THE NATIVE WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1568, 21 December 1865, Page 3

THE NATIVE WAR.

REMOVAL OF TROOPS TO WAIROA. We take the following from the Hawkes Bay Herald of the 12th instant By the arrival, on Saturday evening, of the p.i. Sturt, Captain Fairchild, we have later news from the East Coast—the Bteamer, with Mr. M'Lean on board, having called at Opotiki, Waiapu, Poverty Bay, and Wairoa, as well aa many other intermediate places. The expeditionary force at Opotiki is now under the command of Lieut-Colonel Lyon. A section of natives, numbering, it is supposed, about one hundred and thirty men, and believed to have Patara amongst them, was still holding out against the Government. Their pah was in a place very difficult to be got at. The day of the Sturt's arrival, a party was out in quest of this pah, and exchanged shots with the enemy, but nothing definite was then done. A second expedition, in which friendly natives were to take an active part, was to be sent out in a day or two after. At Waiapu nothing had occurred worthy of notice. It was still garrisoned by thirtj men, under Lieut. Gascoigne. The friendly natives of this district had returned to their homes. The news from Poverty Bay is almost equally unimportant. The five days' fight, ing, which ended in the defeat of the enemy, and the evacuation of all his fortified pahs, virtually ended the war. Major Fraser and Captain Biggs .have come to Napier by the Sturt, and the force remaining at Poverty Bay, about 140 strong, is under the command of Captain La Serre. About 120 men had left for Wairoa, and Morgan, with the friendly native force, had returned to Waiapu. Captain Westrup and the Forest Bangers had been pushed forward to a position near a gorge in the direction of upper Wairoa, to co-operate with the Wairoa force, should hostilities break out in that district. It will be seen with regret, from our correspondent's letter to be found below, that the case of Lieutenant Ross was almost hopeless. Lieutenant Wilson was going about, and had nearly quite recovered; Dr. Ormond was also convalescent, and it was expected he would be out upon crutches the day after the steamer left. It will be seen that our correspondent refers to misconduct on the part of Morgan, the friendly chief. We print the letter iu question as it has come to hand ; but we are informed by Mr. M'Lean that an inquiry into the alleged depredations of Morgan showed that no such wanton destruction as that attributed to him took place. We also learn that Mr. M'Lean, before leaving, received an official letter from the settlers of Poverty Bay, to the effect that, upon, returning to their homes, they found the amount of damage to have been very much exaggerated, and expressive of regret that Morgan should have been publicly accused of such bad conduct. In connection with this matter, we have been requested by Major Fraser to contradict a statement, which appeared in this journal on the authority of a correspondent — that Morgan had left for Waiapu, in consequence of some words between himself and the officer commanding. It is matter of congratulation that the war has so speedily been brought to an end, and that already the settlers are enabled to return to their homes—all, in fact, having done so. From Wairoa the news has a warlike appearance. A force of 120 men, Napier and Taranaki Military Settlers, have been conveyed to Wairoa, and Major Fraser has received orders to see British law enforced in the district. Captain Hussey at present commands. Major Fraser has come to Napier, to take back supplies of ammunition, intending to return immediately; and the Hau-haYis will be quickly dislodged, unless, in the meantime, they prudently submit, which is thought most probable. THE RECENT MURDER AT WAINGONGORO. The correspondent of the Chronicle gives the following additional particulars in connection with this melancholy affair:— At 11 a.m. on Saturday, the 2nd instant,' an escort, composed of a sergeant and three troopers of the Military Train, accompanied by Mr. Fitzpatrick, Commissariat Clerk, and a man of the C. T. Corps, named Harvey (all mounted), left this post for Manawapou by the beach. They arrived safely in Manawapou. They started again in the evening for Waingongoro by the same route as they took in the morning, and proceeded unmolested till they reached Tangahoe; one man, who was a long way in front, when about 400 yards north of that place, was fired upon by some Maoris, who, it seems, had laid an ambuscade on the steep cliff, which afforded good cover. His horse was hit in two places, and became so unmanageable that he rushed forward, thus cutting off all communication with the party in his rear. Poor Harvey, C. T. Corps, seems to have been the next who arrived at the place of ambuscade ; they fired on him, killed or disabled the horse he was riding, and wounded himself in the leg, near the knee. The poor fellow being thus disabled, and having no arms t nor any succour nigh, the ruthless fiends descended from the cliff to the beach, and tomahawked him in the most frightful manner, the left ear and left side of his head being fearfully mutilated, and his left thumb all but off, a slender bit of skin and fibre only attaching it to the hand. This seems to have been done while striving to save his head from the blows of the tomahawk. Mr. Fitzpatrick seems to be the next who reached the tragic scene; he urged onwards with all speed, and picked up the foremost man (Stone), whose horse had dropped down through fatigue and loss of blood, and brought him safely into camp. The sergeant and remaining men came into camp about half an hour afterwards; and, strange to say, saw no Maoris, nor were they fired upon, although they saw the dead man and horses. There must not have been a great number of them, or not a soul would have escaped to tell the tale. When the news reached camp, a party of the 57th immediately " fell in " to proceed to recover the body of the ill-starred man ; but by this time the tide was lashing the rugged cliffs—the journey was long—eight miles at least), and the evening far advanced, so that it was found to be impracticable. Accordingly, at one o'clock on Sunday morning (the tide answering), Colonel Butler, Captain Hasted, and Ensign, Holmes, with 64 noncommissioned officers and rank and file of the 57th, proceeded to the spot and found the unfortunate man near or on the spot where he was so brutally murdered (?); no further violence having been offered to him. Tne body was conveyed to Waingongoro, interred on Monday morning in the little cemetery there, I need hardly tell you that the sight of the mutilated remains of poor Harvey has caused great excitement and disgust against the Maoris among the soldiers here. '1 hey all think it high time that these dens of iniquity from the Patea northwards should be fired, and their inhabitants put to the sword. They are audacious cowardly ruffians, and require to be taught such another lesson as our brave colonials taught, and are teaching, their compatriots on the East Coast. • TURANGA. The following extract from a private letter, received bv a gentleman in town, has been handed to us (N. Z. Herald) for publical*on ' "Turanganui, Nov. 27. " You have, no doubt, heard all about the fighting here, as I saw a report in the Hawkes rlv naners We have the names of about seventy-three natives killed, and over thirty wounded. The Turanga friendly natives behaved very badly; they bit their cartridges, and threw the balls away, loading with powder only. There are, however, exceptions; Hemi Mahmki behaved first-rate. The pah natWes have arrived here to the number of forty and laid down their arms, a lotlofold tSs cleaned up for the occasion. William Kintt and his tribe, and old Lazarus will be to to-morrow. They qulto land is ail gone. Anirew MattW ond about forty followers have gone to the wairoa. Mr McLean will be here whv to Opotiki, when we shall know wnai part of the land *111 be confl.caMd. We have tots of business, there tang from 800 tolM» whites at Turanganui. The trade on th coast i» completely done up, everything being

destroyed, and nothing put into the ground this season. " The settlers, I am lorry to say, hate lost more by the troops and friendly natives than by the Hau-haus. Since the pah was taken, our fences, and gardens have been all destroyed, and bullocks, horses, &c., either taken away or killed by our defenders. Turanga will take years to recover this blow." EAST COAST. The correspondent of the Advertiser, writing from Turanganui, Dec. 8, says:— Since my last there has not been a single attempt, not even a rumour, of there being any chance of fighting. The fanatics who fled irom the pah at Bishop Williams's have nearly all surrendered, marching voluntarily in, and submitting themselves to our old, good, and truly well-proved ally, Morgan, of whom more anon. He, together with them, proceeded a few days back to the Waiapu,some by land and some by the Sturt, which arrived here opportunely with the Superintendent on board, who has made a most satisfactory visit to every station on the East Coast. Everywhere except at Opotiki, where onljr a few Eau-haus hold out; everything, I believe, and I have it from the very beßt authority, passed off most satisfactorily, even exceeding the Superintendent's expectations. The rebels see it to be a hopeless, and what I really believe they think of in a far greater sense than the one I mean, is a losing cause or game. Although I think this is a bright look out for the future for the district, and that it is peaceably settled, yet this settlement has a dark cloud—there are the dead, and, most unfortunately, there are left the dying. It is with the greatest regret that I have to report Lieut. Ross, of the Forest Bangers, past recovery; he has lingered on for the last four days, morning after morning, the question being asked by his many friends, "Is he dead ?" It is wonderful how he has survived so long. At one time he so rallied that two doctors out of three said he would recover. I fear, before these lines are read, he he will have been numbered with those who ; have so nobly poured out their blood in the i New Zealand settlers' cause—for it is their cause, and theirs alone. Again, I fear poor Pearson must succumb. Every one else is out of danger. Dr. Ormond (to whom the 1 men give so much praise) will move about in a few days. Captain Wilson and most of the men are convalescent. The Forest Rangers move up to-day to command a position between here and Waiapu, and act in co-operation with the troops there. I hear there is something likely to occur there. The Sturt is about to leave, taking Major Fraser, Captain Biggs, Lieutenant and other officers, and some men, to Waiapu, the Major having had strict orders to enforce the English law to be carried out. It is needless to «ay that he will succeed, although perhaps at the cost of a little life ; but we trust without it. I very much regret to tell you that Captain Percy, of the Wanganui Cavalry, went from Opotiki in the schooner Jane to Auckland, and that, although he may probably live, that he has lost the use of his leg for ever, even if he recovers. MORE TROOPS GOING HOME. The Hawkes Bay Herald, of the 16th inst. sayß :—" H.M.s. Esk, Captain Luce, arrived from Auckland on the morning of Tuesday last, having on board the head-quar-ters of the 12th Regiment; and on the following day took her departure with the headquarters of the 70th. While welcoming among us the one regiment, we cannot but express regret at the departure of the other. Officers and men, during their sojourn in Napier, have commended themselves in a variety of ways to the towns-people, whose good wishes will follow the gallant 70th wherever their lot may be cast. The left wing, consisting of the three companies under command of Captain Kay, still remains in Napier, but will take its departure upon an early opportunity—the Ida Zeigler, by which the regiment proceeds to England, being nearly ready for the embarkation of troops." Major-General Chute and Staff.— Major General Chute and staff, accompanied by Colonel Haultain, arrived at Wanganui from Auckland, via Taranaki, by the Storm Bird, on Monday afternoon, the 11th inst.— Independent, Dec. 19. REGULATIONS RESPECTING THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT PRIZES FOR THE BEST RIFLESHOTS, 1865-6. « The following is an abstract of the circular by the Government to the Militia and Volunteers :— Colonial Prizes. £ b d The Champion Prize of New Zealand ; the winner also to keep and wear the champion pouch and belt until the next Government colonial prizes are shot for ... ... ••• 100 0 0 2nd prize; the winner also to receive the medal presented by the Council of the National Rifle Association .... ... 75 0 0 3rd prize 50 0 0 4th prize ... 30 0 0 sth prize 20 0 0 District Prizes. CanterburyMilitia and Volunteers (two districts). 1. Two prizes of £10 each 20 0 0 2. „ of £7 Is '15 0 0 3. „ of £5 each 10 0 0 4. ~ of £3 each 6 0 0 " 51 0 0 Similar prizes are offered for the military settlers employed on the East Coast. Competitors for the colonial prizes will fire at ranges of 400, 500, and 600 yards, 5 shots at each range, without artificial rest; any position. Size of target, 6x 6 ; centre, 4 feet; bull's-eye, 2 feet. Value of points: bull's-eye, 3 ; centre, 2 ; outer, 1. The firing for the colonial prizes will take place at or near the town of Wellington, on a day to be named by the Government. For the colonial prizes not more than 23 competitors can be permitted, of whom the town and suburbs of Auckland will send 2 ; the Ist Waikato Regiment, 1 ; 2nd ditto, including Forest Rangers, 1; 3rd do, 1; 4th ditto, 1; the town and suburbs of Taranaki, 1; the Taranaki Military Settlers, 1; the town and suburbs of Wellington, 1 ; the Hutt, 1 ; the Wairarapa, 1; liangitikei, 1; Wanganui, 1 } the town and suburbs of Napier, 1; the Napier Military Settlers, including the force on the East Coast, 1; the province of Marlborough, 1; the province of Nelson, 2 ; the province of Canterbury, 2 ; the province of Otago, 2 ; the province of Southland, 1; total, 23. The passages of these competitors to and from Wellington will be paid by Government, and a sum of ten shillings a day.will be allowed to each non-resident during his detention at Wellington. t Competitors for the colonial prizes will be chosen as follow:—The 20 best shots for each set of district prizes will fire 5 shots at each range of 400, 500, and 600 yards, without artificial rest, any position; size of target same as used in firing for district prizes, and value of points the same. The highest scorer will be the representative of the district to compete for the colonial prizes ; but no district will be allowed to send a representative who does not score at least 30 points. The " District Prizes" will be open to all officers of the colonial forces, to any person sworn in and now serving as a militiaman or in the Defence, and to all members of volunteer corps. Every intending competitor must give notice in writing of his intention to the commanding officer or adjutant of the district in which he resides on or before the 24th of December. Such officer commanding or adjutant will thereupon appoint some day in the month of January, 1866, for the firing. Competitors for the district prizes will fire at ranges of 300,400, and 500 yards-five shots at each range, without artificial rest, any position ; size of target and value of points same as for the colonial prizes. No prizes will be given in any district unless there are 20 competitors. No person will be allowed to compete for prizes in more than on# district.