TARANAKI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 337, 10 December 1864, Page 5

TARANAKI.

THE EXPEDITION TO KAIPIKARI. DESTRUCTION OF THREE KAINGAS. (From the "Taranaki lierald," Dec. 7th.) The murder and decapitation of an unarmed soldier at Mataitawa, on the 28tli November, was followed on the 20th by a still more cowardly attack by the rebel natives on a party of the friendly natives. The TTaihi natives Were engaged in collecting shell-fish on the sea coast, When suddenly, and without previous Warning, a volley -kss fired iiito them. Ono bo>, a mere lad, named Hapurona after "Win. King's fighting chief, to whom the lad is related, was (-hot through {he arm; and several others narrowly escaped from the rebel bullets. One rebel actually loaded and fired several times at iico concealed behind a rock, atid jet these "braves" had not tbo courage openly to attack a mere fishing party of unarmed nativesTwo of the party, however, were recognized, and as there was no doubt that the rebels belonged to Onacio, information wss at once sent to the neighbonrng tribes and to town, whence a force was immediately sent for the protection of the friendly chief Nikoroma and his tribe. The Waitara natives hnd, however, responded more rapidly to the call; and on the anivnl of the 150 men of the 43rd under Lieut.-Coloncl Synge, on the evening of the 30th, at "Wailii, fifteen miles this side, tliey found that the friendly natives had taken tlio initiative—had attacked the rebels, burnt two of tl-eir villages,— Tirikohua, and Polionga—and had driven the rebels back to Knipikari, a village situated half way up the ranges bordering the sea coast. It was to this point accordingly that the efforts of the troops were directed, and after an early march of nearly twelve miles, on the morning of the Ist December, thev teached the foot of the ranges, as usual, in time to See the enemy retire before them. The friendly natives, some fifty or sixty in number, set lire to and destroyed not only the whores, but an immense extent of scrub and bush which burnt up the hill side, exposing a long lino of rifle-pits on tlie crest of the hill frcm which we would have imagined a verysmall number might, have opposed successfully the onslaught of ah army. When the troops approached the ranges the rebel Maoris were engaged in their devotions, and so intent were tlicy ir. endeavouring to cast the spell of the prophet "Te La" round the approaching enemy, that they almost forgot to run away ; and it was not until a cloud of dust, raised by the rush of Captain Mace and several of the recentlydisbanded Mounted corps, who volunteered, and as usual did good service, that the rebels were convinced that discretion >vas the better part of valour. The troops were not called upon to take part in this " inglorious riclory" as it would be called by oui northern contemporary ; but had this place not been destroyed, the completion of a formidable stockade on the top of the liill, to say nothing of a line of rifle-pits nearly a half-mile in length, would have rendered it even more impregnable than Kaitake, while the neighbouring bush afforded even greater cover for a lurking enemy than Manutalii or Mataitawa.

"We have omitted to state that 100 men of the 70tli marched frcm Te .Arei and occupied the ground between the Onaero and the Waipara river. This party of troops did not go beyond AYaihi, where the} remained during the absence of the 43rd, and returned to Te Arei 011 Thursday afternoon.

The 43rd, under Colonel f-ynge, and the G-poundcr Armstrong, under Captain Martin, RA., the powers of which were not tried, returned to New Plymouth on Friday morning, having witnessed the destruction of the last rebel stronghold in this part of the province of Taranaki.

JS"othing could be better than the behaviour of our allies, the friendly natives, who, on the capture ol the rebel position being completed, danced the wardahce of defiance with a vigour that promises succces to all future undertakings.