NEW PLYMOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 289, 15 October 1864, Page 5

NEW PLYMOUTH.

[[PKOJI OUI£ OWN' COBEESPONBF.NT.] October 12, 1864. Late on Friday evening the officers and men of the Civil Forces were warned for service to the front for next morning, not the slightest information was afforded as to what direction the expedition would take. On the following morning, Saturday, about 7 o'clock, 300 men of the 70th, two companies of the Bush Pari v, numbering about 120 men, and about 100 of the Melbourne contin2enfc started towards Sentry Hill, under the command of Colonel Warre. Colonel Muloclc, of the 70th, and Major Atkinson of (he Hush Party, also accompanied tile men. On arrival in tho neiiilibourliood of Sentry Hill it was announced that. the object of the expedition was totalco Malaitawa, 1 he great rebel stronghold which has for so long a lime Haunted defiance at us in sight of our front. .A 11 honorable rivalry here evinced itself between the rosulars mid the civil forces as to which >ervice should belong the honor of taking Mataitawa, a foriniilaiite native fortification standing between Sentry IJiii nn.t Mataitawa, and that the 70th shoidd proceed on and attack the stronghold. He tore proceeding further I may mention that Manliutulu is a longitudinally built fortification, and a sort of outside proirctiv,; work within one mile of Mataitawa, accordingly i' wis attacked liv llio Bush Party, whilst the r* gw' proceeded to Mataitawa. Subsequent i-ver.ts proved that ManhulahiJonly held about 15 Maoris ai.d some women— the former ga.lantly stood l.lir- ground, exchanged several volleys with our yvon'e, a:'d !.-,i;iUv lied. One Maori was shot dead on the lieid. and another was severely wounded in tho !■■■: was brought into town to the hospital, on exn ii'-iation ii. was found that from the severe fracture o ' •m■ * bones, amputation was necessary, that operation thore!'"re took place on Sunday fit two o'clock, in lhe pr. - ;:re of five medical men. The operation was pe! f.-rmod with great, skill and care, the patient meanwhile l« iug under the influence of chloroform. -Nature's cih-rts hail however been more than exhausted, so lhe ur.hnppv man breathed Jiis last on thr following day. Mataitawa proved to be totally unoccu jjii-ii, I lie troops therefore took possession without. auv r< ul'le. both pas were burnt to the ground, tho force- returned to town the same night.

On tin- l>ii!-iwiiijj Tuesday the fame forces again went mi!, and look one! destroyed le Arei, ariotlier rebel r<iiM iiication in the direction anil near to M'ataituua. This pa ivas n'.so deserted save by a handful of ! :i;-ris who, however, showed light, two also being worn tied on I his occasion. A redoubt is to beerected Mi To Arc) forthwith, and I believe one at Mataitawa. It is said that tin; rebels have lind dissensions atnon&st tliem, and that large parties have gone further South—it. is quite evident tliey are not in our neighbourhood. It is beginning to be suspected that your Province and not 'laranaki, will be the scene of the next lighting. The escape of the 200 prisoners and Sir George (I ivy's subsequent conduct, has excited a general feeling of indignation here, and all hope of seeing the war brought to a conclusion. This year is now at im end, the opinion is ireely expressed that a general petition should be got up praying for the removal of J]is I'.Aceliency 1' Om the Government of New Zealand. 1311 r Auckland is looked to to take theinitiative, the ether Provinces will 4 quickly follow

suit. r j he contemplated road hot wo on here and |V finpir.ui is deeidcdlv the most practicable step that has vet been taken here, that much and liarrassing resistance will be oll'cred along the entire line there is little doubt—anything is, however, better than remaining in the state of siege weliave been in for so long u. period. ______