AHURIRI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 543, 16 January 1858, Page 5

AHURIRI.

' NATIVE HOSTILITIES, '

; (From the JTawke's Bay Herald, Dec. 12.) We regret to announce that another engagement (the third time since the breaking out of hostilities) took place between 'the'; opposing Sarties under the Chiefs te Hapuka and te w H ' on Wednesday last, the 9th inst. We subjoin a list of the killed and wounded, amongst the former of. which we observe with unfeigned regret, the name of Puhara Hawaikirangi, a chief of the highest rank; a man well known and much respected by the settlers of all classes, and who will be regretted by most of us for many, reasons, but chiefly perhaps because of the consequences which his loss is, we fear, likely to entail upon the Mission connected with the Roman Catholic Religion ; who, upon the death of their principal adherent and supporter, will probably find thermelvea obliged to remove from their present location afc Pafeowhai, where a considerable amount of industry and .capital have been expended in forming the station, —whose hospitality to the wayfarer, and charity to. all who needed ;it, will never be forgotton by any who have been thrown in the way of the. one, or have chanced to require the other.

Placed in the directroute of most travellers to the iuland Districts, and being the only European i evident within several miles of te Hapuka, —the white man's greatest friend— the kindness, urbanity, and hospitality, which Father Regnier has 'never missed an opportunity of showing to those thrown in,his way, will ever be remembered; and should he now, by the death of his principal adherent, Puhara, obliged, as we fear he may, to remove his station else-' where—it will long be regretted by those whom citcumstances have thrown into communication with the Mission Station at Pakowhai.

But, strong as are the above reasons for regretting the loss of this chief, there are others quite as powerful" which lead us to lament his untimely death. Puhara has always been a staunch supporter of law and order in the "district; —a most determined follower of te Hapuka in his policy of land selling- and if he had his faults (and who amongst us is perfect) we still say " de mortuis nil nisi bonum," 'and we can; while remembering his good qualities, easily afford to pass over the weakness of a chief of high rank and noble'bearing, "cut off from amongst us in his prime, while fighting for lands, his claims to which were undisputed even by those who are contending for possession of the property.

Te Watene arid Hiriui-w«r« «.l»rt-«iAn^)f.con?.. Bid*r»w- -*ii^i'"tance in the sub-divisions of the tribe with which they were Connected. Thejfight took place in the eveniii|^OTiv-<j»r brought on by a challenging party being sent from Moana Nui's side, who after some time succeeded in drawing out a sortie from the pa, consisting of about 60 men under Puhara, who was engaged for about a couple of hours with a force of about 170 of thi» pnomy; i tKo tnain body under te Hapuka and Poraone remaining to garrison; the stockade, until, finding that their friends were getting the worst- of it, they sallied forth to cover their, retreat; and, dark- . ness approaching, the conflict ceased.? • The bodies of Watene and te Whitu were captured by the enemy, but were returned the next morning to their friends. ■_'■ The loss on Moana Nui's side is totally disproportioned to,that of their opponents, consisting only of'a young lad belonging to the Ngatiawa tribe from Taranaki. of no rank, and but distantly connected with the people here. Thejr are consequently greatly elated with their success, and declare their intention of following it up till te Hapuka is either killed or driven inland, and his pa burnt to the ground. We are •in hourly expectation of hearing of a renewal of j , ■ ■ '■ v , r = ■■'-• We append a list of casualties :— : i i . . hapuka's paett. ,■•'■. ; Puhara Hawaikirahgi, killed. \ Te Watene te Haehae, killed. - ■ Hirini Hoeko'u, killed., iTe Whitu, kiiled. : , ■■.-'■■ ■ Te Harawira te Kaiwae, sev. wounded. ; Horomona te Rorigoparai, slightly. MOANA NtTl'S PABTT. Hone Warani, (of Ngatiawa,) killed. Te Matenga, slightly wounded. Te Wirihana, severely wounded. Paora Pareko, severely wounded. Mohi te A.hiko, slightly wounded. Tihbre Waru, slightty* wounded. Natana te Ako, slightly wounded. Epanaia Tararehe, slightly wounded, Tame Tuki, slightly wounded. Several others were wounded on both sides, but so slightly as not to be worth mentioning.