TARANAKI.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 4, Issue 164, 10 November 1860, Page 1

TARANAKI.

[From the' Correspondent of the -Advertiser.] New Plymouth, Oct. 23i 1860. D6ak. SiR, — I have just heard that the Wbhga ;Wonga r Jeaves_to-day for Wanganui, and; &s~shlf : wlir~^atch the Overland Mail for your Province on Thursday, I scribble- a few- lines to say that the Waikatos have arrived in strong force at Waitara (a native from Huirangi informs me innumbers from 800 to 1000). We expect to have hot work before long. The steamers are running to and from Waitara with, troops, ammunition, &c.~, and a very wise step has ■ been taken — the occupation of Fuketakauere. This will prevent the northern rebels from occupying it again, and we have a commanding position, and from it can' telegraph to town. These "Waikatos are bent upon mischief,, and intend to repeat their old game of marauding and murdering. They have encamped at Huirangi, Ngataiparirua, and Kairoa, the pas destroyed by the General last month. 1 believe these fellows intend to occupy the country, and have brought their wives and- children with them. They- have commenced putting in potatoes. I am, of opinion that the war is only commencing. There will be a general rising, and all Waikato will be in a blaze. Ngapuhi, too, I hear is wavering. Some twenty of these tribes have come down with the Waikatos. A Thames tribe (the Ngatihana) are also at Huirangi. We are in for it, and Taranaki I hope will be the battle-field for the Queen's Supremacy. I hope the Governor will go in for thorough ■and complete subjugation— the natives are infatuated, and have been led by blind leaders ; they. are. going in for our destruction. In spite of the Featherston party and missionary clique, I trust the natives will be put in their place. We here have little to fight for but the Queen's prerogative — and with heart and soul we are girding up our loins for the fight. May God defend the right ! [From the " Herald's" Journal.] Saturday, October 13. — The advanced guard of the southern expedition reached •town about 2 p.m., and were followed at intervals by the main body and rear guard. A serious accident happened to a private of the 65th, named Theobald, on the road. He was walking behind one of the hospital carts, when one of the bullocks of the train behind gored him badly. He is in a dangerous state. We refer our readers to .another part of the paper for full particulars of the attack upon, and taking of, the three pas at Kaihihi. The following is a list of the wounded on the 11th inst. : — Royal Engineers — Captain Paisley, severely ; Sergeant Ho watt, dangerously. 65th Regiment «^— Drummer Greaves, slightly. 12th Regiment — Private Dennis Man T ning, slightly. . . Militia — J. Batten, slightly. The schooner. Paranihipihi arrived to-day from Mokau. The master, Wetere, reports that 80 of the Waikatos, Under Rewi, had reached Mokau wheu he left, and were to leave immediately for Waitara. He says 200 more were believed to be on the way, to be followed by 500. The following general order was issued on the return, of the southern expedition : — Head Quarters, New Plymouth, I4th October, 1860. The Major-General desires to express to both .^officers ana men of all branches of the .service, composing the fiold force engaged in the operations on the Kaiiiihi, his thanks for their steady and exemplary conduct during four days of hard and harassing duty. ■'.-''■■ By command, It. CABEX,'Lieut.-Coloriel, "'•-.. Dep. Aiijt.-jGtene,ral. Sunday, Oct. 14- — Weather continues, fine. For more than a* week vessels ha,ve ; beenlat >, anchor, in the jrqadjstead, and the steamers Otavt:., been enabled lo ply to and. ftp- on ,the\co.as.t without let. or hindrance.. Mr.. ( Prummqn.d Hay (Natjiye Department) accompanied by. .amative, rode intp town this evening .'from Waitara, and returned

again at 10 p.m. It is rumoured that he reports the arrival at Waitara of the advance body of the Waikatos, who have crossed the river,, ; Monday, Oct. 15.— 220 men of the 40th under Captain Hare and Lieuts. Gibson and Clarke, with two 24-pounders, marched at 6 this morning for Waitara, their baggage being shipped on board the Tasmanian Maid, which left about the. same time with a party of the Naval Brigade, and a gun from Mount Eliot. A party of friendly natives have been detacbed to-day to burn the fern and scrub north of Bell Block, which will be much facilitated by the continued dry weather. From Bell Block we learn that the statement m-ade to us by the natives that three settlers were in the hands of Ihaiha te Wharepa's party, and detained as prisoners oo Tuesday last, and released on the arrival, of Hone and Tarurutangi, is incorrect. On the day in question no settlers were out. The following list of the natives concerned in the murders of Omato, Henui Beach, and Avenue. Road, has been supplied by Hoera in jail. It will be observed that he has omitted his brother's name, though he acknowledges that he was one of the party. Ford, Passmore, and Shaw, were murdered by Perere (shot at Waireka), Rihara, Heneti, Minaraya, Kawiri Ngataierua, Ekeremeneta, and Kariri Terangirunga ; the little boy Pote was murdered by Ihaka, and Parker by Karira, Terangirunga, Pene, and Wiremu Tata;' Hurford by Wiremu Tata, Karira Terangirunga, Panapa, Arama (Ngatiruanui), Tiemi te Mira, and Te Honiana ; Crann, by Hopataia (Obadiah) and Pepene (Hui T rangi native) ; Coad, by Waikatos, among whom were several lads who^had been for some time employed by settlers — Paora Reretahanga, Haiminfa, &c. The attempt to shoot the sentry on Fort Niger was made by the Waikatos, 30 in number, who are under the impression that he was killed by them. Tuesday, October 16. — The Tasmanian Maid left this morning with the General and staff for Waitara, and returned at 4 p.m. Various rumours afloat to-day that the Waikatos have crossed the Waitara, but the northern mailman, who came «p in the Tasmanian Maid, reports that he left a party of Waikatos, under Rewi, at Pukekohe, Nikorima's settlement at Mimi. H.M.S.S. Cordelia was in sight this morning, and anchored at 10 a.m., after having communicated with Waitara. Our Auckland dates are to the 13th. The Cordelia anchored at Manukau Heads on Sunday night, and came out yesterday. Previous to the Cordelia's departure, information was received that a settler at Waiuku, on the south shore of Manukau, had been murdered by the natives. It was rumoured that the out-settlers would be called in, as considerable excitement prevailed. The Cordelia boarded a full-rigged ship last evening in the offing ; she was from Sydney, bound from Callao- through the Strait. The following proclamation was issued this evening : — PROCLAMATION. The Major- General hereby gives notice that it js imperatively necessary that all persons should come within the Ijnep o.f entrenchment, at nightfall, and that, in the event' of 'alarm, all women aud children repair at once to Mar9lani Hill. It is. also requested that all lights are theu pu& in the windows of all houses. By commnnd, ; it. Carey, Lieut.-.Colonel, , , ' Dep. Head Quarters, New Plymouth, October 16, 1860. • : . ' Wednesday, October 17. — F.iVLS.S. ;Cordelia sailed for Manukau to-day. Wea;ther. dull. A singular discovery of bullets. in wheat purchased by Mr. S; Oliver from, ithe Sea Gull, from Wanganui, occurred the other day. Mr. Oliver was .passing the iwheat through the smut machine, when sud.4enly it was stopped by, some fpreign substance,. a-ad on examination it was found . to be jchqked by a bag of ,400 bullets," • weig'bjnj l s, lbs. ' Tjie.'bag of ; f wheaV which," had contained the bullets was bought; at Wanganui from the natives, The' following"

will slew the necessity of removing the detonating powder from the nipples of firearms. On Saturday last, at the Omata Stock de, a musket, from which the cap had b enoften removed, by some accident ieceiif d" a blow on the hammer, and went ' off, the bullet passing through the side of the surgery, in which Dr. Rawson was sitting, and giving him a slight bruise. A court of inquiry was held to-day into the charges against Hoera Pirere, alias Big Joe, < of complicity in the Omata murders and traitorous conduct, before Colonel Wyatt, 65th Regiment (President), Capt. Shawe, 40th Regiment, and Captain Miller, 12th Regiment. It commenced at 11 a.m. and adjourned at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18. — Two natives rode in this morning from Waitara, and report that the Waikatos had not arrived at Waitara, but are still at Pukekohe, waiting the arrival of 200 who are daily expected. We hear that the Waikatos intend to hold a congress amongst themselves, the Taranaki, and Ngatiruanui tribes, and Wi Kingi, to decide upon a course of aotion for the future. The usual muster in the trenches to-day. The forces were inspected by the General. The Wonga steamed to Waitara this morning, and returned at 10 a.m. No boat could communicate with her, as the surf was high, and the wind strong from the N.W., but she signalled "No news of importance." The different companies of the 65th at the barracks in Brougham-street, Fort Niger, and in the tents at the Wesleyan Chapel, Kawau pa, and rear of this office, were relieved today, other companies taking their places. Friday, Oct. 19. — Last night, about 11, the report of fire was raised, and when the alarm bugles sounded, the garrison fell in at the different posts. The fire was seen to be near Marsland Hill Barracks, and illuminated the neighbourhood for a considerable distance. At first it was feared, that the Military Theatre was on fire, but it was soon seen that the thatched whares in the rear of the theatre, occupied by the married men of the 65th, were in flamesGreat eiforts were made to prevent the fire spreading to all the houses in the block, and a heavy rain falling soon afterwards, it was confined to four, which were completely destroyed. These were occupied by Sergeants Willis and Speakman, and Privates Robertson and Richardson. The flames spread so. rapidly that the inmates only escaped with their lives — nothing was saved. Private Richardson lost £'60 which he had just changed into notes. An inquiry into the origin of the fire is to be instituted. The Tasmanian Maid came up from Waitara at noon. No news. The Waikatos, 200 strong, are still at Pukekohe. It was reported that a few had come on to Wi Kingi. Weather fine but stormy. The Victoria and Wonga Wonga have moved from the anchorage during the stormy weather. The following notice was issued today : — NOTICE. Any personß able to give evidence before the Court of Enquiry now sitting to investigate charges against Hoera Pirere for aiding and abetting in the murder of certain Europeans in March last,.are requested to Send in t heir names to the Deputy Adjutant G-eneral's Office without delay. ' J3y command, ; " , ' R. Cabet, ■ Lieut-Colonel, I Dep. A djt.* General. New Plymouth, ■ October It), 1860. Saturday, Oct. 20. — We hear this morning from Bell Block, that a party of natives were seen last night on the block on a marauding excursion. 11 a.m.-— We have been informed that Matiuywh'b visited Mataitawa on Thursady and returned 'last night, reports' that from 600. to 860 Waikatos have arrived a,t Hui;rangii; under Rewi, Porokuru, Te Waro, and other; chiefs. " A large party arrived in :the,ihidiile"6f the week, "and thtj remainder yesterday.^. ; Our informant states that the Waikatos intend, occupying, the Waitara iland, and, have brought their „ women "and children '.with th'eni?; Ng'ataiparirua and Kairoa -wIU; be Ve^cupied, . %Mb. portion

will occupy Te Puke and the Tima pas, Rewi intends visiting the camp at Waitara on Monday, to request the troops to move into town. The Ngatihaua, from Matamata, a Thames tribe, are amongst the Waikatos. Martin saw the Waikatos, and had an interview with them. THE EXPEDITION TO KAXmBTo^KE 9th Oct., to destboy the thbee Pas observed bx Majob Hltttchins on the 11th tjit. s Before commencing a description either of movements or country, permit me to explain the feelings \* ith which, I think, we have shared in the risks and privations of the various campaigns that have to the present time been undertaken against the enemy. Sir Cornwall Lewis, in his despatch, only sympathises with our losses, inasmuch, "as being one of those persons who have armed in defence of our own homes ;" or, to continue with his considerate remarks from his fellow Englishmen, " those who have been compelled to leave them." Few have now homes to protect ; many of us even in our own town of New Plymouth, know not where to lay our heads, conser quently we cannot be governed by selfish thoughts alone. Each to the best of his ability is aiding in asserting the supremacy of our Queen Victoria — a duty, in the discharge of which we imagined England would unhesitatingly support us, when we left her already over-crowded country to seek and give value to possessions, in her name, on far-off shores. The details of officers and men, I find, have been already published, consequently it only remains for me to state that, in. accordance with orders, the force mustered at 6 o'clock a.m., on Tuesday, the 9th instant, at their quarters, prior to taking up a position on the beach, near the landingplace, the order of march from which was- 1 — the 12th, advanced guard ; 65th, Militia, and Volunteers, composing main body .; artillery, consisting of 2 24-pounder howitzers, 1 1 2 -pounder, drawn by horses, and an 8-inch gun, worked by sailors under Commodore Seymour, R.N., followed by ammunition carts, two rocket tubes, a 6 and. 12-pounder and baggage carts. The rear*, guard consisting of the 40th. Our friendly natives did not leave the town with us, but joined the forces on the road, diffusing themselves amongst the various corps. In this order we continued our march over hill and dale until after passing the Tiraaru river (the north boundary of Tataraimaka) Mr. Greenwood's, and Mr. W. Bayly's farms, we were gladdened with the orderto "halt and pitch tents." We were not wearied so much by the distance as from the slow movements attendant upon the carriage of heavy artillery over bad roads. I cannot go any further without staying to mention in the highest terms the valuable services rendered on our march by^ the Royal Engineers, who were always in front mending roads and repairing bridges. Their work is generally effected so quietly, and; at the same time] so effectually; that they are scarcely noticed by any but those who Compose the front. Many instanced could be given of the manner in which all was prepared for the passing of the heavy gun; weighing, as it did; upwards of four tons.. The Tapuae Bridge is'not 'very strong, but in a very short time, by the energetic labors of 'the Engineers, it was-fitted for bearingany weight, and at- the same time the 1 hill beyond was cleared of the rocks that crop out 'and impeded us So much ! in our march on the prior' expedition i ' ; '-' '''['• ' '' : - The country on' which we camped this night is very similat'to what has before been described as composing SretenwWd's'farni, consisting of table land" intersected with gullies, oh' the sea side of which are steep cliffs! ■ One peculiarity throughout the'whole of this part of the world must strike the' most casual observer,- and'cotiyince hhnJiow fitted it. is for a continued guerilla warfare. Plains are spolcen of, ' butlt'nritistV be borne in 'miii.d* that, they are of /very" liv' . 'mi ted exte'nt^beirig ihterse>cted :i in 'almost every part by gulUes 1 , many of wliiiK afe' wdbiett or fiiieft u with highfern fthd "atJrqtt'f'

besides, the surface is not level, for all around, raised mounds excellently adapted for fortified camps, show themselves, evidently owing their birth to sqme of those convulsions of nature so common in £his part of the world. .""" After the camp had been formed, orders ■were issued that -the tents should be struck, at half-past four in the morning, aud the troops ready to start at daylight, and that 6 men in each tent should sleep accoutred, and be ready to turn out at the slightest alarm. Wednesday, Oct. 10.— In obedience to the orders of last night, we marched at the appointed hour ; our friendly natives, upder Messrs. Parris, Good, Carrington, arid Wills, taking th» front as a reconnoi.tering party. The Light Company of the *65thi under Lieut. Urquhart, forming an advanced guard, extended as a line of skirmishers, supported by Nos. 3 and 4 companies of the 65th, under Lieuts. Bailie and Talbot, and the 12-pounder with horses ; after which came the baggage and artillery. The Volunteers were told off into two subdivisions, to act as left flank guards to protect the baggage from any ambuscacle that might be formed by the enemy in the various ravines which we had to pass ; the 40th Regiment bringing up the rear. In this order, after passing our former camping place on Hoani's flat, we reached the flat on the south side of Porikapa's old pa (Parawaha.) The country about here is more than ever broken fissures, and covered with high fern and low koromiko scrub. The natives in their advance exchanged shots with the rebels on the hill to the right of our camp, so often described as the old pa, but before we arrived all was quiet, and the tents were soon pitched. The country chosen for the encampment consisted of a narrow tongue of country, broadest seaward, and running inland almost to a point, having deep gullies on both its north and south sides. On the ! rising ground opposite the northern gully wer s e encamped the 40th and commissariat. In the centre were a portion of the 65th, 12th, and Volunteers ; the staff being situated in a sheltered nook at the bottom of the hill ; whilst on the opposite southern gully a small flank encampment was formed and occupied .by a portion of the 65th, and was consequently named Fort Urquhart, the friendly natives occupying Parawaha, Porikapa's old pa. After pitching the tents, working parties were told off from each corps to throw up front and flanking breastworks, upon the completion of which a reconnoitering party was embodied, to examine the position of the enemy, consisting of men from the various corps, when from the left of No.. 1 pa heavy firing was exchanged with the enemy. I have denominated the pas 1, 2, 3, as to their position from the camp. No. 1 (Pukekakariki), from a distance, is apparently surrounded by bush, but on approaching it we found clearing and potato plantations. No. 2 (Orongomaihangai) has evidently been built as their great stronghold, being situated upon the precipitous banks of the Kahihi river, down the face of which was an ingeniously constructed path, protected by rifle pits near the edge of the river. No. 3 (Mataiaio) being situated higher up, on the opposite side of the river. On the reconnoitering party returning to camp, a few volleys only were fired upon us, and the night passed without further disturbance, the front, flanks, and rear of the camp being protected by a double line of sentries. Thursday, Oct. 11. — In compliance with the general orders issued last night 105 men from the 40th and 65th fell-in at 6 o'clock this morning, under Capt. Shawe, of the 40th, as a guard to the working paTty , consisting of 27 Volunteers and Militia, 29 of the 40th, 104 of the 65th ; the whole to , be prepared with blankets and ready cooked provisions for remaining in the trenches for twenty-four hours. With this force, under the direction of the engineering officers, the first parallel was soon completed, and a platform, flanked on right and left by traverse lines, placed ready for the 8-inch ' gun. , AH this was effected without the -slightest annoyance from the enemy. They evidently did not understand our General's intended plan of attack. In past affairs the guns had always ibeen brought to the 'front at the very first. It strikes me that they this time imagined pur lines to 'have been intended to cover the support pf' those who. were to rush the pas, and consequently they, as in the case of the iHuirangi^ held back their fire until we were close upon them;, but, on the 8-inch,gun making its appearance, volleys, were fired in upon those engaged in raising the lines. About this time Sergeant Howatt,, of the Engineers, \ whilst standing ou the' partially

completed No. 1 traverse, received a bullet that entered the rightthigh, passing through, his body, and coining out at the left. The wound is a dangerous one. The firsUme was about 400 yards in length, being placed nearly parallel to the No. 1 and 2 pas ; ; the 8-inch gun being on the extreme right, 1 24-pounder howitzer in ; the centre, and another one to the left, with the iocket tubes, the cohorn mortar (by which, so much execution was effected,) being situated near the 8-inch gun, between the two traverse lines. The first vollies from the natives Vtere answered from the rifles of the various corps acting as guards to the working jarties', but it was not long ere the 24-pouriders opened and threw some shell in with fataur tiful precision. One carcase shell froiithe centre 24-pounder set fire to the wharfe in No. 2, whilst the shells from the mqrtar burst into the rifle pits passing from one channel to another. The fire from the enemy . became hotter than , ever, one bullet rebounding from the gun on the left, struck Capt. Paisley, R.E., in the thigh, and wounding him severely. Another was received in the calf of the leg by Greaves, a drummer in the 65th. Manning* a private of the 12th, was also slightly wounded in the knee. Whilst J. Batten, a militiaman, was driving the cart containing engineering -materials to the traverse lines, he received a wound in his arm. The first parallel with the two traverse lines, by dint of extreme hard labour was completed by nightfall, and during the night, which was wet and dark, the working party advanced their work by two partial approaches 60 yards. The works were continued until 11 a.m. oh the Friday, when arrangements were made to rush No. 2 pa, which was effected in gallant style by the 12th, 46th, and friendly natives, and a portion of the Volunteers under Lieut. Hirst, being directed to charge, taking with them bill-hooks and axes, in order to clear away the palisading. The 24-pounder howitzer, having been brought to the front, and directions given that after the second shot had been fired a rush should be made on No. 1 pa, an exciting race ensued between the friendly natives and Capt. Stapp with his volunteers. It was nearly a drawn match, as the natives stuck a little in endeavouring to climb the palisading, wtiiist our gallant captain, followed by his men, effected an entrance at the side. The soldiers of the various corps quickly joined and commenced the work of demolition. The third pa, on the opposite side of the river, was soon after rushed by No. 10 Company of the 65th, under Lieut. Urquhart, and friendly natives, under Lieut. Good, who had crossed the Kahihi early in morning, and likewise given to the flames. At dark last night the natives from the rifle pits, situated near the left flank of our camp, poured in upon us several volleys, in all probability this was< a mere ruse to take off our attention from the pas whilst they retreated down the coast, as in neither pa was a maori found. They must have left in a great hurry, finding no time to carry away either their drays, agricultural implements, or potatoes. This is the first time that the rebels have ever flown before us, leaving for their victors 6 bullock carts, 1 winnowing machine, 4 or 5 stacks of wheat, which were given to the flames, and many tons of potatoes. Of the three pas, No. 2, or the centre t one, situated on the cliff at the north side of the river, was evidently intended as the enemy's retiring stronghold. Its front presented a series of zig-zags of palisading, immediately behind which rifle pits had been made, in the rear of these was a high bank protecting the huts situated on the edge of the cliff. No. 1 was nearly square, and protected on all sides by rifle pits. No. 3 was a weaker fortification, bat similar to the others, consisting of palisading and rifle channels. Whilst all was going on H.M.S.S. Cordelia 1 anchored off our camp with despatches from Auckland via New Plymouth ; the Lord Worsley passed up from Nelson ; and H.M. colonial Bteam sloop j Victoria from Wellington with Colonel Wyatt, Colonel of the 65th vice G-old, soon after communicating with the Cordelia, went on to New Plymouth returning accompanied by the . Wonga Wonga, -which had waited on the expedition from its first leaving town. In the afternoon Colonel Wyatt landed, and ori approaching the encampment of the 65th, was received with. 5 three?/h'ea»ty cheers from hia men. ' i >j;;V ;' . The Wonga Wonga had' returned from town; with freßh supplies, and from this circumstance I am induced to imagine that it was the General's intention to follow up the retreating>enemy, but in the evening the .steamer returned to town, consequently we all felt certain that on the morrow we should /ollow. The cause given for this alteration is , that the Waikatos are coming upon us, an«L the prospect" of having a. meeting with /

them lessens the regret every one felt at having to leave the southern rebels for a time.

On Saturday, October 13, the camp was struck at half-past 4, a.m., and all in readiness to march by 6 o'clock. The early paf tof the morning was wet and dreary, but towards noon it cleared up, and turned out a pleasant day for the long march; the Volunteers acting as flank-guard, in skirmishing order through the fern and on the summit of the cliffs, until the Oakura was passed, when they fell in as rear-guard, reaching town about sundown, better satisfied with, the trip than any that it has yet been their lot to take part in since Wairaka.

The friendly natives, under Lieut. Good and Ensign Willis, were evidently Bincere in their cooperation with thß military and volunteers. On the Thursday they were extremely active in skirmishing and burning the fern and scrub in the neighbourhood of the enemy's pahs. Their assistance was found most valuable on the Wonga Wonga's boat, with boxes of ammunition, coining to land, which they with great care . soon shouldered, and bore safe to dry land, whilst others held fast to the boat, up to their necka in water, I in order to prevent her being knocked to pieces against the rocks, a heavy surf at the time having set in. We had the pleasure at this time of seeing driven before us between 400 or 500 sheep, that had been stolen by the rebels. My object in this description has not been to criticise military actions, such I leave to thoße better conversant with military matters ; nor have I written whilst labouring under that pecu • liar disease termed by the ancients cacaethes scrilendi. My great desire in describing the progress of my feiiow-settlers through this protracted war is to show that although we are ruined \fe are still willing to come forth and do our utmost, by acting in perfect obedience to the military authorities, to quell rebellion and punish aggression. In maDy cases, may be, I have not placed sufficient stress on the bravery of the individual military corps. If they feel this, let them bear in mind that this pleasing duty lies with others, and that bravery and good conduct will not pass unrecognised or unrewarded. We alone can cultivate self-esteem by feeling that we do our duties to the utmost. W.I.G.