NATIVE NEWS. THE EAST COAST.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 38, 12 May 1869, Page 6

NATIVE NEWS. THE EAST COAST.

TE KOOTI'S EAID AT MOHAKA. SEVEN EUROPEANS AND ABOUT FORTY FRIENDLY NATIVES KILLED. DISCOVERY OF THE BODIES OF LAVIN AND HIS FAMILY. "We give below the particulars of the incursion of Hau-baus into the Hawke's Bay Province. The published accounts are contradictory in many particulars, but we have selected what appears the most consistent narrative from the Hawke's Bay Herald, of the 16th ultimo : — On Saturday morning, April 10, Te Kooti commenced his fiendish work about 6 a.m., by attacking simultaneously Arikanahi, a small pah up the Mohaka river, and tho houses of Mr. Cooper, Mr. Lavin, and other Europeans. They killed Mr. and Mrs. Lavin and their three young sons, aged three to eleven ; • Mr. John Cooper, and Mr. Richavd Wilkinson — the latter an old man, living at Mr. Stark's house. None of the bodies have been found except those of Mr. Lavin's three children j but this is accounted for through all the houses having been burned. No other Europeans are missing. The same day the Hau-hau3 attacked the pah Huko, which was garrisoned by Rutene, the policeman ; Heta, a very fine native 5 Rupihana, a son of Paul Rerepu ; and three old men, besides women and children. Tho inmates held out bravely against great odds. On Sunday morning a message came from Te Kooti, offering them their lives, &c, if they would surrender. Ho was unfortunately believed and the pah opened to the enemy. On being admitted, one man stepped forward, announced himself as Te Kooti, shook hands all round, and ordered all the guns to be handed over. All did so, with tho exception of Heta, who said : "If I give you my gun you will kill me." Upon this Te Kooti pointed his own gun at him, which Heta knocked aside, at the same time raising his own rifle and firing, the charge lodged in Te Kooti's body and he fell instantly. His followers thereupon shot Heta, Rutene, and others. Rupihana was shot through the body and fell with the rest, closo to the entrance of the pah ; but, during the confusion caused by Te Kooti being carried away, he managed to crawl aside, roll down the cliff into tho river, and hide on the banks till night, when lie crawled to the big pah, into which he was admitted. He is now under the care of Dr. Russell, who has hopes of his recovery. The above is the statement made by Rupihana and by the women examined separately. That Te Kooti fell, shot, there can now be no doubt ; but it is just possible he may only have been severely wounded. The story, however, goes that the Hau-haus took the Government whale boat and carried a dead body out to sea, that it might not be seen and recognized, and fired a volley on their return. The quantity of ammunition in the pah Huke was three kegs, two of which had been opened and partly used in defence of the pah. Probably two and a half kegs fell into the hands of the Hau-haus, besides what they got in the up-river pah and in the houses of the settlers. The following, so far as we can ascertain, is a list of tho houses burnt by the Hau-haus : — Two houses, old and new, of Messrs. Pearce, Mr. M. Hudson's (late Sims'), containing a large quantity of stores, Messrs. Stark's, Lavin's, Cooper's, Wishart's, and Allen's. The departure of the Hau-haus took place on Monday afternoon. They had previously in the morning sent their pack-horses, believed to be 100 in number, up the river, well laden with loot, chiefly stores from tho house of Mr. M. Hudson. On Tuesday their fires were seen at the base of the Putere Hill, nine miles from Mohaka. No fires were seen on Wednesday, and it is supposed, therefore, they had by that time crossed the Putere range, from whence they could either go to Taupo or to Waikaremoana. There is reason to believe that To Waru has a largo force at Waikaremoana ; that the organization of the Hau-hau movement is perfect, every place being studded by their scouts ; and that the leaders perfectly understand each other. The same journal gives the following additional particulars : — On Monday, April 12, Te Kooti (or supposing that scoundrel to be dead, his party) left Mohaka for Putere, further up the river, being the way they came. Having failed to take the big pah at Mohaka, reinforced as it was from Wairoa, they took their departure. No doubt remains that Mr. Lavin and family, Mr. Cooper, and Mr. Wilkinson, are dead. Mr. John Sim and family, and others whose murder was regarded as certain, have escaped — some by almost a miracle. The loss of the friendly natives is set down at forty, principally women and children, accounted for through the men having been away when the first pah was assaulted and taken. The rumour gains credence that Te Kooti was killed on Sunday, after he entered Te Huke, or the smaller pah. The letter of the friendlies says : — " Kooti deceived Rutene and by that means got entrance. Te Kooti is killed quite dead ; we saw him fall, but he wa3 taken away by them, there were so few of us." Kooti having been killed (in print) more than once, the public are naturally doubtful as to the authenticity of tho statement, but the expression of the letter we have referred to (which bears the signatures of Henare Pakura, Jehu te Kupa, and Tipene) is very strong, quite dead, and it is generally hoped that this arch miscreant has really been destroyed. The story goes that on Kooti entering the pah, he gave the ordes to kill all and sundry ; whereupon two young men who were closo by said — " Well, if we are to be killed, so will you be," and fired at him point blank. They themselves were immediately despatched. This raid of the Hau-haus on a peaceable settlement in the Hawke's Bay Province caused, as it well might, considerable excitement in Napier, and created a panic amongst the country settlers in the neighbourhood of the Mohaka river, and many at once sent their families into town. On the news of the raid reaching Napier, on Sunday, a party of militia and volunteers started at once for the scene of action, and, although not successful in encountering the rebels, who retired at their approach, they relieved a besieged pah, and were the means of ridding the district, ibr the present, of the scoundrels bent upon doing mischief. The following, addressed to the Deputy-Superintendent of Hawke's Bay, was written at Mobaka, at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, the 13th ultimo: — Towgood and his men, Tanner, and the whole party arrived at Mohaka this morning, numbering in all about 100 men. Found that Te Kooti had left yesterday morning. The Mohaka natives held out in the Big pah, reinforced by a small party from Wairoa. To Kooti said to be killed. Loss on our side, Lavin's family, Cooper, and Wilkinson (known), and about forty natives, principally women and children. Hau-hau loss said to bo about twelve killed. Enemy retreated towards Putere. Our main force, under Tanner, at the pah ; twenty men under Braithwaite at Mohaka blockhouse. Colonel Lambert expected to-night at Waikari ; our force will await his arrival. The force in want of ammunition. The following despatch from Colonel Lambert to the Defence Minister, dated Mohaka, April 15th, gives later particulars : — Sib — I havo the honour to forward a report of my proceedings since I marched the force under my command from Napier.

Marched at 12-30, on the 11th (Sunday), and arrived at Petane, and halted for the night, having pushed on Captain Tanner's troop of cavalry with instructions to reach Mohaka as quickly as possible, ceeping me informed of everything that he heard of the enemy, and to communicate with Captain Towgood, who was in advance. I halted at Petuno on the 12th, waiting for information from the front, and for the troop of Mounted Armed Constabulary which I expected to arrire early in the day, when I intended to march at night. The troop did not arrive so soon as expected. I did not march till daylight on the 13th. I had received information from Captain H. Russell that the enemy was still at Mohaka, and had not taken the pah on Sunday, and that from his position there would be every chance of crushing him. I then ordered the company of Volunteers, made up to eighty-four men, to march at daylight under Captain Wallace, and Nos. 1 and 2 Companies of Napier Militia, numbering forty each, to march later in the day, and also told off a party of Mounted Militia, who marched with Captain Wallace's detachment. I left camp about 7, a.m., and overtook the infantry. Pushed on with the Mounted Militia, and overtook Mounted Armed Constabulary at Awapawainui. Received a despatch from Captain Towgood to the effect thatTe Kooti had retired up the Mohaka valley. I then ordered back the whole of the Volunteers* and Militia to Petane, and moved forward with, the mounted troop of Armed Constabulary, who I had to leave at Waikare, the horses being completely beaten. I went on to Mohaka, arrived at 730, and found the enemy had left, and that the place was safe. Captain Towgood, to whom great praise is due, having arrived at about six o'clock in the morning, and Captain Tanner with his party between ten and eleven o'clock on the 14th. I went with a party some fifteen miles up tho valley, but failed to reach the enemy who had had too great a start, and I had not a force sufficient to folllow him up. On my advance up the valley I saw the devastation that had been committed by tho enemy, and counted thirtyone dead bodies of natives and a number of horses and cattle. I also ascertained the fate of Mr. Lavin and wife and Mr. Cooper. I saw the three children interred and arranged for the interment of the others. The bodies of Mr. Cooper, Mr. Lavin, and wife, are, I am happy to say, not in any way disfigured. The whole of the settlers' houses and most of the natives' whares havo been burnt. I have this day marched Captain Tanner's troop, and all the militia and volunteers under Captain Towgood, to Napier, and shall arrange the force at Mohaka, and until I hear from you shall keep the mounted troop there, the horses requiring rest. Captain H. Russell has kept me well supplied with provisions and ammunition. I shall visit Wairoa, which place I shall make my head-quarters at present, and will keep you advised of proceedings in the district from time to time. — I have, &c, C. LAMBEET. We take the following telegrams from the Independent, of Saturday and Tuesday, 17th and 20th ultimo, as furnishing still later particulars :—: — Napier, April 15, 311 p.m. Colonel Lambert writes yesterday from Mohaka ; enemy moved off on Monday afternoon, up Mohaka valley. His scouts were seen yesterday morning up the valley. Cannot arrive at exact number of enemy — think' about 150, besides women and children. The women wero clearing out Hudson's stores with pack-horses. Tho blockhouse is saved. Lavin and his wife are missing, their three children are dead. Cooper is missing, aud an old man dead — seven in all dead or missing. Natives assert Te Kooti is dead ; shot by Heta, the man who would not give up his rifle. There is a story about tho Hau-haus taking a body out to sea for burial, and firing a volley. The natives in the little pah opened the gate on the promise of their lives, Kooti got in, rubbed noses, and gave money. There have been killed, as near as I can learn, twenty-six natives. All tho houses aro burnt. Paul Toki was there, nob Te Waru. The large pah held out. No clear account of what ammunition they got, but think not more than two kegs and a half. Some was buried. Twelve Hau-hau bodies have been seen. The attack on the large pah must have been feeble, as the pah is large, and there were not above thirteen or four* teen men in all the place. Kooli after all has not done himself much good. He has lost a number of men and got little loot except from Hudson. 352 p.m. Karaitiana, a Pdtea chief, says Williams' statement is substantially correct. That Williams was nob there himself. News reached Karaitiana in a letter on Friday last. Kainga (not a pah) surprised, and about fifty inmates taken prisoners. Name of kainga, Warewerawira. Hapuka, Renata, and other chiefs, in conference with Deputy-Superintendent. W. R. Russell has established efficient patrol from his company, towards the Repio road. April 16, 9 a.m. The report of Te Kooti being shot is still believed. Found the bodies of Lavin and wife, and Cooper, and thirty-one friendlies, up the vallay. The Mohaka militia are placed upon pay, and are garrisoning the blockhouse. Tanner and Towgood, with all the militia and volunteers (Napier corps) march for Napier to-day. The armed constabulary are retained here for tho present. The bodies of Lavin and his wife were found in the scrub, his arm was about her ; they appeared to have died from gunshot wounds received in flight. No bayonet or other wounds. Lavin had his revolver by his side, and his wife had money, watch, and beads, in her pocket. The children had six bayonet wounds. Ensign Lavin and family were killed at Mohaka by Te Kooti and his band. He had two children (boys). He was a native of Penryn, Cornwall, and his wife was a native of Penzance, Cornwall. Her maiden name was Jane Carbis. The unfortunate couple have been living at Mohaka about thirteen years. The late Mrs. Lavin has a sister in Ballarat, Victoria. April 17. Great alarm this evening in consequence of a report that M'Kinnon of Arapawanui, twenty miles from Napier, had been told by a, Maori woman that the day before she had observed floating down the Waikare river (about ten miles this side of Mohaka) some fragments of pumpkins and calabashes such as Maoris use in their encampments. It was her opinion that tho Hau-haus were on their way to Tatere Lake, about ten miles from Petane where our camp is. Three Maoris, supposed to be Hau-hau scouts, were observed by a trooper on the Tongoiei ranges about eight miles from Petane. April 17, 5-25 p.m. Mr. Hamilton has arrived from Taupo ; he left Tapueharanei on Wednesday night, all quiet there. All Government nati res considered loyal assembled there under Pohipi, Paul, Hapi, and Hahipa Tawianita. No truth in Waiwerawera kainga being even attacked. St. George was at Tapuehararu. Came along across the plains to Runnnga and slept there. Hamlin at Rnnanga and five scouts. Snw no natives anywhere on the whole route from Taupo Lake to Petane. Two European scouts at Te Haroki, beyond Titiokura. No report from Hamlin, who was to go on to Tokona, at south end of lake. No further definite news about Te Kooti. Natives ask for troops, and will be much disappointed if they do not arrive soon. April 18. All quiet at Petane. Every precaution taken to prevent a surprise. 8 p.m. Despatches just in from Colonel Lambert at Wairoa. All quiet there. Cnptain Richardson is at Mohaka with his troop of mounted A.C. ; we understand he is to march for Petane to-morrow. A native scout was plainly Been by Captain Withers this morning, about ten miles up coast from Petane. Other indications, such as fires in different directions shew that parties of the enemy are between Mohaka and Petane. A reconnoissance from Petane is organized for tomorrow. TAUBANaA, April 16. The Hon. J. C. Richmond is here. There are no recent tidinge of Te Kooti or from Opotiki* By

latest accounts Te Kooti was still at Tauaroa and Ahikereru. This latter pluco is easily accessible. Plently of food in Rangitaiki and at Ahikereru. All quiet here.