CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1379, 1 March 1861, Page 5

CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL.

Saturday, Jan. 20. — 'lhi» morning Mr Tatton'a honse and farm buildings were burnt to the ground by the natives. As files wore likewise seen in the bush clearings, it is believed that many more houies have been desroyed. Lait night a number of valuablo horses were driven off the lacecourse — the rails of the fencing across the Avenue Road having been removed and thiown on the furze hedge. Mr. Parris's horse was amongst those taken, and great numbers of settlers' cattle and sheep, were driven away. In R. Snells plot of potatoes on the Rev. H. Groube's farm, near the racecourse, the natives had been helping themselves, evidently in the night as the plants were pulled up indiscriminately all over the field. — A strong escort of military and militia and rifle volunteers, commanded by Lieut -Col. Young, 65th Regt., with piovision carts, went to Bell Block to-day. No natives weie seen. — The Tasmanian Maid brought up Capt. Miller, 12th regt , from Waitara this morning, who was wounded in the leg on the 23rd instant. His wound is progressing favorably. — The Star Queen, for Bombay, and Rita, for Nelson, sailed duri ng the day. Sunday. Jan. 27 — An escoit of 57th, 65th, and Militia and Volunteers, undei command of Major Herbert T.M., proceeded to Omata stockade this moining. — The Tasmanian Maid from Waitara brings us the following letter from Kairau camp :—": — " Yesteiday morning a party reconnoitring about the rifle pits in the left flank came across a body, which was identified as one of Wi Kingi's party by a friendly native ; and some three or four muskets went off in the fern, which was set on fire in that direction. One of these was brought in so hot it could not be held, and all charred about the stock. These, doubtless, were dropped by wounded men in their letreat towards the gully up which they came to the attack. Some of the people persuaded themselves that the rifle pits had been abandoned, because no shots were fired yesterday, but this morning the delusion was ended by some popping at our J'sap roller," which proved itself a very safe depository for the missiles — Mr. Drummond Hay has kindly forwarded to us a list of the names of the natives killed and wounded on Wednesday last. Mr Hay was enabled to identify all of them (with the exception of five of the Ngatiawa, and those who were disfigured) from their being natives of the Ngatiahaua and other northern Waikato tribes, with whom lie has been intimately acquainted for several years. The Tasmanian Maid soon after her airival from Waitara weighed anchor and proceeded with Mr, Parris and a friendly native to reconnoitre the lebel positions at Waireks. Natives were seen in considerable numbers lying about the fieldß and [on Waireka hill, where they have erected several pas — The steamer returned to Waitara at i p.ni with Mr. Parris on board, a telegram having been received that he should at once go down in the steamer. Monday, Jan. 28. — A native named Wi te Maks, has visited Waiwakaiho, from Mataitwa. He reports that the native loss on Wednesday was 52 missing, supposed by them to have been all killed. Hapurona got away early with a wound in the thigh. Epiha was not in the fight, but is at Waireka ; nor was Rewi. A great many northern chiefs fell. The attack was made after mature deliberation, and several parties were told off, and their plan of action laid out. The storming party attacked the redoubt from a gully opposite the bush to the left ; the reserves were to act as a support, and advance after the attack was made, one reserve fiom the left of the storming party, another fiom their rear, another from the rifle pits near the peach grove, and another from the pa, Ko te-wai-a-naha, on the extreme right. Three of these supports never advanced, particularly the reserve on the right (Wi Kingi and his party). — A native overland from the Camp reports the arrival of H.M.S. Cordelia off Waitara with 150 men of the 57th, the head-quarters and 411 men having arrived at Auckland in the ship Castilian on the 22nd inst , after a passage of 55 dayi from Bombay. The Victoria came up from Waitara shortly afterwards with the mails, the Tasmanian Maid being engaged in landing the troops at Waitara. We learn from Waitara that a part of the Waikato party have left Huirangi, and there is an apparent breaking up of the tana. Wiremu Kumeti, a Ngatimtihuta chief, from Kawhia, pasted Nikorima's kainga, at Pukekohe, on Sunday with 250 men, and Wi Te One, the wounded prisoner who w»i liberated on the 10th ult., had returned with 60 men. Several wounded natives weie amongst these people. The blow received by the enemy on the 23rd has, no doubt, damped the ardour of the Waikatos, and unless strong reinforcements arrive, the death of «o many of their leading men, coupled with the arrival of our reinforcements, may break up the northern insurgent force. Wi Te One, we are told, narrowly escaped being shot, after hii return to his friends He urged the people of his tribe to retire from the unequal contest they were engaged, in, on hearing which, Rewi proposed he should be shot, and was only prevented from doing so himself by the voice of the tribes. — At Kairau the troopi are pushing forward the sap, and have thrown forward another redoubt, about 300 yard* from the rifle pits. A letter, dated yesterday, states "The lap has advanced 320 yards toward* the rifle pits, and is progressing every hour. No Maori can. show his head in the long ditch crossing the road, or the rifle pits in the kamka grove, without standing a good chance of being potted by the sharp-shooters in the advance works. They way peihaps bo establishing another row in the rear of the bush, though I doubt their energy, after the defeat they got. We iee very few of them lounging about, and I should not be surprised to find the Waikatos had returned to their kaingas with a lesson they'll never forget." Another letter statei " I believe the trenohes are abandoned by the enemy, an they have not ihown out since yesterday morning (Saturday), and thon only about half a dozen fired at us. We have thrown up a redoubt about 300 yards frem their pits, und, I suppose, to morrow, or next day, shall be in thorn. All is quiet as it well can be." — The Victoria returned to Waitara this evening, and about 11 p.m. the TMmanian Maid came up. — After neaily

three weeki beautiful weather, a change thi« evening. ; Barometer low, and wind from the rainy quarter.— We ,are informed, that a letter has been received by the liev. Mr. Wilson from Otawhao by the overland mail to-day statjng that 1200 natives con»isting o£ the in,knd tribes from Taupo, &c, are coming hither after harvest, It is further stated that the Ngapuhis are likely to riie, but it was not known whether they would join the insurgents here or not. Tnesday, Jan. 29.— Weather showery, and heavy > rain ,in the middle of the day. — Tho Cordelia came up from Waitara and signalled that she had baggage on board. Sea getting up. The Niger left for Manukau af 3 p.m. via Waitara. '] he Lord Ashley, from Nelson, anchored at 9 p.m. She biings intelligence of the wreck of the brig Shamrock, Dixon, in Palliser Bay, during the late S.E. gale. Passengers and crew all «aved —Richard Collins, of the T.V R , was buried to-day with military honors, He died from slow fever after a brief illness. We regret to say that fever is very prevalent in town, and many are ill. Wednesday, Jan 30. — Weather dealing up. A reconnoitring party of the 67th, 65th, and militia and rifie-volunteeiß, under command of Lieut. Col. Young, 65th Regt., with a 24 pounder howitzer, proceeded to Mahoetahi. No natives weie seen, and the force returned to town at 2 p.m. — George Cheshire, who was wounded some time since from the accidental dischaige of a gun loaded with slugs, died to day. — Fires seen this evening in the direction of Mr. J. S Smith's farm, and natives were seen from Maisland Hill on the farms adjoining Mr. Standish's and Bishop's farms. Some mounted volunteers, driving in horses, were filed at by these natives Mr. Langman's house seen in flames, and cattle, sheep, and horses driven off. — The Lwd Ashley, for Manukau, sailed this evening. Thursday, Jan. 31. — The sentries at Fort Stapp saw a largo fire this morning about 1 o'clock in the direction of Mi. W. Baylys farm, and since daylight this morning Mr. J. S. Smith's house has been fired by the rebels. A reconnoitering party of 100 men of the 57th and 65th regts., and 40 llifle Volunteeis,the whole under the command of Major Butler, 57th Regt., with a 24-pounder howitzer, started from town at 10 am. All the farms on the line of road weie searched, and although numerous tracks of natives were seen, no natives were encounteied. Whilst the expedition halted this side of Herekawe Hill, two or thiee fehots were fired and natives seen in the direction of Andiews' farm. The Major then decided on reconnoitring the coimtry in that direction. The foice retraced their steps as far as the junction of the Omata and Elliot roads, which latter road they took the Volunteers thrown out in ad\ ance as a line of skirmishers. Several nuns of sinouldeung buildings weie passed. Near Huidon chapel lay a bullock recently shot by the natives and not dead ; this was dispatched by our men. Natives were seen and heal d in Andrews' bush, whence two or three shots weie fired, but the bullets fell short. Advanced parties of the Volunteers continued along the road, and some natiyes having been observed running from Billing's and on the knoll near Dingle's farm, a few Volunteeis on Cowling's hill, under Captain Atkinson, opened fire at 900 yards, with some effect as was afterwards fonnd, for on the skirmishers reaching the knoll, Mr. Rundle, who had ridden forwaid, discovered a native lying dead iv the road, blood tujckkng from a bullet wound under the shoulder. The body was brought in on the gun, but cannot be identified by the natives. The man was well dressed. Amongst other things. two full cartridge boxes, a box of caps, and £4 in gold and Gd. in silver, were taken fiom Mm. The gun could not be found. The party returned to town by the Erankley road without meeting with any other natives. A short time after the force left town, five natives crept up under the furze hedges to within 200 yards of Mr. Gilbert's house, about 300 yards from the Carrington Road Blockhouse, and 600 from Marsland Hill, and fired a volley at Ins children, who were standing on a house looking out — fortunately missing them. Mr. Gilbert, who was working on his farm, with great coolness and courage ran back to his house for his "Brown Bess" and chased the rebels, who retreated directly they had given their fire, and fiied two shots at them. A small party from the Blockhouse with Capt. Turner, 65th Regt., who lan up from the Barracks to tho Blockhouse, also went out in pursuit, and followed the natives as far as Mr. Hursthouse's farm, but they got clear off, and were afterwards seen standing on a hill in R. Lethbridge's premises at the edge of the bush. — Archdeacon Govett, who was pioceedmg this afternoon to Bell Block to officiate at the burial of Cheshire, turned back on obseivmg a large body of natives at Mangaone. It is j believed they have moved up from Huirangi. In order to guard against surpnse, people living outside the lines were ordered into town, and the garrison warned toman the trenches at 2*30 to-morrow mom Friday, Feb. 1. — The garrison fell, in under arms this morning at 2 # 30 m the trenches where they remained till 4 - 30. — It has been ascertained that the natives seen by Mr. Govett were a paity of Waikatos in quest of food, and have since pioceeded to Waireka. — Some friendly natives out on government j employ on Dr. Humphies 1 land, weie fired at by the Fort Niger ganison under Ensign Gold, 65th regt , and Kipa, a Henui native, nearly shot. It appeals that one of the native's pieces accidentally went off, which loused the garrison, who fiied several lounds at them. The natives vainly endeavoured by shouts and signs to prove they weie not hostile, and had to nm for it. — At 10 o'clock, p.m., two shots wereheaid in thednection of Fort Stapp. The guaids tiuned out at tho various guaidhouses, and some mounted volunteers who rode out to ascertain the cause of the alarm report that the sentries on Fort Stapp fired at two horsemen who were udmg along the beacli towards town. The horsemen failed to answer the challenge, and galloped off ; they aie thought to have been rebels. Saurday, Feb. 2. — The Tasmanrßu Maid arrived during the night. The rifle pits at Huirangi weie in possession of our troops, and partly filled in. The General and Staff were about to remove to Kauau. — A friendly native states that he met Matm who was with a party of Waikatos cattle-lifting this morning near Henui. Matm told him that a second native was killed near Dingle's on Thuisday last, that his body lies where he fell, and that they are Waikatos. He also stated that the insurgents aie veiy uneasy at this sort of interruption to their fiee passage to and fro. This may be only a "diaw," but if true, speaks volumes in favor of rapid expeditions conducted with, care and forethought. The Waikatos aie said to have moved from Huirangi towaids town.