THE DEFEAT AT NGUTU O TE MANU.

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 352, 6 October 1868, Page 3

THE DEFEAT AT NGUTU O TE MANU.

We are in receipt of files from Hawke's Bay, and from them we cull the following items : — Native scouts sent to the scene of the late engagement by the Resident Magistrate, had returned to Wairoa. They found three bodies lying on the ground. One, supposed to be that of Condon, they buried.' The other two were a little distance off, lying in a pool of water, and were so much decomposed that they could not be removed. The position occupied by Te Kooti is a very strong one, and defended by earthworks. He threatened the scouts that if they, or any one else, made their appearance in the vicinity, he would " cut them up with his own hands." The insurgent chief and his party were said to be short of provisions ; and it was apparent that, as they could not, even if they would, move inland, owing to the state of the rivers, they would certainly come nearer Wairoa, there being plenty of food at Orewa aud other places. Much alarm was felt at Clyde and the military settlement further inland. On Monday last a public meeting was held at Mr Taylor's Hotel, Clyde. It was attended by all the settlers of the district, and the general excitement was very great. It was resolved to inform the Government that the body of escaped Hau-haus had now, by reinforcements, been increased to 400, and were daily increasing in number ; that they were building a strong pah within a day's march of Wairoa ; and that the outsettlers, in consequence, were leaving their homes and cultivated lands. That the Government should be memorialised for immediate assistance, failing which the inhabitants saw no other alternative than to leave the district. There being 150 women and children in the township, the residents were building a redoubt, where these could be placed in the' event of an alarm The loyal natives were very apathetic. Great dissatisfaction was expressed at the withdrawal of the Constabulary. Arms and ammunition were very scarce. A correspondent writing from Clyde, Wairoa, says :— " Orders hav e been sent to Capt. Saunders to eniol 20 men ; ho \rill scarcely be able to do it, as every man who could get away has left the place, and many more will do so yet. We hear continually of fresh parties of natives going over ; indeed they now come and go much as they list. The enemy is reputed to be short of supplies and gun caps, also to be suffering from dysentery. So long as they have arms, they don't want long for supplies, whilst the Wairoa lies open for pillage by any one who may choose to attack it." The "Wanganui Times" says; — Why not act upon the plan so frequently recommended in these columns — cut down the bush from Kakaramea, three or four chains wide, right on to the clearing at the furthest extremity. Then let the rubbish lie for a month or two and set fire to it. The clearing might be made to pass through all their villages, Te Ngutu o te Manu included. The men would be better occupied at that than lying idle in camp. Why not at once cut a clearing right through from the entrance of the bush to Ngutu o te Manu ? One hundred men with axes, covered by two hundred who could take their turn at the work, would soon effect a clearing and leave the " Beak of the Bird" a conspicuous object to all passers by. The burning up of the timber and scrub, when sufficiently dry for that purpose, would scorch and kill off half a chain of the uncut scrub at each side : thus a clearing of four chains in width would eventually by equal to a clearing of five chains. We earnestly hope that this suggestion will be acted upon.