COMBINED MOVEMENT OF MILITIA, POLICE, AND NATIVE ALLIES UPON PAHAUTANUL

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 65, 29 August 1846, Page 1

COMBINED MOVEMENT OF MILITIA, POLICE, AND NATIVE ALLIES UPON PAHAUTANUL

On Friday last, the Taita Militia, under the command of Captain A. E. M'Donough and Mr. White, thirteen of the armed Police under SubInspector Strode, and a body of one hundred and fifty fi iendly natives under 'E Puni and Capt. Scott of that corps, accompanied by an officer of sSth regiment, and Messrs. Ludlam and Stilling as volunteers, stalled from the Hult towards the position occupied by the rebel chief Rangihaeta. The force took the route traversed by the hostile natives in their marauding excursions into the Hutt "Valley, and the movement was made with such expedition and secrecy, that the rebels do not appear to have received the slightest intimation of it. The path leads over hills and through gullies, and the late rains had rendered the road way, bad at all times difficult bejond conception. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the united force pushed on with vigour, and in the course of the day came up with and surprised some of Rangihaeta's scouts, and succeeded in captur ng one, a chief belonging to Wanganui. So quick and sudden was the approach of the British force, that Rangihaeta, who it appears was in the neighbourhood, had the greatest difficulty in avoiding their clutches. On Saturday, 'E Puni captured another of the lebels, one of their pi incipal men. The whole party are described as being in high spirits, and anxious to try their strength with the enemy. It appears thatßangihaeata has deserted Pauhautanui, and another small pah midway between that and the Hutt. Many think he has retreated towards Manaw atn, but some few give a totally different direction. However the men who have been despoiled of their property, who have been driven from their homes, and who have had their friends brutally and cruelly murdered, are on his track, and we make no doubt that they will ere long bring the monster and his murderous crew to a reckoning. A parly of natives, from Taranaki, have come down the coast for the purpo.e of joining 'E Puni against the rebels. H. M. War Steamer Driver, Com. C. 0. Hayes left the harbour on Monday for Poiirua, having a large quantity of arms and ammmnition on board.