POVERTY BAY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 1003, 8 December 1868, Page 2

POVERTY BAY.

fa-BOM OVB. OWS COBHESPOiri)EM'T.3

Kedoubt, Turanganui, . Tuesday, Dec. 1. I have just returned from Patutahi ; whilst there I took occasion to visit the locale, of the depot lately surprised and burnt. A glance at the position sufficed to shew that it was quite unfitted for the purpose intended, being commanded by hills at a few feet distance ; moreover, an enemy might approach, unperceived through thick scrub, to within a couple of yards. The new depot is free from those objections. A rifle pit or two has been dug, and a guard is stationed to defend the place ; nevertheless, I consider the new depot anything but safe from a determined night attack, and the enemy haa shewn that he is capable of making one successfully. A small redoubt would not only ensure security for the present, but would prove permanently useful, as the position commands one of the passes into Poverty Bay, and the one most likely to be traversed by an enemy. By this road Te Kooti came and retired, as the natives foretold he would. At the new depot I learned that the enemy fired at our convoy as they were going into camp at the front, yesterday morning, and would have intercepted and captured it but for the advance of our native allies, who compelled the enemy to re-;, i tire ; no casualties. The enemy is rifle-" : pitted to within 200 yards of our fellows ; l his intention appears to be to work round ; our left flank, as he did at Westrup's attack at Paparata, in July last. The path, has been discovered by which the enemy came to capture our convoy and burn our ! depot ; ten sheep, and a keg of ammuni- i tion, were at the same time recovered by ' our people. Our wounded at the front are : doing well. The road to Patutahi is first- : rate ; there are no wliares or tents there, i but the weather continues fine, and everyone is disposed to make matters as agree- j able as possible. 5 p.m. — The Napier mounted volunteers have started for Makaraka, 5 miles from here. They will camp to-night in a small house yet left standing, a short distance j from the fine gardens and orchards of the Messrs. Uren, whose beautiful premises were sacked and burnt by Te Kooti's mob. The mounted volunteers are a fine set of fellows, whom we hope to see return in safety to their friends ; amongst them we recognise many former friends, but it would have pleased us better to have met under happier auspices. lam sorry to say it was impossible to mount more than half the ; men ; there are but few unbroken horses left out of the fine herds for which Turanga was famous, and amongst the few horses which remain, we have suffered so severely from the reckless, unchecked brutality of our friendlies, that horse-lending has become a sore subject in Poverty Bay. Men naturally object to see the last horse left to them, expire before their eyes from sheer cruelty, especially when we have no prospect of replacing them. After having been ruined by Government, it is intolerable to be told by every petty official, " dressed in a little brief authority," that they are authorized to take our few remaining horses — all that is in many cases left to vs — when and where they please. Talk of recom-' pense ! I saw a fine horse, that had dropped dead before its owner's eyes, and for which he would not have taken thirty guineas, valued at three pounds ! for which the owner may wait until doomsday. That is the sort of recompense we are likely to get. It does not seem to have occurred to the "military mind," that it does not matter to the impoverished settler whether he is to be reduced to the condition of a pauper by Government spoliation, or by a Hauhau raid ; the latter, indeed, is the more merciful proceeding, inasmuch as a quick exit is preferable to being slowly bled to death. As things are at present, a Poverty Bay settler finds it as difficult to ride a horse of his own, as he does to indulge in billiards or brandy— luxuries only known to Government officials. Ngatiporou started for the front at 6 o'clock this morning ; they camp part of to-day at one of Te Kooti's former resting places, and will resume their march at nightfall, in hopes of reaching the front before daylight to-morrow morning, unperceived by the enemy. Ngatiporou have made a favourable impression, and I believe they will fight well. Since the arrival of the constabulary, affairs have assumed a more cheerful aspect. Music, dancing, and various games, find considerable favour amongst the younger portion of the community ; and dancing by moonlight is especially in vogue. Severe colds have been very prevalent of late, and a great many names have been and are on the sick list. Wednesday, Dec. 2. Great fires this morning at the front; the enemy, perhaps, again trying to turn our friends out. Mrs. Wilson is progressing favorably. As I proceed to Captain Head's house, in which that gentleman has 'kindly placed a room at my disposal, where I can " post up," undisturbed by camp bustle — I pass Mrs. Wilson's little boy " Jemmy." He is fishing, and is quite absorbed in his piscine pursuit ; the glittering fish, with their silvery scales, and the purple waves, that thunder in foam upon the white beach, apparently possess a charm for Jemmy, sufficient to banish for a time the recollection of that " night of sorrow," which might have appalled an older person. I enter into conversation with the little man ; he appears somewhat anxious on the subject of " hooks," of which it transpires he is deficient. He is not very conversational this morning, and " kawai " and "schnapper" are evidently uppermost in his thoughts. Jemmy has seen a shark, and thinks " perhaps he will drive all the other fish away." We settle details about hooks, of which he will receive a fresh supply soon, " because he must catch some fish for mamma." Jemmy painfully remiuds one of his lamented father, whom he very much resembles. Turanganui Bay is a pretty piece of marine scenery. On the south side is a fine stretch of level beach, where, at. low tide, Shakespeare's fairies might " dance upon the sands, and yet no footstep seen." This favorite ride is bounded by the white cliffs ot " Young Nick's head," contiguous to which is Mr. Johuston's fine station, one of the few buildings left standing. Muriwai pah is still nearer to the before-men-tioned cliffs, which remind me of Malta when first seen. Further south, the land trends away until it terminates in the bold headland of Table Cape, the extremity of

the Mahia peninsula, which looks like a*n island from here. The north side of the bay is bounded by beautiful green hills, which appear to end seawards in several pretty islands ; they are, however, connected with the mainland when the tide is out. There is a charming promenade in this direction when the water recedes, and some beautiful views may be obtained. The embryo township of Turanganui is situated on a plain at the embouchure of two rivers, navigable for several miles by small coasting craft. It owes its existence to Capfc. Read. Several handsome stores and shops are in the township ; also, a postoffice, a fine court-house, a very superior hotel, and a blacksmith's shop. The redoubt is on the north side of the rivers I have mentioned ; Turanganui is on the south side. An extensive and rich plain extends to the margin of the sea. The plain is everywhere accessible for drays ; with about a fortnight's labour, wheeled vehicles could pass for about fifty miles through a well timbered, well watered, and well grassed level country. Poverty Bay is emphatically a poor man's land. Judiciously laid out in farm sections, it would secure comfortable homes to industrious thousands ; leased to half-a-dozen squatters, the district would be ruined for many years to come, and Poverty Bay would become a second Ahuriri, upon a smaller scale ; — the district would be. locked up from profitable cultivation by pauperised runholders, the bane of a country, which they cannot improve themselves, and who prevent occupation by an industrious yeomanry, who are the bone and sinew of a flourishing colony. Poverty Bay is by nature essentially a part and parcel of Hawke'a Bay province ; its geographical features are similar, and it resembles Hawke's Bay in every particular : it is entirely unlike any other portion of the so-called province of Auckland, of which it never ought to have formed a part. Messrs. Dodd and Peppard were interred to-day ; the proximity of the enemy prevented their burial before. Thursday, Dec. 3. Ngatiporou reached Makeretu yesterday afternoon about 3. They at once attacked and defeated Te Kooti's rear-guard, 100 strong. Twelve — some say seventeen — of the enemy were killed ; no prisoners were taken. Nama, Te Waru's head chief and a prophet, was killed, and Ngatfporou burnt his body. Te Kooti, with his women and children, escaped on Sunday. A native boy was found bound in the scrub ; his life was spared at the intercession of a Ngatiporou woman. He gives valuable information. Te Kooti is wounded in several places. 6000 rounds of our captured ammunition was re-taken. Two of our men are severely wounded — Thomas Lake, through the head, not expected to survive to-day, and Howard, a Wairoa military settler, whose arm is shattered. Fighting lasted tvvo hours. Ngatiporou displayed great courage ; Ngatikahungungu could not be brought to charge the enemy at first. About 700 men were engaged on our side, amongst them Lieut. Gascoigne with his party of scouts ; our escort party were also present. The position of the enemy included three small hills, in form of a triangle, and rifle-pitted. The enemy were driven from two, and compelled to make a stand at the third hill, from which they were finally driven. Ngatiporou charged without waiting to fix bayonets. Ngatiporou are in pursuit. Twenty of Te Kooti's men were killed in the tent attack ; our men (scouts) counted fifteen dead unburied bodies. This morning firing was heard by our escort party: Ngatiporou have probably overtaken a party of the enemy — most likely the same who were defeated last night ; — it could hardly be Te Kooti's main body, which is said to number 500 men. I' ought to say that twenty stand of arms were captured yesterday. Our force at present is as follows : — At Turanganui, natives and Europeans, 122 ; N. M. Volunteers, at Makaraka, Capt. Tanner, 70 ; Transport Corps, Patutahi, Capt. Tuke, 90 ; Natives, friendly, at the front, in command of chiefs, 640 ; European scouts, at the front, Lieut. Gascoigne, 10 : total 9.32. Friday, Dec. 4. Seventeen is the correct number of dead in Wednesday evening's fight between our forces and Te Kooti's rear-guard. Two prisoners were taken, one man and a boy (the latter non-combatant). Of the enemy killed, four belonged to Ngatehiniuru, three to Rongowhakaate, ,oiie to Ngaitahupu, and one (Nama, of Te Wairoa) to the Tamataha tribe ; the remainder were Uriweras. It has been ascertained that twenty-one of the enemy were killed in the tent surprise. Many of the bodies were found yesterday, unburied, by our men ; and a great many are known by information received from the prisoners to be wounded. The result of the two attacks by Ngatiporou and Ngatitaupo (Ngatikahunguungu did very little of the fighting) is, killed, 38 ; wounded, as nearly as can be ascertained, 50. Fifty Ureweras have, joined Te Kooti. Ngatikahunguunga, upon the arrival of Ngatiporou, wished to return to Napier, but were induced to remain by their own and the Ngatiporou chiefs. The weather has been delightful ; provisions liberally supplied ; and no great hardship has been endured by them ; one of their men only has been killed since they came ; and there can be no doubt they wished to retire because fighting is distasteful to Ngatikahunguungu : perhaps the late successes may make a difference. It is asserted by the prisoners that Te Kooti will make a stand at a. position chosen by him five miles from Makeretu. I believe this to be correct. Tents were seen from a hill near Makeretu; — these tents appeared to be not farther off than five miles ; and the firing heard yesterday is now thought to have been Ngatiporou attacking the enemy. Kits of fern root were found in the enemy's late position at Makeretu, and horses partially consumed. We can only draw one inference, viz., that the enemy is getting hard up for food. I find that 7000 rounds of ammunition, instead of 6000 as I was informed yesterday, were recaptured, so that (unless Te Kooti obtains another supply by capturing another depot), the enemy must soon be sadly put to it for want of the sinews of war. Ahuriri arrived. We can see a considerable number of people on board, as she lies at her distant anchorage. Owing to a dispute between Ngatiporou and Tareha about a prisoner, the whole force at the front is said to be returning.

If true*' the "expedition against Te Kooti is Virtually abandoned, I fear the intelligence is too correct, as I hear provisions and the wounded are on their way from the front. As Mr. Richmond is here, something may be done, however. 11 a.m.— News from the front. Expedition has not returned to Turanganui ; but has overtaken Te Kooti, and are fighting. It is said that a number of the wretches who betrayed our movements to Te Kooti, and were hand and glove with the murderers, have come in!. Ngatiporou, on account of the dispute with Tnreha respecting the boy-prisoner protected by him, will not allow those villains to be killed. It is said Major Westrup has issued orders for their immediate destruction. Major Westrup will 'be supported by every right thinking man in New Zealand. 1 p.m. — The Stiirt arrived with a reinforcement of 70 men under Col. Whitmore. The arrival of Whitmore was notified by inscriptions upon some of the more conspicuous of the buildings, announcing that " The grave-digger has arrived ! " Being desirous of witnessing the advent ot a man who had the excessively bad taste and un- • paralleled effrontery to obtrude himself upon the community (or what remains of it) which he slandered and assisted to ruin, and many members of which, we believe, were indirectly murdered by his misrepresentations,—! crossed the river to witness his landing. As might have been expected, he was evidently ill at ease, and not at all prepared to brazen it out. Within sight ■was the house occupied by the lady and child, sole survivors of the late Capt. Wilson's family, whose horrid fate will be remembered when the name of Whitmore is consigned to the oblivion it_ merits, or is only rememibered as that of an incapable commander, who permitted the brave and accomplished Wilson to serve under him as a private volunteer, in order that positions of trust might be filled by toadies and parasites. As I gazed upon the man who so largely contributed to the ruin of this fine district, and thought of the many victims whom he so shamefully maligned whilst living, now lying "in the cold embrace of death," and to whom even the last sacred rites could not be accorded ; and further remembered the fair dwellings, once so full of life and animation, now reduced to heaps of ashes, — my heart swelled with indignation that the principal author of our misfortunes should be permitted to insult our misery by his hateful presence, to cover his shameful West Coast defeats, and build up a spurious reputation at the expense of better men than himself. .Still, as he stood there, with the furtive downcast look which so eminently distinguishes him, and which renders it impossible for him to look one straight in the face, it became interesting to note how all his former bluster had vanished for the time being. He seemed so abject in his " obsequious humility," that I almost pitied the man who has • ruined me. Anything so resembling the description of "Uriah Heep," I never expected to see. It may be that even he was touched. " Some chord almost forgotten," may have appealed to his " better nature," if he owns one, and his late reverses may have made him " a sadder and a wiser man." Yet that he retains within him some remnant of the " old Adam," was apparent by the domineering way in which lie prevented the men who, probably (some of them at least) will leave their bones amongst us, from refreshing themselves with a glass of ale after their long voyage, whilst he recruited the "inner man" in the seclusion of Bradley's best parlor, /'the "Hon. Mr. 'JkicnmbhcT arrived this^ foorhing, I presume to make himself acquainted with the true state of affairs here. He must have acquired much varied and valuable information during the succession of trips he has made between Bradley's bar; ymd the biliiardataaaww*—^—^. J 5 p.mT — Liady Bird arrived. Three steamers and two schooners at one. time in Turanganui Bay, is an uncommon occurrence. The Sturt steamed into the river, and made quite a pretty picture. It is very rarely a steamer crosses the bar. 7 p.m. — Horses being landed. All the Napier natives are returning because Ngatiporou wished to kill deserters from the enemy. As these deserters are all, without exception, quondam Hauhaus of 1865, who have long been inimical to Europeans, and have persistently obstructed settlement here ; and as they are also known to have aided and abetted Te Kooti in the late massacre, and to have had several days' notice, during which it was optional for them to join us or go over to Te Kooti ~-it is absurd to say that they were compelled to unite their fortunes with his, and none but philo-Maories would do so. Unfortunately, there are even philo-Maories here, who would prevent those wretches — who, in our opinion, are worse than Te Kooti and his murderers — -from meeting their just doom. It is true that we look upon these disciples of Exeter Hall as infinitely worse than Te Kooti's band or the double-dyed villains who joined him ; but our opinion, however loudly expressed, is powerless to prevent men of the C. O. Davis stamp from using their influence for the furtherance of their private ends, and causing a lapse of justice at a time when vengeance for our wrongs is possible. Saturday, Dec. 5. Last night a messenger arrived to say that Te Kooti is camped upon a precipitous hill about five miles from Makeretu (the late front). This hill has been rifle-pitted all round, and it is believed that here Te Kooti will " stand the hazard of the die." Please God it proves so. The hill is said to be surrounded. I would fain hope so. But Te Kooti has been surrounded before, and got away. The messenger, a European, came for ammunition. 8 a.m. — The 400 men that arrived per Sturt and Ladybird yesterday, have started for the front. If Te Kooti makes a stand we shall doubtless settle this East Coast difficulty ; for which success of course Whitmore will claim all the credit, and so fulfil a prediction uttered by many, viz., that he will " build up a mock reputation upon other men's foundations," and may yet receive ''.the Star of WhareIcauri." As I understand he has brought with him a " captain's rations and forage " correspondent or two, he will no doubt obtain the assistance he will require, and some very "reliable information" will be 'forwarded for the public from the same ; source, by men who are not ashamed to barter their independence for a " mess of -pottage^''; and become, as Dickens says, a ■•>^niat;for dirty feet." . V : ?12v;p;m/--S6me of the Hawke's Bay.

natives arrived. One of the number, wounded, died yesterday on his way here. 1 p.m. — Information arrived per Mr. Johnston, owner of the Muriwai station. Ropata, a Ngatiporou chief, after the withdrawal of Ngatikahunguna, owing to the absence of Hotene and his men, who were absent for provisions, was left with seventy men to surround Te Kooti's position. Seeing the inferior number opposed to them, the enemy made a charge. They were beaten back by Ropata and his men, who followed the enemy and took possession of his outer rifle pits. As soon as ammunition arrived, of which Ropata and his men only retained three rounds per man, it was Ropata's intention to storm the Hauhau position. From . natives present at the affair we learn that the women and children with Te Kooti were heard loudly lamenting. Seven of the enemy killed, wounded unknown ; of Ropata'a men, one killed, six wounded. Fifty-six bodies have been counted at the scene of the late fights at Makeretu. , Sunday, Dec. 6. Ngatiporou being unable to hold the enemy in check, retired some distance, and are waiting for reinforcements, when Ngatepe, Te Kooti's hill fortress, will be stormed. Ngatepe is an ancient Maori fortification of great strength. Unlike other native strongholds, it is said to be supplied with water. There is no reason at present to suppose that Te Kooti meditates another retreat, his present position being well adapted for a final struggle. Karepa, a son of Tamibana's, and a noted villain, who was one of the three guides that volunteered to conduct the murderers to the houses of Major Biggs, Capt. Wilson, and other victims, is reported killed. It is said that Ropata, a chief of the Ngatiporou, seized and drew him over a parapet, and slew him. Dead bodies continue to be discovered at Makeretu : nigh one hundred in all have been counted. A great quantity of spoil has been secured by our allies, and over one hundred pounds in money. I hear that the Napier Mounted Volunteers have been greatly annoyed at the affair which occurred the day after their arrival here — the killing by them of a young heifer, and the fault found with them for doing so. We are all sorry that one or two individuals at the most should have given occasion for ill-natured people to cast reflections upon a corps which kindly volunteered to come to our assistance, and which upon the whole is composed of gentlemanly fellows. The friends of the N. M. Volunteers may rest assured that there is no disposition here to impute blame to the men generally for what occurred. We are not unmindful that many of them left their homes and profitable occupations at great pecuniary sacrifice, and nobly risked their lives to avenge their fellowcolonists, our murdered friends ; moreover, the unbounded hospitality shewn by Hawke's Bay to our refugee women and children, and the generous sympathy displayed by its inhabitants towards us in our misfortunes, merit our lasting gratitude, and have done much to cement the kindly feeling which has always existed between Hawke's Bay' and this district; the same feeling which has been manifested upon various occasions by Europeans and natives alike, in our urgently expressed desire to be incorporated with the Hawke's Bay province. 12 p.m. — The enemy has retreated from Ngatepe into the bush. The whole of our native allies are on their way back to Patutahi. Whitmore and his forces are camped about four miles inland of Patutahi. The enemy will be pursued as soon as our natives have recruited. ihmiubm. /The expedition has collapsed. Whit- 1 [ more's assumption of command has proved I i the signal for the return from the front of I all our native allies. Thus all Mr. M'Lean'sj able and so far successful plans are rendered/ k abortive, /"^ven 'after UoVernment had Tieutraiisea Mr. M'Lean's efforts to a certain extent, that gentleman had retrieved their wretched blunder- — a certain victory was likely to have been achieved, and the murderers annihilated. By the arrival of the miserable pretender Whitmore, and his second wretched failure, thousands of pounds have been squandered for nothing. Ask Ngatiporou — enquire of any and every settler here why this expedition was abandoned, and the name of Whitmore and government, coupled with " curses, not loud but deep," are a sufficient answer. Why the Government inflicted that inflated imbecile upon us is inexplicable except to themselves. It may be they dare not remove him, for weighty and sufficient reasons of ominous import, and affecting their feeble tenure of office. This man Whitmore was born under an unlucky planet, and destined by fate to inflict unheard of miseries upon the colony that pays him against her will, and which he insults in return. The native found stabbed, with nine bayonet wounds, in Oweta pah, died today., Karauria, a Ngatikahungu chief, is sorely wounded. He has arrived, and will leave for Napier to-night, not expected to return. Whitmore is where I last mentioned. As soon as his "strategic movements" and "able dispositions" have been made, I suppose we shall as usual hear of his retreat. A little grave digging will then probably be done, or some one flogged. The finale will be a flaming despatch — confirmed of course by the "rations and forage correspondent," and when master and parasite have disappeared, Poverty Bay will be left ruined and deserted, ministers may whistle for their boasted utu, and the colony may audit the account.