THE EAST COAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1901, 18 February 1870, Page 6

THE EAST COAST.

PRIVATE WiIITTY AND TWO FiUENDLY NATIVES KILLED.

SUB-INSPTCCTOIJ CRAPP AND i<ol7ll OTHERS WOUNDED,

THE EUKBIY ESCAPES

Colonol Eraser, while inarching out with hie foreo to moot McDonnoll, was surprised when reaching Purongaroa, uud somo of his men billed, and several others \vound"d. A European named Witty was the first man shox; at. He was killed ou tho spot. Two friendly notices wero also shot (load, one of them having no less than lire bullets in his body. Sub-Inspector Crapp is wounded, and had a narrow oscape of losin* his life. Pour or fivo friendly natives who surrounded him wero all moro or less wounded. Tho following is from our own correspondent: —

Tauranga, February 4. At half-past nine o'clock Inst evening, news was received that our people, under Colonel Fraser, had been surprised at Parenguroa, about sixteen miles distant, by the enemy, and that three had been killed on our side— one white man, named Whitfcy (t spoil ifc as it ie pronounced), and two Maoris. Two .15uropcans and some natives arc also reported to be wounded. If there is any loss ou tho other side it is not known. I beliore, however, there are none, from tho fuct of tho enemy having lived u. volley and bolted to lOiikiu-oa a snttlomont adjacent in, tho bush. This attack on our forocs was not from To Kooti. Treachery is at work.

February 3. By the schooner Jano I forwarded u letter, tbo contents of which, so far as I can learn, have mot with contradiction. The Sturt

arrived from various settlements on the East Coast subsequent to clc-.ing my letter, with about 170 Maoris, under tlio loyal chief Wi Kinni, and other chiefs, namely, Te Hatn, o Te Almrau, o Te Aharau, o To Nntu, Te Kaho, Te Hatana, Te Whanaunganui. It is worthy of remark that nil the native settlements outside the confiscated block of Tanranga proper, with the exception of Whukaniarama, are at the present moment deserted, the reason alleged for such desertion bfiin({ terror of aggressive acts of hostility on the part of the European forces; but it i 3 not unreasonable or uncharitable to suspect that a disposition to join issue with To Kooti l'ad some share in the movement.

A HAUHAtr PfiISONER. SHOT.

Saturday, February 5. On Kakaroa being taken possession of by Colonel Fraser's party, one old Maori man and a woman were discovered in one of the whares. The former wa; dragged out by the Maori portion of the force, when Fox desii ing them to eleav away from behind him (the prisoner), Fox fired at him, the example being followed by others, when more than a score of bullets entered the unfortunate man's body, which was then chopped up with a spade and thrown aside for dogs to devour. It is said that his own son, who had just rubbed noses with him, was one of those who fired upon him. The woman was not mole~tcd, as she was recognisod as an Arawa who had been taken prisoner by Te Kooti near Taupo some time ago. Saturday, February 5. Colonel McDonnell arrived at Te Kaka, near Paengaroa, with 300 men. in engagement lias taken place at Tapapa, with a loss to us of three white men and three of Kemp's Maoris, Te Koot.i's loss being six killed and twenty taken prisoners. As soon as McDonnell got Te Kuki, our troops divided (or will do so to-day) into three parties—one for Kaimai direotiou, another to Orapi, the other towards Rotoruu. A number of fires are visible from Te Papa, which we suppose to be the burning of the villages. Sunday, February 6.

Our people on the trail of Te Kooti. known by hie shooting his dogs, which wero found st ; ll warm by Kemp's force. Fox declares he will spare nothing belonging to the rebels that he comes across.

There is little doubt but that To Kooti s escaping to the Uriwera counli-y should he elude the pursuit of those after him—somewhere about 1000 men. But there he will meet with but short commons, as the following letter just received will indicate: — " Whakatane, February 3.

"Deai- Sir,—The only information 1 have ■worth recording is that two women who were taken prisoners at Abikerem by Colonel Whitmore's force, but were allowed to return to their friends, puid us a visit yesterday. They report that the TJriweras are very short of food, their crops having been destroyed by the troops and the late flood ; fern-root and thistles being their principal diet at present. They also state tha f , as soon as their people return they intend attacking this place in roveuge for their defeat in March last. A few Huuhaus were out at the Mill yesterday pig-hunting, and as Captain Gundry could not spare any of his thirfcj men, the settlers called a meeting, and farmed themselves into a corps, electing three officere, and immediately afterwards starting for the Mill ; but the Hauhaus, fortunately for themselves, had left the place." Neon. Colonel Fraser and his men have ust come in from Oropi. Soon, after writing the above the troops ■were seen pouring in to Tβ Papa, when a splendid spectacle—that of ■welcoming—followed.:. Our allies are certainly fine limbed fellows, which they are now giving us erery opportunity of noticing. They comprise Kemp's, Topia's, and Fox's men, numbering several hundred. The names of the tribes I need not give you. Theywill.it is expected, inarch for Maketu to-morrow early, en route for Rotorua. Thence, should Te Kooti have left, they -will proceed to the TJriwera in pursuit.