THE WAR IN AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1188, 26 January 1864, Page 5

THE WAR IN AUCKLAND.

CAMP TUIKARAMEA,

(from the correspondent OP THE 'S. CROSS.') January 11.

I paid a visit to the Whata Whata this morning, and found the force stationed there had not been strengthened by any fresh arrival since I last gave their number —namely, about 500—consisting of detachments of the 12th, 40th, and 65th Regiments, who started from Ngaruawahia on Saturday morning last, and arrived at Whata Whata about noon on the same day. Colonel Murray, of the 65th, is now in command of the force. The tents are pitched on the east side of the river, on a very level and apparently good piece of land, but not of very great extent, as a belt of bush intervenes on the northern and eastern side. The bush is but a narrow strip, I but contains some fine timber, which is now being J turned to good account in the construction of a stockade and redoubt. The redoubt will form two sides of a square, and the stockade the remaining two. It will cover an extent of ground of 108 feet by 96 feet, with flanking angles at the south and north corners —thus two of the ditches will be swept from the north angle, and two by the south, should the presence of an enemy in such close proximity ever require this to be done. On this, however, I am rather sceptical. The pallisading will be eight feet in height, and the breastwork six feet six inches inside and six feet outside. The ditch will be also about six feet deep. There will be a raised piece of ground inside the breastwork, of about eighteen inches to enable the soldiers to take aim comfortably from the top of the breastwork, and sweep down the invader. The picket and guard duties, with fatigue work, erecting the redoubt, keep the men fully occupied; but they go to work with a hearty goodwill, doubtless, comforting themselves with the reflection that a very few days more labour will suffice to complete the redoubt, when their labor will be materially lessened. The construction of the redoubt was commenced at nine o'clock on Sunday last, and was continued throughout the day. There was no cessation of work, even to enable the men to attend divine service, which was conducted by the Eight Rev. Bishop of New Zealand, who had ridden oyer there to conduct the service, after attending at Tuikaramea with the same object in view. The troops unengaged on duty were paraded for church service about midway between the camp and the belt of bush at the rear, and the felling and crashing of trees as they succumbed to the blows of the axemen—with vigorous work also at the redoubt—contrasted strangely with the solemn worship of God then being conducted a few paces distant. Such, however, are the exigencies of the conditions in which we are now living—engaged in active warfare with a savage and cunning foe—that not a moment must be lost before placing the troops in a position to resist any onslaught. The force engaged in the construction of the redoubt is 240 per day—namely, 120 from 8 to 12 o'clock in the morning, and 120 from 1 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The redoubt is expected to be finished by Wednesday or Thursday. The picket and guard duties also take up a force of 150 men per day, as a line of sentinels are placed along the edge of the bush and in other positions about the camp. The Colonial Defence Force are expected to arrive during the course of the day, and about 400 of the 70th Regiment also, from Ngaruawahia. On the completion of the redoubt, about 200 men of those already in the camp at Whata-whata will leave for Tuikaramea, leaving 200 at the camp. On the opposite bank of the river to that on which the camp is situate—the west side—a few native whares have been erected, aud are occupied by " friendlies "of W. Naylor's hapu. There is an abundance of peach trees in their enclosed paddocks, and a few cherry trees and apples. The peaches are unfortunately not yet ripe, but the cherries have all been taken from the trees, and, I presume, sold to the soldiers. On the camp side, also, there are a few whares, and a large peach-grove. The natives supply the troops with milk and poakas, occasionally, at a reasonable price. The piece of land on which this camp (Tuikaramea) is situate, is quite as level as that of Whata Whata, and of much greater extent. It is also more favoured as regards the distance of the bush, from the spot on wnich the tents are pitched. There are belts of bush visible, certainly, from the camp, but they are at such a distance as to create no fear of rebel Maoris making pop shots at any of the sentries or pickets. On the east side of the encampment there is a moderately high range of fern hills, beyond which lies another level tract of country, extending to the position pointed out as now occupied by the Ngatimaniopotos. Extensive fires are frequently seen in that direction, and which give rise to the idea that the natives are burning ofli the fern and scrub in the vicinity of their redoubts, to prevent our forces approaching too closely before been seen, and treated to a few volleys of Maori bullets. 'I he land in the vicinity of our camp had been ploughed up, but whether root crops had been sown and garnered before the arrival of the force here, I cannot say. There are a few rock and water melons now found growing about, and about a conple of hundred yards from the outermost tents a large piece of wheat, now approaching finely to ear, is met with. Pickets are stationed night and day on the hills before mentioned, and on the two hills on the opposite side of the river—on the old Maori track, which, I am told, leads to Waitetuna, about 200 men are thus employed nightly ; but the force at present stationed here, being about 900, the duties cannot be considered so heavy for the troops, as is the case at Whata Whata. Fortunately, also, the weather continues very favourable, as, with the exception of one day since the troops came up here, we have scarcely had an hour's rain up to the present time. There appears no probability whatever, from outward visible signs,—and I may tell you the correspondents here have very little else to found their communications upon from the reticence observed on all matters interesting alike to themselves and to the public, —that Tuikaramea is to be the abiding place for any great length of time of the General. The troops now here, or those under orders to advance to the front. The position lias been occupied since the first of the month, but nothing has yet been done towards the erection of a stockade, a redoubt, or the throwing up a single breast work. The position taken up here, only a few miles from Whata Whata, may be simply put down as so many miles further advance inwards in pursuit of the rebels, and made use of as a temporary location until additional reinforcements shall arrive, and the means of transport be afforded for baggage and stores to make a further advance. Orders, I am have been sent to Auckland by the General for the officers of the 65th Regiment who arrived by the Chariot of Fame, to join their regiment immediately at the front; and like the 18th Regiment, they will thus probably arrive just in time for the attack, to make their names conspicuous in contributing their share towards crus ling the rebellion. It is said that a reconnoitering foj'ce of about 4uu will start from here in a day or so, to discover, l possible, the enemy's position and strength, and the most feasible mode in which to attack liini wi i advantage. Four days' cooked provisions are to he taken, and no tents, so that should the weather prove unpropitious the expedition will not be or most comforting nature. , A party of about 20 Forest Rangers, under the command of Captain Jackson, came in sight of the camp yesterday, but I believe did not cyoss thei er. They started from Colonel Waddy s camp (50th) Waitetuna'the same morning, and scoured through the bush and open country, making a tramp or : about 20 miles, They had not fallen in with any | Maoris,

AUCKLAND

A great public meeting has been held in Auckland, presided over by the Superintendent of the province, with reference to the removal of the ; eat of Government. The meeting resulted in a petit ion being got up and forwarded to his Excellency Sir George Grey, with a request that he will transmit it to her Majesty the Queen, through his Grace the Duke of Newcastle. The following is a copy of the petition:—

Unto her most Excellent Majesty the Queen. The humble petition of your Majesty's loyal subject a, the citizens of Auckland, in public meeting assembled. May it please your Most Gracious Majesty,— That your petitioners approach your Majesty with sentiments of undiminished loj'alty and affection. That your petitioners are deeply grateful for the timely aid which your Majesty has rendered to this colony in its hour of need. That during the present great struggle your petitioners have cheerfully made every sacrifice that duty required, almost every man from 16 years to 60 having borne arms in defence of their homesteads, and to maintain the supremacy of the Crown and the authority of the law. That the unrivalled position of the city of Auckland, with its harbours on the east and west coasts, has afforded a base of operations for the Lieutenant-General commanding, which has enabled him to render instantaneously effective the aid so graciously sent by you Majesty from the Australian colonies, from India, and from 'Home. That while the city of Auckland has been found to be the best seat of Government in time of war, experience has proved it equally well adapted to governing the entire colony in time of peace. That events have fully justified the wisdom of your Majesty's councils in selecting the city of Auckland as the political and commercial capital of the colony of New Zealand. That the proximity of a large

native population renders it imperative that the seat of Government should not be removed. That your petitioners learn with the deepest feelings of regret that efforts are being made to remove the seat of Government to another part of the colony.

That your petitioners believe that one of the first results of the accomplishment ot such an object would be the dismemberment of this important colony, and the formation of two or three small and perhaps antagonistic communities. That your petitioners have always cheerfully discharged the duties imposed upon them as inhabitants of the metropolitan city.

That your petitioners are unable to discover any just grounds—either political, commercial, or social, for interfering with the decision of your Majesty in proclaiming the city of Auckland the capital of the colony of New Zealand. That your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to interpose your royal authority to prevent the accomplishment of the proposal to remove the Seat of Government. —Southern Cross.