ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 37, 21 June 1845, Page 4

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

On the afternoon of April 28th, the Slams >Castle, Velocity, and Aurora, arrived at the Bay •of Islands ; the former having on board the head-quarters of the 58th regiment, commanded by Major Bridge. The Velocity had on board Lieutenant- Colonel Hulme, commanding the forces in New Zealand. The latter vessel had on board about forty volunteers (late of Kororarika), under the command of Cornthwaite Hector, Esq. H.M.S. North Star was at .the -anchorage ; and seventy men of the 58th were immediately landed upon the beach of Kororajika; the union-jack was hoisted, the proclamation declaring martial law was read, a royal

salute was fired, and the troops presented arras, after which they re- embarked, and returned to the ships On the following morning, the 29th, the vessels all weighed, and proceeded up the river Kawa Kawa, towards the pa of the chief Pomare. ,The wind was light, and sometimes entirely calm, and the ships were obliged to be tow;ed, and did not reach the anchorage off the pa until midnight. On the passage up .the river, several groups of natives were to be seen in arms upon the skies of the hiUs. The ships anchored at about 800 yards from the pa ; and as the day dawned, a white flag was seen flying within the fence ; shortty after another was hoisted. This was answered 4 and it was determined that if Pomare gave himself up to stand his trial, the people should <be spared. By this time the troops were all on shore, and jnany, natives were to be seen in groups upon tie hills, having muskets in their hands. At half-past eight, Pomare was sent on board the North Star, and arrangements were then made to march iato the coun-,: try to attack and destroy the pas and places of the chief Kowaiti and others, who were known to be in arms against the Government. The road no person knew^ rivers <and swamps were' to be crossed ; the^ country was .covered with thick brush; ;and the natives were to be seen ready to fall, upon the rear, and follow as soon -as the march' commenced. The idea of moving^ that day was given .up.; and the natives were called upon to deliver up their arms by four,' p.m., or the attack wquld be made upon.them.ii By four, the pa was deserted, three muskets only! having been given up. It was accordingly fired ; | and all idea of advancing being given up, the* troops re-embarked, and the ships anchored off' Pabia, at eight, a.m., upon the ist &f May. The chief Thomas Walker was immediately^ in oommuniGation with the Commander of the Forces, to arrange for future movements. in the afternoon of the 2d, H.M.S. Hazard arrived, and the vessels immediately moved to Kent's Passage, and .at midnight anchored off; there. At seven, a.m., of the 3d, the troops were all landed in a small sandy bay, which place ,was ■chosen rather than the Waitangi, because the ' road between it and Walker's pa, although j longer, was clear of cover. They were met on | landing by Walker and a large party of his men : : they marched at noon, and the ships imme-. diately returned to the anchorage off Pahia. '■ On the evening of the 10th of May, an officer arrived from KeraKera with information that the troops were, with the wounded men, at the mission there. x , On the following morning, the ships' boSfe were sent up the river for the wounded, who, jj with the seamen and -marines «ff the ships oh war, were all on board at five, p.m., when the North -Star, Slams Castle, and Velocity, pro,, ceeded round to join the Hazard, which had been for some days at anchor off Sarah's River. They anchored at ten, p.m^ and found that the troops, having marched from Mr. Kent's establishment, had been all received on board the Hazard. They were all transhipped to the Slams Castle and Velocity, and at three, p-an., the North Star, having on board Lieut. -Colonel Hulme and all the wounded, sot sail for Auckland, in company with the Albert* bringing Mr. Hector and his volunteers. The Slams Castle and -Velocity -returned to <KaroEarika to -wait for further orders. During the absence of the troops, the 'boats ©f the Hazard and North Star burnt five -villages and destroyed ten war canoes belonging to -John Heki, and sent off four European boats which had been stolen, and, -.with the caneea, ] wese hauled, up amongst the bushes.