ARRIVAL OF THE AIREDALE FROM AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XX, Issue 1120, 5 August 1863, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF T HE AIREDALE FROM AUCKLAND.

WAR IN WAIKATO. dffeat of the insurgents with GREAT SLAUGHTER. ONE hundred rebels killed. 500 A.RMED NATIVES AT WAIROA FROM THE THAMES. 18TH REGIMENT SURROUNDED AT " KIRIKIRI. JIUP.DER OF MEREDITH AND SON BY THE REBELS. CONFISCATION. OF THE REBEL LANDS, fA portion of the following appeared in our Extra p f Saturday last,] Br the Airedale, which arrived in Lyttelton last Saturday morning, we have news from Auckr land to the 25th inst. War has fairly commenced, and the Northern papers contain accounts of one element 0 f some importance and several skirmishes with and outrages by the Maories, full particulars of which will be found below: — The Wonga Wonga left Auckland on Thursday at l p m., having been detained by Government one day loDser than was intended'. Arrived at Rangatika, East Cape, at 7.30 p.m. on Friday, but was unable to communicate with the shore till daylight tlie followin<r morning, when she took on board Mr. Baker (the Resident Magistrate) and family; also Dr. Wright —all for Napieri' On the 15th July the Governor issued a proclamation in English and Maori, addressed to the chiefs of Waikato, setting forth that Europeans quietly living on their own lands have been driven away—their property has been plundered—their wives and children have been taken from them —that by the instigation of some of you, officers and soldiers were murdered at Taranaki — that crimes have been committed in other parts of the Island, and the criminals have been rescued, or sheltered under the color of vour authority—and that you are now assembled in armed bands, threatening to come down to plunder peaceable settlers—" I am, therefore," says the Governor, "compelled, for the protection of all, to establish posts at several points on the Waikato River, and to take necessary measures for the securitv of persons inhabiting that district." Protection is then offered to the peaceably disposed, but to all others the Governor makes the following most important announcement: — "Those who wage war against Her Majesty, or remain in arms, threatening the lives of her peaceable subjects, must take the consequences of their acts, and they must understand that they will forfeit the right to the possession of their lands guaranteed to them by the Treaty of Waitangi, which lands will be occupied by a population capable of protecting for the future the quiet and unoffending from the violence with which they are now so constantly threatened.".

On the day the above proclamation was issued, a settler by the name, of Meredith, and his son (14 years old), were discovered chopped up by' friendly' natives in the most frightful manner. Two dayß after, vizi; Friday. the 17th, hostilities commenced, when marched his troops across the Maungatawhiri Creek on to the native land. The account of this engagement will be found below. In Auckland all but the third class Militia are under arms.. . We have news from Taranaki to thej:lßt%inst. The natives there were quiet, an 4 were busy plaiting potatoes. r : £v The General Assembly, it is said, is to ineet without delay; but the report, we fear, reqjjinis confirmation.

[from the cokbespondent of the 'hawke's BAY HERALD.'] Auckland, July 22. The sudden arrival and departure of the Wonga Wonga does not leave me time to send you more than a few lines at the present time. The news, however, is the most startling that has ever been sent from one province of New-Zealand to another, Dot evt n excepting the case of Taranaki. We are fairly plunged into a great war great) that is, for New Zealand,—and one which must now be fought out to the last. This province is now having a taste of what Taranaki has so long endured, and it is to be hoped that, while feeling its unpleasantness, some of us may repent, in some degree adequately, the abuse and misrepresentation winch they heaped so unsparingly upon the settlers of that unhappy province. The determination of the Government to remove the seat of war from Taranaki to the Waikato, was manifested clearly nearly a fortnight ago by the movement of the troops m that direction, followed almost immediately by the warning conveyed to the Natives around Auckland that they must swear allegiance to> Her Majesty and give up their arms, as a condition of remaining in the neighbourhood of the capital. This waff the one spark required to ignite the train so long laid in this province, of native revolt. Six men and six only, so far as I can hear, have given in their arms and allegiance, while the mass of the natives have revolted in the most %nmistakeable manner, refusing to move until threatened by armed force, and then taking to the bush. The immediate result of this step on their part, which ought, 1 believe, most certainly to have been prevented by surrounding them in- force before making any demands, were the murder of two persons, an old man and a boy, who were quietly fencing on their own land between Dnuy«nd the Waikato. These persons were barbarously murdered by the tomahawk, | J afflf,as it would seem, without makingany resistance. ■ *\fiefore the discovery, however, of this murder, the pask of quietness was almost thrown oft by the greater part of the natives round Auckland, who having very injudiciously been allowed to assemble in force near Papakura village, upon the ranges at ft place called Kirikiri. refused either to move or to give up their arms, from this position they were at tast moved only by a body of troops, who, having received orders not to fire tipon them unless they should fire first, only succeeded in scattering a large body of some 300 men in all directions oyer the country, when they oiQht most certainly "*3® captured or killed, and not ptie of them altowert to escape. On Friday, the 17th of July, the first serious hostilities took place, which reduced Auckland from a state of peace to one of war. On that Jay the General, havS advanced his p^P 8 the Maungatawhiri Crteek oh to the native land, was met and opposed by about three hundred MfomoJ jhe Waikatotribes. Ttese he attacked with about 500 men, and carried, after a sharp flight/ the riang on which they had taken position, and where tn y w ere strongly entrenched by means of a °f rifle pits. The loss inflicted upon the natives was Probably more severe than on any former occ «on in New Zealand, as fifty bodies have been Recovered by the military, and many wore a doubtless among the killed and wounded. Uur troopg pursued the rebels about five iniles until they escaped over the next creek of oyer tlie wax*ato river. They state, I hear, their own loss at one hundred men, which is not improbably near-the truth. Our loss in the engagement was trifling, amounting only to one man killed and eleven wounded, including Colonel Austin, of the 14th, whose Promptitude in preparing to make the attack without orders is specialty commended by the General.

On the same day a well planned and murderous attack was made upon an escort coming down the Great South road from Pukeno to Drury, consisting of about fifty men under Captain Ring, of the 18th Regiment. A large number of the natives, had collected evidently on both sides of the road, which, here only is two chains wide, runs through bush of the densest description. The struggle was evidently a terrible one, the greatly overpowering force of the Maoris emboldening them to leave cover and attempt to cut off one part of the escort from another; this Attempt was foiled by ten men gallantly charging and driving before them 60 natives into the forest. Capt. Ring at length succeeded in bringing off his small party with a loss of four killed and ten wounded men. The loss of the natives is not known, but is conjectured on various accounts to have been severe. The whole available strength of the province is no.w being got ready for action, and we have now about one thousand volunteers and the same number of Ist class militiamen actually on service—some at Drnry and Wairoa, others at the camp at Otahuhu, while a few are in town. The second class have been called out and are now being drilled; their number cannot possibly amount to less than 2400 men, of whom 1400 are in the city. It is not intended to move those in the town, but merely to use them as guards and patrols, while it is not intended at present to call on the third class at all, although they have been invited to assist in the guard and patrol duties, which, owing to the fact that about two hundred are on duty each night round the city, will come heavily upon the men of the second class. The spirit of the people is all that can be desired at this crisis, and panics have been comparatively unknown among us, owing, it may be, to the fact that this has long been looked for, and latterly even hoped for by some among us who were tired of the constant ferment in which native threats kept the out-districts. 'JMie war will assuredly be vigorous, and I trust it may be short. THE ENGAGEMENT AT ICOIJIROA. [FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIIE 'Southern Cross.'] When the British force crossed the Maungatawhiri creek, they took up their present position, in the waterside of the remarkable range which, starting at the creek, describes a horse-shoe of about four miles, the other extremity terminating- on the Waikato. There are few spurs from this range, the slopes inward being steep, and the valley, or low land in the centre, somewhat broken and swampy towards the water. Thejelevation of the range is greatest at our advanced post, from which point it decreases, and thence is almost uniform to the present extremity. The ridge is narrow in places. Calling our position the right, the natives chose a point somewhat better than a mile from the left extreme of the range, as their main position, and here they had entrenched themselves in rifle pits, in great force. Their advance was about two miles nearer our advanced position, where they had aline of rifle pits unfinished, but in course of completion, on the morning of the attack. Indeed, up to the attack, the enemy was busily engaged strengthening himself at all points. Such were the positions occupied by the British troops and the King natives, on the morning of the 17th July, so far as I can understand them. I should add, that both positions were as skilfully chosen as the nature of the ground would admit.

The 14th advanced for about two miles along the ridge, and the enemy retired from their first line of rifle pits, which, as I have said, were unfinished. The advance continued along the summit of the ridge, and in a short time the enemy's skirmishers opened fire. The advanced guard then wheeled off to the right, driving. in the enemy's skirmishers. The main body, headed by the General,,advanced by the left to the rifle pits, where the enemy were in force. When within range the enemy opened an exceedingly heavy fire on our advance as they came up the slope to the attack. The first volley could not have been .less than 300 pieces. Our advance faltered. I believe it was their first time under fire; but it was oily for a, moment. General Cameron rushed forward at least twenty yards in advance of the men, and wavinghis capin theair,cheeredthem on, calling on the troops to turn the enemy out of their rifle pit's at the point of the bayonet. The order of the gallant'veteran was instantly obeyed, and with a cheer the enemy's position was rushed. Many stood in the trenches, and fought well, but that inimitable weapon in the hands of a British soldier—the bayonet—soon settled the business. The main body of the enemy fled precipitately, their fire having slackened after the first discharge. They abandoned everything in the pits, and thought only of their personal safety. Crossing the ridge, they fled to the water, down a swamp to get under cover of a belt of bush which borders the river. But here they fell into a trap. The supporters of the 12th wheeled to the left, and opened fire upon them from the elevated ground, which completely commanded them as they crawled through the flax and tangled vegetation beneath, the pursuing 14th all the time continuing the work of destruction. The rout was complete. Never was victory over the Maoris more decided. If we had had the armed boats on the river, on the morning of the battle, not 1 a soul of the enemy would have escaped. ! The casualties were 12, exclusive of Col. Austin, who was slightly wounded. -Of these was 1 (Smith) ! killed in action, 4 dangerously wounded, 1 man (GilHgan) since having died of his wounds, 5 were ! severely, and 2 slightly wounded. The casualties | occurred entirely, among the 14th Regt. The officers of the 14th in action were—Colonel Austin, commanding; Surgeon-Major Carte; Captains Phelps, Strange, and M'lver; Lieuts. Armstrong, Glancy (adjutant), Lawrence. Langtry, and Harrington; Ensigns Green, Collins, Piatt, Wood, and Houatt. The officers and men behaved gallantly. On the return of the General to the camp, the troops rushed around him, cheering with enthusiasm, tossing their caps in the air. The gallant example set them by this veteran soldier will not be lost, and in future actions I doubt not the bayonet will be very generally resorted to in deciding the day. , [FBOSI TIIB ' DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS,' JULY 23.] . We received the following important telegram from Drury, at half-past eleven o'clock last night:— The 65th, and the cavalry, under Colonel Wyatt, proceeded to Mr. Haye's house, Papakura, this morning, where an attack was said to be taking place, and one man was said to have been killed. After some time the 65th returned as far as Slippery Creek, not having effected much at Mr. Hayes, when Mr. Anderson , veterinary surgeon, them to return to the assistance of the IBtn itegt., who were surrounded near the Kirikm, with one man killed and four wounded. • . The 65th have just arrived. One killed. Do not know how inany natives were killed, as it was getfc"rhev had warm work while they were at it. About 500 natives, armed, from the Thames are k and artillery, under Lieut. Rait, rode down from the Traveller's Rest, Wairoa road, scourand neighbourhood turned out to a man. LATEST J?ROM THE FRONT, VIA DRURY.. Wednesday Evening, 8.35 p.m. Queen's Redoubt, 22nd< July. -All -quiet here. The enemy got permission yesterday to buiy their dead under a flag of truce. The number killed at the engagement at Kohiroa is 44.0ne0f their leading men Heteraki is missing. The victory was most complete. The natives never had been so thoroughly beaten before. It was entirely an infantrv affair. Owing to the nature of the ground, 200 of our men were actively engaged. Our whole force was 500. The troops are building three small redoubts at ICoheroa. LATEST TELEGRAM. (YbOM THE ' SOUTIIEEN CBOSS,' JULY 23.] A telegram, received last night, states that in congeauence of intelligence having been received of a SSurder near Mr. Hay's house, 70 then of the 65th Mid 30th Marines scoured the country m the neighbourhood; that they returned to Drury, where it was renorted that a detachment, of the 18th were surrounded in the bush, They went to rescue, and after

a sharp engagement the natives fled precipitator. The loss on our side was—lßth Regt., 1 killed and 5 wounded; 65th, 1 killed. [FROM THE ' NEW-ZEALANDER,' JULY 23.] The men at the posts between this* and Drury were alarmed several times, but have had no cause yet. It is not known what movement will take place next. The natives who fought at Ivoheroa have gone to Rangiriri. GENERAL CAMERON'S DESPATCHES. (FROM GENERAL GOyERNMENT GAZETTE, JULY 22. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, July, 1863. His Excellency the Governor directs the publication of the following despatches with enclosures, from Lieut.-General Cameron, C.B. Alfred Domett. ENGAGEMENT AT KOHEROA. Head-Quarters* Queen's Redoubt, July 18th, 1863. Sir, —I have the honor to inform your Excellency that at 11 o'clock yesterday morning, Lieut.-Colonel Austen, 2nd Battalion 14th Regiment, commanding the camp at the Koheroa, having observed a large body of natives collecting on the hills in his front instantly ordered his battalion to get under arms, and moved with praiseworthy promptitude, against them, followed by detachments of the 12th and 70th Regiments, which had just arrived at the camp as a reinforcement, the whole force amounting to about 500 men.

A report of the circumstances reached me as I was on my way to the Koheroa, and I hastened towards the column, which I overtook on its march. After we had proceeded in skirmishing order about two miles the rebels opened fire upon us, and as we advanced upon them they retired along the narrow crest of the hills towards the Maramarua, making a stand on every favorable position which the ground presented. Some of their positions, which had been recently fortified by lines of rifle-pits, and which from the nature of the ground could not be turned, they defended with great obstinacy, aud as we had no artillery on the field they could only be dislodged from them by successive attacks with the bayonet, which were executed by the 2nd Batt. 14th, with great gallantry and success. We pursued them from one position to another, a distance of about five miles, until we drove them in great confusion across the mouth of the Maramarua, some escaping up the Waikato in canoes, and others along'its right bank, after crossing the Maramarua. A considerable portion of them, however, before reaching the Maramarua escaped down a gully to the left, seeking shelter in a swamp, and suffered severely from the fire of our men on the heights. As we had no means of crossing the Maramurua, I ordered the troops to return to camp. All the troops behaved remarkably well. lam greatly indebted to Lieut.-Colonel Austen, 2nd Batt. 14th Regt. (who was wounded in the arm); and Brevet-Major Miller, commanding detachment 70th liegt., for the manner in which they led and directed the movements of the men under their respective commands. • Among the officers conspicuous for their forwardness in the attack were Captain Strange, 14th Regt., who commanded the leading company of the column; Captain Phelps, who greatly distinguished himself at the head of his company when charging a line of rifle pits; and Lieutenants Glancy and Armstrong, also of the 2nd Batt. 14th Regt. Colonel Mould, C.8., Royal Engineers, was with the column during the engagement and ready to give his valuable services if required. I enclose a list of our casualities, which are small, considering the time the engagement lasted, and the nature of the ground, which was exceedingly favorable for defence. The enemy must have had fully three hundred men in the field, almost the whole of them belonging to tribes of the Waikatb. v There can be tio doubt his loss was considerable, upwards of twenty dead having been counted by us on the ground, several of whom were chiefs of consequence, and ajnong others an uncle of the King. I have, &e., D. A. Cameron, Lieut.-General. His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.8., &c., &c., &c.

ATTACK ON THE ESCORT, Sec. Head Quarters, Queen's Redoubt, July 18, 1863. Sir,—l have the honor to forward for the information of your Excellency the copy of a report from Captain J. Ring, 2nd battalion 18th Regiment, of an attack made by the rebel natives upon an escort under his charge, not far- from Mr. Martin's farm, on the road between this and Drury. The conduct of Captain Ring and the small detachment under his command, attacked as they were by a vastly superior force and under the most unfavorable circumstances, reflects the greatest credit npon them. I have also to forward a copy of a report from Colonel Murray, detailing liis movements upon a body of rebels at Kirikiri, and the capture of prisoners.—l have, &c, D. A. Cameron, Lieut.-General. His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.8., &c.

Camp, Drury, 17th July, 1863. Sir,—l have the honor to report for your information that on my march from the Queen's Redoubt to Drury this day, my escort, &c., as per margin were fired upon by the natives at Stone Depot, near Baird's Farm. The Are was opened on my advance guard on both flanks, and my right flank and rear was immediately fired upon, the fire took effect on the centre of the convoy, one driver and two horses of his escort fell, which, the convoy, &c, was taken advantage of by the natives, who, dashing in force* across the road, opened fire on the left flank, thus exposing my rear guard, consisting of prisoners and escort, to a severe fire from the bush from each flank and right rear. I immediately retired with as many men as I could concentrate, and kept the enemy from surrounding my very small party, though in skirmishing order. During the contest the fire of the enemy was well returned, and X personally saw five or six natives fail; they came out on the open, but a charge quickly drove them into the bush. Finally their attempting to surround my party obliged me to retire to Mr. Martin's house, which I occupied until reinforced. I beg to annex the following list of killed and wounded:— , Killed, 4—Privates Alexander Jameison, Felix McGrath, James Scott, and James Limerick. _ Wounded, 10—Sergeant Lawson; Corporals Glim and ICce; Lance Corporal Kavannagh; Privates J. Keane, J. Gibbons, H. Hurst, H. Ryan, Alexander McCagne, J. Connors. Missing—Private J. Byrnes, supposed to have returned to the Queen's Redoubt; this man was a prisoner, and unarmed at the time. I have, &c., James Ring, Captain Royal Irish. P.S.—I beg to state that the conduct of my subaltern, Ensign Bicknill, and the men, was admirable, and particularly that of Ensign Bicknill. James King, Captain, &c. The Officer Commanding Royal Irish. * 2 officers, 2 sergeants, and 47 rant and file.

Gamp, Drury, 16th July. 18«3. Sir,—l have the honor to report for the information of the Lieut.-General Commanding that, in obedience to his orders, I moved off this morning at 3*30 a.m. with a force as per margin,* ana proceeded to the Kirikiri for the purpose of arresting as many of the natives of the village as I could And, ine mounted force having proceeded to the front, 1 telegraphed to his Excellency the Governor requesting the services of the Volunteer Cavalry under Colonel Nixon, arranging that they should meet, me at Papakura at 4 a.m., which they dia. On arming at the place just as day broke, I ascertained that the

natives had retired up a hill about half a mile off, where they had a settlement in the bush. I accordingly divided my force into two bodies; the 65th liegtL, under the command of Captain Gresson, proceeded up the right by a track leading to the summit of the hill, where the natives were supposed to be most numerous. At the same time I directed Col. Nixon, commanding Volunteer Cavalry, to - send a part of his force with.them, and which he led himself. The second party, under command of Captain Noblett, 2nd battalion 18th Regt., proceeded along the Wairoa road (which leads to the left from Kirikiri, and across the line through the bush), with instructions to take up a post to cut off the retreat by that road, reserving at the same time the remainder of Colonel Nixon's force at the foot of the hill to act as circumstances might require.

So quietly and expeditiously were these movements made that on Captain Gresson's party reaching the spot to which it was directed, it came at once upon the chief Isaac and his party, situated at the edge of the bush, all of whom were made prisoners before any resistance could be offered, amounting in all to thirteen men, seven women, and three children. A number of arms, accoutrements, and ammunition (as per list enclosed) also fell into our possession, the whole of which, together with the prisoners, are at present in the camp at Drury, awaiting instructions from his Excellency the Governor -as to their final disposal. The main body of the natives were encamped in the bush, of which I was not made aware in time to push on the 18th far enough; they, however, succeeded in securing some arras and ammunition, with a rebel flag.

I beg respectfully to bring to the Lieut.-General's notice the very orderly conduct of the troops engaged. Officers and men bore with cheerfulness the fatigues of the long and harassing march, under heavy rain, through roads knee-deep in mud. To Lieut. Reid, R.A., lam indebted for able assistance, that officer having volunteered to accompany me with four of liis men, and whose services in conveying orders was of great use to me. I trust that the result of the movement, such as it has been, will meet with the Lieut.-General's approval.

I cannot speak too highly of the promptness with which Colonel Nixon's force turned out, having only received orders at a very late hour of the night to join me at Papafeura, at 4 o'clock in • the morning, as well as their orderly and efficient appearance under arms, which I think is due to Col. Nixon, to bring to the particular notice of the Lieut.General. I am, &c., G. F. Murray, Colonel Commanding Troops, Drury. The Assist. Military Secretary, &c., &c., &c. * Iloyal Artillery—l subaltern, 4 troopers. 2nd batt. 18tli Kcgfc.—l captain, 5 subalterns, 150 rank and file, with a due proportion of non-commissioned officers. 65th Regt.—l field officer, 2 captains, 4 subalterns, 130 rank and file, with a due proportion of non-commissioned officers. LIST OF ARTICLES TAKEN FROM THE NATIVES, ON THE 16th JULY. Three double-barrel guns, 2 single-barrel guns, 2 flint single-barrel guns, 1 double-barrel gun (broken), 1 pistol, 1 telescope, bag bullets, 3 nipple wrenches, 2 bullet moulds, 14 pouches with belts and ammunition, 1 empty pouch, 3 shot bags, 1 file, 4 tomahawks, 2 taiaha, 3 fern hooks and handles, 2 fern hooks without handles, 1 reaping hook, 5 adzes with handles, 2 adzes without handles, 3 axes and handles, 1 leather gun case, 15 powder horns with shot and powder, 1 tin powder case, 1 flag, 5 bags shot, 1 paikaka, 1 auger, 1 billhook, 1 saw, 1 barrel with ammunition, 11 boxes caps, 1 bundle documents, 1 cart, 3 horses. G. Pennefather, Lieut., Camp Adjt. HOSPITAL, QUEEN'S REDOUBT. Return of killed, wounds and injuries received in action at Koheijpa Heights,. Waikato, N. Z. _ Lieut.-Col. Afisten, 14th, severely. Private Moses Burden, 14th, slightly. Private John Ingram, 14th, severely. Private James Gilligan, 14th, dangerously. Private Patrick Markey, 14th, dangerously. Private James Tancred, 14th, dangerously. Private Wm. Murphy, 14th, dangerously. Private Wm. Cavanagh, 14th, dangerously. Private Henry Clarke, 14th, severely. Private Robert Williamson, 14th, slightly. Private Alfred Picton, 14th, slightly. Private Wm. Smith, mortally, since dead. H.F.Robertson, Surgeon 40th Regt.