MORE MURDERS BY NATIVES.

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

MORE MURDERS BY NATIVES.

THE ATTACK ON KIRIKIRI, ON THE 22m

(From the Special Correspondent of the Southern Cross) Drury, July 24 k Although the readme of the' DaUy Southern Crcwa' ings at Kirikiri ou the 22nd, I maybe allowed to detail, a little more at large, the occurrences of the

in the day the Kirikiri natives came out of the Bush at the foot of the range, and attacked some men trho were engaged sawing timber. One of these, James' Hunt, fell dead, shot through the body by a bullet.; The other man escaped. Intelligence of the outrage quickly spread. Mr. Anderson, V.S., who was.returning from Auckland, accosted 1 a youth riding to the camp, and on being told that the Maories

were attacking Mr. Hay's house, put spurs to his horse and conveyed intelligence to the camp at Drury. The 65th speedily turned out, commanded by Colonel Wyatt, and accompanied by Mr. Anderson and Ensign Hay of the militia. They skirmished through the flat bush to Pukekiweriki, without meeting opposition. They found the body of the murdered man, and brought it with them. The 65th then skirmished up the hill, and saw the natives enter the bush in advance, but as Colonel Wyatt did not consider it prudent to follow them, having only a force of 100 men at his disposal, he halted his force. After remaining for a considerable time, during a great portion of which they heard heavy firing at the skirt of the bush, the force retired, the firing having altogether ceased. Meanwhile intelligence had reached Papakura of the outrage, and thirteen of the Militia and Volunteers from Auckland and Onehunga turned out and advanced up the road towards the Kirkiri settlement. They saw the natives in force on Pukakiweriki. The natives descended a considerable distance, and halted at a point where their rear was protected by a bush and gully, and there they opened fire on our Militia, who I should say, are commanded by Captain Clare. The colonial force returned their fire with spirit, keeping over one hundred natives in check for half an hour until succour came.

Ths natives fired only two volleys in this position, when they changed their tactics, some retiring into the bush, and others retreating up the track on the edge of the forest, a dropping fire being kept up. When retreating one of the natives was knocked over by a shot from a civilian, his body being dragged away by liia companions. The Maori who was shot was carrying a heavy burden.

The detachment of the 18th under Captain Ring, hearing the firing, left their earthwork, commanding Moses's old encampment, and came round the hill to the support of the civilians. The colonial force joined them, and fire was afresh opened on the retreating enemy. The natives, in their retreat, occupied the redoubt which the 18tli had temporarily evacuated, when they received a well-directed fire. The 18th rushed on them to retake their old position, when the enemy delivered a heavy fire on the advancing troops, but the redoubt was almost instantly abandoned by the enemy, and occupied by the 18tli, who followed up the pursuit, pressing on the retreating foe. The line of retreat was thence over the ridge, and down the slope into the late Maori encampment, which is flanked by a gully, and surrounded by bush, affording safe means of retreat. From their cover the enemy kept up a severe fire on the troops, who were exposed, and Captain Ring and the detachment under his command made a charge to dislodge them. In this charge one man was shot dead, and another severely wounded. A native advanced about four paces from his ambush and secured the rifle, but a similar attempt to get the ammunition was unsuccessful. The 18th kept up a hot fire upon the enemy, seven of wliom were seen to fall.

Night was coming on, and such was tlie state of affairs, which were most critical for our men, who were exposed nearly on all sides, owing to the nature of the ground. Fortunately Mr. Anderson, V.S., accompanied, by Messrs. W. Hay, sen., and Snodgrass, made their way to the scene of the engagement by the rear, and seeing the great need for help, they courageously volunteered to ride back to Drury after the 65th, which had then retired. They accomplished their purpose; Mr. Anderson reporting to Colonel Wyatt that the 18th were surrounded by the natives, and unable to retire. The force under Colonel Wyatt had then reached the junction of the Wairoa and Great South-road. Orders were given to march back to the relief of the 18th, the way being led through the bush by Ensign James Hay as guide. The men were eager for the duty, and arrived at the top of the Pukekiweriki bush about a quarter of an hour before sunset. They were in single file, and it was intended to take the enemy's position in the rear and surround them. The force halted for about ten minutes under cover of the bush which they had just traversed, and in which they found Mr. Greenacre's team of bullocks yoked and ready to be driven away by the natives. But two of the men discharged their pieces prematurely, discovering their position, the Maoris instantly showing their appreciation of the fact by sending a volley amongst them. None of the shots told. The natives retreated precipitately, 40 to 50 dashing across the road just in front of the 65th. They were fired upon by the soldiers, and three or four were seen to fall, but on account of the darkness, and the steep bank down which they went, they were able to drag away the bodies. A native seated in the stump of an old tree shot one of the 65th dead, during this scuffle, one of that corps making matters even by shooting at the Maori, whose body fell and rolled down into the ravine. The 18th then recovered their dead comrades and retired to their redoubt. The 65th retraced its steps to Drury. When departing from the scene of the action, the Maoris delivered a parting volley, estimated to be from about .100 fire arms. During the halt, the men of the 65th distinctly heard the chiefs haranguing the natives, and inciting them to fight; and I may add that the settlers recognised the voice of the chief Moses as potential during the fight. He was a "friendly" native the other day. The casualties in this affair are—Private Ewars, 18th Regt., killed; Private Hamilton, No. 1 Company, tfßth Regt., wounded severely; Private Thos. Meade, 65th Regt., killed.

This day, on the intelligence reaching camp that two settlers had been murdered by the natives towards Wairoa, General Cameron, attended by his staff, and Lieut. Rait, R.A., and troop, made a recormaisanee in the district. The General visited the camp of the 18th, and was loudly cheered by the men. He addressed a few words to them, telling them that he was proud to have such a regiment under his command; that he would not wish for a finer set of men to go into action with; that they had behaved themselves well in both the actions in which they had been engaged, and he was especially well pleased with the last. This speech was interrupted by cheering, the General adding that the men could not have a better officer to command them than Captain Ring. Cheers were then given for the General and Captain Ring. A redoubt is to be built at Wairoa, I believe.