IMPORTANT FROM TARANAKI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1233, 10 May 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

IMPORTANT FROM TARANAKI.

It is a singular coincidence that within a few hours of the time the troops were attacking the Gate Pah at Tauranga, the rebels at Taranaki had surrounded and attacked our redoubt at Sentry Hill. They were repulsed with considerable slaughter. We abridge the following from a Taranaki Herald Extra of the 2nd instant:—

From an early hour in the morning the natives had been heard shouting and chanting their war songs at Manutahi, and subsequently, from the sound, they appeared to be getting nearer, and about 8 o'clock they seemed to have reached the ford of Waiongana, and here they commenced yelling more like a pack of dogs than anything else. Shortly after this they were seen by the sentries in the redoubt, emerging from the bush which hides the Waiongana ford and which is distant about 800 yards. They advanced along the road in great numbers, estimated at 300, and probably not less, and made slowly but steadily for the redoubt. Captain Short, 57th Regiment, who was in command (Major Butler being at Mahoetahi), with very great judgment, ordered hit men, 75 in number, to lie down under the breastwork of the redoubt, and kept the sentry marching to and fro as usual as if no danger was expected. The Maoris advanced till the leading men were about 150 yards off, but there they halted ai if rather doubtful. Then Captain Short gave the word; the men sprang up and opened a murderous fire with their rifles and two cohorn mortars. The natives drew back a little, but stood the fire remarkably well taking such cover as the high fern and irregularities of the ground gave them. They returned the fire, but with hardly a hope of hitting any of our men, protected as they were by the breastwork of the redoubt. Drummer D. Hurley wounded in the shoulder being the only casualty on our side; indeed, it seemed after the first more as if they were fighting to cover the retreat of their parties "carrying off the dead and wounded, though one man, who must surely have been mad, come close up to the redoubt and was shot, within twenty yards of it. But when Major Butler arrived from Mahoetahi with reinforcements and ordered a charge, the last of them soon ran—leaving behind them 34 dead and wounded, three of whom, including Big Joe. were taken alive, the other two, Meihana and Wi Patene, however, died shortly after being brought in. The affair was not known of in town till 10 o'clock, owing, it is said, to the negligence of a signal man; but when known, Colonel Warre ordered the Bushrangers and Captain Stewart's company, 57th Regiment, to march for Sentry Hill, and proceeded thither himself, and interrogated Big Joe as to the cause of this seemingly mad attempt. The account we have heard states that they came expecting that our men would come out and fight outside the redoubt as they did at Allen's Hill on the 2nd October ; that on coming near and seeing no stir in the redoubt they thought it must be almost empty, and that they could therefore, take it easily. This accounts for what looks at first sight like mere madness, for they might as well try to take tlie Tower of London as Sentry Hill in broad day light. When Colonel Warre arrived, he sent Henare Matena to Manutahi, with a flag of truce, to say that they might fetch the bodies of their dead if they wished to do so. Matena was received very civilly; the natives were in a great state of grief, the women, &c., howling. He went into the pah at Manutahi, and saw Tamati Hone Oraukawa, of Ngatiruanui, and a large assemblage of Taranakis, Ngatiruanii, Puketapus, and Wi Kingi's people. They declined to accept the Colonel's offer, saying they were afraid. Henare was told that Hare Te Hokai, one of Wi Kingi's chief fighting men, was ngaro (missing). Henare having failed in his mission returned, and the flag of truce which had been kept flying at Sentry Hill during his absence was pulled down, the Union Jack hoisted, and the Bushrangers were sent out to look for the body Of Hare Te Hokai, but only found two guns and a few tomahawks.. Parenga Kingi (or Cucumber King as he used to be called), was the head of the hostile Taranakis. He was a civil well-behaved man in times of peace, but had a great taste for fighting, and did all he could to keep the tribe hostile to us. Manahi is another well-known man, and was supposed to have been concerned in the Omata murders. Hapeta was for a long time servant to Mr. I. N. Watt, and wounded some months since on the very ground where he has now met his death. Teopira is said to be a son of Tamati Hone, head chief of Ngatiruanui. Tupara Keina (Tubal Cain) was a leading chief of the Puketapu section of the Ngatiawa tribe. We hear it is not true, as was reported, that Big Jack was present at the fight; he was away, we believe, to the north of Waitara at the time.

Hera Pirere (alias Big Joe), the surviving prisoner, was brought into town on Saturday night, and his wounds were promptly dressed by Dr. Rawson. He has three wounds—one bullet smashing knee, another through leg (near ancle), and a ball through fore-arm (flesh wound). He is the only surviving member of a family of three, his two brothers, Manahi and Wi Patene, having been killed on Saturday. Our readers will recollect that Big Joe wm lodged in gaol on a charge of having been concerned, with his brother Manahi, in the Omata murders, but escaped from prison before trial. It is impossible to estimate the number of killed and wounded taken away by the natives themselves.

Captain Short deserves great credit for his excellent management of this affair, which has been a very great success, obtained at a merely nominal cost. It could hardly have been greater even if Major Butler had been stationed at Sentry Hill instead of at Mahoetahi, as any appearance of a large number being there (with tents, &c., outside) would have stopped the near advance, and so comparatively spoiled the thing.

Firing lias been heard in the neighbourhood of Sentry Hill this morning, but it does not seem to be anything serious.