WANGANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 653, 4 June 1864, Page 7

WANGANUI.

The foil wing additional particulars of the Battle of Moutoa are extracted from the "Chronicle":—

On the arrival of the first intelligence regarding this engagement, it was supposed that the friendly natives had taken Matene'a party by surprise while they passed down the river. It would appear, however, that this was not the case. On the taua coming from Waitotara by way of Pnketotara, they intimated to Pehi and the Wanganui natives that they intended to attack Wanganui, and request to be allowed to descend the river for that purpose. Pehi replied that he had agreed with the Governor that there should be peaca at Wanganui, and his word must be kept ; and he instructed the Wanganui natives to stop the party ohonld they attempt to pass Tawhitenni. Properly speaking, the agreement was that peace should be kept within tne limits of Mr White's district which extends to Peterehema above Tawhitenui ; but the path to Waitotara lies through Tawhicnui, and therefore they were to be allowed to descend so far. Matene, however, insisted on carrying out his first intention, and threatened to cut oft every man, woman, and child that opposed his progress, fie said ttieir first object wds to take Mr White! the Resident Magistrate, alive, and do with, him as with the Ito ia former times, that is, draw Wood from a vein in his neck till he died, and drink the blood among them. This took place on Thursday, the 12th, and on that night the fanatic? kept up a loud noise, talking and repeating their invocations, barking, &c. The friendly natives sent a challenge to Matene's party to fight, which they accepted, and preparation was made for the coming struggle. On Friday night, at eight o'clock, the first party of friendly natives went up from Banana to a small island, which has been formed ia the middle of the stream, and lies about 500 yards below Tawhitenui. and about as much above Ranara. the latter pah. being on the left bank of the river, and the former on the right bank. The island baa a shingly beach at its upper end, which gradually slopes up the highest part 15 to 23 feet above the usual water mark, the high ground being covered with manuka scrub. Darin* the night ether friendly natives went up, and by four or five o'clppk on the morning of riafcurday, the 11th, they were all in their positions. About that, time they received a quantity of food, which the women at Kanana had prepared and then brought up to them. Accounts vary as to the num'ws of h-ith parties One acconnt makes Uat»ne** :partv c»nust of 140 men, anu the other of 450, while ouotlipr account brings the numbersdown to 110 aud 350, which we think are more likely to be near the truth. The friendly •'nativfs divided theime'ves into four parties, three of which composed the main body, and the other the reserve. The main body was posted in three parties across the islan-1 near the upper end. Aperauiko occupied the left of ?he position with 120 men ; Hemi Nape and Riwai were placed in the centre with 52 ; and the right was held by 80 men under Kereti, with whom were M.M. Limpiller and Fredleau The reserve -was posted iv the middle of the island under Mete Kingi. Haimona Hiroti, and Arama. TV. attacking partycarae dowu in thxe6 canoes a little after daylight, and we^e allowed to lan-1 on the upper end of the island. On their way they were howling and barking like dogs. They advanced in two parties, .till within 100 yards of the main body of the friendly natives, wliPn they halted, and on their being told to' come nearer, Honi Winihere a returned Hokiarsara slave) fired a gun at the Government natives, who were all standing, and who thereupon rushed forward to within two yards of the rebete, and fired a volley. The enemy drew back a few paces, and the reserve poured in another volley. Then the fight was hand to hand. Riwai was one of the first who feJl j then Kereti and next Hemi Nape. Shortly the friendly natives changed their position, a party eoing over one arm of the river and another over the other arm, so that the rebels were placed between tbree fires— one from ekeh. bank opposite and one from the reserve on the- centre of the island. Thi3 reserve then • rushed forward and drove the rebels into the water, where they were shot down almost to a man. Indeed, one man only is said to have escaped - Raimaaa, who readied Tawhitenui in a canoe. He, jMatene. and Haimona led the tana. Haimona was shot. Matene was one of the last to take to the water, after being wounded in the leg, He swam iir the right bank, but being observed several vollies were fired at him. As he was not hit. Te 5 ore, a policeman, stripped and followed him, and getting- hold of him by the hairjost as he was reaching the bank, despatched him with a pararaa or whaleftone mere, striking, or, «s the native said, smashing his bod? with it. Before he was hit, Matene cried, u pai marire hou, hm t n Te Mow took the body across the stream, and laid it among the rest ef the dead on the island. The victors .then sent a. message to the widows of the slain to come and burythem. Sixty to eighty bodies were buried, and other* an supposed to be in the water. It is said by some that How Pat«ne was not with the attackins party ; by otheri that he was killed. The accounts as to the less of the Government

S*3SSiJS l . I BSS. HM ta '" *""*« The list so fer as ascertained, is as follows :— •

Ngatiruaka-3, resident at Tawhitenui Havana- 4. Namely, Hemi Nape.Biwai Te Atua, Wiremu Te Whara, and Matin Potahe. The names or hapus of others killed are not obtained.

Of the wounded the only information is that three belong to Koroniti oue (Hohipa Wbakaraku) to Parakino, and one (Pehira) fc of Ngapotama. Of the two wounded brought down to the hospital one has a flesh wound in the calf ol the leg inflicted by a bullet, which still remains in tbe leg, the other had the bnne of his right eg smashed below the knee by a gun-shot: hia leg was cut off above tha knee on Monday Dr t 'to. 00 ' Colonial Surgeon, assisted by Or Da- is of the 57th, performed the operation in a very skilful manner. Dr Fletcher and Dr Mu'sen. were also present to render any aid thnfc mi*ht be required. The patient was under chloroform. «nd is now domar well. His name ia Tamihani : the name of the other is Koronihi. Dr Fletcher went up the river yesterday to river any wounded that he may "find up the.

We have only received the names of six of the attacking party who were killed: namelyMaftrS? Pa *f£ <. doubtt * ] >- M <*ena, Tekerei. Toakonura, and Haimona te Panepane o it 881 !-^ aH the m £? belo "Klng to Piperiki are now killed-some at Taranaki, the r. ut in this attair, and ltbatthe male population of Tawhitenm has sufiered a very severe loss. A few of tbe Ngarauras were killed; none, so far as known, of the «gaUruanuiß .

Only two prisoners were taken, one not wounded, the other with a shot in his back, the ball having come out at the hip. With the same object in view -in order to pre - vent them from beiug killed by any of the widows of the Government natives who fell, Mr White has ordered that the two prisoners be brought down here and delivered up to the authorities to be dealt with according to law. The, friendly natives are much dissatisfied at being prohibited from following the fugitives to Waitotoro. John Williams, one of the most cmlfeed end loyal natives, expressed his indignation in no measured terms to Mr White. He said he was not angry with him but with the Government for the policy thsy pursued in not following up the advantages they gained. They are pleased/ however, with the tokens of Kood-will shewn them. <>n Sunday ' the garrison M»g was hoisted half mast high as a mark of respect for the dead ; and on Monday they were ot Jead, 20,000 cups and fi?e guns with 300 rounds of ammunition for them, to enable them to stand the ground should they be ' attain attacked. , <

Mtt BOOTH'S ESCAPE. Since Wednesday we have received Fome additional pwticulare from Mr Booth of the esc mm of himself and brother with their families irom Fipsnki The natives did not attempt, but ■ merely threatened, to take some of Mrs Booth's clothes off her, flourishing their tomahawks ac the same time. On their crossiag the river, on Suturdiy evening, Mr Booth and his party consented to go to his house, on hearing 1 that Pehi would come to bis assistance on the following day. Saturday night was Bpent up to midnight amid a great noiga kept up by the natives. On Sunday' luorni.ia- a native came up to purchase b'owb of Mr tt. Booth, who refased to sell them on aocount of its beioer Sabbath-day, to which the native replied, "There is no Sabbath: Matene has done away with the Sabbath ; every day is alike. He told us to come and buy, and if you don't agree, we wUI take the'things.'" Mr Booth said that, they were determined to honour God at all risks and to keep Hi 3 laws ; and that they wished to be left undisturbed • during the remainder of the day, that they might worship God pmeace,,Tliis requesf, was comp'hd with, and th<>n tbreat-ii, d party fe«t much comfort from the religious services ia which they engaged. About noon they heard that Echi had gone past, aad left no word for them. At nightfall the natives again commenced their invocations {karakias anl the howling and Other noises were feai-fuJ-in order apparently to work each other up *o frenzy ot excitement. This confusion lasted^ till oear midnight On Monday marniug. Hori Patrne came up, and said to Mr H, Booth, Itiey have broken up your p»ska?es, and made a mock auction of the contents." Blankets worth 20* were sold at 333 3 to 4s each, shirts Si ► e 2& . - s ? on< The who!e "mounted to - about £15, winch waa handed ,over ta him Then turning to Mr Booth, he said, " They hay* also broken open your boxes, and taken every, thing of value out of them, as weli as the food you have left down there, and now you must get -eaty and go as quickly aa possible If wadon t get you away at once, I am sure there will be murder." They packed up a few things, when a man came, up to say that the Angel Gabriel refused to allow them to uo that they must rtay quietly where they were, and live and aie amongst the Maoris, Mr Booth sent Hori down to try what he could do towards getting them away. One messenger after another came to try to prevail on him to consent to star. " Tnia i eontinned from daylight till nearly 11 a.m, At that hme Matene (who has eaten the brain* • of Gaptaiu Lloyd) came up to the house .and offered them his hand, and told tßem to sit still in the house, " E nohu ki to kduto, where." He then turned round to go away. They asked if ha I nad no other word for tben. He said, "No" They now gave up all hopes of getting away, aa ail Hore's efforts seemed to be without avail. They went into the housej read the 68th p»lm - and prayed earnestly, if it pleased God, that hi would make a way for escape. The moment they got up from their knees, Hore ran up ,and said. "Kou marama," (it is fight). « Ydi may gT» They took what they could lay their hands' on at the moment, and made all haste to get down to. the canoe. On leaving the houw Mr Booth overheard two ot them talking to each other. They said, "Let them go on to the canoe and ' start: then, we wilt dra* the oauoe ashore rind tomahawk them." All Hore's nearest relatives accompanied them to the river side. They walked along the. side of the riwsvoppoaite to the canoe, when they, were leaving, to prevent «nr violence being offered to. them, and when thly leftj these- natives were crying as though tfiefr ' ; hearts wouM break; If they haflgot aW? on th» Saturday they wuld notiavegot'down by tiem.^ selves, the river was so low at thttMpldsrnui thai ' heavy rain that feU.ott 'ifi SaturdTK^