TAURANGA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 175, 20 May 1864, Page 5 (Supplement)

TAURANGA.

ENGAGEMENT AT TE AWA TE ATUA. THE ARAWAS ATTACK THE REBEL NGATIPOROUS. 100 REBELS KILLED AND WOUNDED. [FIiOM A COKKE3PONDEXT.]. May 4. Tho rumour relative to a’Tlght having taken place between the Arawa* under their chief Winiata Bekaraa (Wynyard Beckham) and tho rebel Ngatiporous has turned out not only correct, bnt to have been a most glorious affair, a happy set off against our own doubtful victory at i’e I’apa. When the rebels were scattered on the 27th by the shelling of the ‘Falcon,’ and again by the ‘Sandfly’ as they fled along the beach, they crossed the Waihi Creek and made for a place called Te Awa te Atua. The Arawas wore anxious it appears to follow them up, and Major Drummond Hiy who is in command at Maketu was equally anxious to punish them, so a 100 of the native contingent were sent on to keep them in sight but not to follow them beyond tho Oramarakau Pa, but to wait further reinforcements at that place. Later in the day Major Hay with 200 men, a few of whom belonged to the Defence Corps and Forest Rangers, but mainly Arawas, crossed the river and pushed on to join the advance which had waited for them at Oramarakau, as directed. They were further joined bv 100 natives from Maketu and thus being 400 stroim pushed on for Te Awa te Atua and met the retreating rebels on the sand hills, who as soon ns they perceived our natives threw out skirmishers ami took up a strong position across a ravine with a creek between them and our natives. The Arawas, who seem to be expert in (heir drill, threw out skirmishers amt kept a heavy and well fire for nearly ha'f-an-hour ; the enemy flinched, ami was nearly beginning to give way when the Arawas, under Winiafa. with a veil and a dash rushed the creek, swooped pell mell into the thick Ngatiporous, and fought like devils using tho butt ends of their rifles, and sending the the Ngatiporous belter skelter up the ravine. The natives are said to have had all the sport to themselves ; the rangers and men of the Defence Corps, who were in heavier marching order, being fairly out-run by the eager Arawas. Tho Ngatiporous crossed tho river at Te Hanoika, and many of thorn were shot while attempting to do so, but the attacking party said they wort* too tired out themselves to follow them up further, ami so some 300 out of 400, at which tho enemy was estimated, was able to get away. Fully 100 were killed and wounded. 37 bodies tvere picked up one day, and 15 on tho v ext. Among the rebel dead were found the bodies of several principal chiefs belonging to the tribe of Tewhakatohea, viz.,-—Te Aporntonga, Rangunatoru, Tipene, Hiratepopo, and Tepara ; Terangipai, of tlie Ngatiawa, and Tatuaharakeke, of the Ngailawarcre, were also killed. The friendly natives at Bangiriri also report (hat "there were several dead bodies lying on the beach bv the sandhills, and in a swamp near the river. They also said that the rebels owned to losing several men by the fire when at Maketu, and to some considerable loss at Waihi on the 21st and 22nd. Our natives 10-s was trifling compared with that which they inflicted on the enemy. Winiafa the principal chief was the only man killed and some six others were wounded, but I hear, not seriously. It would seem that the retreat of the rebel Ngatiporous was a regular rout, for Major Hay’s natives captured 40 stand of arms, a large quantity of coarse grained powder, and other loot of more value Tho rush of the creek by the Arawas, and the onslaught they made upon the enemy when they crossed it, is said to have been a most dashing affair. I have heard many vague reports, one of a prisoner taken by (ho Arawas having been killed as tdu by Wiuiata’s wife, but as this is only a vague rumour [ give it for just what it is worth. The East Coasters have got a good drubbing this time and will ho all the less inclined to crow about Tepapa.—A”. Z. Herald.

a native’s account of the fight. This is an account of the fight between the Arawa ami the tribes of the Raliiti. On the 27tli of April the fight was commenced by the steamers, and the enemy dispersed. The soldiers who came out of the pali were followed by Kereru, A’emikopake, Tuhourangi, Tuwhayetoa, Pikiao, and the others tribes of the Arawa. When they approached, the Rahui ngatikereru rushed at the pah with a yell—not a man to be seen, the steamers had dispersed them—they were then followed up bv 10U of the Arawa ; (he steamer followed as far as Pnkehina, where one man was killed from the fire of the big guns. The Arawa followed t lie enemy until they reached Otamarakau, when the fighting commenced which lasted till evening. During the night 300 more of the Arawa arrived ; in the morning they took the pah at Otamarakau, but there was no one in it. Then all the chiefs of the Arawa said let us return, but Kerern and Nenukopako insisted on going on ; so they went on to the Ruafaniwha. This pah also fell. They started again and reached Kaokaoroa. About dinner time one of the natives of that part of the country came out to draw the Arawa on. When Kahuruhi (Lazarus, a native assessor of the Umuhika) and W T iniat.a Pekamu saw him they went to hear what the enemy had to say. As they went, the Riritukn to puehu (this ts a son of Te puehn, a native chief of Ngatipikiao receiving pay from the Government) approached from the side of the enemy, and said Te Aura (the prinei, al chief of the Awa oteatua, and native assessor in Government pav,) wishes to know if it would not ho good for the war party to return. To which Winiata replied, that rests with the whole war-party. Ho then returned and fold what ho had heard, and what was the wish of Tc hina, when Matenga to whnfanui te ruru (a chief of the Ngatinenukopaku tribe) heard tins he was very angry and said he must fight ; they then got up and advanced on the enemy,’and in five minutes the enemy dispersed ; they followed and took four pahs, the name of the

first was Te awa o te atua, the second, Te matata ; the third, lui ranga a fai. I don’t know the name of the fourth. The following are tho names of some of the men who full in the battle field: Rangimatom.—This man was a chief of tiie U akatohea, the son of Tataiarorangi te ratamaiti. He was shot by Matenga te wuharoa (Ngatikereru tribe), who took from him his gun, cartridge box, and greenstone earring. This earring is in my possession ;it is but a poor specimen of a greenstone ear ornament, but it was given to keep in remembrance of tho fight. Aporotanga, a chief of tho Wha]»atohea, an old man. Hirafepapa, a chief of the Whakatohea. Makehu, a chief ofTniiourangi. Rangipaia, a chief of the Ngati-hika-kino. These are the only names f know. Fifty men fell in this battle ; their bodies were seen. Many others fell, and their bodies were concealed in the bu-fli ; but fifty were seen. This is ali I have to say about it.