The Native Rebellion.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 144, 29 April 1864, Page 3

The Native Rebellion.

HEAD QUARTERS CAMP TAURAXGA. [from our own correspondent.! April 26. The ' Harrier' has arrived with trcops on board, but will not disembark them before to-morrow. The troops mid stores brought by the 'Falcon' -were lauded yesterday, the 25th. The S-inch mortars brought in her, liavo not been landed, owing to the ' Sandfly' having been away all day; she left this morning for -Makctai;, with the General and Staff on board, and a schooner, loaded with troops, in tow, after disposing of her freight, she returned in the afternoon, bringing the General and Stall back. Orders have been issned for about 800 men and 2 Armstrong guns, to be ready to march to-morrow, at 7 o'clock ; each niau to carry his blanket and one day's provisions, cooked, this party may be expected back again to-niorrow night, if tho rebels should shew themselves in force in the direction they movo; a rumour has been going to-day that they have bolted, hilt that 1 don't ciiriit, as we can see the smoke from their lilts to-ni{:lit. as usual, lliey seem to havo several positions about here, in clo.-e proximity to the camp ; two or more of them, I should say, are not more than six or seven miles distant; but, 1 daresay, sonic of tinm, if not all, will be found vacated when the tro< ps go to take possession.

There are rebels about, and at no great distances, either, from the camp, as tliey tired at a party of the OSth Regiment yesterday, and although within easy range, no harm was done. The country about here does not appear so favorable for carrying on operations as the "Waikaio district, it looks hilly and barren, but. I dare say, there are many comfortable JCative settlements inland, as cultivated patches,, here and there on the hill sides, can be distinguished with the naked eye. "We have some friendly JCativcs occupying a settliment 011 the opposite side of the liny ; we have, however, 110 communication with them, as thev are not allowed to cross.

"We have got a pair af spurs erected 011 the beach, for the purpose of disembniking the heavy guns, if necessary the Hl)-pr. .Armstrong will be landed from 11."U.5. \Esk.' 1 hope the rebels will give " Jack" an opportunity of showing oii* " big Ben." The Colonial gun-boat ' Sandlly' is doing excellent service here, in fact she is over-wrought, and if there is any liklihood of the Iliad Quarters being stationed here for any length of time, another steamer of the same class will certainly be required; Daylight or dark is all the same, you will hear " her" pulling and blowing up and down the Bay. I should say, from where the men-of-war anchor to the place where the men and stores are landed is six miles, and as she is the only mode of disembarking tho stores, iVc., she has quite euou.ghto do. There is one advantage the troops have hero OTer their comrades stationed in Waikato, namely, at Tauranga they cau get whatever they want, in tho shape of eatables, at Auckland prices ; this, of course, is owing to theditl'crencein ilie expense incurred in the transport, and another important point which causes good*- to be supplied at such reasonable prices, is, that Mr. Simpson who owns all stores or canteens beyond Drury has, not got a monopoly here, the same as ho lias along the Great South Koad, and as there are two or three other parties who keep stores, Mr. Simpson has to charge a reasonable price or close his store.

April 27. The ' Falcon' ami ' Sandfly' steamed down tho coast in the direction of Maketu, the ' Falcon' is going to shell the rebel position, at that place; the ' Sandfly' takes some artillerymen to complete the gun detachment at Maketu, so very probably the bind force will assist. lho (iSth Kegt. with 2 6-pr. Armstrong guns accompanied by the General and Staff, started this morning on a recomioitering expedition towards tho rebel's positions, tho whole of the force that marched have lett their tents struck and every thing ready to be sent to them in case they should take up another position, The rebels appear to bo strongly posted on the ranges, about 7 miles inland. More heary ordinance is to be sent from Auckland by tho return steamer, and I only trust we shall not require to convey back to Auckland so large an amount- of shell and ammunition as we took away with us. The mail closes at 12 o'clock noon, and as thero can bo nothing of importance to mention before then, 1 shall close this in order to make sure of tho mail. N.B.—Tho 110-pr. Armstrong gun has just been landed from the 'Est,' and is being dragged up tho hill on an artillery carriage. I have had ii look at what is considered to be their strongest and main position : it appears to have a strong pallisading, and the red ilag is dying, if tl.ev only wjiit till we get the IU-pr. Armstrong within range the ftag will soon come down.

[JHOM A COEIH!SPOKDENT.|!

April 26th. Up to the present all is quint at this place. It is rumoured that the G-enerol will not attack the enemy's positions until the whole of the troops under orctarG, and on their way to this place, liave arrived. There is some appearance of the troons, or at least •a portion of them, heine: hutted for the winter, as ■some of the material has arrived per schooner " Taimtnßa " for that purpose. Tho General and staff, with 25 men of the Xavnl Brigade, and a dun compliment of non-commissioned •officers, proceeded on hoard the colonial jjunhont. 'Sandflv' at one o'elorlc on Rundav, and proceeded to theWairoa not far distant from here, and returned •at five p.m. I have been informed hy an eve witness that the enemy came on the mission land during Fn'dnrlast. and took awav four fine head of cattle, on Saturtlav they also took awny a larce portion of the farm stock ynrd, to assist in the erection of their defences, and ■which they have been busily engaged upon for the past fortnight. I have observed no flags flvinar from any of the enemy's pas on a Sunday as vet. "Whatever reason they mav have for this I must leuve to individuals who are better acquainted with the native character—buntintr perhaps is eettinc: scarce ? but one would think their nationality should be as ptrong' on the Sabbath as on any other dav, or can it ■he that their relitrions zeal is so great that it would "bp considered sinful to hoist a flap on Sundav? Captain Grace. 68th reciment, 2 subalterns. 4 FiTtrennts, 2 buclers, and 100 rank and file proceeded vesterday to Mr. Purvis's house for some bricks an<l timber, which the Commissariat require for the erection of ovens. >vc. Purvis's house stands at the "base of a small hill, and faeincr our encampment. Before the troops jrot on the bill the enemy opened ■fire,'it a distance of 1200 or 1300 yards. All returned safe to Camp, brinsrinr; in she '.nr..----rial This morniner, 26th, Crntain JWners' eomnanv. 43rd Li slit Tnfantrv, eonsistina: of 2 subalterns. 3 •sersreantfi, 1 busier, and 60 rank and file, under the "ommand of Lieut. Hogarth, 43rd. embarked at, an earlv hour on board the schooner ' Fortune.' for the purpose of reinforcing tlie dctjtchmcnt of the 43nl ■stationed at The ' Fortune * was towed down the harbour hy tho colonial gunboat ' Sandfly-'

Tt is a verv great pitv the war should have reached "this beautiful place, for it has now the appearance of an English watering plaoe.no one b»t those who mnv "have visited it have anv idea of its hoautv. TT.M.S. Miranda.' the colonial crunhonfc ' Sandfly,* and the various smaller craffc Ivinc: in harbour immediately opposite the mission buildings, and within IHO yards of high water mnrk, toTte well f<">r whnt. an intelligent and industrious class of settlers will be able to perforin in a year or two hence. Large faticrue parties are now busily <-mG*nced discharging the bark '"Riflemnn/ which arrived Vre yesterday morning. All is activitv and bustle. She "has a good deal of Commissariat stores on board, in fact her vrhole is for that branch, the various 7aen-of-war have brought plenty of shot an<\ shell. H-M.S. 'Falcon* arrived last evenincr, hrr.cring 40 Artillerv. and detachments of the Mrd, nnd <»Bth Licht Infantry, in nil numbering over -tOO iToops. The men seem delighted with this nlac 1 , the only grumblinfr one hears is tho want of ale and •porter, but everything el=e the canteens supply, linger beer, cider, and cordials, and no lack of eatables. The sroeerv rations, since Mr. Foley has had the contract, (since the Ist April), have been of a decidedly superior quality. A one hundred "pounder gun has been landed this morning from the i F«k.' T think we have now, exclusive of any ordnance belonging to tho men-of-war, 9 guns ashore.