THE LATE VICTORY ON THE EAST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1013, 12 January 1869, Page 3

THE LATE VICTORY ON THE EAST COAST.

[government telegrams.] To Colonel Hatjltain, "Wellington. Napier, 12.4 p.m.. 7tk Jan. The fortress of Ngatepa fell yesterday morning into our hands at 3 a.m. The troops and natives were over night in full possession of the outer walls and works, which were taken by assault in the afternoon ; and during the dark the advance was pushed on by rifle pit and sap, so that when daybreak came the storm could not be resisted. Under these circumstances, Te Kooti shot the most influential of his prisoners and escaped down the cliff, which could not be prevented, owing to the cliff being so very high and steep, and as my force was insufficient to entirely surround the hill, I had trusted to keep the lower side safe. The women were first lowered, then followed Te Kooti, himself wounded in the shoulder, and still lame of his wound at Uuaki Ture, apparently having been one of the last. This was affected from 1 to 3 a.m., during which timo Major Eraser, who was the nearest of the force, fired heavily, and with some effect, on^tho place from whence the sound came. The last had barely escaped when our people entered. And, however formidable tho work looked outside, it was still stronger to look at from close by. The Ngatiporous and Arawas division, who have behaved splendidly throughout, started at once in pursuit. Te Kooti's followers spread into the bush in small parties; tho pursuit was carried out in the same way. Throughout the day and till after dark, these'returned with prisoners and plunder. The last had engaged the Uriwera Contingent, and killed llangiaho, a chief of note. Previous to that, Nikora had been killed and his wifo brought in. In all, moro than 120 of the enemy have been killed. These number are accurate, the bodies having been exhumed from the enemy's ditches, found lying iv or about the pa, or stripped of their arms and loads by those who overtook and shot them. I think very few women, and those only by accident, have been killed, and no children. The cohorns appear to have frightened tho garrison very much and killed some. Tho numbers inside must have exceeded our estimate, for the escort carrying Te .Kooti must be some forty men, and only eighteen out of the thirty TJriwerns were killed. I am despatchiug fresh parties in pursuit, aud Hope still to catch Te Kooti. j

Every man of note in his band is killed except himself, and he cannot be far 'iff. I blew down a largo portion of ono of the walls and fired a royal salute last night in honor of the capture. G. S. Whitmobe. To his Excellency Sir G. F. Bowen. — Ngatapa was taken yesterday at daylight. The Hauhaus had evacuated, a few of the rearmost running out as F. E. Hamlin and the Ngatiporou entered. Our men pursued all day. About 120 are killed, including Nikora. I have offered £500 for Te Eooti. This place is beyond all comparison the strongest that has ever been besieged in New Zealand. I think the fighting garrison would have been about 200 — perhaps a Uriwera party had joined. We have 80 prisoners, about 14 men, 50 women, and the rest children. Many of the women and children are mere skin and bones. There was no food in the place, and little ammunition on the dead bodies. Our loss is 11 killed and 9 wounded — one dangerously. All have worked cordially. They were four nights in the trenches — one, steady rain — without huts. Ngatiporou are off on a long chase to-day, bent on exterminating the Iwikohuru. I have thought it right, and in accordance with the wish of the Government and country, not to withhold their hands. Our commissariat and transport has been effective, and I hope we shall be able to feed the pursuers. This achievement is due to the energy and resolve of Colonel Whitmore. The mere labor of toiling through bush up this mountain would, have quelled most men, unless supported by an unflinching spirit in the leader. Next to Whitmore I put Ropata. lam sure the colony will appreciate the labor, tho risk, the courage and success of our efficient little army. I J. C. Richmond. The following telegram has been received by the Hon. Colonel Haultain :— Whitmore's success leaves little to wish. This mountain is a sort of wedge. The front is a moderate slope for a mountain, yet steep enough to make it very laborious for the assailants. The rear and flanks towards the top are precipitous, but not so as to prevent escape. The rear runs out in a knife edge of rock. The height above that must he about fifteen hundred feet. The pa is on the slope, a triangle with banks and ditches only on front side. All the mountain is covered with forest. The forest slope is chiefly light timber. The forest stretches by flanks and rear, with heavy timber continuously for miles in every direction except that by which our road approaches — a rare position, well calculated to daunt assailants by the labor of attack. Whitmore's energy has inspired the forces, and they have dug their way up this great hill. J. C. Richmond.