FALL OF MEREMERE—FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 435, 7 November 1863, Page 3 (Supplement)

FALL OF MEREMERE—FURTHER PARTICULARS.

(From the special Correspondent of the Southern Cross J I supplied the public with a brief narrative of the capture of Meremere, on Sunday last, in the Daily Southern Cross” of Monday. In several respects that report was imperfect, but more particularly as it failed to convey a clear idea of the enemy’s position, and the means adopted by General Cameron to reduce it. I will now endeavour to supply those omissions. It will be recollected that only a few days after the occupation of the eastern spur of the Koheroa range by General Cameron, the rebels took up a position on the western spur, with the view of checking an advance on the Waikato, — having the Waikato on their rear and left, and the lagoon formed by the overflow of the Whangamarino and its affluents on their right. They were dislodged by,the troops, after an engagement in which the superiority of our arms was uumistakeably manifested. The natives made good their retreat across the swamp and the river. Nothing more was seen of them for a short time, and it was thought they had retired into the interior to defend their rich plains and cultivations against the advance of the troops. Everything seemed to favour that opinion. I was on board the Avon on the occasion of her first trip up the Waikato, when a survey of the river was made above Kohekohe. No natives were then visible. Meremere was at that time bare and deserted, hut in a few days afterwards the enemy were discovered working at rifle pits on the face of the hill opposite the old landing. Their position was reconnoitred closely, and they were seen to be in large force, and busily engaged strengthening themselves in a position which is undoubtedly the key to a great extent of country. An advance from Koheroa to the Wangamariuo was the result. A stockade was erected, and a post of observation established. Matters continued in that state for a length of time, occasional shots being exchanged between the garrison at Whangainarino and the rebels from Meremere. The Avon steamer occasionally went up within range, and fired a few Armstrong shells into the enemy’s lines, but the effect of this firing is not known.

The delay arose from the impossibility of advancing, owing to the want of boats. Between the Wangamarino stockade and Meremere is the Wangamarino creek, and beyond about two thousand yards of low swampy ground, covered with flax, toetoe, scrub, and bush. The proper right of the enemy’s position depended on the bush which skirted the low laud in question. Here a palisading was erected, and the ground as it rose gradually, was terraced with lines of rifle pits. In the rear, the natural defence consisted of the great swamp caused by the overflow of the creeks which uuite lower down, and form the Wangamarino, and also by one of these, the Maramarua, which winds inland in a serpentine course, close to the rear of the position. In addition to this natural defence the natives had strengthened the rear by the construction of long lines of rifle pits, on commanding spurs, aud dipping down to the verge of the swamp. Their main care, however, was to fortify themselves at the natural landing place. There, they thought, they would be attacked, and they spared no labour to make it as formidable to their assailants as possible. Extending from the palisading at the belt of bush on their extreme right was a line of rifle pits, along a strip of level land, close to the river, and connected with the network of traversed lines at the landing. When the troops landed on Sunday the rifle pits on the level were flooded, owing to the height of the river ; but it was from them the ‘ Avon’ was frequently saluted by a heavy fire of musketry at an earlier period of the occupation. The ground to the rear was even more flooded. Immediately in front of the landing the clay from the pits was heaped up. It was here the enemy got two of his guns into position. Close by the river’s brink the small swivel gun, a 6-pounder, was in position. There were two embrasures, covering the approach up or down the river, and the gun was shifted from one embrasure to the other by the help of, a rope made fast to the trunions, and secured to a bollard fixed in the embankment. In rear of the battery were eleven tiers of traversed pits, covering the landing. The four last of these tiers were roofed by their occupants, who evidently lived in them. Close by their big gun the enemy had little nooks for cooking, in which embers were found. These were covered to protect the men engaged at the ovens from the effects of direct or enfilading fire, and proved that they stand by their guns by night as well as by day. A kind of covered way led from the first gun to the second. It, likewise, was protected, by the traversed lines in the rear, and by a breastwork of scrub in front. When the troops landed, the gun was dismantled. The rude carriage had; pine-tree drum wheels, and was a most primitive appearance. The natives evidently abandoned this gun in haste, as an attempt appeared tcL have been made to remove it. Between this gun and the water there is a small potato cultivation.. No doubt the natives calculated on remaining there all the season, but they illustrated the truth of the proverb instead, “ one sows and another reaps.” The troops will, doubtless, consume the potatoes when they are ripe, which will be in about a fortnight.

Leaving the lower lines of defence, which cover about 100 acres with a perfect net-work of rifle pits, there is a sudden dip in the ground.

And here also the natives had been busy. The path to the upper lines, which is by this dip, is flanked by single line? of rifle pits on either hand. Several whares and one wooden house were,standing in the hollow, sheltered from the fire from the river. The ascent thence is over ground covered by stunted fern, and commanded by treble lines of rifle pits, extending for several chains along the face of the ridge, and presenting a serious obstacle to au attacking party if well defended.

Beyond these pits, and on the summit of the hill was their pa, inside which the flag was hoisted. When the troops occupied the place on Sunday, the flagstaff was standing. The pa is not strong of itself, consisting of a single row of

palisading and but slightly bound together. It is 29 yards long by about 20 yards wide, with one flanking angle. It is rifle-pitted inside and on the right front, commanding the approach by land. The retreat by the rear is open to Rangariri, or by way of Paparata; and owing to the flooded state of the country, only a few yards lay between their head-quarters and the wide-spread inundation which enabled them to effect their escape. The heavy gun, a2l pounder, was on the long line of rifle pit. This description will give a general idea of the strength of Meremere. If it had been attacked in front, the troops would have suffered severely, and the enemy would have lost less in proportion, owing to their traverses and the facilities for retreat. The rapidity of the current likewise renders landing somewhat difficult. As it was, a corporal of the 14th fell into the water, and was nearly swept away by the stream. But to resume my narrative. The arrival of the Pioneer gunboat, and the iron-plated cargo boats from Auckland, enabled General Caineron to advance up the Waikato. On Thursday last the effect of shell was tried on the rifle pits, from the heavy guns of the Pioneer and the 40-poun-ders at Whangamarino, but the effect was not so great as might have been expected, owing to the traverses. The enemy’s lines could not be raked with shot and shell, and a landing must be made, if made at all, in the face of a heav)' fire, which it would have been difficult to silence.

On Friday General Cameron made a reconnaissance of the Waikato as far as Rangiriri, in the Pioneer ; and that night a force or 600 men was embarked and landed at Takapau, where they entrenched themselves. On Sunday morning the natives endeavoured to dislodge them, but were driven off. They then evacuated Meremere, which was taken possession of on Sunday afternoon by the troops. I was on board the Pioneer when the landing was effected, and went over the position. Having seen it from the first, I was anxious to satisfy my curiosity regarding it by a personal inspection. I have endeavoured to describe the works from my notes taken on the spot, and assisted by Captain Heaphy, who was likewise on shore. Meremere abandoned was doubtless a much less formidable place than Meremere held by a thousand maoris, fully armed ; still there was enough to convince any one of its great importance. The weak point was on their left flauk, which was precisely the point menaced by the General, and on which at early dawn on Monday, he would have thrown 1,200 men. The natives had sense enough to perceive the hopelessness of the task of defending Meremere and fled. No doubt the escape of the natives is to be regretted, but the masterly disposition of the troops secured to the country everything that could possibly have been gained by a victory. The scene at the Naval Camp and Koheroa landing on Sunday afternoon, after the order for the embarkation of two hundred and fifty men was given, was of the most animated nature. The creek seemed covered with boats, and on shore and afloat there were signs of the greatest activity. The detachments of the 14th and 12th were commanded by Colonel Austen, of the former regiment. The officers were:—l4th, Colonel Austen, Captain Strange, Lieutenant and adjutant Glancy, Lieutenant Langtry, Ensigns Green, Swanson, and Caldwell; 12th, Captains Cole and Williams, Lieutenants Crawhall, Featherston, Philips, Murphy, and Morris. Ensigns Cooper and Bolton.

The naval brigade was commanded by Commodore Sir W. Wiseman. Commanders Sulivan, Mayne, and Phillimore, were likewise on board. Commander Mayne had command of the storming party of one hundred and fifty sailors. The naval officers who went on shore in charge of their companies were Commander Phillimore, Lieutenant St. Hill, and Mr. Murray. The spoils which fell to the troops were slight. Captain Heaphy, A.R.V., got the only musket captured. A few paddles and two carved heads for the pa were found, together with the heavy guns of the enemy. Three small canoes were likewise captured. I should add that General Cameron was accompanied by the Adjutant-General, Colonel Carey, C. 8., and his personal staff. In conclusion, I cannot overlook the very important services which Mr. Chandeler has rendered to the country at this crisis. But for him, the Pioneer could hardly have been taken up the river at night, and on this the success of the expedition to Takapau in a great measure depended. The skilful manner in which he piloted the vessel over the critical parts of the river has already earned for him the thanks of the naval commanders.