SKIRMISH AT TARANAKI AND SURRENDER OE REBELS.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 799, 23 June 1865, Page 4

SKIRMISH AT TARANAKI AND SURRENDER OE REBELS.

Colonel Wab.be with a body of troops numbering about 800 or 900 formed an expedition to the south of Taranaki, and on June 13, after passing Opukune he released a prisoner, and sent him to inform the natives that he was about to attack them, asking them to come in, and they would not be hurt. But the messenger like Noah's raven did not return. The troops marched on and destroyed a village near Warea, called Ngakakuimkumi; and [then came to another village, or assemblage of villages, where a skirmish took place, resulting in the Maoris disappearing and their dwellings being burnt. Advancing a little further, our troops came suddenly upon an old pa called Kekeua, which after a slight skirmish was taken and destroyed; the natives dancing Pai-Marire dances. Considerable quantities of provisions and other stores were taken at the same time. Regarding this skirmish, the TaranaJci Herald of June 17 says:— < "The loss ofthe natives is not known, but it has been a subject of much regret to the members of the force that among the killed were two women, who were shot at long range where it was of course quite impossible to distinguish them from the men among whom they were, dressed as they were exactly alike. ~-,-- "At some of the villages there were wh ares filled with plunder from the Lord Worsley ; some of this was brought away, including jewellery belonging to Miss Briggs, which we trust may be got and forwarded to that "Mr. Parris has remained at "Waingongoro, as it is said that a portion of the Ngatiruanui are desirous of making peace." To the same journal we are indebted for a slip, dated Herald Office, 19th June, and containing the following intelligence:— TaranaTci Herald Office, Monday, June 19th Intelligence was received in town yesterday that Richard Peed, of the Mounted Corps, reported in our issue of Saturday last as beiug missing from the force of the Southern expedition, through his own conduct, and of whose life being saved no hopes were entertained, was brought into Camp at "Waimate by four of the rebel Maoris, and given up to Major Butler, with his horse and accoutrements, as he had fallen into their hands.

The four rebels gave themselves up, and signified it to be the intention of the tribes around to give in their submission to the Queen's authority. The contingent enrolled to occupy. the north of the Waitara, started from town this morning to occupy their land. The Government steamer Sturt arrived yesterday from Port Waikato, and left again this morning for the Waitara River, with timber for blockhouse to be put up on the north side.