The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1869.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 39, 17 February 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1869.

The following interesting description of the country to which Titokowaru has retreated, has been kindly furnished to us ! by a correspondent, who is intimately •acquainted with the whole of that district, and has also a considerable knowledge of the habits and customs of the Maoris now in arms against us : — On the fete occasion, when Colonel Whitmore took Mukumaru the Cavalry were ordered to advance and take possession of Te Wereroa, which they did cleverly before the Hauhaus had even a suspicion of the movement. It is to be regretted they cortld not keep their guns quiet for a little while, especially when they saw the rebels making straight for the same stronghold, and we may easily imagine the disgust they felt, when, after a few long shots, they saw the vagabonds take to the bush; had they only kept themselves concealed until the foe had HSQSQ© within a hundred yards, we should 4n, all, probability have received a good ;#ceount of them ;. it is doubtful if our men ever get such another chance offered t&k«m. The question, now is, where wil^

the Maoris retreat to ? probably they wi*' not stop in Waitotara, but go straight for the Patea, because from Patea to Waimate and back inland, is a district better supplied with prbvisions than Waitotara, and there also Titokbwaru and his band will feel themselves more at home, In the open country and for many miles back in the bush these Maoris have gardens of potatoe, tarokumara and maize. The river Patea, which takes its rise on the east side of Mount Egmont, ha 3 numerous settlements on its banks for many miles up, and Titikowarn's band is mainly reinforced from this inland district, {he himself belongs to the sea coast). If he finds himself hard pushed, he may probably retire to the natural fastnesses, of which there are many in this district. The country is for miles covered with dense forest with a most luxuriant uhder- , growth of supplejacks, and other creepers common to New Zeaiaud bush, which the Maori, accustomed to, goes through with ease—but which the white man finds very inconvenient for quick travelling. If the Hauhau takes to this country, our troops will have considerable difficulty in following, and when there, what can they do in a dense bush, aud very precipitous broken ground, against a foe who knows every little detail of the country, where to go, and which way to get there ? Or they may go nearer to Titokowaru's own district of Waingongoro, as unfortunately they have mauy places of great natural strength to select from. Many of our people may hive noticed when at Manawapo on looking in a north -easterly direction, two conical blue hills to which Titdkowaru may easily retire, this place the Maori calls Tirotiro moana (View of the Sea). It was here Ngateruanui defied Waikato, and here they religiously cultivate a certain amount of provisions. It is one of the strongest places of refuge the Maori has, being a large place cleared in the midst of the forest, and very difficult of access, and bounded on two sides by torrents which join, forming an angle something like the letter ty, the apex pointing towards The cliffs on the sides of these streams are almost perpendicular, and nearly, if not quite, 100 feet high. The Maori enters this place from Puketi, the junction of three roads, Ohangai, Manawapo, and Ki-te-raarae, and scales the perpendicular cliff by means of ladders made of a strong vine aod lashed together with supplejacks. Tha only other entrance to Tirotiro moana is between Araukuku and Ki-te-marae, and enters at the base of the angle, so that when at Tirotiro moana they are within easy distance of Te ngutu o te manu. It is not possible to starve them into submission, as they have supplies of provisions in almost every direction inland, i but the Maori, who is accustomed to the sea, does not like to lose sight of it, and will submit to' any hardship rather than do so, from which it is to be hoped that our troops may have a chance at them yet. These fellows are adepts at climbing trees, and our people when about to attack a place in or near the bush had need beware of ihe tree tops. Neither is it likely the Hauhau will stop at Waitotara, it is too near Patoka a name not to be forgotten by tbe Taupo Maori for generations to come. It was at this Patoka that the Ngateruanui Maoris under the guise of Wetereana (Wesleyan Missionary ism) entrapped about 800 Taupo Natives and killed nearly the whole of them, only one escaping to tell the tale. He took the name of Te Ara kie kie expressive of the road by which he escaped- A visitor to Patoka some few years since, might readily perceive the scalps of men and women still lying on the surfaoe of the ground with tibia and vertebrae scattered, and in heaps, bearing .testimony to the horrid feast. Each individual was invited into the Pa to hear the word of God from the Kawanata Hou (New Testament), and on answering the invitation was kuocked on the head directly he got inside the pa fence. It was a cowardly and brutal slaughter,' but one of which the Maori of Ngateruanui feels proud, and yet he is frightened to go into this Golgotha ; it is ' tapu and is likely to remain so. • It is surprising our Government have not availed themselves of these little bits ! of Maori history to engage allies. The words Patoka and Te Ara kie kie are be sufficient to stir the wrath of Taupo — as Waikanae and Ngakuku would do for j Ngatiraukawa. It is possible the report i circulated by Tamihaua te Waharoa has j considerable influence, ' that the troops

• • - under General Cameron burnt Rangiawhio with all the old men, women, and children in it, after they had been promised protection by the General' — this report known aud believed byevery Maori in the country will tend somewhat to ex- j plain the readiness with which those in j rebellion are supplied with arms, ammuui- ! tion, and provisions;, and withal the bitterness with which they fight. Bat, however true that report may be, we may hope Titokowaru's vanity will be strong within him, and induce him to remain on the sea-board, by so doing, Colonel Whitmore will be able to settle the little account that is pending between them, and make a short campaign of it.