LATEST FROM THE FRONT

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 779, 18 April 1870, Page 2

LATEST FROM THE FRONT

The s.s. .Rangatira, v> ith Mr Locke on board, left Napier on Sunday evening, April 10, under orders for Opotiki. On the evening of the 11th, off Cape Runaway, spoke the ~s. Star of the South, hound to Wellington, having on board Kemp, Topia, Meiha, and all the Wangannis ; also, thirty-one Hauh.au prisoners. The Rangatira arrived off Opotiki at daylight on the 12th inst. The p.s. Stun, from Auckland, had arrived a day or two before with the Native and Defence Minister. It appears from the information collected that Ropata and the Ngatiporous had conducted a successful expedition through the heart of the Uriv/era country, by \yay of Maungapowhatu, capturing fifty prisoners ; and that Ropata, after his. arrival at

Opotiki, hearing that Jo Kooti and his band were up the Waioweka gorge, at a place called Maraetai, arranged with Kemp to make a .simultaneous attack upon the rebel leader's position. Maraetai, the place Te Kooti had selected as his retreat, is situated in a deep ravine about forty miles above Opotiki, and of mo 4 difficult access. To this place he betook himself after his defeat at Ngatapa; and, on leaving for Taupo, directed those of his people who did not accompany him to prepare for his return by planting, building, &c The plan of attack decided on by Bopata and Kemp was that the Wangann is should go round so as to attack the pa from above stream, and that Ropata should go up the ravine so as to enclose the place. It would appear that Te Kooti had got information, through the Whakatoheas, of Kemp's movements,- but not of Kopata's. The latter, therefore, was enabled to make his attack so suddenly that Te Kooti was not aware of his approach until within a few hundred yards of the pa, and before any defence could be made the Ngatiporous were in possession. Te Kooti at once retreated into the bush with a few followers, leaving behind him his havrepack, clothes, gun, and all letters, &c. The main body of the rebels—some three hundred in number, including men, women, and children—fled up the ra ; vine, and were completely surround-j ed by Kemp's men before they were. aware that the "Wanganuis were their Hakaraia and nineteen others (including fourteen returned Chatham Island prisoners) were killed whilst endeavoring to escape. The settle ment appears to have been a very large one, with considerable cultivations, all of which were, destroyed by the friendlies. It is said that over five acres had been laid down in taro alone. The house built for Kooti measured eighty feet by thirty feet, and was beautifully car.ed. The documents found at Maraetai cleai-ly prove that the Whakatoheas had been in communication with Te Kooti, As a proof, however, that they owned themselves beaten this time, they offered to point out all the places where Te Kooti's ammunition \\as hidden. Accordingly a party was despatched, who returned with o«er twenty kegs of powder which had been given to Te Koo.i by the Whakatoheas. and carried by him into the. mountain*. Some of this powder has been carefully stored for many years It it stated by the prisoners that the enemy have now really no powder; that this was their last supply. The Uriweras are suing for peace They have left Te Kooti to his fate, and speak of surrendering him or shooting him. That miscreant has not, it is said, more than eighteen followers at the present time whom he can at all trust; and even chey are doubtful, as they also talk of giving him up. The s.s. Kangatira returned to Napier on Friday, Mr Locke returning by her. On her way down from Opotiki the Hangatira landed all Ropata's people at their different settlements along the coast. Ropata himself proceeded to his home in the p.p.. Sturt, after which that vessel started for Auckland via Tauranga with the Native and Defence Minister. Another expedition will start at once to thoroughly complete, it is to be hoped, the. final suppression of the rebellion,