THE WAR ON THE EAST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1048, 14 May 1869, Page 2

THE WAR ON THE EAST COAST.

PROGRESS 02- OTtSEfc COLONEL WEPITMOEB. Wb have been kindly favored by the Acting General Government agent with the following information : — DJBSSAtfCH -PSbtiA COLOHBt VHITJffOKi3. $teosi/ed $2 ay 11, an£ ptintefi tlie Bamo doy es s, Hbiujg© Extra). Ahikeyetu P«, 6th May. We reached this place at noon, and surprised the pa, capturing all the women of the tribe. Unfortunately most of the men were absent patching for us by another road. Nevertheless, the remainder made a stand, &nd Fox and the advanced guard carried the place at a rash. The other troops hurried up, but could not overtake Brown, who escaped with a few men. There* are six dead, of whom one is the chief prophet of the Uriweras, Mr. Clarke informs me. A party has now 'gone to ambuscade the enemy's scouting party on the Tapiri road, which I had intended to take, and by which the Ngatipukeko were expected. A party of sixty was expected from Ruatahuna to-night, but it is probable the othe? column will have stopped them. I have handed the women- over to the Arawa tribe, who will remove them to their own country, bo that this hapu will be destroyed. Maoris and Europeans in good spirits, in spite of very bad weather ; and, up to this, Arawas see acting very obediently and cordially. I attribute this chie/iy to the influence of Mr. Clarke, whose tact and energy cannot be surpassed. Our track lies wholly in the bed of several considerable streams, and the march is rendered painful and discouraging to the men by the incessant rain. Mr. Skeet is taking a rough traverse of the toad, and, when clear enough, gets observations, but this is rarely the case iv these high-lying lands. If I can get the Maoris on, I shall march towards Colonel St. John to-mor-row, but they ate tired. He should arrive at Ruatahuna by the evening. I leave a garrison in the pa, and send back for supplies, but there are great quantities of potatoes|here, -which T will destroy when 1 have no further use for the crop. ' Captain Moorsoa "tfith 60 trovers, and Paul Hapi with 80 men, will join Mr. Pitt ut Port GalateU to-day, so there wHI be an escort available if the enemy compels tss to send biick for ammunition. Supplies from Fort Alfte<s should leach Fort Galatea with Major Camming tomorrow. Capt. St. George's natives have not come up, and I do not want theta flow. The Matata line will do for the supply of Taupo, when the river navigation is properly 'provided for by suitable boats. The Clyde cannot get up even in afresh. Whaleboats answer; canoes wet the stores. A road must be made from Fort Alfred some ten miles ht various pinches, bilt the line generally 13 practicable for drays. I ordered the Sturt to go to Wairoa with storesS for Hemck, and to be uvailable if" required. She should be back afi Matata by the 18th. If opposed at Ruatahuna, % m? iy be later, but at present I hope to reach Waikocemoana by the 9th or 10th, and hope to find supplies and Hern'ok on the opposite shore. Much will depend on "whether we get the canoes. Te Kooti is said by the prisoners to be there. Fox deserves great credit for the discipline he maintains, and his ecalous exertions. To-day it was his company that did everything. I leave 55 men here, and shall have 100 Europeans and 300 MaoiHies to march. St. John has 280 Europeans and 200 Maoris. But as haste is required, owing to the season and the fact that all our roads lie in the beds of streams, ye sh&II be none too strong to keep up the supply and reduce any formidable pahs at Ruatahuna and Waikare. Without Ngatiporou I recommend Hecrick not to attempt Maungspowhatu. When I reach Waikare, a combined movement against Maungapowbfttu from both sides would be possible. Every place excepfc that will then have been visited. To cheapen Matata supplies, some p£ofics? flat-bottomed craft is required fb? the river, and stored should ba poled up by our ovn nieh. FairchUd s&ys the harbour is better than Pa tea. It is vei-y desirable-, and easy to continue tlie tefgraph, line nosy to Taupo. GK S. Wki?moke. DESPATCWfiS PKOfIJ itfcWOli HEaKICtf. Despatches were received this aftes^ooQ (Wednesday, May 12) from Major Herriuk, dated Wcirpa, 9th insfc. Hia force had not bsen able to cqiumence its march for W&iStairemoana, iutconaequeiice of the refusal of the native contingent to proceed to the front. Their excuse was that they would suffer much in that high altitude from exposure to cold, snow, and rain ; and they proposed to remain ai Wairoa township to garrison it. . Major Hamefc had been vithia eight miles ox Wn&aremoafis lake, on Satu?day, aud found there would be no difficulty in getting a good pack v?oad. The European fo?ee wag employed racking a practicable sledge i?oad from the termination o? the catioe transport fco the fake, and would advance rapidly nor, 1 on Onepoto (at the outlet), o post svouldbe established that would occupy a commanding position. A»RIVA& Of THD P.B. STURT. The Stucfc aprived last evening. She sailed ft>ora Auckland on the 3th, TaursngG on the 6th, cad MaCata on the Bth. She GuW.^ijestlp toucufid at Toioga Bay and othes- pSaces along the coaifc, aM culled ia at Pooee?,y Buy. Ewrything *»O3 quiet. The ste&me? i?ao detained fbtf two days r,t floppy Jack's, whet* the natives had a flgjpopt fpom Waiuua that a pasty of oup men ' undesrßicljasdson end Spilleffhad been fired at neur the Militasy township, and one tnaa hod been biliod an<s tvo wounded. Cftpt. Fausuhild did not see the native who brought the report, and it may only be rumour. The Maori King had appHod to Ngapuhi to mediate between them anrl the Groveuament, and the Ngapubi purpose to send j down 500 men on this peace mission. j The Sturfc sails again for Poverty Bay i and Bay of Plenty to-night or Saturday i morning. She will afterwards, we under- ] j stand* go on to Auckland. } Mr. Richmond returns to Wairoa in the ] St. Kilda, this morning. Some additional ' European troops proceed to the front by f the same opportunity. g