THE POSITION AT RANGIRIRI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XX, Issue 1165, 3 December 1863, Page 3

THE POSITION AT RANGIRIRI.

STORMING OF THE MAORI WORKS. , (from the southern cross, NOV. 25.) 1 I will attempt a brief description of the position 1 occupied by the rebels, in order to convey to your i readers some idea of the place where the desperate i struggle took place, on Friday last. ' Rangiriri is situated about 15 miles from Mere- f mere, and the ground upon which the fortifications i were made is, on account of the recent floods, formed i into a kind of spit, having the Waikato on one side « and a deep swauip running round from the river, j leaving the only approach by land on the Meremere side Advancing from this track the first line of j entrenchments become visible, extending from the , river on one side to the swamp on the other. On ] the summit of the high land, and nearest the swamp, | are the rifle pits, or more properly speaking a forti- , fication of great strength, planned with an ingenuity , which would reflect credit upon a more civilised ( race. By the arrangements of the trenches, a small , party of men could deliver a withering fire upon an attacking force without exposing themselves, and the depth of the ditches, and narrow passages of communication from pit to pit, rendered it impossible, after getting down into them, for the besiegers to pass through except in single file, which of course exposed them to certain death. Passing from these lines we come to the whares built in cuttings in the side of the hill, and completely protected except from shells. The hill then dips a little, and again rises to about the same height, upon which there is another line of entrenchment, but not nearly so strong as the first, and apparently only half finished. On a rise a little to the left are more pits, but in an unfinished state and evidently intended to guard the rear as from thence the land slopes down to the swamp. This high ground is about half a mile from the river, and between it and the river lies a large level fiat, extending from where the line of entrenchment meets the river round to the swamp on the heights. It was on this flat that the troops landed from the steamers, and went round to the right to cut off the retreat There is a good landing-place, which was evidently not intended to be left undefended, as a number of half-finished pits are there hidden from the water side by a row of trees, and which, had thev been occupied, would have been very troublesome. About 200 yards from the landing-place stands the church, round which a ditch had been commenced, showing what would have been done had time been allowed for them to complete their intentions. As it is, it is the strongest position that has ever been taken or seen here yet, and the only wonder is that our losses were not greater than they are. I have no doubt many will think that our loss is very severe considering the advantage gained. In one sense the loss is great; but those who have seen the place, and witnessed the withering vollies that were poured upon the storming parties, only wonder that the casualties were not greater; and it should . be borne in mind that our troops were in the open, and the enemy ensconsed in comparative safety be- • hind his entrenchments. As regards the advantage > gained, I think it will be found that great results r will ensue from this. I shall be able t0 c . ot ? r """ cate more on this subject before I close this letter. 1 Having written a brief sketch of the place, I will go back and give as near as I can a detail of the , whole affair, as I am afraid that the hurned etter l sent yesterday will convey but a poor notion of what happened. My only excuse is that l ad so i short a t me to collect intormation and wnte in , order to catch the steamer. The rain falling all the ' fimp T was writing the letter, and blotting what I wnrte, rendered it a difficult matter to get through • ssarsisi t °° a t CC be" n able to ascertain, but hope to " i. '",,? rt . enniog) amounted to 48 officers, and ?°,4 5 non-commissioned offlyer, J»d iiSfaTfcr « action wfoiloTO-Prota

Meremere, the Royal Artillery with two guns, Royal Engineers, 12th, 14th, and 65th, with 75 men of the 40th Regiments; the remainder of the 40th were conveyed up by the river in the guuboats Pioneer and Avon. The force by water being intended to cut off the retreat iu rear, a movement which only partially succeeded, from unavoidable causes which will appear as I proceed. As I mentioned in my last, the arrival of both parties was, as regards time, everything that could be desired, and at the time that the guns on shore opened fire, the steamers were just opposite the landing place; hut after the Pioneer had cast off the small gun-boats, which had materially assisted to steer lier on the passage up, it bacame a matter of great difficulty to get her alongside the bank, as on account of her great length the effect of wind and current was so great as to render her almost unmanageable. During all this time the gunboats and Captain Mercer's battery were keeping up a heavy fire of shell upon the enemy's position, to Avhich they replied by firing their pieces, sometimes singly and again iu volleys, doing no damage, our men being far out of range. Seeing from the position of the steamer that it did not appear likely that she would soon be able to effect a landing of the troops, and the afternoon being very much advanced, the General ordered an advance. The 65th, being told off for the storming party, advanced in the following order:—No. 1 company, under Lieutenant Toker, in the centre. No. 2 on the right, under Captain Gresson; and No. 10, under Lieutenant Talbot, on the left. No. 9 made up to 100 strong, under Lieutenant Pennefatlier, formed a support about 100 yards in rear. From the deck of the steamer the advance was plainly visible, but the nature of the ground prevented the most impregnable part of the position, which was over the brow of the hill, from being seen. On the bugle for the advance sounding, the men rushed forward, led by their officers, covering the distance which lay between them and the object of attack at a rapid pace, considering that a thick ti-tree scrub covered the whole ground, and under a heavy fire from the enemy gained the first line of pits, over which numbers of them sprang and engaged the enemy. In this advance Captain Gresson received his wound, when the command of the company devolved on Ensign Spiller. The remainder of the land force came up shortly afterwards, and the enemy were driven from the outer works and took refuge in the heart of the position, which was of such strength that it was found impossible to dislodge them without an immense sacrifice of life: but lam a little advanced in my tale. On the advance of our men a number of the enemy retreated from the first line of pits to the rear position, and as the attacking force increased, those who had a way open for escape made off to the rear, towards the swamp. To cut these off, a party of men of the 65th, under Lieut. Pennefatlier, was detached, and, after skirmishing through the ti-tree after the flying enemy, they poured in a fire amongst the bush just on the edge of the swamp where they were seen to enter in great numbers. The effect was to drive them into the water, into which they plunged, and to the number of more than a hundred commenced swimming and wading to the other side, a distance of a mile. At this time the steamer had succeeded in getting alongside, and the troops were quickly ashore, a party taking the course round the right by the swamp; these came upon the swimming wretches, and a shower of bullets was kept up, numbers of the rebels being seen to sink, to rise no more alive. Only a comparative few escaped, by finding shelter in the different patches of scrub that were scattered about here and there. The scattered portions of the enemy being disposed of, the whole of the troops were disposed around the entrenchments, which I mentioned in my description of the position as being situated in the first line, and just over the brow of the hill on the swamp side. In this position a number of the enemy were posted, and several attempts were made to take it by storm, but, from its peculiar formation, they failed, every officer who led being either killed or dangerously wounded. The only means of access was by a narrow opening through which only one man could enter at a time, thereby rendering it impossible for those in rear to follow up quickly in support. It was in these attempts that the greater part of our loss was incurred. Captain Mercer received his wound here. Midshipman Watkins, of the Curagoa (who, I should have mentioned, was with Lieutenant Alexander, of the same ship, (also wounded) had charge of a six-pounder Armstrong, and marched from Meremere with the land force), met his death in leading on his men. Commander Mayne, in leading on the blue jackets, was also wounded, and several other officers were woimded in like manner. The Maoris evidently knew the importance of this inlet, and defended it with great resolution. The hour was now getting late, and the General finding that the attempts to take the place by storm were only attended with loss to the troops without any advantage being gained, gave orders for the parapets to be undermined and blown up, and the attack to be deferred until daylight in the morning. Accordingly, the whole force was disposed round the position, occupying the trenches immediately around. The digging was commenced, but from the nature of the soil, a loose sand, it was found impossible to drive in any distance as the earth fell in before making much progress. However, it had the effect of reducing considerably the parapets on the side operated upon, and would have afforded a better road of ingress for the storming party, which was told off to attack in the morning. During the whole night our troops lay around, the enemy keeping up a fire and shouting and yelling in a frightful manner. But notwithstanding all this they evidently were aware of the trap into which they had fallen, and that their success was only a temporary one, and that the morning would see the attack renewed, for soon after daybreak the head chief, bearing a white flag, stood up upon the parapet, and called for some Pakeha who could speak Maori.

Mr. Gundry, Interpreter to the Forces, advanced, but in the meanwhile our men had crept up and the whole party were surrounded before they were hardly aware of it, so that whatever terms they might have been disposed to surrender upon were rendered useless, ail unconditional one being their only resource Their lives were therefore spared upon this condition, and they were complimented by the General upon the brave stand they had made. The party upon being brought out was found to number 185, including one or two women, with 175 stand of arms. A guard was put upon them, and, strange as it appears, but in war it is always so, the men who half an hour before, were plotting each other's destruction, were now chatting and laughing together—the Maoris appearing quite happy and contented, and sensible that their lives were perfectly safe in our hands. Amongst the prisoners are some chiefs of note, the names of whom I will endeavour to ascertain. Twelve of the party were wounded, but not seriously. Soon after the surrender, a party of natives to the number of about 30 were seen advancing over the hills from the direction of the King's place : they carried a white flag, and halted occasionally, as if undecided in their movements. Mr. Edwards, the interpreter, went out to meet them, and found that it was a party of four hundred men who, with William Thompson at their head, were coming to the rescue; but seeing the white flag and our flag flying on the I parapet, concluded that the garrison had surrendered j and that peace had been made. The messenger sent by Thompson to meet Mr. Edwards enquired the conditions upon which we were disposed to accept, and was of course told that of unconditional surrender, and laying down their arms, on which terms I understand that Thompson was willing to come in himself, but some amongst the party would not agree. However, Thompson sent his whalebone meri in to the General, which 1 believe signifies submission, and then the whole party turned back on the road they came. What will De the result of this remains to be seen. Before going any further 1 will state, as far as I have been able to ascertain, what the public are no doubt very anxious to hear, and that is the probable loss the rebels have suffered m this engagement. The number of bodies found in the trenches after the place was taken, amounted to 24, one of them being that of a white man, who was recognised as a deserter who had been in the artillery, the 65th and 12th regiments He had met the fate he so richly another I. reported to have b«™rt them, but had effected his escape, it is to be liopea that vengeance may yet overtake him. While on the subject of escape I may^ntiori; is « and swam the swamp, his j . arrived too were found in the . these, several bodies have »e gwell the i swamp, among them som lt - e | tQ 41> t i,i s j s f ar actual known amoun 1 when the swamp , below the t SXthen a mui [ dries up, or the bodies D g But th(m the ; and it i. but

to suppose that all that escaped did not do so scathless. It is not for me to individualize any particular act of bravery that was performed during the day, and it is scarcely necessary for me to say that the dauntless courage which belongs peculiarly to the British soldier, did not fail him here; and the officers led their men to the assault as brave men only can, confident in the knowledge that they were backed by men who had made the name of Englishmen famous in every quarter of the globe. That the service which has been performed by the whole force will be duly recognised by General Cameron in his despatches, I have not the slightest doubt, and therefore leave this subject as one on which I have no right to touch. During the engagement the Pioneer lay alongside the bank, and the wounded were conveyed on board as fast as they could be brought down from the scene of action. There they were attended by the medical officers, and disposed in the cabin below, every attention being paid to their comfort. The numbers being so great it was neccessary to convey some on board the Avon, and the cabins of both vessels were well filled. The church was set apart solely for those who had fallen, and on the morning following the bodies were disposed around, the flooring being covered with ti-tree. I visited the church and viewed the bodies as they lay in the last attitudes of violent death, but the sight of one's own countrymen lying cold and stiff, who but a few short hours before had been filled with life, is but a sorry sight, and I made but a short stay. The only consoling thought I had was that all had fallen in that cause which every Englishman considers his own, that of upholding the cause of his country, even at the expense of his life. I have now only half an hour to finish this, as the General has kindly consented to allow my letter to be sent by the steamer, if ready by that time, and so I shall therefore defer writing further, but reserve additional particulars until my next. The two steamers came up this evening, after taking down the wounded and a portion of the prisoners. I shall have more to write on this subject! in my next. The following is the list of the killed and wounded:— MARCHING OUT STATE. Royal Artillery. 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 staff officer, 4 sergeants, 1 trumpeter, and 46 rank and file. Total: 3 officers, and 51 rank and file. Royal Engineers. 1 field officer, 1 captain, and 13 rank and file. Total: 2 officers, and 13 rank and file. 12th Regiment. 1 captain, 3 subalterns, 1 staff officer, 5 sergeants, 2 drummers, and 101 rank and file. Total: Officers 5, rank and file 108. 14xii Regiment. 1 field officer, 2 captains, 4 subalterns, 2 staff officers, 8 sergeants, 3 drummers, and 164 rank and file. Total: Officer 9, rank and file, 175. 40th Regiment. 2 field officers, 5 captains, 10 subalterns, 2 staff officers, 14 sergeants, 8 drummers, and 378 rank and file. Total: Officers 19, rank and file 400. 65th Regiment. 1 field officer, 1 captain, 6 subalterns, 2 staff" officers, 15 sergeants, 7 drummers, 376 rank and file. Total: 10 officers, 398 rank and file. Grand total: 6 field officers, 11 captains, 24 subalterns, 8 staff officers, 46 sergeants, 21 fife and drummers, 1,078 rank and file. | OFFICERS BY REGIMENTS. Staff.

General Cameron, C.8., in command. Major McNeil, A.D.C. Lieutenant St. Hill, A.D.C. Colonel Carey, C.8., D. A. General. Colonel Gamble, D. Qr. M. General. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir H. Havelock, Y.C. P. M. O. Mouatt, C.B. and V.C. Royal Artillery. Captain Mercer, Lieutenant Pickard, and A.S.S. Temple. Royal Engineers. Colonel Mould, C.8., Captain Brooke. 12th Regiment. Captain Cole, Lieutenants Crawhall, Phillips, and Mercer. 14tii Regiment. Colonel Austin, Captains Strange and Phelps, Lieutenant Langtry, Ensigns Swanson, Calwell, and Howatt, Lieutenant and Adjutant Giancy, Acting Quartermaster Ensign Green, Staff Assistant-Sur-geou Kellett. 40th Regiment. Colonel Leslie, Major Bligh, Captain and BrevetMajor Bowdler, Captains Hon. J. Le P. Irench, Cooke, Clarke, and Hines; Lieutenant and Adjutant Whelan, Lieutenants Dudgeon, Phillips, Hobbs, Lucas, Moler. Brook, and Morgan; Ensigns Gomez, Ducrow, and Robinson; Surgeon Styles. 65th Regiment. Colonel Wyatt, Captain Gresson, Lieutenants Toker, Pennefather, Rickson, Talbot, and Chevallier, Ensign Spiller, Surgeon White, Lieut.-Adjutant Lewis. CASUALTIES. Artillery. killed. Officers, none; Bombadiers and Gunners: Bombadier Martin; Gunner Culverwell, Gunner Kevan. WOUNDED. Officers, Captain Mercer, Sergeant-Major P. Hamilton, Gunner J. Bold. Total Casualties:—Killed, 3 privates; wounded, 1 officer, 1 sergeant, 1 gunner. 12th Regiment. killed. Lieutenant Murphy, Privates Needham, Osborne, Sayers, Shea, G. Smith, and Wood. wounded. Corporals Norgrove and Savage; Privates Baxter, Bozen, Cain, Dornan, Doward, Gainger, McCamon, Mcßeynolds, Molloy, Maloney, Meade, Yates, Boucher. , , Total Killed:—l officer, 5 privates; wounded, 15 rank and file. 14th Regiment. killed. Lance-Corporal Burrell; privates T. Bellew, E. McCrory, Nowland, H. Russell. WOUNDED. Lieutenant-Colonel Austin, Captain Phelps, Sergeant Mansbridge; Privates Shinton, Lewis, bwaine, Murray, Carroll, Hannigan. Total Killed:—s privates wounded; 2 officers, ana 7 rank and file. 40th Regiment. killed. Privates: Loughlin, Barber, Howne, Goldsborough, Usher, Daley, McNally, Johns. WOUNDED. Fnsisn Ducrow; Corporals Holnberg, and Mann; PrSST". 8.11, H«Ur. G.nn e s, Roberts, Doran, Scales, Jones. nffi nd Total killed—B Privates; wounded, 1 Otncer, ana 12 Bank and Pile. 65th Regiment. . killed. Privates, Bell, Blackburn, Cavanagh, Clarke, HepJohnson, King, Manley, M'Leland, Mooney, Neat, Roberts, and M'Causland. wounded. Pn-ntnin Gresson, Lieutenants Chevallier, Talbot, r> ;ffln Wsilmn Hopwood, Home, Law, McAdam, Mcßar'ney, McConnell, McLean, Mulli n , Mirren, JNorris R Norris, Russell, Shean, Smith, Swift, War--IHToUl'killed—Privates; wounded, 4 Officers; 3 Sergeants; 1 Drummer; and 30 Rank and File.

MISS RYE'S EMIGRANTS. To the Editor of the ' Times.' Sib, —All great bodies move slowly.—There is nothing to report about the proposed Servants' Home, and I am awakening to the cruel conviction that my return to London will date about the middle of a.d. 1900. During the next ten years it is confidently anticipated that a resolution will be carried, not unanimously, but still carried, to the effect " that it is desirable to get the best sort of girls to emigrate." During the following ten years it is believed that an opinion will be expressed to the effect that, " having induced respectable women to come to the province, it is proper that some other provision than the barracks (in which they have only a right to remain one week) should be made for them after landing." Five years will be required to combat the idea that, as the first cblonists underwent gteat privations, dwelling in tents and dismal caves, so all emigrants are bound to follow in their steps, and be made as uncomfortable as present circumstances and the police will permit. It is a singular coincidence that all new books, watches, and the finer descriptions of merchandise are in this province exposed for awhile after landing to the action of the weather, and left (such is the singular consistency of this people) open in tents by the wayside, that they may be hardened and prepared for colonial use. At the end of twenty years there can be no doubt that the educational question will he considered ; it will then be remembered that governesses as a body are poor, and the motto of Christchurch being " Not given to hospitality," that it will be advisable some distinct provision shall be made for the reception of teachers. Had I the longevity of a Wandering Jew promised me, perhaps at the end of these thirty years I might be sufficiently interested in the subject to report the progress of the plan. As it is, I shall wander into the plains and tell you, if you care to listen, what men may do if they come to Canterbury; and first, I shall say a few words about the land question, for I feel sure that there are many persons in England who will be glad to receive a little definite information. The coast-line of Canterbury is, as you are most probably aware, upwards I of 150 miles in length, and the level plains of the I province contain over two millions of acres of land. This acreage does not, of course, include the lands lying on the west side of the snowy ranges —that long line of clay and slaty hills which forms the western boundary of the long tract of level land known as the Canterbury Plains. The western coast is destined some day, and that a not very distant one, I believe to form another and separate province. From all sides we learn here that the land is rich to repletion in metals and timber; the coal is described as cropping out in many places and to be of excellent quality, and there are very strong suspicions that gold is there too in abundance. At any rate it is known in this village that two men who who have comfortable houses and abundance of work are working claims more than satisfactorily during this the winter season; and when it is known that there is only one pass (the Teretnakau) through this backbone range from Canterbury into the West Coast, and remembered that the snow lies thick on tiie range, and that all provisions must be carried either on a packhorse or a man's back, it will readily be seen that there must be some very strong inducement to draw these men for months together westward, and that it is not improbable that a rush may occur towards the spring. The timber is described as remarkably fine, but very dense, and it is expected that an immigration of sawyers, miners, and diggers will take place direct from England. To return to the land in the plains. I believe every acre is appropriated, and that some years ago. Formerly, if a gentleman wanted a run he merely made application for a certain definite piece of unoccupied land which became his—i.e., devoted to his use—on the easy condition that he stocked a 20,000 acre section with 1000 sheep within a certain time, an intending station master paid a certain sum down as a guarantee for the fulfilment of his pledge, and the bargain was concluded. Now, a gentleman buys any run that may be in the market, and of course pays in proportion to its advancement and the improvements that may have been made on it. But no run is a freehold, and the stationmasters are simply tenants on sufferance, with permission to buy their own land if they wish. All land in this province is £2 per acre, and any man, no matter how mean his birth, or what his occupation, can purchase any portion of land that suits his purpose. Should any man, however, select a piece of land that had been improved by the stationmaster, the latter is immediately informed of the fact, and his right to become the first purchaser is admitted, and six weeks allowed for the completion of the sale. Should he, however, fail or refuse to fulfil the purchase, the stranger steps in and completes the bargain, on one condition—viz., it is imperative that he buys 20 acres of land, that being the smallest country section sold. The country is almost entirely a grass country, the plains being covered with tussock, a brown, reedy-looking grass, that grows in clumps to the height of nearly a foot. There is a small English-looking sort of short grass to be seen in places here and there at the foot of the tussock, but it is scanty and irregular; in such places, perhaps, a sheep could be kept to every acre, but as a rule it takes two and even three acres of tussock grass to keep one sheep. I have been told that, owing to the high winds, it is nearly impossible to sow English grass seed; but since hearing that report I have seen several acres of land laid down in good greeu English grass, and hear that the possibility of carrying this out on a large scale is likely to be one of the most important features of New Zealand pastoral life. The plains from the sea-bord of the east coast (there is a forty-mile and a ninety-mile sandy sea beach, divided by Banks's peninsula) to the base of the snowy range rise no less than 900 feet in the 50 miles -, while the rivers are not only continually changing their beds, but the beds of the rivers are themselves considerably higher than the surrounding country. The latter fact may perhaps be accounted for by their being mountain torrents, dragging down from the ranges the debris and rubble of the rocks. The beds being, however, fuller of boulders than debris would seem to upset this idea, and there must be many torrents from many mountains in Europe and elsewhere bringing as much dirt in their descent, and yet flowing through land lower than the surrounding country. The change in the course of the rivers, always near their mouths, has been attributed to the setting in of the violent gales from the south-west, which have driven the sand across their mouths, barring their outlet, and so damming the waters that 1 at last they have broken out and formed fresh channels a little to the north ; for though some of these small rivers have changed their course four times, yet the move has always been to the north at each separate move. . There is really very little swamp land m Lanteiburv, fortunately, as drain tiles are £12 per 1000, a fact which precludes any of Mr. Parke s schemes being carried into effect, though his plans are well known and discussed here. lam told by competent judges that when labour is something under Bs. a ■ day, or Is. an hour, as at present, farming will pay, ■ and I scarcely like to contradict my informant; but the land in part seems stony, cold, and poor well L enough for sheep and cattle, but not likely to carry C °Talking of wages, a good story was told me the other day of a " new chum." a single man, who came to be hired. His agricultural and pastoral experience was nil, and his wages at home about 7s. a week; but ' he was a « hand," and " would workforthe gemman if hi<j nlace worn't too far up country. wnat wages ?" " Why, now, measter, I'll be asking £150 per 'nnem, and I be're going to marry soon, and my ; missus 'ull want ration and sharnt let earjyork "Oh " said the master, stop a bit, I think Ili ■ marr V and you shall take the station and give me ' £150 a year, and my wife shan't work, that will suit me best." And so man and master parted, no more being said,—an example I shall surely do well to follow. Tour faithful servant, g Kaiapoi, Canterbury, July 13.