ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF WAIREKA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIII, Issue 779, 28 April 1860, Page 2

ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF WAIREKA.

(From a correspondent of the ' Auckland W« o i,i Eegister.') eeKI? The first burst of mistrust date 3 from the i-tj, whea it was discovered that Wm. King had built pah on the wing of the disputed block of land whir? caused some fighting and bloodshed to dislodge him in which both the 65th and volunteer forces we engaged, and come off seemingly worst, having som! killed and wounded, while the natives, as far as wa known, escaped without loss. This naturally caused some alarm and distrust. The worst, however w the declared hostility of the Otoraata, and som! other fierce tribes along the coast, who it seems entered the lists rather from a pure love of fighting and plunder than from any sympathy with Wm. King; in fact, they and the latter renu diate one another. They were heralded by rumours of their blood thirsty intentions, quite appallm* which they too literally endorsed by their arrival within five or six miles of the town, and, on the 26th, having caught, they barbarously massacred three men and two boys, who had gone out incau. tiously in quest of stock. Now the residue of the outsettlers, that up to this time remained by their houses, rushed into the town, and the panic was at a climax; even the high military authorities seem to share it, by their desire to contract the lines, and to defend a very small compass only; so it is not to be wondered that we poor mortals should feel a little nervous. It being still known, however, that a few settlers remained in the Otornata district—among others the Eev. Mr. Brown—the Colonel command°ing the forces, -with laudable anxiety for their safety, on the 28th called together all the available forces! both regular and irregular, including Lieutenant Blake and the Naval Brigade of the " Niger," which have been disembarked here since the beginning of the troubles. They all marched towards the Otomata some 250 strong, under the command of Colonel Murray, to collect and escort the settlers in. But ere they got four miles out, they found themselves in front and warmly engaged with the enemy, who had posted himself in a strong position. Meantime, in accordance with the requisition from his Excellency, Captain Cracroft, of the Niger, had disembarked another brigade of his men, about 60 strong, for the temporary defence of the town. At this time an express was coming in from Colonel Murray for reinforcement, stating that his force was to small to «,a * am,c, H'ucrreXreai/' would oe' aisascioua.—o^t, Cracroft was immediately called on to furnish the force, and he as promptly Replied by putting himself at the head of his small band, and with a 241b~. rocket tube; and a full supply of ammunition, was within an hour on the scene of action. His arrival was most opportune; much hard fighting had occurred, and considerable loss had been sustained. Of the force that accompained Colonel Murray many were placed hors de combat; of the small naval force, its gallant chief lay dangerously wounded in the chest, and a favourite marine dying. The enemy occupied a strong position, a pah on the ridge of a hill, with a slope, leading down to a deep ravine or gully' densely wooded, and made the most skilful use of his position. Skirmishers in crowds occupied the gullies. Guided by signal flags from the commanding pahs, they knew the position of our men, and threw a destructive fire from every crevice, themselves bit seldom seen. Col. Murray, with the 65th, the naval force under him, and Volunteers returned the fire with good effect, as the sequal showed, but were unable to dislodge the enemy on approaching the pah neither could they well retreat. Just at this crisis Captain Cracroft arrived, and from an elevation surveyed the position of friend or foe, sent to inform the Colonel of his whereabouts, and o( his determination to march direct on the enemy's stronghold—the pah. Here he drew up his small force and addressed a few stirring words to them, admonishing them to maintain the reputation of British sailors. He then pointed to the pah on the opposite hill where the rebellious flag was flaunting, reminded them that it was held by rebels against their Queen, who had already wounded their first lieutenant and killed their shipmate, besides many of their fellow countrymen. He then told them he proposed leading them to that pah for revenge, and asked if they were ready to go. A prompt reply ran along the line, " We'll go, sir." He then proclaimed £10 reward to the man who hauls that flag of rebellion down. Here an impatient movement showed that every one thought that he would surely gain that reward. They now advanced, though it "was late (5.30 p.m.), taking quite a ditferent route to that occupied by the Colonel,but tie most direct to the pah; arrived withiYi 800 yards, they resolved to try the effeci of a rocket, dragged so far with so much labour, and five or sis were fired with good precision, some falling into t«c stronghold. Nevertheless, the enemy shewed utter disregard of that form of attack, and Capt. Cracrott, as well as his men, showed impatience of such lon s \ shot practice, especially as the shades of mg" were closing over them. The rocket was now set aside, a small force told off to protect it, the men fell in, and the order to advance was given. * this moment Captain Cracroft's nide-de-cW arrived breathless from Colonel Murray, to say't '•' he (the colonel) was about to retreat on the to , and he would advise the captain to do the same; which the latter was merely observed to soliloquy,; " I purpose seeing the inside of that Wx " *' They were now within one hundred yards oi position ; the road to it was very zigz<V ' uneven ; it lay across a portion of the ravine ou adverted to; there, too, it was very deep, and uen . wooded on both sides of the road. It required*i^ courage to pass that ravine at that hour, vrnere: enemy was known to lurk all day, dealing out at. and wounds. But " fortuna favet .fortlD?!" knes3 movement was quite unexpected, and in the M unobserved, After ascending this valieji road takes a sudden bend, and discloses tlie y> on the right side of the road, a tall gorse n^_ on the left. Here the enemy, evidently prised, collected themselves on the road. J-» • to decide whether the figures they saw nw were the residue of their men returning^°" a ][ ravine, or an enemy they beheld. Steadily ti , |t force advanced, the Captain at the head, vvit» u e> the least betraying themselves, till a sulitlei. , nOff ment of the enemy showed their discrinniiatio , only about 60 yards off. The enemy am w fclli turned the fire, and two men of the small \ olkseverely wounded ; in a moment they wore -^ in mortal combat. Of the enemy some, ' 3 into through the hedge, some along the road ; otnei c the pah, in an instant not a Maori was visiMe er) road, save the dead and dying. Iv the pan, "y"

e£S£** -O"~T,tP front, and not having time to "T^oweil »-rCSo"V£ wks a poor weapon, I suppose t"IC c(ltl'« rtTf^,ets The sailors now en--101 i rifl« and. bay one* irresistibl y, 12W tlVe £' and over no single hand g i <lt thG ?>So-n i" of their desire. At the 5$ -cho?wi-th bayonet. The enemy now, ?m«li "lil(le ■!„ H,oir pits, the men, blue jackets 5k^ ffnfiV"in.l bayoneting them till all ml »iarill°L annihilated, and then as promptly as rt«?w»«° V" „ the Captain collected his men, and .db^'J? four wounded, (and this now in the !arrvin? tlie" .JJl 1 they returned through the same £i;o''!^;;; gl Ucl. n.ashot fired after them,