THE WAR AT ROTORUA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 840, 2 April 1867, Page 3

THE WAR AT ROTORUA.

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A HAU HAU PA TAKEN AND BURNT. [From the special reporter of the ' Southern Cross.'] Ohinemutu, March 22. Yesterday afternoon, Mr, Clarke (to whom has been entrusted the chief command of the military operations), Major St. John, Major M'Donnell, and other officers, with a strong escort of Ngatipikiao, went out from Obinemutu up a valley leading in the direction of the enemy's position. Ascending from the valley v to the top of a hill, a good view was had of the place. In the nearest pa or settlement were about a hundred men, but the numbers in the others could not be distinguished. Good watch was evidently "kept against surprise, as scouts were seen out in all directions. On the return of the party, a general meeting was held to decide upon the time at which an advance should be made, at which the prevailing opinion was that, if the next day was fine, the force should move out to attack the pa. Marsh advised delay, and rather a sharp encounter took place between him and Major M'Donnell, who said the cause why Marsh urged delay was fear. Marsh retorted by saying that the Major himself was the most frightened man he ever knew, —that at the Awa-o-te Atua he had lagged behind, and let him (Marsh) and his men go forward, and that it was the same at the Waihi. Fox thought the force should advance, and build apa not far from the enemy's position. A great many eloquent speeches were made, and the meeting was protracted to a late hour. News has been received here from Waikato, and I presume it has already reached you, that the King has consented to Rotorua being the. place of fighting, and is on the way over with Rewi, and all the men they can muster. The enemy are evidently determined to make a stand, and there can be no' doubt that they have full knowledge of the strong force mustered here. An advance is to be made this evening, and the whole place is in bustle and stir. The Maoris have had religious services, and are now engaged in oiling or greasing their hair, and decorating their heads with white feathers, tied up with red worsted. March 23. , Last night word was received that a party of, the enemy had come down on the north shore of the lake and occupied Kaikaitahuna, or Hamurana, the settlement where I spent two nights on my first visit to Rotorua. Three war canoes were immediately manned with 150 men of the Ngatipikiao and Ngatikereru hapus, whose places would be endangered if the Hau Haus took that road in force. Major McDonnell was in command. It was a beautiful clear moonlight night, but with the many paddles the huge canoes were quickly lost sight of on the lake.. At four o'clock this morning, 180 Europeans mustered at the Pukeroa, under Major St. John, and marched out towards Puraku, and, as the white light of the morning came in, 450 natives streamed out of Ohinemutu in the same direction. I don't think I ever saw anything more beautiful than the taua winding in single file along the shores of the lake, as the sun rose and lighted up the magnificent scenery around. After going about three miles we came to a river called Ngongotaha, over which the Europeans were ferried in canoe 3, and the natives forded. Here „ were the canoes which had left Ohinemutu on the preceding evening, and those who had been on board informed me that the Hau Haua had left Hamurana before they got there. A visit had been paid to Puhirua, to which most of the people have returned, and it was found that they were disposed to be quiet, and were determined to prevent any descent upon the Rotoiti. If this disposition of the Puhirua people is owing to Marsh and Kiharoa, they deserve credit for their work, and I am not disposed to say anything against them in connection with their negotiation!? with the Hau Haus, as they took good bare of me while I was in the power of the Puhirua people. When the whole of the force had got across the rivers, the march began to Puraku — the Ngatiraukawas, under Hans Tapsell,, leading, then the Europeans, and then the. main body of the Arawas. Reinforced by the force which had gone out the night before, the natives now numbered 600 men. Everything that we had heard, and what we had seen of the confidence of the Hau Haus, seemed to show that there would be a heavy fight, and every man made up his mind that such would be the event. The Puraku Pa stands at about 100 yards from the bush, on a gentle rise, with a gully in front ; and, when we got about a mile off, we could see some movement inside the pa. Maoris are not all brave, by any means. One rather old man came to Dr. Nisbet, who accompanied the force, and, evidently in a high state of excitement, said he felt very ill. The doctor advised him to go back to Ohinemutu, but the old gentleman knocked about in the rear till all danger was past, and then I saw him marching about with a musket, looking as valiant as Achilles. I congratulated him upon his rapid recovery, but he did not seem to care about referring to it all. I believe Dr. Nisbet insisted upon "exhibiting" a tremendous dose of salts in the evening. i. On reaching the brow of a hill before the pa, the force halted. The Ngatiraukawas defiled off to each side, while the Europeans advanced staight up to the pa. The rest of the natives knelt down on the slope while MitaHikairb read the appropriate prayer front the prayer-book, and spoke a few words, telling the men that then, as at all times of danger, they should put their trust in God alone. I have heard a good deal of first-rate oratory of late) and I should have great difficulty in selecting the best speaker, but I think my choice would fall upon Hikairo. What a lesson in education those few words on the hill were ! Looking over the ridge at this moment the natives could be seen " making tracks" for the bush, and a single glance at " the situation" showed that no defence would be made, and that all pur great preparations were to go for nothing. Some shots were fired at the pa, then ifc was entered by the natives, and the Union Jack hoisted. Now there was firing by the Hau Haus from the bush, but hurried arid uncertain, showing that it was only as defiance while they left, and that no r stand; ;w:6uld be made. The Europeans and 'most of the natives now entered the bush, jand, a good many shots were delivered, but both sides are far too good at taking cover to b§: easily hit. One Hau Hau was . : wounded in the "leg, but got off. One feature of ; native warfare is that the taut • ia foU()WedJ?y if^nritiibev of women, whe c6mmo^CQoia4g:aßinpon&9 possible, sc >, tbafc^Ken^he affair' is oVer the food isaboui

ready. On this occasion potatoes and pumpkins were brought in large quantities from the cultivations ; pork had been carried from Ohinemutu, and there was soon an abundant feed. The "loot" was not very much. Three or four horses, three pet kakas or parrots, and a big trunk or two, were about all. It is quite clear the ■ natives do not intend to let themselves be caught out of the forest, if they can help it. After finishing our meal, the pa and a village near it were set on fire, and blazed away quite briskly. We all then returned to Ohinemutu, after the blodoless victory, very much impressed by the fact that we were utterly in the dark as to the numbera and movements of the Hau Haus. What is to be done now ? Where are the Hau Haus ? I presume the force will be sent into the interior somewhere. Meantime the Europeans are making themselves as comfortable as possible. One officer remarked that it was a fine thing to be well paid for swimming about in hot water, which is the favourite ammusement. March 25. I went over to the Rotomahana yesterday with Major St. John and a party of officers of the Ist Waikatos. Some alarm is felt at Tarawera on account of the Hau Haus, as there is a good track leading from the Uriwera country to the top of the lake, but as yet there has been no appearance of Hau Haus in the district. All the settlements about the Rotomahana have been deserted in fear of the Hau Haus, and the whole of that wonderful country, of our journey to which I shall hereafter write a detailed account, is without an inhabitant. We spent the night at the Rotomahana, and returned to Ohinemutu this afternoon.