POVERTY BAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 644, 5 December 1865, Page 6

POVERTY BAY.

Tub following letter detailing tho late skirmishoj and the state of affairs at Poverty Bay, has been forwarded to us: —

To the Editor of tho New Zealand Heealw. Sib,—Tho following statement of passing events here may net be uninteresting to your renders. On Wednesday, loth inst., t'ho troops stationed here, consisting of 100 military settlers, undor Lieut. Wilson, GO Forcs-t Bangers under Captain Wostrup, and 25 Defence Force under Captain La Serro, and about 300 friendly natives (NgatlporouandTeitangahawiki), under "Morgan mid Henare Potao, the whole under Mnjor K razor, m-.de a movement from cimp as fir as Mr. Goldsmith's place, whnro they slept that night. Thursday morning, started for Waerengahika (the Bishop's place), on ncaring which the Forest Pangers were thrown out in skirmishing order ahead, and finding the road clear proceeded on to tho Bishop's fenco, where they discovered that all the buildings with the exception of his own dwelling had been burnt by the llauhaus. Saw a bullock dray with a man, woman, and two or three children who were just leaving the house, who wero immediately fired on, but on somo of the settlers making known that they wore the persons in charge of tho Bishop's place, thoy wero allowed to proceed, fortunately without anyone being hurt. Could hear the llauhaus shouting their war danco on discovering our approach. Immediately on our gaining the Bishop's house (about 200 jards from tho pa), we opened fire, but very rarely could seo any living object to fire at; however, peppered away all day, the greater part of the night, and two following days, strengthening our position at the same time by entrenchments. On Saturday morning a party of about 30 military settlers, including somo of our own settlers, under Lieutenant Wilson, took up a position within about 50 yards of tho pa, where they had not been long when they wore surprised by a party of Hauhaus in their rear, who wero coming to reinforce those in the pa. Oui' party wero a long timo in doubt whether they were Hauhaus or fiiendly, and so allowed them to get right amongst us ; but on discovering who thoy were, " let fly " at them in good earnest. In tho meantime, somo of those in the pa had come out, and our party were completely hemmed in—on seeing which, the only course left was to charge through them, which they did in most gallant style, killing 8 and wounding 11; our loss on this occasion 5 killed and 7 wounded, including Lieut. Wilson, wounded in the hand and arm. On Sunday morning the Hauhaus, -about 200, came out of the pah, and made an attack on our main ! position at the Bishop ; hero again they wero mistaken for friendly natives, until they got within thirty yards of us, when thoy met with a wanner reception than they expected, the penalty for their rashness being 40 odd killed, and about the same number wounded. Our loss was only ona man wounded iu the leg. Kept up a heavy lire on them all day and night; and on Monday, Morgan went out with a white flag, and proposed to them to come out and take away their dead, which they did, with the exception of four which they were afraid to come for, being rather too close to our position. They were then summoned to surrender in ton minutes, but did not seem inclined, and at tho expiration of that time firing recommenced: in the evening got a six-pounder gun from the stoamcr Sturt, which was placed in position that night; and at daylight on Tuesday opened on tho pah, but unfortunately could not be of much use, owing to the absence of proper gear for keeping it in its position. They must however have suffered in the pah Beverely, as in the afternoon hoisted the whito flag, when proposals were made for their immediate surrender, which were accepted, when about 120 guns were received, with other munitions of war, in the shape of tomahawks, taiahas, &c, &c. Immediately on their evacuation, tho pah was rifled of everything of any value. Numerous articles bolonging to the settlers were discovered, amongst which wero two pianos belonging to to the Bishop's family, but, of course, there was nothing returned to the rightful owners, everything being considered as lawful plunder. I may here mention that somo of tho officers made themselves conspicuous by cutting the green-stones out of the eare of tho vanquished as they came out of the p*h. Wednesday was partly spent in making arrangements for return to camp at Turanganui, levelling the pah, «nd in driving in the Hauhau horses. Some of our Maoris on going out to reconnoitre the other Hauhau pahs found them evacuated, and thoy were burnt at once. It is now the general opinion that moat of those have gone to the Wairoa. It is reported that while tho Hauhaus were coming out of Waerengahika some thirty or forty of the wor3t characters made off by the rear of the pah. These are now some four or five miles up inland tn the Opotiki road, where they are building another pah. It was most unfortunate that measures were not taken to prevent tho escape of any (which could easily have been done.) Thoro is a general feeling of dissatisfaction amongst tt.c men at the total absence of arrangements for their comfort throughout this affair. They were four whole days and nights without a glass of grog, ■which, with having to sleep (most of them) i n the trenches all night, was rather too much. Thero was not even a stretcher to remove tho wounded on. It is the general opinion that this succoss lias been gained more by good luck than good management on tho part of the commander. Greßt praise is due to Captain We3trup, Lieutenant Wilson, and Ensign Bichardson, and other men under their command, for their gallant behaviour throughout tho affair; in fact to all the men of tho different corps, including the Tuparoa and Mawhai nativo contingent. Our own natives of Turanga were all in the background. Some were discovered firing blank cartridge. Our succobs on this occasion has been unfortunately damped by a difference arising between Major Frazor, commanding, and tho Chief Morgan, which had likely to have been rather a serious affair. As it is, it has proved serious to the settlers, Morgan's men, ot course, making common causo with him, havo taken payment for the insult to their Chief by completely dismantling the settlo-s' homes, destroying everything they can lay their hands on, cattle, fences, fruit trees, sheep, p lgß , potatoes, everything, in fact rnnn,,W- bode? MT d - ° n6 ° E settlers', onro-' SS ™ IV tbem /"torday, was told hat tho MtUen had poisoned the mind of tho commander against Morgan and that the houses would be burnt belore they left in consequence. While operations were being carried on at tho front, the camp at Turangunui was in a most disorderly state. Ihere were about 40 men left under tho command of a sergeant, who unfortunately had access to the rum cask, and supplied his friends with it ad libitum. The consequonce was that two of the settlors, who came down from tho front to see their families and get change of clothes (with tho commanding officer's leave), wero put iu tho guß,rd tent, and kept thero for 40 hours, without any causo whatever. An officer (Lieut. Goorge) was sent down to flee, into tho affair. Tho settlers were dismissed, and the strgoant placed in under arrost, for freeing court-martial prisoners, and being druuk on duty for four or fivo consecutive dayn. The settlers aro obliged to put up with tho insult, and tho sergeant is now at liberty. To-day (Monday) the pownerg hate arrived in camp. The Stot arrived

yesterday with Mr. Dcighton. on board, sailod again in thcjalternoou, and is expected back again tomorrow, lhia i 9 a truo statement of laets as thoy occurred; some trivial matters may h&ve beon loft out in tho hurry of writing, which does not affect the truthfulness of this. I havo no timo to mako a clean copy of-this, so you must_ do tho bostyoucun with it, aud put it in proper " ship shapo." I romain, truly yours, A Settl»ii. Turanga, November 28, 18G5.