TAURANGA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 836, 19 March 1867, Page 3

TAURANGA.

(From the correspondent of the " N. Z. Herald.") Monday, March 4. The p.s. Sturt, Captain Fairchild, in two trips last week, conveyed the •Arawas, who have been fighting with us during the last campaign, to their homes, Maketu and Matata. These have been replaced by about 100 braves belonging to the tribe of that sterling old chief Arama Karaka Mokonui-a-rangi, under the guardian of his fighting chief and cousin, Henere Ngakete. It will be remembered that about two years ago, eighty of these men, under the command of the same chief, at Tapiri, held their own against, and fought their way through, seven or eight hundred Hauhaus, under Kereopa, the former having five men killed who were cooked and eaten by Kereopa and his party before their eyes, and the five heads preserved and afterwards exhibited through the district. No doubt the report, believed by many, that Kereopa is now in this district, has stimulated, in no slight degree, Arama Karaka and his people to engage in the present contest. Yesterday a portion of them, headed by the Messrs. Mair, attacked a body of Hauhaus at Te Taki, near the late settlement of Paengaroa, the result being one Hauhau killed ', on our part an Arawa wounded — ■ a gunshot grazing the head just above the forehead, partially scalping him. He refused to leave the front to come into hospital, A portion of the Hauhau's skull, which had actually been shot off, was brought in last evening by Mr. Mair, the hair upon it perfectly sandy in colour, and the portion of the skull to which it adheres is of the thickness of a man's little finger. I should have stated that Araraa Karaka is still at his kainga, very unwell, and, indeed, has been so ever since the fight at Te Tapiri, before referred to. A surveying party, iridor Mr. Gundry, were to have proceeded to Paengaroa this morning, as alao other surveyors to other localities j but it is quite possible that the occurrence of yesterday will have caused an alteration in their arrangements. To-day the Ist class Militia are again called out, and the whole of the Arawas left for the front this morning. I am inclined to believe that the Hauhaus at present muster more strongly than is generally supposed — to meet them are about 150. By some here it is thought that it was bad policy which prompted the disbanding of the Arawas who figured in the last campaign. March 6. Since my last I have been enabled to glean further particulars relating to the " brush " which took place between the Arawaa and Hauhaus on Saturday last Ifc appears that the former were not out for the purpose of fighting, of which, then, they had not the most distant idea, they mustered but twenty and were out for the purpose of pig hunting, having no food of any kind. Five of them, with whom was Mr. Gilbert Mair, had separated from the rest and after having killed some pigs Hauhau tracks were discovered by them, each man flew to his gun and had scarcely made preparations for their defence, when a volley was poured into them from at least thirty rebels. Nothing daunted this handful of men stood their ground and returned their fire with earnest, killing Uuo of their opponents, a bullet having entered the lower part of the face of one of them carrying with it the crown of the head. The remainder of the twenty (amongst whom were some Ngatirangis) came up at this juncture and also opened fire when, as usual, the Hauhaus skedaddled. I regret to have to record on the most reliable authority, that the Ngatirangis on this occasion fired blank cartridge. Abundance of evidence can be adduced of their so acting on a recent occasion, but for reasons it is unnecessary to mention, I have not hitherto disclosed ; but the fact is patent. The Arawa who was wounded in this affair was brought in this morning, by boat ; Mr. Warbrick attending on the beach, at the request of the natives, to receive him, and by whom the wounded man was conveyed to the hospital. His wound is of a far more serious character than was at first imagined. It should be noted that the two Hauhaus who fell were shot by a native named Pene, one of those who were engaged fighting against Kereopa at the famous Tapiri affair. An expedition started on Tuesday night, commanded by Major St. John, accompanied by Captain Skeet and a portion of his corps, to attack a village called Puripuri, between Whakamarama, where it was known several Hauhaus were encamped. A good haul was anticipated, but unfortunately the guide lost the track, and nothing came of it. The party returned at daylight next morning. March 7. • The p.s v Sturt left last night, at 9 o'clock, for Opotiki, conveying the Honorable the Defence Minister, Mr. Mair, R. M., several officers, Mr. Warbrick, and other citizens. The Compensation Court will be opened at that place profo?'ma, to-day.