerity of the attack j a»d the foire, now much reduced, retired to Waiuioti. :, deserted mission station, where they again enjoyed tliw luxury ut a reef. One 9 pounder, and two 6-jvun-jers, and a sit a 1 2 pounder, were found in the pah; and afier being filled with powder, were lurst near the camp. Col. sfter resting a day or two at Waimati, took a small force of the 9Gth and 99rh Regt, and meei ing with no opposition, destroyed a stroug pah belonging ro a rebel chief named Aratooa. Kowitu e and his people retired to an almost inaccessiu<e place, wlitre he comm-ncfd bu.lding a new pah, nnasfisted, however, bp H-.ki, who, from a | leur.tic attack, and from the suff-rios of bia wound, was u fit to take the tVid. He had engaged in a »kirmi*u with Tcmati Waki's people. o f tf r the force, under Lieut.Cul. Hulme, had left the litter, and was severely vounacdrn both Ie = s; and nothing but the dart.ness enabled hrt, mob to iOect tl <ir own and his retreat. The detachment of 96ih and 9J>h returutd to Auckland, where a court martini was ab *ut to he as ambled upon Lieut. Uarciay ard Ensign Campbell, for tht-ir p:-rt in the tragedy of ICorcrsraika, which ended i.i t>.e tiiuTrphant acquittal of the farmer. Ceiti.in intelligence having bce.i received of the completion ot Kowittct(s new pah, a third expedition was determined upon; reinforcements having arrived, though small, from Norfoli Island, and also three or frur "men-of-war. Lieu'.-Col. Wynyard also arrived and assumed command of the 53th, as al'-o a captain of the 99th to replace a wounded officer of the same rank. About the end uf November the force ascended the Kowa Kowa, the nier which Major Bridge foimerly ascended, and after much toil m road making, got •within abou* 80 yards of the Bat's Nest, as the new p. L rns called. A most effective breaching train through the enerpy of the fieet, was brought into play and the lire being incessant, hammered away with iin mense effect. A bieach being practicable, the colonel again formed another idea of assault, but was earnestly dissuaded from it by the natives on our side, who fought we'l upon this expedition, and in fact had, according to their own wishes, the whole fightrag to themselves ; in fact, the denger of the present expedition was to the Europeans mcrj child pi-y compared ■wi'h past events, A ludicrous contretemps Occurred one day when the Maorics were skirmishing. Two of them* hostile to each other, suddenly ou peeping out from behind the tree they had each ran up to to have a Siiot, found their faceß within a foot of each other; aud tbeir embarrassment, in the language of the press, 13 more easily imagined than described. Fortunately ctr fellow had friends near to him, who ran up, disarmed h's unpleasant neighbour, arid, with uuexptetcd humanity, dismissed him with t» sound tbidsluug, looting at him as he ran away to his people. The pah wis fct lengrh taken by a JIuH. Its uefemkib vrne c-utsidv at ehurih as they call it, under the slult.t <>f the brow of the hill onnhteh the pi t, wbub being observed by the frieiidh MaoiKb, induced f.eui to sneak in, accompanied by M.-j ir W rluiut, aud tallowed by &adors, at the s aire tune tending to the military, who linraediateiy ran up and got inside ; and if they and tV bluejackets had paid proper atteniiou to the orderi ol the o ffioera to keep in the fortification th y Lad pot mtc, brarctly a life would ha\e been V it: wtsthf if ih- tr.cmyon fiadiug h2Lit i: u3 nu ltd, .ml th.', ts.ide a brave tut u: ■ pelittd t- :. \ ■ *• •':*f *; i.ad it naa m fujlowm ; ti .ti; u; wi'. mm , a dt-uhury manner, a:.a um'er lj i.:.- !'•(-; .ct '.'.., that the Eurojeati casu„if.-. <o :, -e..'.. .;«. -.U. Heki was in thr & s'.iil -». L , a. J ..ji.l L s fcj conduct in it. and sub-.i- t i..iii ...aui-s-ii L - >:-, id now regarded m a C'H i, ci dog, iiaon tv-.n li<»o»u prnpie 'lbe f..r t v te tut-.' mic o: Koro,, t ..'k , mid v.:v*h 1 arrued, puspaiu.niu»ii:mes; .-na*Ue «-l .-•• •<' -»s Umi-m ttr.l •) .mi..: tlu,n.-lr- t :■> a'v^i-

long duration, as neither side has now anything to gain by a renewal of warfare. Letters of a treasonabh nature from Europeans were found in the pah. The Governor, who was present, gave out notice that he had burnt them unread; the contents, however, are generally known, and disgraceful to these traitors to England. Col. Pespard shortly afterwards departed fur Sydney, having first published a dispatch which had the eflect of bestowing a C.B. and two Brevet-Majorities on officers, who, from no fault of their own, however, could not have heard the whistle of a bullet, while those who bore the real brunt of this harassing warfare are, with two exceptions, passed by unnoticed. In looking back calmly upon the origin and results of this coll sion between the two races it is impossible to deny wholly that right was on the bide of the natius, who, when they signed the famous treaty uf Wahangi, or the Weeping Water, were nt made acquainted with the disadvantages of civilization hsregarded their peculiar mode of tralfao and outlet for superfluities, and it h absurd to suppo'c that men, who were happy and independent under then own republican iuMiiutnms, would exchange willingly, if fairly pointed ort to them, their unshackled had.-," and consilient advantages, for the imaginary one- Jof being subjects of a queen of whose ver} •MsU'iire mnc-tcntb'* of them are incredulous, while the nmre intelligent cm scarcely form a notion uf her temporal power or influence. And certain is it, to show that they have no vain confidence in themselves, that without the'mil of the friendly Maorics, the troops could not have advanced lull the disl nice they did into the interior; their presence with the diuYieut expedi tiuns turoed the nnleoutciits to take to their pahs and avoid the bush, where they wuuU have met with their mitch. backed by the sleidj courage cf the English soldiers, wlmse lives were thrown away, and have been so also in other distant countries, from the folly of adht ring to the most conspicuous of colours for a uniform, in which to carry on bush fighting against sharpshooters who are so conscious of the value of concealment, that nothing but the hairy scalp of then inked dusky form is seen, snake-1 ilia, taking adv.inlag" of the sinuosities of the ground or the shelter of the forestlike brush The officers from th. coumir.iider-iii-chicf downwards, wore the shell jacket, with white crossbelt ami haversack crossed, so as to look like piivatesoldiers ; and well was it for them they did so, as tluy must otnerwisc have been picked olTwithout any conesponding advantage. The only prospect—and lamentable it is now for New Zealand as an English colony—is the disappear anee of the Maorie race: they must disappear, and tiny i say they must. I venture to pudict, that from the almost universal practice of female infanticide, and the preference of their women for Europeans, thvt in on? hundred years tluy w.H ceas» to e.\ist as a people. M\ great surprise is, that with the full knowledge of being a doome I race, and having the unquestioned power, of which they are fully nwure,'they do not sweep the white intruders off the i.u cof their beautiful country. The taking possession of the country by the French was a bugbear; the natives detest the "Wee, wees!" too much to allow them to remain one instant: and well were it that England hrd left her sons to themselves as in the first days of William Pcnn, (however little ana* logy there may be in the moral character of the primeval , settlers in America and New Zealand,) until they were 1 strong enough in numbers to aid -an established Go- ! vernment of their countrymen by then physical supej rioriiy. 1 Auckland, which th? English call the seat of Government of New Zealand, exists at this moment on sufierance of the Waikaios, a powerful tribe at the distance of about thirty miles, who, if unanimous, can ; send into the field to-morrow 3000 warriors, armed j with rifles and fowling pieces, which for excellence no j gentleman would disdain to use ; and, reader, remember, ! that "m point of manly strength they are infinitely our | superiors : and that Auckland, with its 300 troops and I a mongrel militia, whom the first shot scatters like | ohafi, has not a fortification capable of repelling a serious : assault; and that its wooden streets can be fired by a lurking foe from the adjacent gulleys at any moment desired.— Nunquam rttrocedtre.