The Native Rebellion.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 155, 12 May 1864, Page 3

The Native Rebellion.

TAUIIANGA. [t'liOSl OCR OW>* COttIiESPONDUXT.] Head Quarters, May 0. The mail closes so very sharp that one seldom knows when a mail is going until it has either eloseil or is just 011 the point of closing. "\Ye buried another poor fellow yesterday, who received his death wound on the i!t}th ult., which brings the, number up to 37 that are now at rest in thv; quiet churchyard at Taurauga. A reconnoitring party consisting of 000 men of tlie tihth regiment, with one Armstrong gun, and the whole of the Colonial Defence Forces, under Colonel Greer, With regiment, left, the Cam]) this morning, and proceeded in the direction where the rebels are supposed to be po.-tcd. The General and Stati' storied in the same direction shortly al'terwitnU ; the purty returned to rump about <1 o'clock, p.m., after traversing about ten or twelve miles of rebel territory without feeing a single rebel. The guide (a .Maori) says they are oil' to the bush. The troops destroyed the Wairoa I'a belonging to the rebels, within live miles of our eamp; it was constructed natch after the same style us all their lighting " jias" are. Two very nice valleys were passed through, both were deserted, and all the crops dug up and removed ; there are large tracts of land about these settlements which had borne crops in the shape of Indian corn, potatoes, Ac., but all the produce Is safe in the keeping of the rebels. Several were

seen running about, but none were driven into Cai..p. Colonel Greer, 68th regiment, assumes command, of the Tuurangi ISstrict from the sth instant. May 7. The plan of establishing a cliain of military poats from East Coast to West Coast begins now to assume a definite form. If a practicable road between Baglan and Whata Whata can be discovered, and a military post established about half way, the chain would be completed from Ruizlan on the West Coatib to Muungatautari, within thirty miles of Tauranga on the liast Coast, and if the weather only holds good for another month or so, 1 question if communication would not be established between this and Maungatautari, which would complete the entire chain of posts from coast to coast. Awamutu will be our central position from which the posts towards Eaglan, are I'e llori, Xgatinapouri, Whata Whata, and another post yet to be established between Whata A\ liata and Eaglan ; those between Awumutu and Tauranga on the East Coast are Ohapu, Pukeriinu, Muungatautari, ami two or more posts yet to be established between Maungatauturi and Tauranga. I suppose it is the intention of the Government to locate the AYaikato settlers along this chain of posts which will leave a large area inside this boundary, which can be disposed of to defray the expenses of the war. II the Waikato Militia obtain then - grants of land on this boundary line, 1 think they will have nothing to complain of, as this line is drawn through some of the very best land which has come into oar possession. I have seen a copy ol the Aric Zralamlrr of the 2nd instant, containing an account of the repulse of the Xaval Brigade and troops on the Gate Pa on the 29th ult., and such a tissue of misstatements I think never appeared in print. The article in question goes on to describe our new position which was being constructed by the Engineers, and to clench the matter gives a sketch of this position. Now such a position was never in existence, and as for iield pieces, itc., having been brought forward to protect the Engineers, &c.. is a piece of downright humbug. In thy first place when the force moved forward from the old encampment at Tauranga to where they pitched their tents was about !JOO yards in front of the (Sate I'a, no position of any description was thrown up. In the next place, previous to the 29th, tlio day of the attack, on which day, about noon, Captain Cliesney with a detachment of engineers arrived, only a lance corporal and two sappers were stationed at Tauranga, so where the stall'of engineers came from, I, and every one else about this part of the world—the correspondent for the Xcic Zcalauder excepted—are at a loss to iind out ; and as for the (iStli regiment charging the pah, nothing of tho sort occurred ; not a man of the 68th attempted to storm the pah. As I stated before, that regiment under Colonel Greer, formed a complete semi-circle round the rebel position, and from the nature of the ground occupied, 1 shouid say that the distance from iiank to flunk was something more than three miles. >So if the Ac' - Zcaltni'lti's correspondent saw tliu 68th regiment massed behind the pa, as he states, and beginning to storm ii, he saw more than any one else saw. Hut the Southern Cross in giving an account of the ailair, states that the tSSth regiment reeled and fell back two or three times trying to carry the enemy's works, lieally, how people can imagine sueli things, iind put them ioiwuru to the public as occurrences that did happen, 1 cannot understand. It is the duty of u correspondent to ti public journal, to slate the plain unvarnished truth, which certainlv has not b.icn done by tiie correspondents of the Arii' ZtuluKi/tr or of the bviit/tt'ni I.)»«. Xlie onlv work thrown up was a slight breast-work in each battery, winch was done by the gunners and a fat'mue party of the 4 3rd regiment, under the superintendence of the Artillery Olliccr in charge of the batteries. The articles in question have caused some curious remarks, and not a litle fun in camp. Another ol the wounded Maoris, who had his leg shuttered by a shell at the late engagement, was buried this afternoon, which only leaves one alive out of those w ho were taken. The ' Sandtiy,' l'rom Auckland, cast anchor in the bay about 2 o'clock this evening. She brought a mail with her. There is every appearance of a coming storm ; it has been blowing and threatening rain all day, and no doubt we shall have it as soon as the wind goes down. All are under canvas here, with the exception of a few of the tibth regiment, who occupy what, they call huts, each capable of holding about three men, with the roof barely the height of a man. If these were the huts constructed by the troops at Tauranga for their winter quarters, they must have had a poor idea of what was meant by the word "wliare;" they required some of our old New Zealand hands to give them a lesson or two in wluire architecture. Some of the huts constructed by the troops at Rangiriri, Meremere, &c., are capable of holding twenty men each, and, for appearatce, they would not disgrace even the suburbs of Auckland. 1 only wish the troops had such accommodation here for the winter; but material lor hulling seems to be very scarce about this locality, and I should imagine if it is found impracticable to obtain the material necessary lor their construction, that a quantity of corrugated iron will be obtained from Auckland for this purpose. May 9. The ' Alexandra' arrived this morning, ani will start for Auckland as soon as she i» unloaded. The weather is very unsettled, and has been since the lirst ol the month. It is very much colder here than it is up the Waikato, owing, 1 dare say, to its being ill so close proxiin'.y to the sea. \Ye have hail no iJivine service for the last two Sundays, owing to the unfavourable state of the weather. A redoubt, under the direction of Captain Cliesney, K.K., has been constructed on the site of the old Gate i'a, and will, I understand, be occupied by the Waikato Militia who are present stationed here. Js'ot the sign of a Maori (rebel) about this district since they escaped from the Gate I'a. Tliev seem to have taken leg-bail for it, and it is very questionable if ever they place themselves in such an awkward position again. Upward of $00 heavy shell were thrown at the Gate i'a, which must have made the occupants feel very uncomfortable during the operation, and I think the next place where the Maoris in this part of the country will shew a front will be in sonic place where they imagine it to be impossible for us to get. heavy ordnance, but they might even in this be mistaken ; at all events it is quite evident, they have evacuated the position on the clear ground in rear of the Gate I'a, which was occupied by them previous to, and for two or three days after the attack ; or, if they have not done so, they use no fires, as not a particle of smoke has been observed for the last four or live days,—but no doubt we shall move forward and satisfy ourselves on this point so soon as the weather permits the General to do so. May 10. Some of the 43rd regiment are being removed from the front to head quarters camp. 200 men, including the Militia, are left to garrison the redoubt constructed on the site of the Gate Pa. A rumour was going in camp yesterday that the head quarters as well as some of the troops, are to be removed fiom here, and that operations in this district will be suspended for the season. The ' Falcon' is expected in to-day, with his Excellency the Governor, who, I dare say, will arrange matters at once with the General relative to future operations. 1 see from the papers that the people about Drury and southward of that post are beginning to get frightened of the rebels paying them a visit since our reverse at the Gate Pa ; but 1 think they have no cause to be so, although it is certainly adopting tho wisest course to be ready to give them a proper reception should they honour any post in that locality with a visit. The colonial gun-boat ' Sandfly' has had up steam all the morning, in anticipation of the arrival of the ' Falcon.' The ' Alexandra' sails for Auckland this evening, and as the mail is advertised to close at one o'clock, and it is close upon that hour now, I shall also close.

[FIIOM A COEIiESPONDENT.] May 6. At Mini' this morning, the fiSlh Regiment, under Colonel Greer, together with the Defence Corps, and one hundred of the Naval Brigade, marched out for the purpose it was thought, of making a reeoimoissauce. G-eneral Sir (J. Cameron, K.C.li., and stall', accompanied by Captain Jenkins, of the 'Miranda,' a friendly Chief named llannom, as guide, and Mr. Baker, the interpreter. Few besides our gallant General knew the object of this expedition, but it soon became evident that it was the intention of the General to make an attickjupon thf WairoajJPah, (Potiwhi) whither it- wa»

Wlieveil by many, thr nntivrs liart comjrftipit-jd :l^L ' r I the lalt. 4 disastrous alltni* at tiie Gate Pali. I lirsr TitLtives lire lu-ti led liv ii lmivf 1 >i:< lu'svlstroivx i-liii'l". ; lie is mimed now tin- liviin-'iml Hiii-f in tlu> fli^tri't ! At tin; uliiiir at the Out" l\ilj. lit' -tiinil nnmi tin- j punipot e\po°i'<l fri vollfv : ,r !rr vnl!-*v from t!i«' Ij liHiiiutruni*; lit- 111.iiiL'I ln'in nevr to <ii*v in. | lnit to <!i'str<»v the -"Mi -j-. 'f • i-- >:n t not to uuuiuleil. 1111r his were riil Ut'd. I On reiii'liincr tin* ni'isilibniirliornl of tin? "Wuirnu tlic Dfii'iico ( 'on>s wfi'i' forward. r tin* ! bird hud flown. iv»t n living *nul vm* round ill it, and after burning the fortress, rli*' returned to ethup, brmtfitnf t>* foot n fair fan-?, At:IV !>- r J wo of the 1111*«-o prisoners taken id tin 1 (Into V-.ih havt* since di-vl of their woiewN. nit" a wnmir man. a relation of liahuhi. <!i,-d whiV b»ir wa« boinii amputated. an u'tirii ha 1 often re;pi'*«*ed should be performed. seeing. perhaps thr compava- ive absence of p:iin with bi-= fellow prNom-rs. heth <•:' ■whom llfl'l undergone the oneration. Hcwiie (Ihivi.-) ; died the nest mornmLf. This chief w:i* a man ( -f , some vole, bo bus been in neaily all tin* principal J engagements during the war. mid wa< secretary* ; Thompson, and bad bis lift- been spared. : K '-re is doubt be would have imparted most useful information, the little bo did civ** was not valuhv-s. He was evidently aifeeted with the kindness dUnhived towards h't-.i bv <"-nr brave and c?pee»a;ly rlit* Medical StalK whov attention 10 the eatient umvdtfini: and ino>f praise-wort hv. In a conversation! had with Kewiti. be expressed hi.* "with mueh feeliifij. remarking thai In* he 1 m>f antieiTinted such bind treatment from the I'akeha. and hoped that when prisoners fell into native band.-, there would be nn mor -4 mutilation. His rin;ht !'ii had been amputated v. little below the knee. bis other leg exhibited a fearful ; be was literally covered with sword, shell, and bullet wound?. He buried in the presenee of ri number of natives thi? morning. (Monday); l:ad he lived, be undoubtedly would have divulged all secrets con* neeted with the King movement and its origin. Hpee\dati..n is rife to v. ber- the nativ.-> liave ?''ne. , alnu'st i'Vt'Yy on»- jrivinir a p.f o])inicn : al»le to jnd-e b-- l i ii *h:it tlu-y have r*-treated to the Puna, about ].) mi; !V«an ib ;id l-.'niivtt r>. at t):i b' ttdol the T.-iUf..»itr'i havboi;r, that it is ther.j thf -nt-jMy will u.ake bis final effort. Tin- Va o:t r ids np<*.n ?i bill c»u \ x >w road to \va> chosen ftsa place t«j m treat to, on the troop* laiiuinii' ; ftt Tauranffa, in cafce shordd be taken ; bv our troop?. Tb«* Puna, I is the strongest fortress , the rebels have vot }u-M, and will assuredly cive the troop? come trouble. Tt is said that from thi* point ColoTiel ITuvrlock ear he eominunionted with; the Puna beintr oply from 25t0 *2S miles from Maunirwtaiirt*. with, a to*: rabje hor-" p:ith between. A movement is to t.dre pl:i»-e sbortlv. the particulars ot' ! which J will lose no tiim: in forwarding. |