The Natibe Bebellion.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 15, 16 December 1863, Page 3

The Natibe Bebellion.

IS - G A IvU A \\ r AI! rA. [FIEOM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] December 12th. We are now again in a state of utter stagnation here, the officers seeming to be waiting to know whether wo arc to have pence or war, and tho men have nothing better to do than occasionally firing oil' their rifles or roam about getting firewood or potatoes. One would think that in a completely new place tho interest would last longer than a day or so; perhaps it might under other circumstances. But excitement is like dram drinking; the move it is indulged in the more one requires of it, and the only feeling after one event, with us, is that of impatience for the next. A\ c, who are only spectators, looking on to describe and applaud a good pass, or a clever parry, are all eagerness to see whether the next bout will be a blind rush of brute savage force cm to the weapon hold to meet it, or whether calm, coo] siience, after taking breath and delicate]v twirling his moustachoes like a cavalier of old, will proceed with deadly certainty to drive his adversary where ho pleases, to kill him outright, or compel him to beg for mercy on his knees.

\ <lav a canoe full of Maoris came here as escort to William 1 iartoji, tlso native Weslevuii missionary. They brought potatoes, fowls, i;e. Some of the liimi with him were William JS'aylor's tribe, —he, I believe, being a Waikato ot some repute. They informed us that tHo Xgatimanipotos have built two pahs u]> the Waipa Uivor; one being about a day's journey from here, and the other further on. Thus, it appears that they do not intend to lie included in the peace that the Wuikatos are suing for, and are making demonstrations of fighting again, but whether they will chitV out this iilea, or whether they will on rejection think prudence the better part of valour, aiul give way to Iho general desire amongst- the Wuikatos for peace, remains to be proved. The General left us last- night, it is said for Auckland. The ' Pioneer' came in this morning ; she seems now able to pass up and down the river safely us often as she pleases. WAIROA. [f]!OM Of It OWN CORK KSI'ONDKNT.] December 14. Everything is quiet here at present. The last, few days have been favourable lo the fanners in tho war of hay-making, especially to those hero who may have had the opportunity to embracc u leisure hour, to a good purpose and for their own benefit, rather than to be loitering about a stockade all clay long whilst their own properly is going to ruin.

state of the Wairoa at present is beginning to be a little more prosperous than it has been a few months pas! ; settlers are, in their turn, allowed the privilege of visiting their farms and property, when before they were not allowed to leave the stockade, excepting by special permission, and in danger of their lives; but, as there has been so many military posts established through the district, aiid a quantity of bush fallen, there is not so much to fear now. The distance between I'apakura and t lie mouth of the Wairoa river, is about sixteen miles : between those two places there are seven military posts, including the one at- I'apakura, forming a first-rnt6 lino of defence. Leaving the camp at l'apakura, in the direction of the Wairoa, you iirst arrive at Ring's Redoubt. Three miles further on ut the " Traveller's Rest," are stationed a portion of tYie Flying Column ; the next-that comes to view, situated above Henderson's fa'nn, is called, by way of eminence, the Upper Wairoa Redoubt j travelling from this post along the Wairoa road, passing several settlers' houses, you arrive at tile "Gillowily Redoubt," 011 oue side of the river, and 011 the other tlie SeUlers' Stockade, the distance between the two being about five hundred yards: three milks further down the river litunds the Lower 'W airoa Redoubt, pjac'ed 611 Capttiiu Salmon's farm, and commanding a bird's-eye-view of the Wairoa. ranges ; tins post has been recently erected; it was plated there immediately after the disasters about IJowick, its it was believed it was about that place, the natives crossed, the river on their journey to Kenedy's ftirm ; I should tliink that these posts contains about twelve hundred men or thereabout*,. I heard yesterday that several of the Redoubts -were to be removed from this district to tho Wailiato, to form a lino in rear of the 'General. S, On Saturday, about 9 o'clock, a party of men from the Galloway Redoubt, accompanied liy :t fcw'of the Wairoa Volunteers, started in the direction of the desorted settlement of ilranghowhow for tho purpose of procuring sonic potatoes which were growing there; the dny'Vus very warm, but after a whorl inarch of.two miles they reached tho settlement, ivhich v.ds found to bo situated in a ravine surrounded on both sides' by two hiil.t this is a very fertile cpot cowprisiag about four hundred acres of rich Lind; t ac uuad*2d whiou ia in cultivation,

being mostly occupied by peach trees and vines, and about ten acres of potatoes. After about an hour's labour the part}- retired bringing with them about lo cwt. ol tinu potatoes, all out of a small portion of ground, one ot the party found a Maori skull lying on the banks of the creek, which passes through the settlement, tlie skull -was believed to liavo been interred tor years, and by the constant running of the "a Ii C! ' fto appear on tlio surface, this was tlie only sign of natives that was perceived,, Ti rcturne d about 2 o'clock. Doubts are entertained by most people as to the reM tranquility ot the Maoris, owing to their reluct.nccoi parting with the AVnikato country; it is giVolt up lmVe il stl ' u sS le . vet Ijuforo thev On Satin-day afternoon, sjix villanons looking fellows, Under the name of friendly Maoris, from Taupo fc" lC tt!! P ° Stnckado (bearing the Union Jack) 1 . the purpose of selling houses; thoy had six horses and two colts, most of which they disposed of, and returned m the direction of Taupo. A few natives are .still lurking about the rariges.

duuuy. [FliOM orit OWN COItHKSI'ON DHXT.]

\ u.. „l. i , „ December 13. i , L ; A excitement was occasioned here \ jestorday, upon it becoming known that Captain ] .laekson and his company of tho Forest Hangers, Kime upon a number o( the rebel Maoris, in the wooded ranges to lie eastward of those of the Hunua, and in i the locality ot P.-ipamta, and that thev had in tho most gallant and brave manner attacked tliem with brilliant success, completely routing thom, laying seven men dead, and a great nuihber wounded. Captain Jackson will now be tho hero of tho day; ami well lie deserves it—fortune favours tho brave. Jn the present instance hr; has been tho lucky indiMdiial, not- only coming oil' witli Hying colours, but doing away with much recrimination cast upon his gallant hand ol former days; ho'has proved in the most liicontcstililo manner'that such a body as he commands are Die proper men to clear the bushmen mitrannnelled and free to roam wherever thev think their game is to be found. It is now very evident that we have hot as yet got done with the. Maoris, in our immediate neighbourhood and though they have not done an\ acts ot murder or cruelty since the sanguinary engagement at Kangiriri, we can well understand what they meant by loitering so near. Those flags ca-Tied otl from them bore no peaceable emblem, hut firmlv established tH»nr warlike in&ntions. The expedition started in expectation of distinguishing themselves it possible; afld the people were surprised to find such to have taken place in so short a time. The men were to be seen-yesterday at Papakura, ill mirth and enjoyment","dressed" in Maori kakah tt.s, or gowns, mats, &c:, and other kind of clothing usually seen upon natives. They had many trophies, more, as curiosities than as being of an'v great value. Hie best ol those was the grand silk tlag, which certainly was a very splendid one. It was not ot native manufacture by auv means. The motto it bears T have not as vet heard defined. Tho other tlags were not- of valuable material, but important in their way. Then! was a great deal of property belonging to the settlers of tic; AVairoa locality, and wliich shows that these were the rebels who committed murder and did such wanton acts as savage's alone do. Vengeance has overtaken them ; they have suffered punishment after their own fashion, with compound interest. Strange to say that a billot exchange in these parts, l'or one thousand pounds, was found amongst tho innumerable kinds ot settlers' ell'eets ; this belongs to a person who lived in tho Wairoa district, the name I have forgotten ; it will be restored to the rightful owner. One gun alone was taken ; several of their green stone trinkets or jewellery were cut from their ears. One young man took a watch from one of the (lead; lie also had a miniature cannon, a work-box, some miners' tools, and a tomahawk; this latter j trophy he presented to his gallant loader, his father having been a settler in the Ilumia.

C'APTAIX JAC K.SOX'S EXPEDITION. FULL PARTICULARS! [j'ltOSl A CORRESPONDENT.] Papakura, December loth. News here, there is little or none save tin;, at present, all exciting affair of the Forest Hangers in the Wairoa district. Having had a long conversation with ono of tho heroes of that expedition, an old acquaintance, I am able to give you the fullest particulars of the affair, and your readers may at the same time rely on their correctness. Oil Friday last, then, the 11th, Captain Jackson, with a subaltern, and "2(i privates and non-commis-sioned otliccrs, proceeded at a little after noon in tho direction of the Wairoa river. That evening, at about, half-past six the party reached the Ilunua liver, where they camped for the night, and starting again at half-past i tho next morning reached the Wairoa river in something less than two hours. Here, for the iirst time, they struck native tracks, ami the excitement of tho chase began. The tracks were evidently quite fresh, and the men pushed on smartly. Alter traversing some miles of awkward ground, and never losing tho trail which they had once found, Jackson's party arrived about half-past II) a.m. at a spot which had evidently been used as a camping ground, for one of the fires still contained live embers. Carefully examining the spot, the little band came to the conclusion that tho Maoris who had rested (here could not have been less in number than from :!0 to -10, and pushing vigorously on upon the trail in the momentary expectation of coming up with the party, they came again that afternoon by about 5 o'clock, upon a second camping ground, evidently mora lately used, for all the tires, five in number, were hot.

'Die men were tired after 12 hours' tramp, and tho temptation for them lo camp was great, but Capt. Jackson and his men were determined not to lose the advantage of a forced march, and pushed oil until nearly sundown. Unfortunately, however, tho trail was lost at this stage, and a halt was ordered at once, all feeling confident that they would, by trying back, he enabled to strike it again in tho morning. Next morning its soon as the men had swallowed a mouthful of food tho party retraced their steps in tho hope of finding the lost trail, and after some trouble it was discovered.

lleforc starting, it occurred to Captain Jackson that it would be worth while to endeavour to look for smoke in the direction in which the Maoris would be as at that hour of the morning they would probably he cooking. This plan was most successful, smoke was seen, and away they went, and in a short time, stealing quietly through the brush and forest, came within fifteen yards of the whole party, and between them and their sentry. Here Jackson halting his moil as they camn up, gave tliom time to breathe, and formed liis plan—" IHvo'them"tho carbines, my boys, and then charge them with the revolver." At the volley from tho carbines four 'Maoris "rt'cre dropped, and their comrades appeared staggered, gazing hero and there, not knowing from what side the dailgc-r camc, or what tho number of their foes: "When they saw, however, the real strength of the little party, they turned upon them with their guns and tomahawks, but they soon went to the light about when the boys let fly at them with tho rovolvor. Many were wounded ut the discharge of the carbines, and were assisted away into the bush by the women. Altogether the action ditl not last more than four or five minutes. Seven at any J'ale were killed, four of whom fell into our hands dead or dying.' One of the dying men said his tribe Was Ngatipawa, but refused to give his name. A de;id man lying beside him was, ho said, a chief named Matariki.

The camping ground was well slocked \Vith provisions, pork and fern root ill abundance, and there was also a largfe amount, of plunder taken from the houses of the settlers ; amongst this were papers belonging to Mr. Richardson, of Wairoa, clothes and property of Messrs. Jolu'.son and McDonald of the same place. These very articles found were part of the property t&keri at the very same tiuie that the ihurder of the poor children was committed at Howiek. .Most probably these were the wretches who tomahawked them, ami savagely . butchered Jackson, and Fahey and his wife. There was a large dmount of plunder of all descriptions—scarlet window curtains, boxes, trinkets, &c.; two parcels of hair, evidently a souvenir, which is iii the possession now of oue of Jackson's party. But little of this plunder could be removed, buly enhtlgli to prove the complicity of these! natives willi the Wairoa marauders and mUrderct&.

During the engagement, as the men were hit, and knocked over, they -Acre assisted dway, it appears, by the woinen; and theif guns and amis removed, and probably planted ; u " tupera" and a pistol were, however, secured, and a quantity of their amniunition was thrown into the creek, the men being, as il was, overloaded. Whilst the plunder wan being secured, a daring rascal returned lind nmcle a rush at a bundle, but a bullet from a revolver miiJo him drop it like a ho! polatoe. Unfortunately, the dishonest rascal got .v.v.iy, taking ths rar.ficr's bull?!

with him in his leg. This bundle turned out to be the flags, a description of which you have already received.

After the Mdoria were dropped with the fire arms, the wounded ones, while lying on the ground, endeavoured to injure Jackson's men, one fellow using a bowie knife and another a large citrving knife, attempting to stab them in the legs. The revolvers, however, Boon settled these wretches. Altogether, the natives are very hard to kill. ' One fellow took two revolver bullets and one carbine ball to Settle him, and then it took another shot in the head before he gave in from smashing about him with the butt end of his gun.

Tho Maoris, when they bolted, made off i'ti an easterly direction on a broad track. It seems that Captain Jackson did not feel it advisable to follow further, as probably the Maoris would scatter 'in the hush and no good would result. Had the party "been a larger one the men say that they could have" taken the whole lot prisoners, for at tho time they were surprised most of them were cleaning theirpieces, and nearly all were unloaded, one man oven having the lock off his gun. Those that did fire had not time to load again, as Jackson and liis men were in upon them at once.

The engagement took place at 8 o'clock last Sunday morning, about o miles direct north of Paparata, anil, from all I can learn, there wore at least 40 natives present. One of the wounded men is reported to have said that thev were only 28, and then on being asked again, said 28 twice told, which woidd in all probability be nearer the mark. Many'acts' of personal daring were shown by Jackson's men during tho light; the conduct of Ensign A\ estruj\ and ol a private named Smith, are both spoken of enthusiastically by their comrades. Smith had a teirible hand-to-hand encounter with a powerful savage, and was . perhaps only saved bv the readiness of Ensign AVestrup's revolver. "When all tlie men acted so well, however, it were almost invidious to point to individual acts of prowess. I was told that one of the women was accidentally shot in the log, and indeed that it was with great difficulty that tho other women and children were saved.in the general struggle.