THE WAR ON THE EAST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 997, 17 November 1868, Page 2

THE WAR ON THE EAST COAST.

The St. Kilda arrived from Wairoa early on Saturday morning, having on board the following women and children : — Mrs. Cole and 8 children, Mrs. Marsh and 1 child, Mrs. Mayo and 3 children, Mrs. Duval, Mrs. Robb and 4 children. The enemy had not been seen, but, with the experience lately gained of his tactics, it was deemed advisable that the women and children should be sent away 5 and a second lot will be forwarded by next steamer. The same day, the St. Kilda steamed for Mohaka, where the settlers have resolved, in case of attack, to defend themselves in the stockade. Landed ammunition and brought away Mrs. Pierce and family and Mrs. Sim and familyi Keturned to the anchorage soon after midnight. The Ahuriri, s.s., arrived yesterday from Waiapu and Poverty Bay. She left Napier on the evening of Thursday last, and called at Mahia for Ihaka and his people ; arrived off Turanganui on Friday, landing Henare and his natives, and the other passengers. Thence she proceeded to Waiapu and landed Mr. Campbell, returning by way of Poverty Bay, and bringing news to Sunday evening. Our correspondent's letter is dated the 13th'; through some mischance, his letter containing later intelligence has not reached us. We have, however, been kindly permitted to see a private letter, written by a gentleman residing there, whose sources df information are among the best. He says : — " Te Kooti has gone as far as Oweta, and burnt all the settlers' houses in that neighbourhood. He went on Saturday and told the people whom he found there that if they would not join him he would have them all shot. Renata Whakaari was shot at once, and seven others were put under arrest, probably for the same purpose. Kooti, it is said, burnt the guns he found at Oweta, because they had contracted a " hara," in that they were used at Waerengahika, where the Hauhaus were defeated. They would consider them, I suppose, unlucky ; it is all the better, as he will have so many fewer than he might have had. They say he is going to have three paha — one at Kohanga Karearia, another at Pukeamionga, and a third up the Okahuatia valley, at the back of Patutahi. The latter place is where his women and children are. If this is correct, he means to stand his ground. The Ahuriri came in this morning from Waiapu, but she brings no men. I have not yet heard what the reason is, but I imagine it is that Ngatiporou do not care at this juncture, to send any more men away." From another source of information we" learn that three were killed instead of one, as above mentioned. All the houses left standing were burnt down on Saturday night. The enemy is said to be in great force, consisting of the original party, greatly reinforced by Ureweras and exfriendlies, well armed, from Wairoa and elsewhere. It is estimated that his fighting men are 500, and that they have in their possession 300 rifles. They are led by Te Waru, Te Kooti, Namu, Harewera, and others. They are strongly posted at Pukeamionga and Capt. Westrupp's, and have been seen in the distance carting stores and apparently making preparations to remain. (Other accounts say that he will shortly return to his mountain home, Puketapu.) In addition to the men sent from here, Westrupp has been reinforced by old Ihaka and 40 men, who were picked up at Mahia by the Ahuriri ; but his force, all told, does not exceed 280 men, and with this number he could not at once hold the redoubt and take the field. He is anxious for reinforcements. The St. Kilda, gunboat, was intended to be despatched last evening, with the twenty-two men who arrived yesterday in the steamer from Wellington, and with the few stand of arms that can be spared, as well as such medicines as might be useful to the wounded. We learn, however, that, late in the evening, the Star of the South was substituted. The Wellington, which left for Auckland yesterday forenoon, is understood to have carried an application from Mr. McLean that H.M.S. Rosario should be detached for service on the East Coast. If such application be granted, which we believe it is certain to be, it will strengthen the hands of the loyal party in the sanguinary struggle impending. Underneath will be found the letter of our Poverty Bay correspondent.

Lbhom ottb owk coebbspondent.3 Turanganui Eedoubt, November 11. The following is a continuation of the narrative of proceedings at Poverty Bay after the first day. Thanks to Captain Read's energetic proceedings, all the ladies and children this side of the Waipawa river, with the exception of a few who would not leave, were shipped en route for Auckland and Napier. Their passage across the bay was illumined by the blaze of burning homesteads. At 9 p.m. five Louses were in flames — by midnight they were totally consumed. 10 a.m.— Mr. Newnhana and his wife, two aged settlers, have been murdered about an hour ago, and their house is now burning. The work of destruction continues. Many houses in flames are visible from this redoubt. Lieut. Gascoigne and party of scoutshave returned, after cleverly evading the enemy. Lieut. Gascoigne is the only officer left alive in Poverty Bay. Capt. Westrupp, finding himself cut off from us, has very wisely collected the fugitives upon the south side of the Waipawa, and retreated upon Wairoa. There being many women and children with Capt. Westrupp, we are very anxious to hear of their safe arrival. 4 p.m. — Messrs. Poynter, Evans, Kempthorne and Scott, have safely arrived ; it was feared they were killed. The enemy are ascertained to number 500; a reinforcement of 300 is expected to join them, and we look to hear that most of the Poverty Bay natives have joined Te Kooti Tamihana's tribe I believe are certain to do so. The number, of Europeans known to be killed at present is 30, friendly natives 5. The steamer St. ELilda arrived at 8 p.m. from Wairoa. Information of our sad affair had not reached that place when the St. Kilda left.' We are afraid something has happened to the mailman who left Turanganui on the morning of the 10th with news of the outbreak. November 12. The steamer's arrival appears to have quickened the Hauhau movements; all this morning flames are ascending from houses in all directions. By night few of the beautiful homes of Poverty Bay will be left. The splendid and costly mansion belonging to the late Capt. Bloomfield Read is in flames whilst I write ; also the resi-

dences of Messrs. Uhren, Dodd an( Peppard, Parker, Walsh and Padbun, Mr. Tarr, Mrs. R. Uhren, and many othtrs, are burning. : Te Kooti, we hear, intends to attick us to night or to-morrow; he will fnd us prepared. < 6 p.m.— a letter from Hapi, a. trustworthy native, has arrived ; he thinks Te Kooti will not attack us, but intends to retire. The letter states that the holies of Major Biggs, his lady and child, anl those of Capt. Wilson and his family, hare been devoured by pigs. Several settlers from the coast lave arrived at this redoubt for shelter. &.s they are unarmed, and we have no arms to give them, their arrival has not added nuch to our effective strength. Lieut.- Gascoigne has a busy tirce of it ; he has established a rule to issue n» spirits — a wise precaution, in which we ill concur. Lieut. Grascoigue is doing all he can to ensure our safety, and is very popular with Europeans and natives 1 alike.' The total number of whites murdered up to date is ascertained to be 32 — of friendlies 22 have fallen— a sad total of 54 ; but there is good reason to believe that 20 more friendlies have bean cut off at Wahakui, a native village. The news was brought in this evening, and I fear is too true. Many authentic details connected with the' late dismal tragedy are to hand. The following may be relied upon as true : — Major Biggs was awakened as 3 a.m. on the 10th, by the tramp of horsemen surrounding his house. Rousing his family and servants, he told them the Hauhaus were upon them, at the same tme warning his servant lad to look to his rifle. Then going to his front door, he demanded of the wretches what they wanted. He waa answered by a volley. Running back into the house, he exclaimedj "Oh! Emily, lam done for ; save yourself and the baby." The poor lady would not desert her husband, but remained and died, with her child, by his side. Their female servant, Mrs. Farrell, died with her mistress, to whom she was much attached. Capt. Wilson fired at three of his murderers, and fell by a bullet from the fourth. His lady and five children were killed ; their man servant was burnt and cut into three pieces. A. shearer, going to the station of Messrs. Dodd and Peppard, at daylight on the 10th, found those gentlemen lying dead in their shirts upon their own threshold. Their man servant was killed. Lieut. Walsh, his wife, child, and partner, were murdered inside their own dwelling — all mutilated. Mr. Cadle fell dead upon his face, in front of Cadle and Blairs store. Mrs. McCulloch was murdered, with her infant — her little brother standing by her side. The poor little fellow escaped. Major Biggs' servant lad escaped by a miracle, and, by timely warning, saved the family of the late Capt. Bloomfield Read, with the daughter and infant of Mr. Parker, formerly of Napier, who were on a visit to Mrs. Bloomfield Read. The ladies and children barely escaped in their night-dresses. A stockman of Capt. Read's, hearing shots, rode off to ascertain the cause. At Mr. Mann's he found two of the murderers burning the body of Mrs. Mann in front of the house. One of them snatched at his bridle, but, the horse swerving, saved his rider's life, who galloped off, hotly pursued ; but he effected his escape. Mr. Munn in like manner found himself suddenly surrounded and fired at by Hauhaus. Though desperately wounded, he got away. Mr. Mann had a severe struggle with Te Kooti. He had nearly succeeded in strangling the villain, but, being unarmed, was shot by another Hauhau. Mr. M'Culloch was killed whilst climbing his stock-yard rails. Such are a very few of the details connected with this shocking massacre ; some particulars untold are horrible in the extreme. November 13. Great news I numbers of the sham friendlies have joined Te Kooti during the past night and this morning. Conspicuous amongst other noted scoundrels are the names of "Wi Perry," a wellknown, sinister-looking half-caste chief, and others. It is possible, however, that this may be only a rumour. 4 p.m. — A deputation of natives from Parateni, the chief of a loyal tribe across the bay, to request assistance in the shape of a hundred guns, and the presence of Hari, a native minister, in order that they may not have to turn Hauhaus. All the houses south the Waipawa are said to be destroyed, but not yet burnt. Amidst our unavailing grief for the many untimely victims, it is some consolation to reflect that the news of this lamentable and bloody business must in all human probability raise such a storm of indignation against Messrs. Stafford and Haultain as will suffice to drive them from the seats they dishonour. They may strive yet to cling to office ; they would possibly do so though bedabbled with the blood of every European resident in New Zealand ! They, like their protege Whitmore, may endeavour to bribe or burke the truth ; but before God and outraged humanity they are directly responsible for this foul catastrophe. They cannot screen the truth, for " the finger of God is behind the curtain." P.S. — I re-open this to say that two sailing vessels and a steamer are in sight. They are believed to be the St. Kilda, Tawera, and Muriwai. Te Kooti and his followers have broken into Mr. Robert Read's extensive wine stores, and are said to be lying drunk in twos and threes, all about. If correct, what a splendid opportunity for vengeance ! 8 p.m. — I am happy to say that Tamihana has falsified all our predictions and has proved faithful. Like Abdiel amongst the faithful found, "he has proved to be gold refined," whilst his renegade tribe have deserted us.