ATTACK ON MAORIS NEAR PAPARATA.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 2015, 31 December 1863, Page 6

ATTACK ON MAORIS NEAR PAPARATA.

Intelligence reached town on Monday that Captain Jackson's company of Forest Rifles had fallen in with, and engaged, a party of Maoris, within a few miles of Papakura. On inquiry we find that the affair took place a long distance back in the bush, in the direction of Paparata. — " Daily Southern Cross," Dec. 15.

We have received the following particulars from a correspondent, which, as giving additional details of this attack, will no doubt be read with interest : — Captain Jackson's party of Forest Rangers left the camp Papakura at a quarter past one o'clock, p.m., on December 11, in the following strength: 1 captain, 1 subaltern, 1 sergeant, 2 corporals, and 23 rank and file ; and they camped on the Hunua at half-past six o'clock. On the morning of the next day (the 12th) they set out at half-past <1 o'clock in the morning, and breakfasted near the Wairoa river. On starting again shortly after, they came upon native tracks, aud afterwards, about 10 a.m., upon a native camping ground. The natives, it would appear, had camped there about two nights before, and there seemed to be accommodation for about 20 to 50 of them. Some fresh meat had been left behind, and one of the fires was alight. On following up the tracks, they appeared to be those of men women, children, and dogs. One of the former appeared to walk with a crutch, which was an unfailing indication of their route, when other marks failed. About 5 o'clock p.m., the rangers came upon some whares where there had been five fires lit, and which were still alight. The men camped at 6 p.m., and Captain Jackson and one of his party went to reconnoitre towards Paparata, and from the ranges near there had a good view of the country in that direction. In returning, they made a wider circuit, and crossed the tracks of Captain Yon Tempsky and his party. The camp was broken up about 6 o'clock the next morning, aud the tracks previously found were re-examined. They trended to the left, and smoke was discovered in that direction. Following them up, the rangers came upon a party of natives, and decided upon surprising them. This was about a quarter to nine o'clock on the morning of Sunday last. By Captain Jackson's orders, the men fired a volley with thoir carbines, and then charged with their revolvers, and the natives, being thoroughly surprised, were only able to fire a few snots and made off precipitately. Three were carried away wounded, and /our were left dead, or dying on the camping ground. Two of these wore supposed to be chiefs, as they were much tattooed. Captain Jackson approached one of them, who was dying, and refused to give his name. He asked him if he would have some rum, and the native nodded in assent. Captain Jackson put the bottle to his mouth, and he took some. On being asked if he would take some more he declined, and put out his hand and shook hands with Captain Jackson. The other chief died cursing and swearing at the pakehas. On the charge being made in the first place, one of the other natives killed was on the point of rushing upon one of the rangers with a bowie knife when he was shot by the ranger whom he designed to attack. The other native who was killed had a large carving knife in his possession. Amongst the articles found were a coat belonging to Ensign Johnston, of the Wairoa "Rifles, and some papers belonging to Mr. James Eicliardsou, a settler at the Wairoa, amongst which were some bills of exchange, a stock book, and letters of credit. Belonging to Mr. ATacdonald, of the same place, were found a scarf with hia son's name on it, a red damask cloth, a new blanket, and a portable copying press. A large account book, with some memoranda of the time when garden seeds were aown, WW also found, as well as two handsome flag 9, on one uf-wkieh. was the word "Aeotearoa" which is the native name for the Northern Island. One of the chiefs slfoTwlio refused to give his name said the party belonged to the rfgatipawa tribe, and that the other chief's name was Matarika. Amongst the articles taken was a watch, a double barrelled gun, two pistols, several tomakawks, also some powder and bullets which were thrown into the creek. A large number of cartridges were found half finished. Some of the powder was very bad being of the natives' own manufacture, while some of it was first-class. The spot where the natives were attacked was in the ranges north from Paparata, about four miles on the other side of the rich, and fortilo valley of Ararema. The natives seemed to bo on the start, as all their traps were tied np, and it is supposed they had returned from Wairoa, with Hie spoil belonging to the settlers there, which they had taken on a previous occasion, and had planted for convenience. When Captain Jackson's party loft to return, tHree of the natives who were shot and fell were dead, and the chief, who shook hands with Captain Jackson, was just on the point of death. He was covered with a blanket, his hea.d raised, aud ho was left in that position. — '• Daily Southern Cross," Dec. 16.

The following is Capt. Jackson's official report which was published in a New Zealand Gazette, issued on Friday : — < Papakura, December 14, 1863. Sir, — I have the honor to report for the information of the Lieut.-General Commanding, that in accordance with your instructions, I started on Friday, the 11th instant, at I*ls p.m. with a force of my company of Forest Bangers (as per margin*) on an expedition towards the Wairoa river. At 6*30 p.m. on that day I camped on the Hunua river, and started from thence at 430 next morning ; at 6*30 a.m. we struck native tracks, which appeared to be * 1 ItrgMnVX SnbriUrn, 2 Corpor»li/.23 PrirnW.

quite fresh } at 10*30 a.m. We found a camping ground, which, was capable of accommodating thirty or forty natives — one of the fires hero was still hot ; at 4*30 p.m. we got to another camping ground,, the iiye fires of which were quite hot; we had evidently gained a day's march on the enemy. I continued our march till 615 p.m., when finding we had overrun the track I qampecl for the night. On Sunday, December 14th, I broke camp at 50 - 80 a.m., and turned back to re-examine the path, and found tracks diverging to the left. I then posted some men to look out for smoke, which was soon discovered rising out of the ranges; we went very quietly towards it, and, by using great caution, succeeded iv surprising the enemy about B*4o a.m. We had got between their sentry and their camp. "When about twelve or fifteen yards from the enemy, I halted my men on an eminence, to give them breath, and gave orders that they should first attack the enemy with their carbines, and then rush them with their revolvers. The Maoris were then* cleaning their guns. The surprise was complete. After our carbines were discharged, the enemy, apparently expecting we had only empty pieces, turned upon us with their guns, tomahawks, &c, but the revolver soon sent them, to the right about. Several of the enemy who were wounded by the discharge of the carbines, were assisted away by the women, who were very busy removing arms, dead, and wounded. I saw two or three natives hit who were immediately helped away by women. I had directed my men not to fire at the women, and I am happy tosay they did not: thoughitisvery possible that some of the women and children may have got hurt in tho affray ; but I only know of one instance, — a woman, I believe, was wounded in the leg by a stray shot. The affair lasted only four or fivo minutes. I saw three dead men taken off, and four of their dead were left in our hands. Two of tho natives, when surrounded, endeavoured to stab my men, one using a bowi« knife, and the other a largecarving knife, but the revolver made short work of them. One native, at great risk, returned and attempted to carry away a small tin box, but a bullet made him drop it and run off. Many of those who escaped were wounded. Had my party been larger, I think I could easily have surrounded the enemy and taken them all prisoners. JNone of my men were hurt, as only those of the enemy who were on the outskirts of their camp could find time to load and fire on us, and they were just as likely to hit their own men as mine. I estimate the number of the enemy to have been over forty men. One of the natives, before he died, told me there were twenty-eight, and on being again asked he said there were twenty-eight, double — holding up two of his fingers ; he also said his tribe was the Ngatipaoa. He would not tell his own name ; but said the man next him was a chief named Matariki. The scene of the engagement was in tho ranges, about five miles due north of Paparata. The natives retreated in an easterly direction. One of the sentries I had posted informed me some time after we had left the place, that a broad track led easterly from near where he was posted, and that he saw a man on horseback go up it. The enemy appeared to have plenty of provisions ; wo found a good deal of tea and sugar and some flour ; there was abundance of fern root ; thi'ee or four kapum Maori had meat in them, and a good quantity of pork was hanging up. la the box which the native tried to secure — mentioned above — were three flags, one a large red flag, on which was embroidered a white cross and star and the word Aotearoa in white letters. It is made of silk, and is neat and handsome. Another flag is a large red pendant with a white cross ; the romaining flag is a handkerchief of the uuiou jack pattern. The other spoils aro a double-barreled gun, a large horse-pistol, and a smaller pistol, three or four cartridge boxes, a great deal of property -which had belonged to settlers, such as scarlet hangings, fancy* window blinds, small work boxes, &c, some papers belonging to Mr. Richardson, of Wairoa, and a coat belonging to Mr. Johnson, of the same place, several articles which were stolen by the natives from Mr. McDonald at the time Trust's children were murdered near Howick. I therefore conclude these natives were of tho party who committed those murders. One of my men has two small packets of hair — I think European. They are evidently relics : he will give them up to any one who may claim them. We could not bring away much of the " loot," as we were heavily loaded with our arms, blankets, &c. ; but I think I brought away sufficient to prove the character of the party we fell in with. We destroyed several packages and tins of gunpowder, and threw a great number of bullets into the creek. I have great pleasure in reporting that my men behaved with great coolness and courage ; there was no firing at random. lam anxious to bring to your special notice the brave and cool conduct of Ensign Westrup, who was foremost I in the attack, and made every shot of his revolver tell ; also of private John Smith, who had a severe hand-to-hand struggle with a powerful native. — I have, &c, Wm. Jackson, Captain Commanding Forest Rangers. Lieut.-Colonel Nixon, Commanding Moveable Column.