THE OPEPE RAID.

Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2167, 29 March 1870, Page 3

THE OPEPE RAID.

The following particulars of Te Kooti's late attack on the native settlement at Opepe, are given by the correspondents of the Auckland papers— [From the " Herald."] Opotiki, March 7. This morning the cutter Woodstock arrived, after a rapid run from Auckland of thirty hours. Shortly after her arrival some of the Whakatoheas came into camp, looking frantic, and almost naked. They reported that the Hauhaus, headed by Te Kooti, had attacked their settlement, and made prisoners of what men, women and children they could lay their hands on, and begged for assistance. Captain Walker, commanding the district, immediately sent a despatch to Ohiwa for the Arawas to come and assist, with as many men as they could muster. He also sent for the Wanganui natives that were stationed at Ohiwa. The Arawas arrived the same day; the Wanganui natives, under their officer Topia, arriving next morn-

ing (Tuesday). Captain Walker on Tuesday morning took about twenty Europeans and thirty Arawas and proceeded to the place where the Hauhaus were supposed to have been the day before. On arriving at the Waiau river, Captain Walker proposed going up the river to ascertain what damage had been done to the cultivations, and to endeavour to get in any of the Whakatoheas that had concealed themselves in the scrub from the Hauhaus. The Arawas took up their position on the sand hills, at the river, and declined to go up the river. Captain Walker went with the few Europeans he had, and when within a mile or so of the supposed position, a

little Maori boy came out of the scrub, and called out to them not to fire, that he had made his escape from the Hauhaus; that he saw them tomahawk his father and mother, and that they were quite close at hand. Captain Walker ordered his small force to retire—and a fortunate thing it was for him that he did so, as they (the Hauhaus) were attempting to cut off his retreat. He remained with the Arawas on the sand hills some time, and then ordered them to retire to the camp ; this they said they would do when some of their men, who had gone scouting, returned. Captain Walker then returned to Opotiki, as it was uncertain that the main body might not be meditating an attack on the township. Shortly after his return, the Arawas returned and reported that two of their men, Heteraka Mahi, son of the wellknown Wm. Marsh, a young man highly respected by all Europeans who were acquainted with him, and Awaawa, had been shot. This was shortly afterwards verified by the arrival in camp of the two bodies—Marsh shot and tomahawked, and Awaawa shot in three places. It appears that the unfortunate men advanced up to the pa, and seeing natives there thought them to be Whakatoheas. They were quickly undeceived. They then opened a brisk fire on the pa, when the Hauhaus retired, and they were enabled to recover the bodies. They express

great grief at their loss, and haye taken the bodies to Ohiwa for transit to Maketu. It is difficult to describe the sorrowful aspect which is shown at this sad calamity—the Arawa at the loss of their chief, the Whakatoheas at the loss of their wives and children. The number of the "Whakatohea women, &c, taken prisoners, is estimated at about fifty. "When their husbands and relations return from the front, where they now are with Major Kemp, indignation I fear will be greatly felt at no attempt at rescue having been made. A bad policy this somehow. Some persons must be to blame in the matter. Wednesday, March 9. This morning a report was circulated amongst some of the Whakatoheas that yesterday the Arawa had discovered an old man, one of the

"Whakatoheas, in a whare by himself, he being so old that he could not escape the enemy, and that they (the Arawa) had unmercifully put him to death. The cavalry had left for Opepe on a reconnoitring expedition, and the bodies of the two Arawa who were killed were taken to Ohiwa in a boat this morning. A native came into camp this evening, and stated that on Sunday evening, when the place (Omaramutu) was attacked, he and five others managed to crawl away through the standing corn and hide — managing to take their arms with them. They, by some circuitous route, managed to get on the top of a large hill at the back of Omaramutu, and saw the enemy in force in the bed of the "Waiana river and cultivations below. They were very busy hurrying about catching horses, and securing prisoners. He calculated that they ( are about 100 strong, and that Te , Kooti is amongst them. They left and went up the valley about three o'clock this afternoon, forming an open square, with their prisoners in the \ centre, consisting of men, women, and children of ail ages. The cavalry returned, reporting nothing particular.

10th March. Topia and his men marched this morning to the "Waiana, to see if they could ascertain the movements of the enemy. They proceeded some distance up the river on the trail of the enemy, and found that, after proceeding some nine miles up the "Waiana, the enemy had struck up a spur leading towards Torere, William King's settlement. Topia seems to think, from a conversation I have had with him, that only a small party came down to the beach to attack Omaramutu, for the further they went up the valley the stronger seemed the force of the enemy, that is, judging from tracks, fires, &c. Topia has taken up his quarters at Omaramutu. The general opinion of the Whakatohea is that the Hau Haus intend paying them another visit, otherwise they would have burned the whares and destroyed the crops, which they have left untouched. 13th March. Kemp and his force occupy a large house at Peria, known as Mr Volkner's house. Kemp informs mc that it is his intention to send a party of the "Whakatoheas up the "Waiana, and some of "Wi Kingi's Tatanas, and the other people up fche streams and ridges which lead from the different settlements along the coast to the line of march Te Kooti would probably take, where he to move in the direction of "Wairoa (Poverty Bay). Great alarm exists along the coast, even so far as Te Kaha, where the greater part of the women and children are congregated. Nearly all the men are taken from the settlements to strengthen Kemp's force, and the few who remain keep a very sharp look out, posting sentries day and night. The prevalent opinion amongst the natives generally is that Te Kooti has no intention of moving his position, otherwise he would have destroyed the "Whakatohea cultivations and whares at Waiana and Opape; he will want these for food and shelter, and when he makes another raid no place would suit him so well. He has the most impregnable part of the Urewera country at his back, which has proved unequal to the efforts of our best commanding officers to penetrate. March 17. The news from Opotika since my last is very indefinite and unsatisfactory, so much so that our worthy Commissioner, Mr Clarke, instructed Colonel M'Donnell to proceed overland to that place on Tuesday, in order that the Government may be put in possession of the real state of affairs in that quarter. Native letters from Opitika have been received, but they are so contradictory in themselves that a person can neither make head nor tail of them. One of them is a very ridiculous one, which is that Major Kemp has been up the Uriwera country, and.accepted the submission of some of the arch-savages who have killed and feasted upon innocent civilians for some time past. Among their victims were poor Bennet White and Pitcairn. These men are said by report to have given themselves up, and to have been pardoned on condition that they will assist in capturing Te Kooti; and it is said that they are off in pursuit in company with Major Kemp. If such should be a fact, I would suggest to Government to select some isolated spot for these characters to live in, for so sure as they are recognised associating where Europeans are mingling, will their .lives be in danger; but I don't believe this story, though many do, for there is something beyond the ridiculous about it: