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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 435, 7 November 1863, Page 1 (Supplement)

The war in Auckland continues to be the engrossing subject. We subjoin the letters of our own correspondent:— October 22, 1863. The moment of the mail’s departure is a very unfortunate one. We may be said to tremble on the verge of great events, both political and martial, but they have not yet come. As I suppose, in spite of the immense importance of political affairs in the Assembly at present, your readers are even more deeply interested in the war news, I will just endeavour to give you as clear an idea of how things stand at this moment as possible, 'iner General may even at this moment be moving on Meremere, although we do not know that he is so. This day (Thursday) was the one originally proposed for the assault, as I chance to know, and, so far as the military authorities could ensure it, all is ready. The “Pioneer” gunboat .(late Waikato), however, has met with au untoward accident, which has disabled her to a great extent for a few days, so that she has not got further than the inside of the Mauakau Heads. As she was steaming round to enter the Waikato on Sunday last she burst one of the steam pipes of her engine boiler, and bad to briug-up to get it repaired. This is now being done, but I cannot ascertain on which day it will be completed. What effect this unexpected accident may have I cannot of course say, as the Geueral’s plans included some material assistance from the “ Pioneer,” both as to artillery practice and as to towing other boats. I cannot suppose the General will delay any considerable time, even with this in view, unless the boat can speedily be got ready. The measures taken on land are very simple aud complete, however, and may be easily stated. The troops, with the exception of some of the 18th under Colonel Chapman, aud a few of the same and the 70th, with Col. Nixon in the flying column, are all at the front; and the first (or Pitt’s) regiment of Waikato Militia have taken their places iu ail the posts between Papakura and the Queen’s Redoubt, Pokeuo, which may now be identified with the “front,” as the bridge across the broad and difficult waters of the Mauugatawhiri Creek is now fully completed, and passable for horse, foot, and artillery, which can now go to the Whangamariua Creek without any hindrance. At this moment, Pitt’s headquarters are at Drury, but they will in a day or two be moved to Pokeuo, whence I suppose they will only move on to the land where the regiment is to settle so soon as that is decided upon. All the posts from Papakura to Otahuhu are held by the second regiment of Waikato Militia (Colonel Hamilton’s), while about 400 men of the third regiment (to be Major Lyon’s) are at the Camp Otahuhu. In addition to the force of about 2500 soldiers whom the General can move up the river any day now, there will be nearly 500 men of a naval brigade from the various men-of-war on the station, commanded in person by Sir William Wiseman, the

Commodore. The detachment from the Curagoa, above 200 strong, went up on Saturday last. Two days ago a daring act was performed by two men of the volunteer corps —Ensign Yon Tempsky, of the Forest Rangers, and an officer of the Defence Force. These two went as scouts quite within the enemy’s lines at Paparata, behind Meremere, and have brought, I am told, much valuable information to the General. They were very nearly discovered by some native dogs chasing pigs, but, owing to their long experience in such plans, they had hidden even too well for dogs to find them out, and got off after a four days’ expedition beyond our lines and on hostile ground. They report large numbers of natives at Meremere and Paparata, which is very gratifying, as the only fear here is that they may have decamped before we can get at them. Since my last letter there have occurred several more very brutal murders of settlers who would persist iu going into the forest regardless of the well-ascertained fact that it was full of danger from the small parties of half a dozen natives or so that were prowling about in search of plunder and opportunities of murder. These deaths have in all amounted to four —rtwo of the victims old men, one old woman, and one a mere child. In every case great blame attaches to the unfortunate victims for their carelessness and disregard of warnings, but not the less is the spirit of the settlers becoming bitter under the trial, and a fearful retribution will yet be exacted. The flying column has been enlarged to five hundred men, in two parties, and I expect shortly to hear that all outlying bodies of natives have been driven in by them to their headquarters. I quite expect that we shall soon have the third regiment of Waikato Militia fully enrolled, as, when the 150 men expected from Tasmania in a few days arrive, we shall have nearly, if not quite, 600 men of the corps. The first and second regiments each contain 1100 men full, and are very fine looking bodies of men.

The Claud Hamilton arrived here last night at midnight from Sydney with nine army surgeons on board. They will be needed.