HUIRANGI. [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT] Huirangi Redoubt, Wednesday, 13th February, 1861.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1379, 1 March 1861, Page 6

HUIRANGI. [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT] Huirangi Redoubt, Wednesday, 13th February, 1861.

Friday, Feb. 8. — About 2 p.m. a few ambushed scouts of the enemy fired upon the working parties and coverers, whilst engaged in clearing the bush, and a man of the Naval Brigade was wounded. The coverers skirmished all over the place, but the Maoris ran off the moment they did the mischief, and a glimpse of one could not be seen. Saturday, Feb. 9. — At 6 p.m., whilst -the coverers and bush party were retiring for the night, they received a, heavy volley from a party of natives who were all day in ambuscade watching the proceedingß of the troops A division of the 65th, under Capt. McGregor, was sent to support the coverera, but the Maoris did not wait to meet them. The troops discharged several volleys in the direction the enemy fired from, the bush was scoured with canister, and a few shells were thrown into Hapurona's pa. Later in the evening orders were issued to the troops to be under arms, and ready for the field at half-past 4 a.ni. on Sunday, -with a day's provisions ready cooked. Sunday, Feb. 10. — The Sabbath brings no rest to those engaged in the field I An hour after day-break, a force of over 800 men of all arms, under General Pratt, marched through the Huvrangi, and took up an advanced position a few hundred yards in front of Hapurona's pa. A volley discharged at us by our invisible enemy from a gully close by, opened the battle, and in a few minutes the loud din of musketry, and the thunder of cannon resounded along the wild picturesque bankß of the Waitara. Every available hill and mound was occupied by the insurgents, and they offered their usual determined, but vain resistance to our troops, who fought under the disadvantage of low ground, whilst the enemy held elevated positions, and were protected by rifle pits, from whence they could fire on our men, and be themselves unseen. But the Royal Artillery and a detachment of the Naval Brigade showered shell all around so rapidly that the Maoris , were frequently silenced, and the steady and well directed fire of the skirmishers of each regiment, rendered it impossible for their wily antagonists to make the slightest advance, though they frequently attempted to flank our position. The enemy's fire fell very heavily around a working party who were throwing, up a re doubt under the superintendence of Colonel Mould and Captain Mould, R.E , and it is extraordinary that not one of the men who were standing on the parapets spreading the fern, &c, was hit, though two of those who were working in the trenches below them were wounded. Captain Strange of the 65th Regt , » most worthy and experienced officer, fell wounded early in the fight, and, though medical assistance was promptly sent to Ins aid, the life of this brave officer could not be saved, he died, boo after his removal from the field. The firing was vigourously kept up during the day, and though there was no opportunity for individuals to distinguish themselves, there were many officers and men particularly conspicuous for their daring. Among these may be mentioned Capt Mould, R.E , who was constantly mounted on the parapet directing and assisting the workmen, though the enemy directed a good deal of his fire to this spot No men could be more valouious than the Royal Artillery and Naval Brigade detachment ? the bullets hopped off and dinted their guns and gun carnages, but to them such matters were but subjects for mirth Another class of men who certainly deserves some praise, but have been passed over unnoticed by most writers, are the cartels IJndei showeis of bullets they guided their patient animals to every place wheie they were required, with as much coolness and indifference to danger as if they were but figuring at a fair or a market. The skirmishers weie recalled about 6 p.m., and a guard of 400 men were left under Colonel Wyatt to defend the redoubt till morning. Our total casualties dm ing the day were Captain Strange, killed ; and 9 men of the whole force wounded. Monday, Feb. 11. — Throughout the night we heard at intervals the discharge of musketry at No. 7 redoubt. At 8 a.m., Colonel Leslie end the remainder of the 40th maiched from No. 3 redoubt to garrison No 7, and lemforeements of the 12th, 14th, 57th, and 65th advanced at the same time, under Captain McGiegor, 65th, to furnish, working parties and. coverers. The Adjutant-General amved fiom Waitara and directed the proceedings of the day When we ai rived at No. 7 redoubt the firing was still going on, but up to that time (9 a.m.) no new casualty had occurred. Whilst the 40th were pieparing their new camp, pitching tents, &c , the other regiments, under cover of flanking guards and skirmishers, completed the entienchnients, and a party of axemen were sent to cut down a portion of the bush m rear. The natives kept firing odd. shots, aud about noon, a corporal of the 40th was killed, and a private wounded. Captain Richards, 40th, was also hit, but his clothes fortunately turned the" passing bullet. Tuesday, Feb. 12th. —The firing is still going on at the advanced position. In compliance with geneial orders leceived last night, a force of about 500 men, consisting of two divisions composed of the 12th, 14th, and 57th, under Captain Williams, 12th regt., and four divisions of the 65th, the whole commanded by Colonel Wyatt, proceeded to No. 7 redoubt, and thence wheeling to the left, entered the Waitara valley for the purpose of seizing upon such crops as might be useful, and destroying suchpioduce as was not ripe, with a view to injure the enemy's commissariat. The ground fell with a gentle slope from No. 7 redoubt down to the edge of the river, and our route lay through, some rich and lovely pasture land, which, though long neglected, had not yet lost the traces of cultivation. As we descended into the valley we had a magnificent view of the lovely river. In some places it wound gracefully around bold steep banks, clothed with the most luxuriant foliage and green fein trees, that shaded and lent their hue to the water below ; whilst in other places the river rolled its sparkling ripples in a straight course along a bed of brown shingle between low banks adorned with plots of wild shrubbery, and dotted with numerous little flats of as fertile land aa nature ever produced. There appeared no cultivation on the right bank, but on the left, (our side) some twelve or fifteen acres were planted with maize, pumpkins, vegetable marrows, &c. These crops, not being ripe, were ordered to be destroyed, and swords, bill-hooks, axes, &c, went to work, and soon kid the smiling ciops prostrate on the soil that produced them. Two iron ploughs were also found and broken, and a field of potatoes, on the side of the hill near the fort was dug up, and its produce carted away for the troops. This work went on under cover of a long line of skirmishers, and, at the same time, two divisions of the 40tli, to engage the attention of the natives, advanced in skirmishing order towards the front of Hapurona's pa. It was difficult to restrain the eagerness of the men to rush up to it and taking possassion, though they were opposed by a heavy fire from the natives, and they returned with a loss of three men wounded. Upon the edge of a steep cliff overhanging a bend of the river, I observed a small cemetry entrenched all around. Upon examining it, I found ten or twelve graves very close to each other ; some very carefully filled in, but otheis weie without any enclosure. At the head of one of those that were paled in there was a, broad wooden slab bearing the following Maori inscription, which I copied on the spot : — 1858.

KO TE TOHU TENEI 0 RINEKE, NO TE 16 q KGA EA 0 AIEUHATA I MATE At. Sacred to the memory of Rinere who died on the 16<& of August. 1858. Wednesday, Feb. 13. — At 6 a.m. an. eight-inch fun was escorted by a party of the 65th to No. 7 reonbt. Shots are still exchanged between the 65th and the natives. A strong force was warned for the field this morning, but the day having set in very wet the order was countermanded. It is generally believed a blow will be soon struck to dislodge the enemy and that Pukerangioia will be in our hands before many days. Thursday, Feb. 14. — About 11 o'clock last night a shell was thrown from the 8-inch gun at the Huirangi redoubt into Hapurona's pa, the gun having been charged and pointed in the evening. This is an effectual mode of harassing the enemy, for, although

the principal part of the in&urgents are ensconced in rifle-pits along the hillsand gullies during the day, it is believed that those not on watch oeoupy the pa by night. Such midnight visitors as bursting shells will soon make the Maories feel the insecurity of their best defences. Immediately after the gun w*s fired last night a few musket shots were heard between Nos. 6 *nd 7 redoubts : the sentries believing they heard some natives prowling about fired a few shots, and the whole camp instantly manned the ramparts. The natives opened a brisk fire on No. 7 redoubt this evening, and shell and rockets made play on them for a couple of hours from the fort. Friday, Feb. 15.— At half-past 2 o'clock this morning Col. Wyatt sent another shell from the 8-inch gun to do duty among the natives. No shots returned by the enemy. Escoits conveying water, provisions, &c, pass to and fro through the Huirangi every day, but the natives have not ventured an attack. All cover at the left side of the avenue is entirely destioyed, and that on the right is too distant from the main road to favor an ambuscade. lam happy to say that there aie no new casualties amongst the troops since Tuesday.