TAURANGA.

Otago Witness, Issue 714, 5 August 1865, Page 7

TAURANGA.

SUCCESS AND CANNIBALISM OF THE HAU-HAUS.

(From the New ZenlanL HeriJd. 2'.'t July.) It is my painful duty to inform you of the brutal and savage conduct, of this mad sect, the Hau- hau?, or what they are more commonly known by the name of " Pai Marire," who, in an encasement* at Iliiri-

•were with a portion of the Arawas, succeeded in securing five bodies of their victims, who had fallen, and afterwards Bevered their heads from their bodies to be preserved, and then feasted on their remains. From accounts which have within the last day or two been brought from inland to the authorities of this place, we learn that an engagement which had recently taken place at Te Waiiti, in the HurLwere district, between Kereopa, Mr Volkner's murderer, and a number of the Arawas belonging to Terawera, who were led on by Adam Clarke (Te Kuru o te Marama), a chief of immense and powerful influence throughout the inland districts. Kereopa had been very diligent in recruiting and adding numbers to his strength the whole time he had been allowed to remain at the Bay of Plenty, so much so, that when he arrived at Te Waiiti he numbered 700 strong. This number consisted of chiefs from every hapu in that district, who had all declared vengeance on the Arawas, on account of their firm determination to stand and shelter themselves under the banner and protection of the British Crown. The place that was chosen was well selected, being at the head of the Bay of Plenty, and in the very centre of a dense population, who bad all, with one exception, embraced this savage and damnable faith. Tawaroa was the name of the place, and it was here that a few faithful loyal natives resided, about 150 in number, when on Kereopa's arrival being made known to these unprotected people, they sent a messenger off to Taramera, a distance of thirty or forty miles, acquainting Adam Clarke of the fact, which, upon his bearing, he quickly sent special messengers on to Totorua and Maketu, for the whole of the Arawa tribe to come in to his assistance, and endeavor, if possible, to secure the murderers of Mr Volkner and bring them in to justice. The Arawas immediately assented to go, and those at Maketu started at once for Rotorua, but finding that it would take some time to collect the whole force together, a messenger was sent on to Adam Clarke informing him of the fact ; but it would appear that Adam had received intelligence that the lives of the loyal natives at Te Waiiti were in danger, inasmuch as Kereopa was actually engaged erecting fortifications on all 6ides of them. This caused Adam at once to start with what men he then bad at command, leaving

instructions for the Awaras, which were expected to muster at leaat 800 meu, to follow on. Adam Clarke on reaching Te Waiiti found his friends all but hemmed in, when he at once, with his brave eighty men, set to work with all his might and entrenched a"nd fortified a position, until such times as the Arawas should arrive, but this would not suit the subtle and cunning Kereopa ; he perceived a weak and unprotected spot, and at once arranged to erect a pah close by, which would prevent the loyal natives from getting a supply of water. With the force which Kereopa had at his command, it only took a few hours to accomplish, and •was soon guarded by some of his picked men. Adam soon began sensitively to feel his helpless condition, and not being able to account for the delay of the Arawas, saw that there was no alternative for him but either to return or otherwise attack the enemy, who had just taken possession of their new position, by doing which he would have an opportunity of releasing his friends and retreating back to Tarawera. After maturely considering his plans, he determined upon making an" attack, let the consequences be ■what they may, and having only left ten men to protect his pah, he rushed frantically at the murderous gang and drove them out of their fortification. Whilst this was going on, Kereopa who was very narrowly observing them, sprang forth in savage array, with the whole of his force, for the purpose of taking possession of Adam's pah and butchering the few men who were left in charge of it, but Adam seeing what they run after, at once relinquished possession of their newly taken pah, and with hearts of men and Christians fought through the midst of those demon savages, and finally reached their friends just in time to save them. Adam lost five of his chief men, who fell into the hands of Kereopa, who treated them in the same barbarous manner in ■which Mr Volkner was served, with this exception, that the bodies of these poor men were cooked and feasted upon. Adam, getting discouraged at his loss, besides having a number wounded, and seeing no signs of the Arawas coining up to his assistance, determined to retreat to

Tarawera, and take with him the friendly natives whom he had preserved from falling into the hands of these barbarous savages. There is some mystery, and many conjectures, as to the cause of the Arawas notproceeding on to Waiiti. As I hope to have something definite from the scene of this engagement in the course of a few days, I shall not disclose the stories which are afloat, but leave it for another occasion.

This band of savaze fanatics are hitjhly delighted with the temporary victory which they had achieved over the Queen's Na tives, and which will now give them a fresh stimulus to commit further daring acts of brutality. The effect of this victory is quite evident and visible even in Tauranga, where this horrid " karakia " is allowed to be openly preached and practised. On the 13th ins-t. information wa3 received that the rebel chief Te Moananui might be expected in camp, for the purpose of surrendering, along with several others. About two p.m. a number of the friendlies who were in the camp announced that the rebel chiefs were sailing up the river in the direction of the camp, which caused a little excitement at the time of their landing. Until such time as arrangements have been made by the authorities as to where they are to be received, &c, they were escorted into the temporary building used as a Custom House, where they remained for a full hour, when they were summoned up to the old quarters where all the other branches of the Ngaterangis have surrendered, which was in the lawn in front of the residence of Col. Greer, C.8., commanding the forces in this district. Lieut. -Colonel Shuttle worth, 68th L.1., commanding this station iv the absence of Colonel Greer, was present along with Henry Tracy Clarke. Esq., civil commissioner of Tauranga, Adjutant Corry, Colonel Harrington, Ist Waikato Regiment, &c, &c. Mr H. E Rice was in attendance on behalf of the Natives. After some preliminary discussion amongst the authorities, it w;i9 agreed that nothing but an unconditional surrender would be received. To this, Mr Rice stated that the Natives had come for that purpose, and that it was positively and clearly understood by the whole of them. Colonel Shuttleworth then desired i\.r Rice to read over to them the declaration which was made by the Nga terangis at the general eurrender in August, 1864. They were then asked whether they were prepared to make the same declaration, to which they all individually gave their assent. This being considered satisfactory, they were then called upon to come forward with what arras, &c, they possessed, and sign their amea to the memorable Ngaterangi eclaration of 1864. Te Moananui produced an old doublebarrelled gun and pouch ; Hoepa Pckiwero produced a musket and pouch ; all the others had no arms save two or three pouches which were not worth looking at. Mr Commissioner Clarke was very careful in making enquiries as to where their arms were, or rather what had become of them, the answers of which were all taken down, to be used against them if needful on a future occasion.

The surrender of these people was in every way satisfactory, quite in character with all the previous surrenders of the Ngaterangis. I understand from a gentleman who recently visited these people, that he found amongst them several of Thompson's people who had recently surrendered at Te Awamutu. One of them, named Irihia, pressed hard upon this rebel chief to demand the same terms as had been granted by Mr Gtorge Graham and BrigadierGeneral Carey to Thompson, which he described as being that Thompson is to be allowed the "mana" of his king and karakia, and the Europeans are to be allowed their Queen and their karakia; that when the king does anything grievously wrong, the Queen must put him right, and in like manner when the Queen commit 3 herself, it shall be right aud just for the King, to put her right. They are also to be allowed the privileges of enjoying and spreading the faith of Pai Marireism, the same as we enjoy the blessings of the true Christian faith. The gentleman had thus visited them in order to assure them that if they were anxious for peace there was still mercy for them, but he must at once honestly tell them that they had better stay where they were than attempt to ask the Tauranga authorities to accede to such ludicrous proposals, as they never would be granted; but if they were in themselves anxious for peace, and would accept to submit under the same terms as the Ngaterangis had done, which was an unreserved and unconditional surrender, tbey would be received and mercy would be extended to them, but they were also plainly informed that they would not be allowed to follow or practise the tenets oi the Hau Pai Mairire faith.

Te Moananui theu rose and said — Friend. Enough. Your assurances are

sufficient. The Bame assurances were given by you last year to the Ngaterangis, and were afterwardß ratified by His Excellency in person. lam now satisfied with the terms named by you. As for Thompson's terms, I have nothing to do with him. I consent this very week to submit, and for ever to live and die under the banner and protection of the Queen and her institutions.

The steamer Egmont arrived in harbor early on the morning of the 14th. I understand that she stuck for some time on the nvid bank, which is no uncommon circumstance, A boat was, however, sent from the steamer on shore with letters from Wellingtoa for the commanding officer. It soon became known that this vessel had been chartered by the Government to convey 350 of our Ist Waikato regiment on to Auckland, there to be dispersed about the Thames and all round Waikato, but the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Shuttleworth, did not think it prudent to weaken this force without first referring the matter to head quarters in Auckland, consequently the Egmont, without any notice being afforded us to write by her, was despatched on to town, and would no doubt have made a rapid trip of it had it not been that she again got on shore at the lower spit going out, where she and her pilot had to remain all night. The following morning came in with a gale of wind from the N.E., which caused the Egmont to remain in port. The Rangatira steamer came in also on the 14th, but remained at the man-of-war anchorage.