THE OPUNAKI EXPEDITION.

New Zealander, Volume XXII, Issue 2431, 17 May 1865, Page 3

THE OPUNAKI EXPEDITION.

The following account is taken from the Taranald fferald:—

Opunake Bay is about 40 miles from New Plymouth ; is situated near the northern entrance to Cook's Strait, and lies about a mile to the northward of the Numu, and about 12 miles from Cape Egmont. It is a bay about half a mile wide and a quarter of a mile deep, of a horse-shoe shape, with a fine sandy beech, and a few acres of flat land enclosed by high cliffs on the JN.W., N. 8., and S.E, sides, terminating in rocky points. The soundings and hewing*, as taken by Captain Gibson, are as follows :—The bay lies N.R. and S.W., the top of Mount Egmont bearing E. by N. iN, The soundings between the two points at dead low water were five fathoms, with very level sandy bottom, being no more than 5J fathoms a mile from the' shore. With a surf line and buoy boats can safely land four days oat of the seven all the year, round. .The bay is open from W.S. W. to S.S. W.„but in. any other wind the natives lay the landing is safe. ;„ , jaJ^jlI 1 The Opunake Bay. district is not less, fertile and fitted for agricultural purposes than other parts of this splendid couitry. TJjp land is level and well #atered, and' increases m fertility as you go inland, and is of tbat Undulating , character peculiar to this part of the island. , The flax grows in luxuriant "profusion, and .inland the growth of the fern and tuta, &c, ; with abundance'of natural grasses and clover, prove that it, will make a fine grazing district. This district is hardly snrpassed by the fertile plains of tre' Ngatiruanui country. The ' Wahganui,' having on board Colonel Warre, G. 8.." Vfhjor'liussell, G'rrison-Adju-tant, Mr. ! Parris, Assistant Native secretary (with a canoe and five natives^—the canoe' hoisted on board), CapUih Gibson,' harbourmaster, with a surf-boat and the life-boat (in tow)' and crews : ;' Captain CaV, Lieutenant Baley,' Ensign' Howard, and 85.men-of the 70th Regiment; Captain Stapp, Ensign LaWson, and 26 Bushrangers ;3 Arti lerymen, and a 5$ inch'mortar; Lieutenant Ferguson and two men of the Royal Engineers, and Lieutenant McMabon, 14th Regiment, Acting-De'p -Assist - Commissary-General, left the -roadstead at midnight, and steaming at half-speed was off Harriett Bay- at dawn on Saturday morning, the weather being fine and the sea as calm as a mill-pond., A sharp look-out was kept .for .the Namu, or Opunake Bay, which was descried by the natives on board about seven a.m. Soundings were taken,'and the steamer stood in for the 'fay, and anchored off its entrance in five fathoms wat'T. . [After the. arrival of the forces at the destined spot, the account thus'proceeds :] A line of sentries having been posted for some distance around,' the tents were at onse pitched in and around the stockade, aad Lieutenant Ferguson proceeded to murk out the lines for a redoubt. The stockade is put up.on the side of the coast road, and only a few yards from the edge of the cliff, the road lying between it and the cliff. The importance of its position may. therefore be easily imagined. Colonel Warre and Mr. Parris now proceeded to endeavor to confer with the resident natives of the district, William King Matakatea, and Arama Karaka, and their people, who had made professions of neutrality, indeed who had taken no ctive part in the rebellion, but of whom no signs could be seen. W. King Matakatea (who- is chief of the Ngatihaumia sec'ion of the Taranaki tribe, who inhabit that portion of the coast between Te TJmuro and Waiaua) was deliphted at having the opportunity of proving his sincerity, and desire to live at peace with the Europeans, and we were glad to hear from him that he has had nothing whatever to do with the Pai Marire superstition. . He and his wife were invit d to the camp,, and the mannerin which he begged for a few matches, a'bit of tobacco, a pipe, some biscuit, &c, showed how the infatuation of bis countrymen has deprived him of the commonest articles. With respect to clothing, the whole party were in rags, excepting a few who wore the flax mat. Their blankets, whirls, Jcc, were literally dropping from their persons, and one old man we noticed had a well-worn carpet around his loins, taken from the wreck ot the' Lord Worsley.' Wi Kipgi, himself, had a flax mat on, over a very greasy and dirty blue dungaree round-about, but wore a cap. with an over-sized straight peak sewn on with flax, apparently donned for the occasion,, which,no doubt be has had in his possession for many years. Colonel Warre fn-ly explained to them, through Mr. Parris, the intentions of the Government, and informed them that having duly submitted,«very respect should be paid to their rights and property—to which ihey all fully acquiesced, and then returned to their kianga. Colonel Warre and staff embarked at 5.30 p.m., and the steamer left in half an-hour afterwards, and proceeding at rail speed anchored in New Flym nth roadstead at 10.30, thus making the run from Opunake Bay to the .anchorage in 4J hours. Just as the steamer left, a white, flag was observed coming down from A. Karaka's kianga; no doubt that chief had thought, better of it, and was coming to do what he ought to have done several hours before—f < meet Colonel Warre and Mr. Farris as W. King had done.

[The Herald of the 13th instant thus comments upon the results of the expedition.] The expedition to Opunake overland was accomplished, as oar readers are already aware, without difficulty, and Colonel Warre and the mounted men returned on Sunday last, and the Bushrangers on Monday—the troops remaining behind to be ready, we suppose, for any farther movement.

The natives did not offer any opposition to the passage Along the co."Bt, but they are still inland of Wares, either jast at the edge of the bosh at K>keua or a little further in. It was thought probable that they might make an attempt to defend their great meeting-house Te TJut-roa-a-Maui at Kapoaiaia, bat they did not. By the way, we think it is a mistake that this house has not been burned. It has been the symbol of kingism-and rebellion in this district, and is indeed known in all the disaffected dis ricts, and it certainly should not be allowed to stand—unless, indeed, it could be held and converted to some useful purpose, which might perhaps have an equally good effect. In addition to William King of Umuroa, Adam Clark, the other leading chief of this division (Ngatibaumia) of tbe Taranaki tribe, with some of his men, has taken the oath of allegiance and given up his arms. The only remaining sections of the tribe, therefore, to be dealt with are the murderous 'Patukai and Upokomutu at Kekeua—and it will certainly be wise to settle with them before, proceeding southward, and at die earliest possible moment.

On the journey down the Bushrangers marched from town to Warea in 8 J hoars, including 2 hoars stoppage—not bad walking in heavy marching order ; and in returning they came from '• 'punake to town in two days, in spito of the heavy state of the roads. In going

it wm noted that there were 53 riven said streams between Wares and Oponake—and the return, owing to the heavy rain which had Fallen, waa a sort of aquatic expedition ; most of the shallow swamps, however, it is said, might be easily avoided by a diversion of the road. CbL Warre returned, ace tnpanied by the civilian forces alone, and expressed himself highly gratified with their conduct.