WANGANUI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1442, 26 July 1865, Page 3

WANGANUI.

t HE GOVERNOR AT THE WEREROA PAH. CAPTURE OE THE WEREROA PAH. , % the s.s. Wellington, which aryesterday, we have the Wanganui Wroniele of July 19 and 22, from *wh the following extracts are taken

. . Is . Excellency the Governor. +«« k , re on Monday from Welling]Vr • y Lady Bud, together with iffif ,- y and top*- Bu,kel y- 0n a *i'w 8 Excel 'eney aud Brigadierj J Waddy, accompanied by Mr. anri Wereroa pah, bpi r.v / ema ' u there. Three of the rejj,,!' le * B ~"Aperahama, Pehimana, and in and lT t^r followers, have come f r ' been acting as messengers oftlli 6 Governor to the occupants about laa ' are 8a "l to number Haram men " The y are headed by a chief, who has toents ° !! rned a ea *" ear to the argu-amb-ist °^ ers ie Governor's to holfiu° rß ' and declares his intention t( ? the last An intertake nl a 6 waa said—was to suit in n u tblS mon " n g> and if it reit is belin i P rev i° us talks, pat'St l at , Nuk ™»™ that the further 7i i tan V force without Parley. As hi. Excellency i.

not particularly communicative as to his intentions, time alone 'will show whether this impression is correct.— July 19. Hau-hatts Surrounding Pihriki. —A report was brought down the river to Major Nixou by a native named Bewi Porangai, on Monday night, that Pipiriki was surrounded by a force of Hau-haus. Major Nixon came oyer to town immediately, and, through Capt. Percy, sent off a messenger at 10 p.m. to Nukumaru, to inform the Governor and Major Hookes of this intelligence. This morning Mr. Booth, R.M., was proceeding up the river, when he was met by some canoes which I had been obliged to return. Their crews coufirmed the report, which is not a very pleasaut one. It appears that about 400 $Sbels, under the chiefs Pehi, Topini, Tahau\ Te Waka, Te Ihu, and Ngaihuru, have taken possession of a cliff about 30 feet high, on the left bank of the river, about 300 yards below aud on the opposite side from Pipiriki, which commands a diffi-

I cultrapid, andthat they thereby prevent ' the ascent of canoes with provisions of which the Pipiriki garrison is said not to have an ample supply. This force, the number of which, nowever, may bp exaggerated, does not include the 200 •Eangitika natives on tbe march to Waitotara. They are said to have arrived at Onepuehu, which is somewhere between the head-waters of tbe Wangaehu and Mangawero, and may direct their march against any place which they may think most inviting— either Pipiriki or Parakino, or lower down. It is said, also, that Athene, a

pah some milesbelow Pipiriki, has been occupied by the rebels, but we are not aware that this report has been confirmed. This new manifestation of rebellion is doubtless connected with the fast and loose game that has been playing at the Wereroa pa, and has probably been hastened by the withdrawal of all the natives from the river.—lbid.

"Wreck of the Yarra. — This wreck was sold on Thursday last, by Mr. Finnimore. There was realised, in all, about £200. We believe Mr. Higgie was the purchaser, and that he will bring the vessel over the spit into the river on ways, as Mr. Colman is at present doing with the Lady Denison, that being a much safer, though possibly more protracted, mode of getting her afloat, than trying to get her into deep water on the seaward side of the spit.—lbid.

The Colonial Steamers. — We understand there are tenders for the Sandfly and Prince Alfred, advertised

to be sold, sent as directed to Nelson. There was an offer made in Auckland, we believe, of £2800 for the Sandfly, which was not accepted, being too low. The Moutoa, when tried in the "Waikato the other week, was found to answer very well, but it was deemed prudent to keep her there till better weather, as the risk of the passage of such a vessel down the coast at this time of year is considerable. We trust that when she arrives she will be found suitable for this river, although the strength of the current at some of the rapids makes it doubtful. She is now running in the Waikato, and is described as having the best accommodation for passengers of any of the steamers in that river.—lbid.

Pipibiki.—We mentioned in our last that this place had been surrendered by rebel Maoris. Little authentic intelligence has since been received.

The only intelligence that has arrived is given by a Maori woman from Hihuharama, who brought it from three natives, who stated that they saw and heard what they reported. These natives were three of the Ohoutahi prisoners, who, with the rest of their fellow prisoners, were lately released by the Government, and all of whom, except these three, are now fighting in the rebels' ranks. These men reported that the natives attacked Captain Brassey's position on "Wednesday, and that fighting was going on all that day. On Thursday morning, they state that one of the redoubts was rushed by the natives and taken, but they conclude merely that it was taken from the fact that? they saw it on fire —that is the tents and a whare inside of the redoubt— from the distance of half-a-mile. There

are three redoubts at Pipiriki—one, the bushrangers' redoubt, about seventy yards from the main position, and about thirty feet higher than it, held by the bushrangers, under Captain Hirst, who, however, is at present in town, and in whose absence the command devolves on Lieut. Newland; another small redoubt, about 300 yards further down the river than the main position ; and the main redoubt, which is commanded by the bushrangers'

post. It is the bushrangers' redoubt that is said to be taken.

But it is thought possible that the fire which the natives say may have been caused by the burning by Captain Brassey of the whares in the old pah, which was on the same ridge as the redoubt,and, in caseof an attack, might have afforded shelter to the enemy. It would appear that the attack was from the upper side of Pipiriki, bo that it appears to be surrounded. It is said that the natives have occupied a grave yard on the side of the hill commanding the whole position ; but that is, we suspect, merely a supposition. Precise reports were circulating yesterday as to the number killed, but to them no credit is to be attached. The

original native report is that several were killed on both sides. One thing is certain that the rebels are

most anxious to regain Pipiriki, and that they have surrounded it with a strong anxiety to accomplish their object. The garrison has provision for three weeks, but much of the pork and beef have been condemned as bad. It is said, however, that they are short of ammunition. The natives at Wereroa were anxious to go up the river on Monday as soon as the intelligence was received, but his Excellency the Governor retained "them till the Wereroa affair should be settled. They are coming in to-day and will go up the river to-morrow. We understand that they are to be aceompajiied by 100 men of the 57th Begiment, under Major Stewart, and that Lieut.-Colonel Logan will head tae

expedition,' aeoompanied by Mr. Broughton as July 22.

> ! The Wereroa Pah.—On Thursday four Armstrong guns were sent round 1 by the Favourite to Wuitotara. Yesterday a force marched for Nukumaru, ; consisting of 45 men of the Koyal ■ Artillery under Lieut. Care; eight rank and file of the Royal Engineers under Maior Brooke; 54 of the 2nd battalion 14tn regiment under Capt. GHancey; and 1(55 of the 68th under Captains Q-race and Casement. Yesterday, there were captured at Areiahi, a pah about a mile and a half above Wereroa, by the Native Contingent under Capt. M'Donald, 98 Maoris who were on their way to reinforce the Wereroa garrison. Of these 60 were men, and 38 women and children. The latter were set at liberty at the intercession of Hori Kingi, and the men are to be sent round by the steamer Favourite. Among them are said to be three Uriwera chiefs, who were concerned in Mr. Tolkuer's murder. The occupants of Wereroa were made aware of this capture, and seem to have been greatly disheartened by it; for, at twelve o'clock last night, the friendly natives rushed thd pah, and found no one in it but an old woman, while, at the same time the Forest Bangers I went into the position supporting the 1 pah, which they also deserted. This morning, the Wererqa pah was occupied by the troops. —Ibid. Major Yon Tempsky.—We regret to have to mention the illness of this gallant officer, who was brought into town in a cart, on Thursday evening. He had been out • for two nights, and had a severe attack of rheumatism, which so entirely prostrated him that he fcould not walk or even stand. We are glad to learn, this morning, that he is considerably better, and is able to recline on a sofa.—lbid,