TAURANGA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 828, 19 February 1867, Page 3

TAURANGA.

(From the' corespondent of the "Southern Cross.")

February 5. Early on Thursday, January 31, : Mr. Mair, R.M., with a small party of Arawas (forty-one), left Maketu for the purpose of co-operating with the forces now occupying the various native villages in the Tauranga district. The' route lay across the Maketu river, through the village of Canaan, to Te Puke, the kainga ofthe notorious Hakaraia, ofthe tribe Waitaha, leader ofthe present disturbance. On the party arriving at Te Puke, they found all the male inhabitants had left to join forces with the Hau-haus on the borders of Tauranga. In one of the huts were found most of the surveying tools stolen from Mr. Henry Graham's party on the 31st of December last— -such as chains, arrows, fern-hooks, bill-hooks, &c. This at once proves my former statement to be correct, that the old chief Hakaraia had desired them to be carried to him. This place (Te Puke) was destroyed-some horses, pigs, and poultry being looted. No damage was done to Canaan in passing through, and the party arrived at Tauranga on Friday. Their endurance in working their way through a country almost inaccessible, and so small a party too, in the close vicinity of an enemy four times their number, speaks well for what these men can do when Veil led. : The party, after resting at Te Papa, marched on Saturday, 2nd, under Mr Mair, to the front, to share in the work going on there, joining themselves to the Waikatos under Colonel Harrington. On Friday, Ist, a large number of Arawas (one hundred and fifty-six) arrived here from Maketu. They marched by way of the beach, After resting till evening, they, under charge of Mr. Commissioner Clarke, moved to the seat of war by way of tlie Omanawa creek. Something was intended to be done on following morning, Saturday. The enemy having taken possession of an old pa, very strongly defended, called Kahakaharoa, the natives (Arawas) at early, dawn made their move, bufc only to walk into the pa, ifc having been evacuated the night before, the rebels preferring the bush to entrenching themselves. Our force being strong — militia and volunteers about 300; natives, 200; and the 12th Regiment, 150 — it was decided to attack and drive them even from the bush, and to destroy their villages. The plan of attack was carried out admirably, and proved most satisfactory. The natives were known to be in numbers upwards of one hundred round the village of the Akeake, a small place on the skirts of the bush, immediately in front of which is known as Pye's Pa — distant about two miles from that place, the larger village of the Taumata being behind it, further in the bush. At two a.m., on February 4th, the militia marched out from their quarters (Pye's Pa), and took up a position on the left side of the enemy, assisted by the Arawa under Mr, Mair. The larger party of the Arawa, occupying Kahakaharoa, were to attack on the right of the rebels ; the men of the 12th Regiment under Colonel Hamilton were in support of the Arawa, and to take up a position afc the Taumata. Within a few minutes of each 'other from the left and the right, the fight began, but no real stand was made, the natives falling back, as was expected, from Akeake to the Taumate. The surprise was sudden, and the enemy bolted, leaving their breakfast . cooking, which the Ai'awas took advantage of, enjoying the treat famously. The place was destroyed ; the rebels were followed up to the Taumata, and were again cooking when they had again to make a rapid retreat. Some shots were fired, and several Maoris were seen to be carried away, The Arawas took as prisoners some women. Mr. James Woolly, of the Engineers, received a gun-shot wound through the left side — a severe one. This is the only casualty of consequence. Several men were hit — Sergeant Muir, of the Waikatos, in the throat, slight ; Mr. GilbeH Mair in the hand. It is said the Arawas are to occupy these destroyed places for a time. There being a very large quantity of food in the ground, no Commissariat would be required. Ifc is also said that Te Puhe is to be occupied by the Arawas for a time. There are several other villages which must be destroyed, being very hot-beds of Hauhauism ; but to-day's lesson will long be remembered by the rebel natives. A private correspondent supplements [ the above by the following particulars : — I cannot let the events of to-day pass without writing to you. To-day's was hot, and no mistake. I rode out this morning at 3 a.m. You have some idea of how far Pye's Pa is — about four miles beyond Te Ranga, and with an ordinary glass much that was done could be seen from there. I WA9 well up in it, and it is a wonder how men do escape. The balls fell like hail, bufc the shooting was miserable. I could nofc have thought ifc possible thafc men so close together as some of ours were, could have escaped as they did ; but I suppose the Hau Haus were flurried. I know our fellows were ; bufc let us be charitable. I got home at 5 p.m., and was well knocked up. (Prom our special reporter of the * Southern Cross.') February 6. I arrived at Tauranga, per the Star of the Evening about four o'clock this afternoon, and then heard of what had been done on Monday last, of which you have already been advised. I have of course seen nothing myself of what has been doing for the last two or three days, but I have taken care to get information from the best sources. On Tuesday two native settlements were destroyed at Oropi, by the Arawas, who, contrary to the expectations of persons not ill informed in native matters, are going in most vigorously against the enemy, especially ,where looting is the chief end of their exertions. A great quantity of potatoes (about 40 tons) were dug up and burned, by order of the authorities. The well-known William Marsh (Te Rangikaheke) is the chief leader. Contrary to expectation, no stand was made at Oropi. A few shots were fired by the hostile natives, and a very great many on our side, bufc no harm was done to either party. To-day, 200 Arawas, under the command of Capt. Walker, with Mr. Mair as interpreter, marched on to Paengaroa, a village on the edge of the bush, the inhabitants of which are supposed to be disaffected. From what I know, I think that belief not to be

far wrong. ' However, the natives quickly cleared out when they learned that their enemies were coming— *fmy stopping to discharge a few shots out of the bush. Nobody was hurt on either side, but the cultivations . and whares were entirely destroyed. The [ natives, in leaving their settlements, conceal such portions of their supplies as they can, but the. Arawas most certainly leave little undiscovered. They say—but of course this must be taken with caution—that they are ready to go to the Thames, and then tb Waikato, thoroughly to finish the Hau Haus. It is reported in Tauranga to-day, on very good authority, that a party of Ngatihaua have come over and joined the rebels. I am very sorry to hear this, and disappointed, as I thought that Mr. Mackay, in his visit to Matamata, had made that tribe secure. It is stated that ten men have come over under the command of Riki, and forty unider Te Waharoa — a second cousin of the late William Thompson. To the credit of Tanatiu, Thompson's son ahd successor, he is said to have most determinedly opposed the going, and to have sworn that he would shoot any man who came back. None of these have been seen in the fighting yet. An interpreter came up to-day from Opotiki, and he has brought news that that settlement is threatened, and that the church is being fortified. As the force there has been weakened very much to strengthen the corps at Tauranga, there is considerable danger. There are only 25 men now at Opotiki, and they send word that, if no reinforcement be sent, a steamer should come to to take them away. The Arawas to-day took ten flags which had been in the villages, including one belonging to Hakaraia — rather a fins specimen, with a complicated series of devices. The Arawas have also taken five prisoners, who were brought to Tauranga yesterday. They consist of three women and two children, and it has been found out that they belong to settlements near Tauranga, of the Ngaiterangi, our friends. They have been, or are t9 be, let away.