THE EAST COAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 636, 25 November 1865, Page 5

THE EAST COAST.

IMPORTANT FROM POVERTY BAY. TERMS 03? PEA.OE REJECTED. HOSTILITIES COMMENCED. (From the Haickfs Bay Herald, Not. 18.) Br the arrival of the Sturt, Captain Fairchild, last evening, we have important news from Poverty Bay, destiued for some time to be the seat of war. In Tuesda/s issue we mentioned that Mr. McLean had sent an ultimatum to tho natives in arms against tho Government. The time given them for a reply was, it appear*, extended until 12 o'clock on Thursday last. At that timo, no reply or sign of submission having been made, except by ono man who brought in hia gun and eartouch b >x, iniitructious wore given to Major Fraser, the officer commanding the combined forces, European and native, to take the necessary step 3to compel submission. Accordingly, soon after twelve o' clocV, the work o? preparation t>egan. Great animation prevailed throughout the different corps ; and, before very long, the troops wero soon crossing tho Turanganui as they best could, in boats and canoes. 'J ho men of both races appeared to be in tho highest spirits ; and tho excellent feeling pervading tho whole force, including officers, men, and native contingent, is highly ore£itablo to the management and skill of Major ."Fraser, the officer commanding.

At 3 p m , almost simultaneously with tho Sturt's steaming for Napier, thu force, to tho number of 600 men, commenced their march, carrying with thtm the heanfolt wishes of a\l -present for a speedy and successful campoign. Their camping ground for the night ir.i.s- to be a placn five or six miles inland, in tho neighbourhood of which was a ETanhau pa, which it was the intention to attack next (yesterday) morning. Aβ tho iSturt was leaving Turang.inui she wi>B greeted with loud cheers from the forces, and a few guns were fired from the steamer by way'of returning the compliment. The ec-fm , it that liino ie described aa having been a mos , ■•. .uited and exciting ono. Tho nielarichn'y ~.ut, of the picture remains to bo exhibited. Of tho dottier? cf the district, all of whom had assembled at Turanganui, many had not a roof loft to shelter them, while great quantities of their goods wore lying on tho beach. Tho results of 20 years' "labour and in some cases 35, were strewed to (ho winds —their hopo3 blighted—the benefits conferred by them upon tho natives requited by the destruction of their houses and property, and by threatening their lives.

It is fervently to to hoped, however, thnl the decided meaeuvea now tukeu will bo the meaus of ending for ever the supremacy of savage fanaticism in the district, of Poverty Bay. Wo hnvc givtin above such an outline of what has taken placo a« time will vm-mit of our doing. Wβ now append tho interestiu.; 1.-il-jr of our Poverty Buy correspondent:— Turanga, Nov. 11. Tho Stuvt loft our river last night :it 10 p.m , for your port, taking slr. Commissioner Cooper for the purpose of bringing euppVics of ammunition, provisions, &.C. Little of consequence has taken place einco, etivo natives collecting, and somo of the settlers endeavouring to save their furniture and clothing. Nov. 12. Sunday. Passed pretty quiet. The Sturt arrived off tho bar at S a.m. Really this little boat does her work remarkably wull, and reflects great praise on her commander. Sho is just the boat, and he just the man, for our river. Landed a portion of tho stores in readiness for distribution. Wo had a full muster at our church this afternoon ; it was nearly full; and really, the array of crinolines (for our small community) was most imposing. Nov. 13. A very busy day, distributing nnns, ammunition, and proviiions to our native allies. Several of our young men (settlors) joined the Rangers. Mr. McLean held a rmianga to-day with the chiefs who attended the one hell on tho 7th instant, at which it -was decidod to send a further message to Lazarus and the otuer Hauhaus to come in at once, tlmt is, to-day, or action would at onco be faken against them. Accordingly at about 7 p.m. Lazarus "Rukupo and William King te Tnia came to the camp with information that 170 of tho Hauhaus will accept tho terms offered them, and will come in tomorrow. The Sturt left this morning for Tuparoa, to bring tho women and children of Henare Potao's tribe. He fears lest tho Hauhaua from thiii place may attack his settlements during his absenco in this quarter. H.M.S.S. Esk left at 5 p.m. for Auckland, and taking our esteemed pastor the Venerablo Archdeacon W. L. Williams as passenger. The settlers aro still at work getting their goods and chattols to tho port in Turauganui. November 14. The Sturt rcturnod with Henry Potae and hia peoplo, who wero all quickly landed. The Iroops and allies held a field day ; there were fully 100 armed natives on the ground. What with tho mounted troopers and other corps, tho nat'vea and their war dances, wo wero quite excited, uud " Sloepy Turanga " (as I f.'or Thatcher would term us) awoko for once from its lethargy. Can any of your medical friends state whether tho Maori has eomo of his members formed different to tho rest of the human race ? It must be so ; or why have they tho faculty of turning their eye 3 inside out, or lolling out their tongues to such an extent that ono fears the article can never again bo reclaimed, when lo! it is at onco retincted, and stowed away for futuro use in some cavernous receptaclo formed by nature for the unrulv member. , . . Tho' 170 men reported to havo decided on giving themselves up to-day, nro.as usual, a complete myth. Another runanga was held by your honorablo Superintendent, assisted by Mr. Cooper and the native chiefs who attended the former councils, to meet Lazarus and William King. I havo long known natives, generally, to bo tho best liars of any men I have ever met, but, decidedly, tho palm muet be awarded to my friend Lazarus; hie cool audacity when tolling tho most barefaced falsehoods, when all present know thorn to bo such, is beyond all praise ; it must bo seou, or rather heard, to be properly appreciated. Bcmlly, Lazarus Rukupo, " man of the double tonguo," well do you desorve your native affix of " Arero ma." . This respectable individual said "ho had given up tho Hauhau faith since September last," why the man was walking round tho niu of hie pa, and chaunting in the most approved jiai marire etyle, on Saturday, tho Ith instant, to the great education of all observers. However, tho Superintendent, who he* done o'l that man can do, in the endeavour to induce these peoplo to nllow themselves to bo saved, h uß given them uitil Thursday morning to decide, when, if they do not come to terms, they will be handed ovor to tho military authorities, in which case I hope there will be ehort work with the fanatics. , , , , Thero was very nearly a collision to-day between our native allies. Wi Waitiri, one of, or perhaps the greatest scamp in Tuninga, a profeesed Eawanatanea, tut not the less a Hauhau body and soul, most grossly insulted our firm friend Morgfm, who called to the Pnkeha to stand on one side, as he intended to firo on Mr. Wi and his party. Fortunately, through tho cool interposition of Messrs. McT-ean and Cooper, this unfortunate break in our otherwise apparent cordiality was got ovor. It ended in sundry wor dances, nnd of course a general discharge of firearms. How fond the natives are of noiso ! On the lesst excitement, bang, pop, fix go musket, rifie, and fowling-pieco in all directions. . November 10. More war dances, more waete of powder. Morgan and his men are starting on a trip to the forest Pipi Whaka to eat Tawhara, or, m other words, to let tho Hauhau know that if they felt any appetito for fighting, our allies wero ready to givo them a stomach The Hapu proper of Lazarus is said to havo agreed to come in. They aro expected to number 30 in all, that is, fivo old men and twenty-five women and children; however, his pa at tho where Whakairo has been evacuated by the Pai Marire, and is now occupied by our native allies under Tamehana Ruatapu. Andrew Matete with the othor Hauhau leaders express their determination to fight to tho death. This war has long been pending, and must have visited us in some shape or other, sooner or later j it has now culminated, and the sooner it is fought out the better. Wo hear tho Hauhau have collected the whole of their forces at Puke Amionga (their new pa), and intend making their grand stand I hope their final one—at that place. Our settlers were (neatly all)«wornin andaupplied With-nrme.to-day, and will"bo apportioned among tho

different forces to-morrow. They have nominally joined the force under Captain Biggs. - , November 16. Meeting o£ military officeM and native chiefe. Arranged to etatt at 2 p.m. and taVe up a position for the night at Mr. Goldsmith's homestead, Hue Atoa. We are now fairly pledged, and "God defend

(From the KeraM of the 21st.) In our last wo gavo a tolerably fall account of events at Poverty Bay. Although we have not ™£ ,7°™ t0 """""wucate to our readers, there are one or two mattere which, can be eligibly amplified. in?Lr£ ay '- NoT : \Ae Sturt a ™ed in the mornIn ft^/ apier, £ lt \ armß ' amm « n ition, and stores, to £l \T? t T f reha "toned from the Hauhaua, i H f M 2" 6 terms of Hβ brought a letter from Kaharuhi and several others, couched m figarat.ve language, but intended to be andentooa as a promise of submission, which Tareha ev.dently understood to be sincere. They asked Mr. MLean to go out and discuss the terms -with tiern, but even Tareha hardly advi.ed this etep . On Thursday, the 13th, a council was again held I between Mr. M'Lean and the friendly chiefe, when a letter was written to Eaharuhi and the other, to tho effect that they must accept (ho terms offered and como in to Turanganui. Tareha took the letter, accompanied by Eaharuhi's brother,' Paora Kato, who, with about forty others had in the course of the morning talten the oath of allegiance. One man of no importance gavo himself up and surrendered a rusty old gun. In the evening Raharuhi and Wiremu Kingi te Paea came in. The occurrences of this day, as well as of the 14th and loth, ara fully described in the Herald.

On Thursday the 16th, Mr. McLean having intimated to Major Fraeer that if the Hau Ilaus did not by noon thia day accept the terms offered, he (the Major) was to take charge of the district for the purposo of enforcing them, the morning was busily employed in making the necessary preparations. At half-past twelve the movement began by the Euroyean and Xntivo forces being conveyed across the Turanganui river in boats and canoes. This -was completed by 3 p.m., when they started in the highest bpirits and most admirable order for their first march into the enemy's country. At thu eame time tho Pturt sailed for Napier With Hie Honor on board.

The euddonnesa and determination with, which eo largo a force was concentrated and landed at Poverty Bay must have had a striking effect upon the natives of that dietrict,— men who have always been in the habit of resenting any attempts at interference, who had rejected the introduction of ln.\v and orilivamongst them, —and who have even treated wit v indifference anrt contempt the Govornors v?ho have visited them.

Sir George Grey must have been fully alive io the effect that the presence of a forge ship of war was calculated to produce, not only upon these people but also upon nativei in other quarters, and the shanks of the community, not only of Turanjja but of Hawke's Bay and all along tho coast, are due to his Excellency for the important assistance rendered by this branch of tho Imperial service. Next accounts from Turanga will be replete with, interest—not to this dietrict only, but to the whole colony, the eyes of which are at this moment turned (o the JTaet Coast.