FIGHT BETWEEN THE LOYAL AND REBEL NATIVES.

Otago Witness, Issue 652, 28 May 1864, Page 9

FIGHT BETWEEN THE LOYAL AND REBEL NATIVES.

"We publish the following important news received by the Rangatira. We take the following from an Extra of the " Wanganui Chronicle 1 ' of 15th May :— ■ Very important intelligence arrived this morning at 3 o'clock from Ranana (London), the place at which the Government natives were posted in order to intercept the party threatening to attack this settlement. Full particulars have not yet been received, but so far as they have come by "way of letters to Mr White and to the Putiki natives they will be found below. It appears that the taua, or attacking party, had, according to their expressed intention, begun the descent of the river, notwithstanding 1 the warning of the Government natives that if they came near them they would be attacked. The Putiki natives have it, that their «oming to an island between Tawhitenui and Ranana, two pahs only a short distance from each other, wpuld be considered as the signal for an attack on them ; and that the Government natives embarked in five canoes, under the command respectively of Kereti, Hemi Nape, Riwia, Mete King, and Apereniko, and landed on this island awaiting the arrival of the rebels. The latter came, and while still in the canoes were fired on by Kereti, who killed his man. The shot was not returned, and Kereti fired again. He fired a third time, and a volley was received in return. Kereti was one of the first of the Government natives who fell. The rebels were then permitted to land on the island, and a close hand to hand conflict ensued. It is said that most of the killed were Piperiki people, and that the Kgatiruanuis nnd Ngaraurus must, for the most part, have remained behind at Piperiki. The loss on the side of the Government natives was twelve killed ; the number of wounded is not yet known. Some of them are expected here this afternoon. Among the Government natives killed are the following chiefs :-— Hemi Nape of Ranana. Kereti Hiwitahi of Kawairoa. Riwai of Turakina, a brother ofKawana Paipai. There was also killed M. Eredleau, a Frenchman, who has been up the river for some time assisting to build mills. He and Father Lampiller were in the thick of the fight, aiding the Government natives. Apereniko received a bullet .through his cheek. Hemi Nape was a violent Kingite until some time after Mr White came, when he changed his side, influenced by Mr White's mode of proceeding. Kereti is very highly spoken of as an intelligent roan. He was the principal native catechist M. Lempiller had assisting bun, Rewi is described as a gentleman-like and intelligent man. Mr Whites account makes it appear as if the contest took place on the bank of the river near or at Ranana. As soon as a man of importance was observed, the cry was, " Shoot him down." This must have been the case on both side 3, at least a fourth of the Government natives killed are men of influence. Matene, the leader of the fanatics, was tomahawked; Hore Patene, and his uncle Haimona, both of whom were instrumental in getting Mr Booth away, were shot down. So close was the struggle that the muzzles of the muskets when fired were touching the enemy. Sixty of the rebels,'who are said to have been 119 in number, were killed. The rest escaped some one way, and some another. Four of their bodies were afterwards found, lying together on a rock at the bottom of the rapids below Ranana. . Mr White's letters state that the fight took place on the 14th ; while the Putiki accounts give Friday morning as the time, which is likely to be correct. Hamarania, the principal fighting chief of Wanganui,, was at Atene, (Athens), naif-way between Ranana and Parakino— about twelve miles from either. The native? at Atene are about equally divided for and against the Government, Hamarama heading the latter party. Before the fight a message was sent from Ranana to the Government natives at Atene, desiring them to shoot Hamarama if he stirred. He is there beleaguered with his followers. After the fight, a party of Government natives was dispatched to Pikeriki, and another party to Waitotara, to follow up the advantage. What they have done is notyet known. Thjfc may perhaps be considered as the most important event in the war. It has proved t the fidelity of at least the loyal

Wanganui natives. It will cause a declaration on the part of all the neighboring tribes that they are on the one side or the other. It will remove the suspense and hesitation that have so long marked the Government proceedings here. Tribal jealousies, may, indeed, have had some influence in precipitating this fight ; but the loyalty of these Government natives has been so proved by it, that we think no hesitation should be shown in furnishing them with ammunition. They sent down for some, and a supply was sent from Putiki this morning. Great praise is due to Mr White for the manner in which he has organised the Government natives here, and given them heart for the work. As we go to press a canoe has arrived with two of the wounded. It appears from the accounts now given that the rebels fired thrice before their fire was returned ; that besides the sixty killed on land, twenty were shot in the water, and that the natives are hunting down tho3e who escaped. There were 118 rebels and 400 Government natives engaged.

The " Independent " of the 19th says :—

The accounts from Wanganui, so far as they relate to the success of the engagement that has taken place between the natives, will be considered highly satisfactory, notwithstanding that we cannot anticipate that it will turn out so decided as reported. The number of the Pai Maire killed and wounded will probably turn out to be fewer in number, the native versions in such cases seldom proving correct. But the fact of so many natives taking up arms in defence of the" settlers, must be a bitter draught to those who never cease declaring that there isn't such a thing as a frieudly native in existence. Friendly or not friendly, the recent events at Tauranga and Wanganui— to say nothing of the safety of Lieutenant Cox's paity in the Lloyd's expedition— certainly show that there are natives who will aid the settlers against the rebels, and do it effectually too. Inuendoes have been plentiful during the past fortnight relative to the conduct of the Bank of New South Wales in paying over the money lodged there by certain natives, not by Government, when the Waitotara was sold a year or two ago. So far as the Bank was coucerned, it could scarcely take upon itself to withhold the payment of money lodged at call, and last week shows what must have resulted had the Supreme Court been moved to attach it — the natives who received it .being amongst those who have done us so much service. The blame that has been attempted to be thrown on the Government in this matter, and the assertions that the outbreak at Wangauui was consequent on the receipt of the money, and that it would all be spent in aiding the rebels, have by the force of events proved the ignorance of the parties who put themselves up as censors.

Otaki. — Some very ridiculous rumors of fighting amongst the natives at Otaki were current yesterday, but it appears there was but little foundation for them. Inspector Atcbeson was up there recently for the purpose of bringing down the native boy who is required as a witness in Tricker's case, but did not get him at present. An animated debate took place at Tricker's trial, but ultimately a majority were in favor of his being permitted to attend. At one time the dispute on the subject almost resulted in hostilities, however at last the disputants cooled down. Wi Tako is reported to have waxed cold in his adhesion to the King movement, stating as his reason that if it be now checked at the fountain head, the streams must dry up. Such is his reported reply to a charge of inconsistency reported against him. We have intelligence from Otaki up to the 17th instant. ,When our informant left everything was quiet. A great meeting of natives took place at Otaki, on Monday, at which Heremia, Wi Tako, and other influential chiefs were present, the number of natives being about 300. Wi Tako and Heremia announced their intention to abandon the King movement. Wi Tako, during his speech, said, what was the use of the sides of a canoe when her bottom was gone. The principal mcD all Bpoke of abandoning the King movement. We Hani, who had just returned from Waikato, having witnessed several engagements, described that once powerful tribe as now dead. The natives, from Rangitikei on the West Coast to Wellington, are remarkably quiet. — " Independent^! 1 May 19.

At an inquest held at Hindon, on the body of a storekeeper named M'Shane, who waa killed by a fall of earth, which crashed his head while digging, q. witness stated that his attention was drawn to the accident by a little dog which bit his trousers and whined until he was induced, to follow it. The little intelligent animal led him to the claim where the deceased had been digging, and on digging him out he was found to be dead.