IMPORTANT FROM WAIROA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 965, 1 August 1868, Page 2

IMPORTANT FROM WAIROA.

LATE NEWS FROM THE DISTURBED DISTRICTS. (FEOM OTTE OTfIT COBBESPONDENT.) Friday, July 24. The mailman from Turanga arrived here last night, and brings word that the Government party, consisting of 100 men (Maories and Europeans), under Westrupp, came into collision with the Hau Haus at the. Whakaongaonga. They fired upon the leading files of the Hau Hau advance, with what result is not known. The fire was returned, and one white man and a Maori were shot dead, and others wounded. The Government party finally retreated into the bush, leaving their horses, food, clothing, &c, in the hands of the Hau Hau^. Wi te Koro is the name of the Government native killed; he was a very old man, and belonged to this place for a while. It was just sundown when the fight came off. The Hau Haus advanced along the ridge with the utmost confidence. The Government party were below the crest of a hill, and fired as from a parapet. The Hau Haus are greatly exasperated at being fired on ; they are well armed, and declare they will attack Turanga. This is a verbatim translation of the native story as related to me. I should say there is every reason to believe it true. Monday evening was the date of the fighting, and the mail was made up in the morning of the same day. Friday evening. Further news arrived by T. Marsh, confirmatory of Westrupp and Wilson's defeat, with the loss of their horses — some 80 in number — supplies, &c. The Hau Haus had not marched upon Poverty Bay as previously reported, but had advanced upon Te Eeinga, doubtless with intent to effect escape in that direction. Ihaka Whanga arrived at Wairoa with 70 men, and supplies were issued to them. Paora te Apatu fled upon the approach of the Hau Haus, carrying with him the bulk of the native force. Richardson and Saunders are on the watch between Whenua Kura and Pukewhinau. Saturday morning. John Mitchell arrived from the front. Richardson's sentries had fired on the advance guard, Paora, son-in-law to Matiu Kauhuka, of Ngatikurupakiaka, concealed himself in the fern, and, as one of the Hau Hau scouts came along, mounted on Lieut. Wilson's captured horse, he sprang upon him, seized him by the hair, and, tearing him from the saddle, made him prisoner. There is sharp fighting going on. The Huangaroa river being flooded, prevents the Hau Haus escaping to the ranges. Several had fallen on either side when Mitchell left. Rakiroa, of Te Reinga, who was always a scoundrel, and evidently a traitor, had, if not actually gone over to the Hau Haus, furnished them with information of the movements and numbers of the intercepting forces. Ihaka Whanga — dear old fellow— pushed forward, with his reinforcements, at two o'clock this morning. Paora te Apatu again fled, leaving Saunders and Hiehardson to the enjoyment of the position, and bolting this time to Opoiti. The whistling of a bullet has peculiar terrors for his fat carcase. The natives never thought other of him, and if there ever was any doubt, this matter has settled it. If ever thero was " a perticler, out-and-out, crawling lump of funking humanity, that ugly tun of cow-beef is the identical Moses/ Whitmore and Biggs have not been heard of. Volunteers from here to the front are rapidly draining the population. [PBOM ANOTHER COKEESPOKDENT.] — — — sjy^-jn^jr-eej-ieee; — The Hau Haus are about 30 miles from us, but they are driving Richardson and his small party back in this direction. On Thursday he had a hard job to get away from them, but yesterday he got the best of it. There were three Hau Haus killed and one taken prisoner ; one native on our side killed. It is said that Paora te Apatu (our great Wairoa chief) has acted very badly, and has twice ran away, followed by his men, as soon as the Hau Haus appeared. Old Ihaka Whanga (the best chief in New Zealand) started from here at two o'clock this morning, with 70 men, to Richardson's support. Whitmore, Fraser, Biggs, Westrupp, and Wilson, are all on the Poverty' Bay side, and are following them up very slowly. All communication is now cut off by the inland road, and it is doubtful whether the Poverty Bay people know what direction they are in. I trust, however, they will soon come to the rescue, as we, with all we can muster, do not amount to half their number.