WANGANUI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 176, 27 May 1864, Page 2

WANGANUI.

Important Engagement at Montoa npathe Wanganui between the • Government and Rebel Natives. —Eighty Rebels killed.—The Victory followed up(From the Chronicle, May 18.) On the arrival of the first intelligence regarding this engagement, it was supposed that the friendly natives had taken Matene’s party by surprise while they passed down the river. It would appear, however, that this was not the case. On the iaua coming from Waitotara by way of Puketotora, they intimated to Pehi and the Wanganui natives that they intended to attack Wanganui, and requested to be allowed to descend the river for that purpose. Pehi replied that he had agreed with the Governor that there should be peace at Wanganui, and his word must be kept: and he instructed the Wanganui natives to stop the party should they attempt to pass Tawhitenni. Properly speaking, the agreement was that peace should he kept within the limits of Mr White’s district, which extends to Peterehema above Tawhitenui, and therefore they were to be allowed to desc'end so far. Mateue, however, insisted on carrying out his first intention, and threatened to cut off every man, woman, and child that opposed his progress. He said their first object was to take Mr. White, the Resident Magistrate alive, and do with him as with the Ito in former limes, that is, draw blood from a vein in his neck till he died, and drink it among them. This took place on Thursday the I2th, and on that night the fanatics kept up a loud noise, talking and repeating their invocations, barking, &c. The friendly natives sent a challenge to Matene’s party to fight, which they accepted and preparation was made for the coining struggle. On Friday night, at eight o’clock, the first party of friendly natives went up from Ranana (London) to a small island, which has been formed in the centre of the stream, and lies about 500 yards below Tawhitemii, and about as ranch above Ranana, the latter pa being on the left bank of the river, and the former on the right. The island has a shingly beach at its upper end, which gradually slopes up to the highest part 15 or 20 feet above the usual water mark, the high ground being covered with manuka scrub. During the night other friendly natives went up, and by 4 or 5 o’clock on the morning of Saturday, the 14th, they were all in their positions. About that time they received a quantity of food, which the women at Ranana hud prepared and then brought up to them. Accounts vary us to the numbers of both parties. One account makes Matene’s party consist of 140 men, and the other of 450, while another account brings the numbers down to 110 and 350, which we think are more likely to be near the truth. The friendly natives divided themselves into four parties, three of which composed the main body, and the other tne reserve. The main body was posted in three parties across the island near the upper end. Apere-niko occupied the left of the position with 120 men ; Herai Nape and Riwai were placed in "the contre’ with 52, and the right was held by 80 men under Kereti, with whom were M.M. Lampiller and Fredleau. The reserve was posted in the middle of the island under Mete Kingi, Huimona Hiroti, and Arama. The attacking party came down in three canoes, a little after daylight, and were allowed to land on the upper end of the island. On their way they were ba Icing and howling like dogs. They advanced in two parties, till within 100 yards of the main body of the friendly natives, when they halted, and on being told to come nearer, Honi Winihere (a returned Hokianga slave) fired a gun at one of the Government natives, who were all standing, and who thereupon rushed forward to within two yards of the rebels and fired a volley. The enemy drew back a few paces, and the reserve poured in another volley. Then the fight was hand to hand. Riwai was one of the first who fell; then Kereti and next Hemi Nape. Shortly the friendly natives changed their position, a party going over one arm of the river, ami another over the other arm, so that the rebels were placed between three fires—one from each bank opposite, and one from the reserve on the centre of the island. This reserve then rushed forward and drove the rebels into the water, where they were shot down almost to a man. Indeed, one man only is said to have escaped —Raimona,£who reached Tawhitenui in a

canoe. He, Matene, and Haimona led the tana, Haimona Was shot. Matene was one of the last to take the water, after being wounded in the He swam for the right bank, but being observed several vollies were, fired at him. As he was not hit, Te Moro, a policeman, stripped .and followed him, and getting hold of him by the hair just as he was reaching the bank, despatched him with a paraoa or whalebone mere , striking, or, as the native said, smashing his body with it. Before he was hit, Matene cried “ pai marire hou, hour Te Moro took ths body across the stream and laid it among the rest of the dead on the island. The victors then seut a message to the widows of the slain to come and bury them. GO to 80 bodies were buried, and others are supposed to be in the water. It is said by some that Hori Patene was not with the attacking party ; by others that he was killed. The accounts as to the loss of the Government natives vary. The number killed is 10 to 12 and of wounded 5 to 9. The list so far as ascertained, is as follows ; Bead. Ngatihau—2 Ngatiruaka—3 resident at Tawhitenui Banana—4 viz., Hemi Nape, Biwai te Atua, Wiremu te Wharu, and Matiu Potahe.

We extract the following from the Chronicle of the 21st. Several letters came down the river last night to the Besident Magistrate, Mr. White. Their substance we believe to be as follows; The fight lasted fifteen minutes. The nearest relatives were engaged on opposite sides. As one of the letters says, “ The light was between fathers and sons, younger brothers and older brothers, uncles, nephews, and cousins.” After it was over the victors took some food nd proceeded to Tawhitenui, which they took possession of by ten o’clock, and on the same day took two other pahs, but the names are not given. There seems to have been no resistance ; and 40 men, women, and children were taken prisoners, who were afterwards demanded by Belli, on the ground that they were Lis people, but Mete Kingi declined to deliver them up, saying to Belli, that he was afraid of his (Behi’s) killing them—rather severe sarcasm. The prisoners ar on their way down to he handed over to the authorities. Among them are three conspicuous rebels. Behi’s king flag “ Baerangi” was taken.