POVERTY BAT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 1006, 19 December 1868, Page 2

POVERTY BAT.

fMIOH OTTB OWN COEREkPONDENT.] ' ; „ Redoubt, Turanganui, -; I ■ * Saturday, Dec. 12th, 4 p.m. LSTDRT;Ieft with between 70 and 80 Constabulary. Mrs Wilson is a passenger to Itfapier per Sturt. " ~ 5 p.m. — Sturt has returned. In going pout, the bottom of the steamer grazed a rock, and re-opened a former leak. The damage done is not considered serious, and the Sturt will be ready for her voyage to-morrow morning. The men were landed from the Sturt. All the force that came with Colonel Whitmore is camped at Turanganui, on the north side the river, near the redoubt. As soon as it was known that the force had arrived from Makaraka, a deputation, composed of Captain Read, Archdeacon Williams, and Mr Harris waited upon the commander of the forces, to ascertain if a portion of the Constabulary would be left for the protection of the district. The deputation was told that 150 men would be stationed here for the present. About thirty settlers proceed inland to-morrow to muster and shear. Application was made for a covering party. The application was unsuccessful. I greatly fear some of our friends will be waylaid and cut off. There can be little doubt that some of the enemy are still lurking about the outskirts of the plain.- Why the 400 men stationed at Makaraka so long have not been sent out to scour the country it is impossible to say. 6 p.m. — A deserter from Te Kooti arrived. He reports forty others at Mahanga, nine miles from here," who wish to come in. He says Te Kooti is at Patutahi with 250 men, and asserts that Te Kooti has nofcf'been wounded since The fight at Puketapu last August. This deserter further tells us that Te Waru, after protesting against the wholesale murders committed by Te Kooti upon the prisoners captured at Oweta pah, had been threatened with death by Te Kooti, and had in consequence fled from that individual, taking with him his own followers. This intelligence has caused the departure for Patutahi of 100 constabulary, with two days' provisions. 7 p.m. — Ngatiporou have volunteered for the front. They will be under the control of their chiefs. Great fears are entertained for the safety of Capt. Newland, Lieut. Gascoigne, and some scouts who went inland this morning. Six volunteers have started in search of the party. Those settlers who were about to proceed inland are ordered to remain. Some have, however, gone, including Mr. and Mrs. Wyllie with eight children, and several single men. To-morrow will bring us sad tidings. There can be little doubt, Te Kooti, reinforced, is again in Poverty Bay. Sunday, Dec. 13. 6 a.m. — 60 friendlies started for Mahanga to bring in deserters from Te Kooti. 7 a.m. — Nearly the whole of the constabulary have gone to Patutahi. A party of scouts sent to reconnoitre Ngatepe ; another party gone in the direction of Kempthorne's station. 11 a.m. — Shots heard across the plain. 12 noon. — A son of Mr. Wyllie's, two native boys, and one man (European) — whose name I am requested not to divulge at present — have just been murdered. near" the Wnipawa ferry, Pipi-whaka bush, eight miles from here. The Ngaitaupo tribe have started to attack the murderers, who are posted in force at Pipiwhaka. 3 p.m. — Militia and Volunteers paid — the latter only half the amount due. 4 p.m. Whitmore is engaged with the enemy ; may success enable him to redeem the past. He will never have a better opportunity, as the country where he now is is well adapted for the European style of fighting and offers great facilities for " strategic movements" and " able dispositions." 5 p.m. A party of constabulary, on their way to Pututahi, were countermanded and ordered to Turanganui. They will ship in the Sturt and be conveyed to within half a mile of Pipi-whaka, via the Waipawa river. The men were very tired, poor fellows, and their captain (Roberts) made them halt at Bradley's, and each man got a pint of beer before embarking. Capt. Roberts is very much respected and liked by his men. 6 p.m. — Scout party returned, after satisfying themselves that Ngatepe is still occupied by the enemy. Upon their return they were nearly cut off by a party of Hauhaus, in number about 80, who chased our scouts several miles. The enemy and our scouts met about li? miles inland of Putatahi. One of our men's havresacks was riddled by bullets — ' the man himself unhurt. 7 p.m. — Friendlies arrived with forty-five deserters from Te Kooti, including only ten men. They were taken at Mahanga, where one of their number was shot. Their arrival caused much excitement amongst our natives. The prisoners, or refugees, were taken to the Maori redoubt. 7^ p.m. — Mr. Wyllie returned with Mrs. Wyllie in great affliction on account of the murder of their eldest boy, William. All the bodies had been buried by the Murewai friendlies. Monday, Dec. 14. 2 p.m. — Cohorns sent o(F to the front. Whitmore is in pursuit. Mr. Wyllie and another man have just come from the scene of the four murders ; they found splinters of bone and some hair, and pools of blood whei'e the victims were slain. From natives who buried the bodies, it was ascertained that Willie Wyllie received five bayonet wounds in the breast; the other bodies were chopped in fragments. Mrs. Wyllie is inconsolable for the loss of her boy. Everyone considers that the accident which detained the Sturt was a providential occurrence. Ngatiporou had no part in Sunday's fight. Tuesday, Dec. 15. Arrivals from the front last night. Whitmore and force are at Patutahi. It is said he will rest for a day or two, build a radoubt at Patutahi (which I before mentioned as being much needed), and will then resume the pursuit. It is said the Ahuriri will bo sent to the Waipawa river to seize a cutter which is laden with plunder obtained from settlors' houses. This vessel is owned by a native, formerly a Ilau ILiu. It is thought likely the Hau Plaua receive supplies of ammunition by her means. 10 a.m. — Ngatiporou, I hear, are to be discharged to-morrow. llopata, their chief, will remain and fight with Europeans. ;

Wednesday, Dec. 16. ; The exhumation yesterday of the victims of last Sunday, shewed that they had been terribly mutilated. The skull of Willie Wyllie had been broken in by repeated tomahawk blows. Three, instead of five bayonet wounds, as previously reported, had been received by the -poor- child. '"^-Of tile others it is sufficient to say- they met With a similar, but, if possible, worse fate. The verdict at the inquest was "Murdered by some person or persons unknown." Last evening, Hauhaus were reported seen at Raka-kaka bush, say 10 miles from Turanganui. . I forgot to state that two natives were killed on our side during the attack made by the Muriwai natives on.Sunday upon the enemy. Mr Wyllie and another European were engaged in that fight. All but some thirty of the Muriwai natives fled, leaving the two white men and thirty natives to fight about one hundred of the enemy, who was defeated, and driven by them through the Pipiwhaka bush. It is thought that they were the same men who were engaged with Whitmore later in the day at Patutahi, and who, in retiring,' a 11 but cut off our scouts.. It is difficult to get at the exact truth, different accounts vary so much. I am inclined to. believe that there was more than one party of rebels fighting yesterday.