THE WAR ON THE WEST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1016, 23 January 1869, Page 3

THE WAR ON THE WEST COAST.

(From the "Wanganui Times," Jan. 16.) JfaWift of Colonel WHiTMditE,— The 6<Bt Wanganui arrived in port yesterday, having oil board Col. Whitmore, and Capt. Skeet. Amongst he* cargo were two Cohorn mortars, 96 shells', 36* kegs of ammunition, 1 barrel of powder, and sundry military stores. More Reinfobcements.— OnThursday last #00 men ofthe Colonial forces arrived from Poverty Bay. Te Kooti's force having been broken up, and large numbers captured, the remainder dispersed and Te Kooti himself a wounded fugitive in the bush, Colonel Whitmore started from Napier for the West Coast, where he is now, in full pursuit of Titikowaru, leaving the Ngatiporou and a portion of the Arawas scouring the East Coast for Te Kooti, who is supposed to be in a dying condition somewhere at the hack of Ngatapa. The men arrived by the s.s. Ahuriri and the Government gun-boat Sturt, under the command of Major Fraser, and are not looking much the worse for their arduous campaign on the East Coast. Immediately on landing they marched out to head quarters at Westmere. A company of these men, numbering 60, are Arawas. They are under the command of Captain Porter, and aro enrolled in the Armed Constabulary for three years. Judging from their appearance they are as fine a body of men as any in the Colonial service, and as far as martial appearance goes they certainly carry off the palm. The soldier-like manner in which they fell in on the Quay and marched off, called forth general admiration and elicited three cheers from the asr sembled Spectators. The Ahuriri brings an Armstrong gun, a quantity of shell, and other munitions of war. One of Te Kooti's wives accompanies the Arawas, who took her prisoner at Ngatapa. Col. Whitmore,' accompanied by his staff, arrived yesterday by the s.s. Wanganui from WelUngtonand again assumed command of this district. We trust that his present campaign wili be more satisfactory than the last. With the number of men now under, and the appliances at his command, Titokowaru aud his band of cannibals should he swept off the face of the earth in ariionth. The day has passed for treating, such miscreants with anything like merciful consideration. The cause of humanity, self-preservation and mercy to the native race, demand that the lesson taught such cannibals shall he a salutary one— guerre a Voutrance. The recent success oh the East Coast has shown the force that they have only to he wiited in their efforts,, to ensure victory. Colonel Whitmore can now tako the field with 1000 well trained reliable men; (besides our native allies) men most of whom are actuated by a desire to revenge the cruel murders and savage barbarities committed on their unfortunate comrades taken prisoners at Te-Ngutu-o-te-Manu, Okotuku and elsewhere. It now remains with the commanding officer whether Titokowaru and his savage horde are to be. effectually crushed, or still allowed to ravage these districts : let us hope the former. With a flush of victory on their brows the force now assembled here should be irresistible.

Oub Distinguished Visitobs. — Mrs. Te Kooti has honoured Wanganui with a complimentary visit, and left for the Front, yesterday, with her Arawa captors, who seem to pride themselves considerably on their recent, achievement upon the East Coast. What they propose doing with Mrs. Te Kooti we know not, hut trust they may shortly have Mrs. Titoko Waru to keep her company. During the past month, Titoko Waru has had it all his own way. in these disr tricts, as Colonel. Lyons could make no offensive movement, but merely hold on nntil the arrival of Colonel Whitmore. Titoko appears to he strengthening his fortifications, for which ample time has been given him. With the exception of the burning down of a barn and woolshed he has conducted himself very respectably as master of the position. Colonel Lyons had at his command a force that could speedily punish Titokowaru and his cannibal followers, hut the credit of a victory of that kind is reserved by the Government for Colonel Whitmore, although at a heavy expense to the colony. Now that he has "returned, we trust that no time will be lost in bringing those savages to account.

(From the "Wauf?auui Times," Jan. 19.) Absent when Wanted. — During the past few days several of the men of the Field Force have been absent without leave. Yesterday about forty men were sent in to town in search of them. Some few were captured and marched hack, but several still missing. Reports from Head Quarters as regards the state of a part of the force are not very satisfactory. Long inaction creates discontent, but we trust this state of things will mend before another week is over. The men now absent are liable to ' severe punishment. If wanted immediately for active service, they may be returned as deserters. Attack on the Cavalry. — The Wanganui and Kai Iwi troops of Cavalry left for Patea on the 12th instant, and scoured that district without meeting any of the enemy. Titokowaru's men at Nukumaru seem to have taken considerable pains to lay an ambuscade to entrap them on their return. About noon on Sunday last the Cavalry, with Colonial Lyons and Lieut. Colonel Herrick; on their way from Patea, sighted the Hauhaus at Nukumaru, and a sharp skirmish commenced, during which four or five Hauhaus were put hors de combat, and a valuable mare, ridden by trooper Hicks, so badly wounded that it had to be shot. Perceiving that the object of the mounted Hauhaus was to draw our men into the ambuscade, Colonel Lyons continued his march, fighting meantime until the Cavalry's ammunition was nearly expended. Most of the men were anxious to pursue the enemy, but had they done so it is almost certain that they would have found themselves in the centre of a raking firo from a position that on horseback they would be unable to attack. The men arrived at camp about 5 p.m. The Fbont. — Titokowaru is still master of the position on the Waitotara block. On Friday last, his men made a successful raid and carried off several horses. Mr. Moore and three others laid in ambush for them on Saturday leaving their horses tied up at some distance. Twentyfive or thirty mounted hau haus camo down upon them, and they had to fight their way back to the redoubt, leaving their horses, bridles, and saddles in the hands of the enemy. There are, and for some time past have been, men enough under Colonel Lyon's command to enable him to crush those cannibal savages, but as Colonel Haultain said to the Wanganui natives : — " The Govenment does not want it done in that way." It must be done by a force ostensibly under Colonel Whitmore's command, though it should require double the number of men and cost the colony thousands and ten of thousands of pounds to wait for it. For very shame sake a move must he made within the next few days, and we hope it willhcin tbe right direction. It is a matter of indifference to the unfortunate settlers, or the taxpaying colonists, who commands or claims the honor of having driven those savages out of the district, hut as the Government determine to make political capital out of it, the colonists must hide their time and pay for it.