LATEST FROM THE NORTH.

Southland Times, Issue 1133, 31 March 1869, Page 2

LATEST FROM THE NORTH.

IMPORTANT FROM THE EAST COAST. ♦ DETAILS OP MR PITCAIRN'S MURDER. TE KOOTI AGAIN IN THE FIELD. DARING ATTACK BY THE HAU-HAUS. PALL OP RAUPOROA PA. PORTY-PIVE HAU-HAUS AND TWELVE FBIENDLIES DESTROYED. WHAKATANE DESTROYED. (From the c Wellington Independent,' March 20.) Considerable excitement was caused in town on Saturday evening on the arrival of the e.s. Tauranga from the East Coast. AH sorts of rumors, more or less exaggerated or wide of the mark, were afloat. However, we regret to say that it is impossible to shut our eyes to the critical state of affairs on the East Coast, the desperado Te Kooti, with a considerable number of followers, ibeing again in the field. He has, it appears, attacked the friendly nativei with the iame remorse-

leas fury as characterised his attacks , on the Europeans. He has alwady>seseiged and captured Hohaia's pa -/"it ;•& Bauporoa, killing several of its garrison* f attacked a fortified house and kilfod ajk| its defenders but one, and destroyed tiajgjfc settlement of Whakatane. The; loss he,;? has inflicted on the friendly i natives x '-imS variously stated, but taking the most' reliable accounts, it is about twelve, while his own loss is reported to be forty-five. So far, therefore, he has not gained very much ; but at present we do not exactly know the amount of the injury he has inflicted. There is however, one view of the matter which contains something of consolation in it. His attack on the friendly natives will unite them against him as one man, and though he may at the outset gain some successes, it is not difficult to forsee that he will bring certain destruction upon himself and his fanatical followers. It will be remembered that a few days ago we published some intelligence of the death of Mr Pitcairn, which had been derived from native sources, and it was hoped that the report would turn out incorrect. We regret to say that it has been confirmed, and we append full details. We stated, also, some days ago, that Eakuraku and 50 followers had been taken prisoners by Te Kooti. At that time, as no intelligence of the kind had been received by the authorities in Auckland, the correctness of the report was doubted. The news brought by the Tauranga, however, mainly confirms it, the fact being that Bakuraku's party joined Te Kooti by arrangement, this show of being made prisoners being a mere ruse. It would appear that Te Kooti, with a considerable number of followers, arrived at Bakuraku's pa on the 2nd inst. The name of the pa is Whakarane, and it is situated immediately inland of the harbor of Ohhva, which, as we explained in a previous issue, is midway between Opo. tiki and Whakatane, the former being the farthest distant from Tauranga, which stands midway between Mercury Bay and Whakatane. The pa of Whakarane (Bakuraku's pa) is situate on a commanding hill about a mile and a half inland of the head of the water of Ohiwa, and is visible from all parts of Ohiwa, and we believe from the sea. Its position is such that it could not be easily surrounded, as it is backed by a bush. We may state that we have been informed by a correspondent that on the 20th Te "Kooti was at Maungapoukato, and Mr Commissioner Clarke went down and had all the women and children removed from Bakuraku's pa, and by bis instructions the pa was strengthened. The natives had planted crops in the neighborhood, and professed their anxiety to remain and gather them. It appeart that on the 2nd Te Kooti's party arrived at Bakuraku'c pa. Te Kooti appears to have surrounded the pa, and the inmates surrendered without the slightest show of resistance ; in fact it appears that the whole affair had been pre-arranged, and that the form of a surrendei was gone through merely to and prestige to Te Kooti's arms, and to intimidate the friendly natives along the East Coast. For some time previous no fires were lit, in order that -the attention of the friendly natives might not be attracted. At this time there was a party of natives at Marsh's pa, on the eastern side of the Ohiwa harbor, while at Buaporoa pa there were about forty Arawas, who had previously been reinforced! by ten of the Ngatipukeko. The pa of Bauporoa had been strengthened' some days previously in anticipation of an attack by the Hauhaus. Te Kooti's followers and Bakuraku's people are,reported to have fraternised, and Te Kooti inquired whether any Europeans-were living in the neighbourhood. He wai informed that Mr Pitcairn lived at Ohiwa and in the evening Te Kooti paraded ten. of his old comrades of the Chatham Islands. It is stated that they were all dressed like soldiers, and that ,Te Kooti wora four revolvers in bis belt, with a sword by his side and a telescope in his hand. Ultimately Hemi, , Kakitu,, and Bangiaho were told off to make the attack, Wemaybtatethis Bangiaho is not the same man that shared Te Kooti's fortune at Ngatapa. The murderers, proceeded to Te Tarawai, and there procured a canoe, and soon reached the Island of Uretara, in the middle of the Ohiwa harbor. Mr Pitcairn, it appears, was out shopjdng.j&t the time. We have been. informed that Mr Pitcairn had been informed of the danger of his situation, and had removed to Ohiwa Island as a place of safety. The island, however, afforded no refuge whatever, a* it could be approached on foot at low tide. Mr Pitcairn had. often been told that the locality he was in was quite unsafe, but on every occasion 7 ' lie expressed his firm trust in Bakuraku's people, from whom he expected to receive notice of any intended attack. He 'had been advised to remove to the mitt near Hohaia's pa at Bauporoa, but declined to do so. The murderers on their arrival in the island, found there a native^oman who had acted as housekeeper to Mr Pitcairn, and an .old man, and-a_boy. The murderers threatened 'to kill the woman — whose name is Buta — if she would not betray Pitcairn. She appears to have consented — in fact her treachery ia of the basest description. On his arrival on the Island in his canoe, Buta met Mr Pitcairn and asked him for hit gun, but he declined to give it up and stepped out of the canoe, proceeding towards his house* the woman still urged him to give up his gun, and on his persisting in his 1-ufusaJ she caught hold of it Hemi, one of the murderers, then stepped forward from his hiding place and snatched the while at the same time iiangiaho ttLruok Mr Pitcairn on the 'left side of the lieud, completely cleaving t&e skull. One or more blows, were dealt, aud the body was dragged into the hut. The stores which Mr Pitcairn had P^cured from Mr Simpkin's store I '',*-'<ji Whakatane on the Monday being; p»pfce4 up and taken away. Mr Pitcaim** watch and instruments were also stolen,

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the body of the unfortunate gentleman being left in the hut. After this cowardly deed the band of murderers returned to Whakarane, Bakuraku's pa, taking with them the woman Ruta, who had betrayed Mr Pitcairn. On the same night a party of the Upokorake tribe at the Hokianga pa were surprised and taken prisoners. The next day a native woman named Wereweri, who had accompanied Mautuanui, wife of Ohepa, to Whakatane> was taken before Te Kooti, as also was Ruta. Te Kooti informed them that he did not intend to attack Whakatane, but that the Hauhau god had given him the whole of the East Coast as far as the East Cape, and that he would attack all the settlements in detail. All who did not oppose him he would allow to remain in quiet possession *of their land, but those who took part against him he would drive from the face of the earth. He saya he will first attack the Arawa, tlien Opotiki, and exterminate the Ngatiporou, men, women and children. On Thursday, the 9th instant, Te Kooti with a party of about 200 men, proceeded to the pa occupied by Hohaia, which, as we. have stated, is called Rauporoa, on the Whakatane river. The garrison of the pa observed their approach, but as they displayed a white flag they were taken for Arawas. They contrived to get close to the pa under cover of a large house, situate about thirty yards outside, and several women and children who were outside called out to them, " Hare mai, hare mai." The garrison, had, however, been on guard, and as soon as the attacking party got sufficiently near they were recognised, and a tremendous volley was fired at them from the whole face of the pa, and twelve fell dead. Te Kooti's men returned the fire, killing Hori Tunui, a leading chief, andja woman, who were outside welcoming them. The Ngatipukeko (Hohaia's people) then rushed outside and drove the enemy away, slaying eight more oi them. The -Hauhaus took shelter behind the house, and had a karakia, after which they commenced sapping up to the works. For three whole days the seige was continued until the sap had approached to the pilisades. The besiegers then threw ropes over the palisades, and pulled dow a portion of them, producing a practicable breach. They must have been considerably taken aback when they .fbund confronting them a ditch and para>pet. Te Kooti, probably having suffered heavy loss, and being short of ammunition, proposed a parley. When the parley was proposed they ceased firing, and the fighting chief of Hohaia's party, :Te Mehana, replied to Te Kooti, who said he meant no harm towards them, and would offer them the option of either - making common cause with him or remaining neutral while he attacked the , jLrawa. He presented Te Mehana a new revolver as a pledge of his friendship. < The .fighting chief accepted the revolver, but said no truce wonld be made unless Te Kooti and his party removed to the other side of the river. The Ngatipukeko, a hapu of the tribe of . Ngatihaua, expressed their determination -to continue the fighting, notwithstanding they were short of ammunition, unless the besiegers would cross the rirer. No , sooner had Te Kooti's party retired than the. defenders of the pa sent away their women and children towards Richmond, tttuate at the junction of the Rangitaika and Tarawera rivers. To keep Te Kooti in check, twenty picked men were placed oh the side of the pa towards the opposite bank of the Whakatane river. The rejinainder of the garrison then left the pa, following the women. Seeing his mistake, Te Kooti again attempted to cross the river, but whilst doing so his men were so exposed to the fire ot the garrison that Jliey were compelled to seek cover. Te Mfihanaand his twenty picked men then -retired, forty of Te Kooti's cavalry pursuing them. Shots were exchanged, but the progress of the cavalry was impeded by the bush, and the pursuit was only continued a distance of five miles. . A native woman, who visited Whakatane after the fight, was told by Te '■ Kooti's own people that they |nad sustained a loss of 45 killed. .The lobs of Hohaia's party was iavXf l2. so that in this case Te Kooti was clearly the loser, besides suffering the mortification of being outwitted. While the attack on Rauporoa was 5 taking place, a small party had been detached by Te Kooti to attack the house of a Frenchman named John Guerin, better known as Johnny, on the opposite side of the Ohiwa river. The Frenchman had previously put his home into a thorough state of defence, and at the time of the attack the garrison consisted of himself, two women, two children, and three men. They defended themselves in the most courageous manner, repulsing the Hauhaus four times, but at length their ammunition was exhausted and all except the Frenchman and one native were killed. The two then attempted to make their escape across the river to the pa on the opposite side, but in the retreat the Frenchman was killed, the native escaping with a wound in bis shoulder, to Matata. He reported that he had shot three of the enemy with his "own hand, and that the Frenchman had fought desperately, killing a great number. On Friday morning last, the 12th, "Major Mair went down from Opotiki and occupied a strong postion at the mouth pf the Whakatane river, and on the edge of a steep range which runs inland towards the Frenchman's house already mentioned. Major Mair went out, with a party of men, to reconnoitre Te Kooti's whereabouts, and proceeded inland in the direction of the mill, where he found Te Kooti, in great force. On seeing the approaching force Te Kooti sent out %n cavalry to meet them, and, on Major "Hair's party preparing to receive the •attack, ne supported the cavalry with his infantry. Major Mair judged it advisable to retire^ and"accbfdingly"returned to •bia'fonner position 1 in the 1 pas between th#'bill j iuid tfc» WhkMitane river. Mr

Mair's present force is said to be 200, about equally composed of Maoris and Europeans. Te Kooti's foree — from the reconnaisance made by Major Mair — is estimated at about 300, 70 of whom are cavalry. It is probable, however, that he will be reinforced by 150 Whakatoheas who were in the bush. Mr Pitcairn's body was brought in on the sth to the Arawa pa. On Wednesday last Te Kooti's forces moved down to the village of Whakatane and they burnt it to the ground, and on the following day they destroyed the Roman Catholic mission station. On Friday last, as the Tauranga left, Te Kooti was within 1000 yards of Major Mair's position, and a night attack was feared. Captain Simpson left Tauranga on Friday morning last, with 70 men as a reinforcement to Major Mair. Te Kooti was observed from the decks of the Tauranga, galloping about on a grey horse, within 700 or 800 yards of Mr Mair's position. He was attired in a red shirt, with boots and breeches, a sword is suspended from his side, and no fewer than four revolvers are placed in his belt. His men were firing at Major Mair's position while mounted orderlies were galloping about in all directions, saluting their chief, and receiving orders in regular military fashion. In the following letters full details are given of the several events that have transpired : — Opotiki, March 6. " I have just returned from the coast and received you note, and take this opportunity of sending you the latest news. On Wednesday afternoon last Te Kooti despatched 20 men to an island near the mouth of the Ohiwa river to murder Mr Pitcairn, a surveyor whose head quarters are there. When they arrived two of them entered his whare, and found there only his native wife and child. On inquiring where Mr Pitcairn was, they were informed that he was out shooting pigeons, on which they desired her to go at once and get his gun from him or they would kill her. She accordingly went, met him coming out of the bush and asked him to let her carry his gun, which he refused to do, saying he could carry it himself. The two Hauhaus crept up, and one of them who knew Mr Pitcairn, and had in fact formerly been employed by him, sprang suddenly upon him and seized his gun ; the other coming up behind, struck him across the forehead with a tomahawk. The reßt of the Hauhaus now surrounded him and completed the murder in a brutal manner, inflicting no less than five wounds. The murderers then left the body and went across the river to the pa of Rakuraku, a friendly Urewera chief, and after killing one man took the remainder of the occupants prisoners, together with Pitcairn's wife and child. Te Kooti allowed two old women to go to the Arawa pa at Ohiwa, and they conveyed the news. The Arawas then went across to the island and buried the body, which had not been further mutilated. An expedition left here this morning to exhume and bring up the body to Opotiki where an inquest will be held, and the remains properly interred in the burial ground. On the night of Saturday, the 6th great rejoicing was heard in the direction of Maungatapu ; war dances and jubilant songs of the most extravagant character appeared to be proceeding, and were continued till late at night, several boats coming and going to and from the township to fetch bread and the provisions. Upon inquiring it was ascertained that Marsh, a great Hauhau chief of the Ngaiterangi had arrived from Patetere, the Hauhau stronghold in the Waikato, from Hakaraia, at present stationed there with a strong force of malcontents. The mission of Marsh waa to prevail on the body of the Ngaiterangi to rise and join Hakaraia in the Waikato. This intention was disclaimed by Marsh and the natives visiting Te Papa, but the villages around are all nearly empty, and I am curious to know where they can have gone but to the Waikato. I should have mentioned that Marsh was the bearer of an autograph letter from Hakaraia urging the Ngaiterangi to take up arms and foUow him — an appeal, it would appear, that has not been altogether in vain. It was rumored here on Monday that Te Kooti meditated an attack upon a pa at Whakatane, occupied by the Ngatipukekos, a feiendly tribe, the news reached here this morning that the attack had actually taken place, and that owing to a ruse, he had been very nearly successful. The following as nearly as 1 can gather, are the particulars of the case : — An Arawa named Tomati, while on his way to the Arawa pa at Ohiwa, called at Hohaia spa at Whakatane, On Tuesday about two o'clock in the afternoon, while in the pa, a party of about 150 natives bearing a white flag were seen approaching. The occupants of the pah, misled by the flag, believed the coming party to be Arawas, and invited them to enter the pa, and did not discover their mistake until the attacking party were actually in the gate of the pa. Hohaia, who was welcoming at the gate calling out '• The Hauhau." At the same moment one of the Hauhaus shot dead Hori Tunui, who was close to the entrance A woman was also killed. The Ngatipukekos then charged the Hauhaus, and drove them out of the pah, killing 8. The Hauhaus retired behind a large house of Hohaia's, situated about thirty yards beyond the pa, and held a karakia or Hauhau service, keeping up a heavy fire on the pa, which was not returned, as Hohaia's people were short of ammunition. While this was going on a party, under Te Kooti himself, made an attack on a small pa on the opposite side of the river, occupied by an old Frenchman — whose name I have not learned, but he was generally called " Johnny," his wife (native) and two children, another woman and two native men. They all fought with the utmost bravery, repulsing the attacking party four different times, but ft superior number at length gained the

, day. The women and children were . killed, and the Frenchman and surviving natives being out of ammunition, attempted to escape to the pa on the opposite side. The Maori succeeded in reaching the pa, although wounded in the shoulder, but the brave old Frenchman was killed whilst crossing the river. The natives in the pa endeavored to protect them by a covering fire, but not altogether successfully. The surviving native say a he shot three himself, but that the old Frenchman fought desperately and must have shot many more. Tomati the narrator of the occurrence, made his way through the enemy at uight, and brought the particulars of the attack to Dr Nesbitt, at Maketu. A fine whare belonging to the Whakatane natives, and built by the Frenchman, was burnt by the rebels. Since the fight at Whakatane, the defensive force here has been increased to ' eighty Arawas, twenty or thirty of whom are stationed at the G-ate Pa. They ex- 1 press a strong wish to go to the assistance of their friends at Ohiwa, but were prevailed upon to remain. This increase of the force did not take place till after the arrival of the Jane, on Wednesday, and Tauranga on Thursday morning, which latter vessel brought down Dr Pollen and Mr Clarke, C.C., with many other passengers. Mr G-ilbert Mair started on Wednesday to go to Whakatane, for the purpose of ascertaining personally the state of affairs there, the Tauranga being detained till his return. March 12. The schooner Jane left here about five o'clock last evening, and the steamer Tauranga was detained to wait for the arrival of despatches from Mr Gilbert Mair, who had set out for Whakatene the evening before. At about eleven o'clock last night she was got under weigh, and was steaming out of the harbor with the Resident Minister, Mr Commissioner Clarke, and a number of gentlemen on board, on her way to visit Matata, Whakatane, and Opotiki, when two messengers — Retreat Tapsell, and a native of Maketu named Hone — arrived at the beach on the Matapiki side of the harbor. They endeavored by firing oft their revolvers to attract her attention and cause her to stay, but in Tain, and she proceeded on her voyage. The intelligence they brought was of a very serious description, and became generally known very early this morning. It was that the Whakatane pa had been captured by Te Kooti, and that Mr Mair with fifty Arawas had taken a stand in the pa at Maketu ; that a number had been killed on each side during the engagement, it was at first said twentyfive, and afterwards eighteen ; and that the stores of the two Europeans residing in Whakatane, Messrs Simpkins and Melbourne, were burnt to the ground, after being first plundered, and there contents, some of which were spirits, distributed amongst the rebels. Mr Simpkins and family and Mr Melbourne had left the day before. But events are thickening so rapidly that I shall cease attempting to furnish them in the order in which they occur, and simply enumerate them. Whakatane has fallen to the prowess of the formidable Kooti, the pa been taken, and the submission of the Nuatihaue conceded. The submission means an enforced, and possibly not very unwilling, alliance, in which the conquerors gain the arms and services of the conquered. The firing lasted so long that the ammunition of besiegers and besieged was failing when a truce was proclaimed, and Kooti entered the pa. He made a speech to the effect that he was desirious of obtaining the alliance of the Ngatihane with their own consent, if possible, but although his ammunition was exhausted — he would kill them with the tomahawk. They preferred laying down the arms, and jointly with Te Kooti occupying the pa. The" next news that come to hand was, Kooti had advanced on and was besieging Matata. One poor fellow came into Maketu with his hand shot off and tied up in flax. Mr Mair's despatch, brought by Sergeant Retreat Tapsell and Honi, requested the assistance of a hundred men. Dr Nesbitt followed in the morning, returning in a few hours. A patrol of the few remaining inhabitants of Maketu was kept up all the night through. It will easily be conceived that we in Turanga are not able to afford any assistance, requiring as we do all our available hands. The Arawas stationed here, and incrersed two days ago to seventy men, became very restless on receipt of the intelligeuce, and at last insisted on leaving foi their own kainga, Maketu, with a view of proceeding to the aid of their people at Matata, which they did this afternoon. Mr Luttrell went from here a few days ago with horses for the purpose of bringing in the wife and daughter of the Rev. Mr Spencer from Tarawera where they resided, and returned yesterday with both those ladies. Several messengers arrived in the course of the morning, all concurring in the truth of the first intelligence, and only differing in small details. It was said that all the native inhabitants of Maketu had left that place, and that couriers were despatched to Taupo to bring down assistance from that place, where a great number of the Arawas were congregated. It was estimated that a very large number of loyal natives were to be found there, who were pecuniarily interested in the success of the pakeha, as large tracts of their country were leased at very considerable rentals, amounting to some £20,000 a year, which they would forfeit, together with the titles to their lands, which would be confiscated if they engaged in rebellion. The Militia mustered within the Monmouth Redoubt, and, after being called over, were addressed by Colonel Harrington, who informed them that Te Kooti, after defeating the natives at Whakatane had advanced on Matata, which he was then besieging, and it depended on his success there whether he would attack Maketu, in which event the inhsbitantantf of Tauranga would be

placed in a very serious situation. The night after this became very dark and cloudy, aud about ten o'clock a very heavy rain fell, continuing for some time rad rendering the duty of picqueta very miserable and uncomfortable. The force under arms is at present niuety infantry, twelve of whom are stationed in the blockhouse at Pai's pa distant about eighteen miles, and about twenty five cavalry. Dnring this afternoon several canoes were observed conveying the native women belonging to the settlements in Tauranga away in the direction of Motuhoa, near Kafcikati. All the villages in rear of Te Papa are nearly deserted, only very old men or women being left behind. It is now getting on for midnight, and heavy rain still continues. Te Kooti is reported to be followed by eight hundred men. March 13, 1.30 a.m. The steamer Tauranga just in. Te Kooti, with a force of 300 men, attacked the pa at Whakatane, held by about sixty Ngatipikiao — besieged it three days — sapped up to it — lost fortyfive men — besieged lost none. Had a parley — besieged took advantage of it — got their women and children away — then managed to escape. Whaikatane is destroyed — Messrs Simpson and Melbourne's places burnt and everything destroyed. Major Mair is now at Whakatane, with ninety Europeans and 120 natives — Te Kooti about one mile away — attack expected every hour. Fox and the Arawas have left Tauranga to go down to Maketu, thence to Matata, and, if wanted, to Whakatane. Some 100 men are on pay here, including cavalry and night patrols. Great excitement psevails. There is a price of £1,000 on Te Kooti's head, and it is a pity that there is not some £20 per head on his followers, so as to make it worth while any one raising a force for the purpose of catching him. No time for further particulars.