DRURY. (FROM OUR SPECIAL DRURY CORRESPONDENT.) August 23.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1905, 25 August 1863, Page 3

DRURY. (FROM OUR SPECIAL DRURY CORRESPONDENT.) August 23.

On Wednesday last, August 19, on my wvay to' the Wairoa, I received an mvitatiou from Lieutenant Jackson, commanding the Foiest Raugers, to accompany him on ail expedition through tho ranges. I gladly complied, and we staited the following day, Thursday, at 9 a.m.; a delay in fouvaiding biscuit from Papikura preventing an eailier stait. Smith's Inn being the head quarters of the coips, we pio ceeded Whence in a south-easterly direction towards the Hunua. Passing the spot where Mr. Cooper was shot, close to his house on the hist slopo of the range, we ascended through, some clearings on to the fiist ridge. A narrow bush track led us after that down tne other side —a luxuriant vegetation obscuring every chance of a far view of the couutry. Towards twelve o'clock * sudden turn of the track biought the bright light of an open country acioss our foiest roof—and the Hunna opening, the old lair of the enemy came in sight. Caiefnlly we approached this neighbourhood, but after a little scouting weie satisfied that the field was still unoccupied, and we had our dinner in the neighbourhood of Williams's hut. While The men were lebting Lieutenant Jackson, Ensign Hay, Mr. Cole, gmde in-general and sergeant, and myself, went to scan the sin rounding district with our glasses. A magnificent view of valleys, ridges, fern and forest land lay before us —the heights of Paparata to the far south east, and the thin line of our track towards the junction of the Tiai a Keenu Block serpentining through the fern. No signs of anything new or unusual, denoting an enemy's presence could be discoveied, and thus tho order for the march was given. We passed the blackened site of William's hut, burut to the ground by the letinng enemy, and after turning a flanking height of the high forest 'ground, the ahodes of the Hunua war-party came in sunlit. They are still in good repair, as the attempt of Lieutenant Steelo's paity to fiie them failed through the wetness of the thatch. Two hours match through high fern brought Us to the lemains of Warner's hut, close on the forest ; that was after having hit upon the enemy's track on Ins retreat, pointing evidently towards Paparata. Ibis was an lmpoitant discovery, aud Lieutenant Jackson would have followed it up had his force been strongei ; our whole complement consisting only of foity pi nates, ei<*ht sergeants two officers, and one volunteei, in°all fifty. We ne^ entered the forest, intending to hit by a cross cut through the bush, a piece of unfinished road, in the neighbourhood of the Mangawheau—a tributary of the upper couise of the Wanoa Up to this we had been guided by men thoioucrlily acquainted with the neighbomhnod, then knowledge proving conect, and proving the inestimable importance of havingsuch guides. Later in the afternoon, the labyrinth of gullies and hills, interwoven by a most provoking vetting of supp'ejack, pioved even too much for tile most experienced, and we had to consult the never erring guide, the compass. During this '.higgle with supplejacks, the judicious equipment of onr paity became appaient —theshoit carbines, and the general light style of accouti ements, mikmg it alone possible to \vind our way thiough the mteiminable maze*. The capabilities of the men too, as bushmen, were displayed m a most satisfactory manner. They carried a swag composed of one blanket, one great coat, 20 rounds of ammunition, all enveloped in a so called wateiproof, aud a haveisack containing tin cc days' rations of meat and biscuit, half a bottle of rum, a revolver, cartridge box, carbine, some with s\\ ord bayonets, others with tomahawks, and all these' little items hanging from their bodies, made it awoikof considerable difficulty to get along through a New Zealand forest, without being thrown off one's equihbiium.- Darkness soon added to our difficulties, and after one hour of sciamble clown piecipitous hillside, closely set with supplejack traps—a little stream invited us to encamp. No files were lit, each groped his way to some lait, spread out the components of his swag, and a violeut attack on meat and biscuit ensued Sentinels for night watch were told off, potted and appointed, aud those not thus engaged threw themselves with heaity goodwill into the arms of the foiest Moiplieus —a tough but kindly deity, seldom disappointing his votary. Lieutenant Jackson, Ensign Hay, aud myself had, with the eye of connaisseurs, taken instant pos session of the shelter of a most comfortable lair, teuaoted probably the night previous, by some knowing old boar The rain that fell that uiclit did Dot wet us much, as the slanting position of the old trunk and its forest paras-ites formed a peifect roof, at least for tw oof us Before dajheht the Ben, tries were doubled, that time being the hour for Maori surprises At daylight we bolted biscuit and meat to our contentment, and with belted swag and haversack, away we glided throngh the dripping forest with the rain rattling through the foliage. After ft couple of hours our guides were nonplussed, confessed their helpless condition, and Mr. Hay, compass in hand, took the lead, to some pm pose, as it became apparent shortly after By his guidance ■we hit upon the point we intended to make, proving thus the superiority of a general knowledge of country to that of a minute though circumscribed acquaintance with one locality It l ained heavily all flay long. Of fern openings we came upon two* the first is called Wharehinan nne, the second, Whaiehiuan mike, both old native plantations and presenting the quintessence of rich volcanic soil Tow ards four in the afternoon, after traversing a third opening of an old plantation overgrown with dense sci üb, we encamped on a lull at an early hour, to be enabled to erect some shelter for the night. Soon a little forest township springs into life, n»kau and fein palms being handy, and with eagerness we piled up shelter against the wearing drops of rain No flies were allowed till darkness had well set in, but all the wood was ready collected. At last the welcome ■word of "fire" was heaul, and here and theie and everywhere, through the thick forest gloom, caiefully tended sparks began to appear till the light of the fire, as it increased, shone upon m^u in all postures, drying themselves with a grateful expression of countenance. The night watch once more was told off; and. let me tell you, young men so eager for the eight shillings per day for bushranging \mless you have a Bound, well-seasoned constitution to boast of, you better think twice before you ventuie on such work, for night watching after a hard day's scramble, night watching with rain filling your boots, will give you a trial too costly if unsuccessful. In a small corps such night duty comes round fiom man to man very often ; in fact, almost too often. With daylight we were on the march again, Mr. Hay once more taking the lead. After an hour's march we came, at last, upon the Manga•wheau river, certainly in a round about way ; but ■we hit it anyhow, thanks to onr intelligent Ensign. The river contains a considerable quantity of water ; we crossed it over some rocks above a little fall, and came thus, at last, into the mysterious pi ecincts of onr enemy's natural stronghold". Up to this we had seen no tracks, no trace<j»of Maoris, except at the Hunna, and some scattered cattle tiacks. Now, ljoweyer, the scene changed. Here and there nikau ■was found fleshly cut, and soon a distinct track was come upon. Sergeant Henry Southee wm placed at the head, and the track was followed np, Mr. Hay had repeatedly told me that we would have to crow the track from Paparata to Maketu, if ■we carried out our original intention of sooui ing all the openings down to Pokeno. He now believed that the track we did hit was the one referred to, and after a little it was deemed advisable to follow it up, in preference to crossing it, as the signs increased in freshness and number Temporary whares for war parties of 60 to 100 men were come upon; and spots with pigeon-snares for the summer season were passed. They consist of a hole, square or round, cut into some broad surface root of a. large tree, filled with water, and surrounded by snares attached to an adjoining little upright frame, and they are used in summer season when water gets scarce, We -were traversing a magnifloent forest, topping long and sharp-backed spurs sloping to the southeast coast. Before descendlnga very marked one, however, -we resorted to our mnal mode of observation, viz ,in climbing some large trees. Two of onr most expert climbers, Henry Southee and little Roland, both of marine extraction, were this time assisted by Mr. Colo,' and the following result was obtained: —A wide, open, fern country •tretohed to the south-east; a, broad distinct track led up a heavy fern hill; a large house or whare also visible in a hollow; a ridge due south, aud another north-west. It was then decided, instead of proceeding to Pokeno, to follow this traok at all hazard. Very silently and oarefully our long blueshitted Indian file wound through the green bushes, and considering the short time of enrolment, the men were careful enough in the all-important necessity of silence and stealthy step. Matters were hecoming decidedly interesting now, and a little wholesome excitement tingling in one's blood, gave spring and elasticity to the physical man. The •'signs" became more and m.°re pregnant with impof Unpe. We had seen soldiers' trousers, two pnirs, >n one hut —remains of stretchers for the wounded }n another place; but now we came upon the most •igmflcant of all, a double tvAck— one leading open to «"• »fiffc. *n4 anqther hidflen'jby artfully laid branphes to tho right, H«re was evidence of this path leading to lomething worth finding and we slipped into ft witheager onrioiity »nd.( bated breath. Traces of