THE LATE OUTRAGE AT THE BAY OF ISLANDS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 161, 5 April 1845, Page 19

THE LATE OUTRAGE AT THE BAY OF ISLANDS.

The Government brig arrived at Wellington on the 26th ultimo, bringing intelligence of the late calamity at the Bay of Islands. We are now enabled to lay before our readers additional information relative to the disastrous business.

The following extract from the Wellington Spectator of Saturday last, gives the best history of the affair we have seen yet : —

"On Tuesday morning, the I lth instant, at daybreak, the Maories Attacked the town of Kororarika in three separate divisions, amounting in all to about 600 in number. One division was led on by Heki, whose particular province it was to attack the flag-staff. The other end of the town was attacked by Kawite, and the centre by the sons of this, chief. Kawite's division, in approaching the town from Matavia Bay, was most gallantly attacked by Captain Robertson, of H.M.S. Hazard, with about thirty men. This heroic little band kept the whole body of natives at bay, and ultimately, to a certain extent, repulsed them. Captain Robertson, whose conduct was above all praise, was by this time severely wounded ; having received four 1 balls in his legs and arm, and was carried off the field. At this most inauspicious moment, John Heki surprised the soldiers (twenty in number) on the bill at the flag-staff, who were E laced there to protect and maintain the block- _ ouse. _ From an infatuation for which it is impossible to account, they came out of the block-houie, and Heki seized the favourable opportunity, killed three, and put the rest to flight, and thus easily obtained possession of this important post, which was the key to retaining possession of the town. Fifteen minutes afterwards the flag-staff was cut down. The inhabitants were panic struck at the success of Heki, and deemed it advisable to embark the women and children, who, up to this time, were kept inside of a stockade erected for their protection, and that of considerable property which had been deposited there by the inhabitants. Not long after the women were embarked, the stockade accidently blew up (no care having been taken of the gunpowder), and injured a great number of persons. This decided the fate of the day. , The town was shortly afterwards abandoned by the Europeans, and was immediately pludered by the Maories. who had thus signally defeated the Europeans and driven them out of their settlement with the lobs of all they had in the world. The work of plunder proceeded in a most deliberate and systematic manner. The Maories, at their leisure, carefully removed to the pa all the goods in the different

houses and stores ; every thing that they considered likely to be of any use to them ; stripped the lead from the roofs of the houses for the purpose of casting bullets, and then set fire to the town about thirty hours after the termination of the engagement. All the ecclesiastical buildings were spared ; and to prevent any injury to Bishop Pompajlier's house, the natives puUed down the adjoining building, a store belonging to Mr. Turner, and in doing so discovered and took possession of two thousand Eounds in money, which he had secreted beind the pannelling, in different parts of the building, before his departure for Syney."

The Auckland Chronicle severely censures the conduct of Archdeacon Williams: it states that this gentlemau declared publicly on Kororarika beach the night before the attack that there wat no danger, and derided the inhabitants for packing up and shipping their goods, while he and the protector, Mr. Kemp, took care to carefully ship their own goods, which are now safe in Auckland. The same journal also states that the success of the natives was greatly owing to the interference of the Bishop in endeavouring to promote peace ; and that had it not been for the presence of his lordship, the guns of the Hazard would have been brought to play on the natives when they commenced the plunder of the town. The bravery of the private soldiers, as well as the naval force, is highly spoken of; while the conduct of Lieutenants Campbell and Barclay of the 96th is condemned in no measured terms. After the block-house had been abandoned by the troops, Mr. Hector offered to retake it if Lieutenant Campbell would assist 4 him with his men. This the gallant gentleman declined doing, laying that "all was lost," though the fight had scarcely then begun. The late inhabitants of the Bay have had a public meeting at Auckland, at which it was resolved to apply to the Government for compensation for their losses.

At the meeting of the Legislative Council on the 15th ultimo, the Governor read extracts from his despatches to Lord Stanley, in which he had urged on his lordship the absolute necessity of having at least a full regiment of soldiers and two war steamers sent out to the colony immediately. The Attorney-General proposed the following resolution, which was carried unanimously : — "That the barracks be immediately made impregnable against musketry, and sufficient as a place of refuge for the inhabitants of Auckland ; and that the male population of the settlement be sworn in as special constables and efficiently armed; and that such arrangements and preparations be made that such armed force can be brought into active service at the shortest notice, under experienced and efficient leaders."

The Government brig left Wellington on Wednesday week for Hobart Town. The troops she may there obtain are destined for the southern settlements.

The inhabitants of Wellington are daily drilled under the direction of the authorities, and preparations are being made to put the town in a state of defence.