FURTHER FIGHTING ON THE EAST COAST.

Marlborough Press, Volume VI, Issue 55, 12 July 1865, Page 3

FURTHER FIGHTING ON THE EAST COAST.

THE PA RECAPTURED BY THE HAU lIAUS. TWENTY-SEVEN lIAU HAUS KILLED. EIGHT LOYAL NATIVES KILLED AND FOUR WOUNDED. The S.S. Wellington, Captain Francis arrived in harbor last Sunday from Wellington bringing later dates to the Bth inst, Mr C. 0. Davis, well known as having been ) Editor of the Maori ‘Messenger,’ has been arrested for w'riting and circulating seditious documents among the natives. H.M.S.S. Eclipse, Captain Freemantle, returned to Wellington last Saturday morning with his Excellency the Governor on board. The Eclipse was unable to cross the bar at Wanganui owing to bad weather, consequently returned as above without bis Excellency having been able to communicate with the shore. The ‘ Hawke’s Bay Herald ’ of the 29th ult., publishes the following translation of a leite r received by Mr McLean from the Rev. Mohj Turei:— Te Ilatepe, 19th June, 1865. To Te Makarini, — My dear friend, greeting—Henare, our boy, has arrived here. He landed at Te Kawakawa ; but before he arrived a battle bad been fought. On the 9th of June we came from Tuparoa. When we arrived here, at Te Hatepe (we found) a Queen’s party waiting for Mokena. After the war dance was over, it was proposed (by them) to attack Tikitiki—a pa belonging to the Hau Haus of Waiapu. Patara with his party of Uau Haus from Taranaki, is at Pukemaire, together with the King Hau Haus from ltaukokore, and the Hau Haus of Kotara, Te Kawakawa and Heroera, also those of Waiapu, are all at Pukemaire. Te Mokena advised that rftsh measures should be avoided. Mr M'Lean had said wait till he arrived--which would be on Monday, or possibly < n Tuesday. Mokena said much in a eoncili tory tone, but the Queen party insisted upon proceeding against Tikitiki. On tiie morning of the 10'h an advance was made against Tikitiki, but on ariving there, it was found that the garrison had deserted that pa, and it was taken possession of by the Queen party. At midnight another party of Queen (natives) arrived at Te Hatepe to reinforce the Queen party who had taken possession of Tikitiki. They were forty in number, their chiefs (or leaders) were Makoare, Tuatai, Rawiri liajiai, Wiremu Kingi, Tannuhu, Rapata Wahawaha, and Erueti Torori. At day-, break on the morning of Sunday, the lltli day (of June) the forty started from Hatepe. /)n the road a messenger (from the first Queen party) was met, who begged them to hasten their march as Patara and his party were retreating. By the time Tikitiki was reached, fighting had commenced, and firing was heard . by them) in the bush. The forty advanced, forty men, with only eight guns, and five taps to each gun. Their principle weapons were meremeres (of whalebone or stone). Bravo! go-ahead Maori warfare! When ihe forty re idled the Queen party who were fighting against the llau Hans, they—the forty, armed with meremeres proceeded to cut off the retreat of the Hau Haus, but the Queen’s party called out ; “ 110 ! te Aowere ! halt till we speak with you. How shall we join our attack.” Te Aowera is the tribal name of the forty. Makoare Tuangi then answered, —“Continue your battle as you have commenced.” Then Makoare led his party through the water, and got before the Hau Haus. There had been killed by the first Queen’s party three of the Hau Ilaus. The forty then rushed to the attack, and when the main body of the Hau Haus became aware of their presence, they turned upon them, and attacked them, but the forly still advanced fighting. Two Hau Hau prisoners were taken, both chiefs. The Hau Haus seeing that their chiefs were prisoners, directed a fire from 70 guns upon the party of forty who had but eight guns to return it—their principle weapons being meremeres. The fighting now became furious, both sides elosiug in battle, and men dropping on either side. Here the prisoners taken by tin forty escaped, and the force fell back, all their caps being expended. In this affair four of the Hau Haus were killed and six wounded, which number being added to the three killed by the first Queen’s party makes thirteen altogether—seven dead and six wounded. Their prophet was one of the wounded. In the Queen’s party of forty men there fell nine, that is six killed and three wounded. Makoare Tuatai, (one of the leaders) and Henare Nihonilm, and other four killed, making a total of six killed three being wounded. This action occurred on the 11th ultimo.

Friend M'Lean—We ask you to give this affair your serious consideration—the manner in which we have fallen. Patara bolted to the Kawakawa, and the (Hau llau) party has returned to Pukemaire ; and intelligence has this day arrived that he has said he will attack by steatth, secretly (treacherously). All the King natives of Waiapu are mustered in one pa ; and and the King natives of the other side have mustered at Iloroera. There are hut us, that is myself and the women and children, at Te Hatepe The men have all been at Tikiliki from the tilth ultimo to the present day. The Queen’s flag has beeu hoisted above the liau llau flag Tile great desire of the Queen party now at Tikiliki is that soldi rs m.iy be sent to support then'; but the Almighty is our principal defence. My f ien.l haste to send us soldiers at once—this present, month Hostilities will doubtless be recommenced in a day or two, for the fortific.itions of both sides are close together (one opposi e the other). My friend, I hope you and the Government will consider our position, fori am telling you the truth. Farewell 1 and may God protect us all ! We request that prayers may he offered up for our prott~Aan throughout these troubles.