LATER FROM PATEA. THE MAORIS ATTACK THE KAKARAMEA REDOUBT. REPULSED WITH GREAT LOSS, NO EUROPEANS KILLED. TAURUA GOES OVER TO THE ENEMY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3510, 15 October 1868, Page 3

LATER FROM PATEA. THE MAORIS ATTACK THE KAKARAMEA REDOUBT. REPULSED WITH GREAT LOSS, NO EUROPEANS KILLED. TAURUA GOES OVER TO THE ENEMY.

"We have received news of a most startling character from the seat of war at Patea, upon the authenticity of which our readers may depend. Since the beginning of hostilities, there has been considerable anxiety in case the hapus of the Patea district should go over to strengthen Titokowaru. This has been especially felt with respect to a hapu called the Pakakohi, having settlements at Patea, Manutahi, and Mokoia. The strength given to the enemy, it was known, would be considerable in itself ; and there are several men of influence amongst the Pakakohi who might be of assistance in drawing aid from Taranaki and "Waikato. When Cahill was killed by the people of Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, Mr. James Booth, Resident Magistrate at Patea, sent for Tautua, Wharematangi, Te One Kura, Natanahira, Paraone, and Kangihaeata, and, after a long conversation, they one and all, on behalf of themselves and followers, professed allegiance to the Government, and volunteered to take the responsibility of giving protection to the wives and children of all the settlers in the district. Subsequently to this, Taurua visited Wellington, and, according to a paragraph which went the rounds of the papers at the time, he got a great talking to by Sir George Bowen, which, however, does not seem to have had much effect upon him. It was, perhaps, too much to expect that these men should continue loyal, especially after the late successes of Titokowaru. They felt strongly on the subject which has caused this outbreak, which has caused all late outbreaks, and which, if we may believe the natives, will cause further outbreaks, till every j acre of confiscated land has been paid for over and over again, in money and blood. It was Paraone who first turned back the Europeans who went on the land to cultivate it ; and Tokorangi, of the same tribe, told Mr. Richmond and Mr. Parris that he would not permit the survey or peaceable occupation of the confiscated land. On the 1 lth of July Mr. Booth wrote to Mr. Richmond: — " Whilst writing about the Pakakohi, I may state that, although they profess the most friendly disposition towards us, and come to Patea almost daily, yet Lieutenant-Colon el McDonnell and myself have an uncomfortable feeling that their professions are hollow." These are the people, except perhaps Natanahira, who have now gone over to Titokowaru, and we fear that we shall soon hear of other defections. Our next item of news saows that Titokowaru has made a great blunder, and his followers have stiffered heavily in consequence. He has attacked the redoubt at Kakaramea and been repulsed with great' loss. As our readers are aware, our forces abandoned the whole country up to Patea, where they were concentrated. On Sunday, the 4th, Colonel McDonnell sent out 100 men to re-occupy Kakaramea (which we may here state will be found plainly marked in the maps of the seat of war lately issued with the Daily Southern Cross). This is on the west side of the Patea, and Titokowaru, apparently determined that he would have the river for his boundary, and excited by his successes and reinforcements, resolved to attack the post at once. Accordingly, on Monday night, Kakaramea was attacked. Three several times did the Maoris advance to the assault, and each time were repulsed with heavy slaughter. The Europeans did not lose a man. The next arrival from the South will bring details of these operations. Our "correspondent gives the following interesting description of Titokowaru and the other chiefs of the Ngaruahine hapu :—: — As to Titokowaru and the acts he has lately performed, he long ago stated he would attempt them. He is a man about 27 yearn of age; »boufc 5 feet 9 inches iii height ; goo.l-looking for his kind ; smart and brawny. He is not tattooed, but hai a bead of black hurly hair, which, when uncovered, falls in a thick buncti over his forehead, which does not add to his otherwise favourable countenance. , 1 his man was on the most intimate terms with the officers and men • f the regular troops who from time to time <>c "P ed toe redoubt at Tumtnrumokai from 1866 to 1867. He with his wife and p-ople wera continually in and about the camp daily, selling peaches, binall pigs, and potatoes to the troops. The waipera was in continual demand by him and his ftmale relations, and, in default of getting it, the cuiteen outside the redoubt would be resorted to, where they would never cry stop until their debauch would end in a uoori sleep <>f the whole oonf-aternitv in t e fern. This Titokowaru could speak English prety well, but the sub-chiefs Ngabina (Mr. K. Graham's friend) and Tukino, also visitors from the n-ighb>urhooi of Pokaikai, were far superior in En*li*h conversation. They all coul I read and write English, and often asked for the loan of a newspaper. Ng^hina is a most uristoeiatic-looking fellow when dressed, with a countenance having moie of the Italian th*n the Maori. Neither of tbe>e men was tattooed. Belonging to lito's village was a native called "the doctor " who daily held trBffio in potatoes, fruits, and fish., This genius called him-elf "Dr. Maunsell ' and, for* Maori, could B^eJc Kn^h fluently. He' i.nded himself in being versed in JDnglub history from 'he time of the Conqueror to the a cession of Queen Victoria. He could tell ,the soldiers that Ireland was first invaded in the tome of Benry 11., and that King William 111. defeated James at*he Boyne. Those things may ssem strange, but they are, positive facts. On one particular point Titokowaru and hit people were all agreed : that the soldiers had no expectation of getting a foot of the confiscated land, but that, the militia would have it between them, the occupation of which they would resist -while a man of the tribe lasted— hence -the enmity to the local forces. They ever and always (in particular Tito himself) evinced a determined resolution to resist by every possible means a footiug on those lands by the colonial forces, an/i experience has proved how successfully they have kept their word. The redoubts from Patoa to Waingongoro have been abandoned, but only so,far as keeping the road along the coast-line i [Often, little use to the military settlers. The rich land is generally close to the bush, and fifty

or sixty men may occupy a redoubt for » time close to the mouth of a rirer but the fern will itill corer the face of the ground and the ploughshare li* rusty. Au open redoubt is hardly a fit place for military settler* to fix permanent hornet, and the banks of a river are too limited for occupation after conquest ; besides the settler is far away from the bush, where timber can be got for nothing. A man's cattle have to roam at large, and unless he has full sway on the broad acres before him the cattle are in danger of being trapped by the villainous tribes between Manawapou and Waingangoro. If the Government had had the wisdom in the early part of last year to erect blookhouBes loopholed and ball-proof within a certain distance from each other and a certain distance from the bmh. and placed therein determined and well equipped military settlers, things would now wear a different aspect. Those blockhouses could be used as dwelling*, and the occupiers could have their families therein, while watch and ward could be kept in due turn. By this means the Maona would be baffled, their surprises on thapakeba would grow few and far between, and the settlers would eventually have peace. If the redoubts, now abandoned, were to be re-occupied again by Imperial troops, the same villagers would be coming in again on the same friendly terms and pecuniary motives. But it is not to be supposed that the arch-rebel, Titokowaru, would show his nose within rifle-shot of the redoubt, where formerly he and his family were lavishly feasted. Any soldier that could would, without doubt, make a grand effort to capture that reputed cannibal, and by doing so lead to his doom.