THE EAST COAST

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1171, 15 December 1868, Page 3

THE EAST COAST

THE LATE ENGAGEMENTS IN POVERTY BAY. A Correspondent of the HawTce's Bay Herald, writiDg from Turaoganui Redoubt, sends a

kind of diary of considerable extent, from which we make the following extracts: — Thursday, Dec. 3. ftgatiporou reached Makeretu yesterday afternoon about 3. They at once attacked and defeated To Kooti's rear-guard, 100 strong. Twelve —some say seventeen —of the enemy were killed; no prisoners were taken. Nama, Te Waru's head chief and a prophet, was killed, and Ngatiporou burnt his body. Te Kooti, with his women and children, escaped on Sunday. A native boy was found bound in the scrub ; his life was spared at the intercession of a Ng itiporou woman. He gives valuable information. Te Kooti is wounded in several place 3. 7000 rounds of our captured ammunition were re-taken. Friday, Dec. 4. It is asserted by the prisoners that Te Kooti will make a stand at a position chosen by him five mllo3 from Makeretu. I believe thi3 to be correct. Tents were seen from a hill near Makeretu ;—these tents appeared to be not farther off than five miles ; and the firing heard yesterday is now thought to have been Ngatiporou attacking the enemy. Kits of fern root were found in the enemy's late position at ■ Makeretu, and horses partially consumed. We ran only draw one inference, viz., that the enemy is getting hard up for food. Owing to a dispute between Ugatiporu and Tarehn, about a prisoner, the whole force at the Front is said to be returning. If true, the expedition against Te Kooti is virtually abandoned. I fear the intelligence is too correct, as I hear provisions and the wounded are on their way from the Front. As Mr. Richmond is here, something however, may be done. 11 a.m.—The expedition has not returned to Turanganui; but has overtaken Te Kooti, and are fighting. It is said that a number of the wretches who betrayed our movements to Te Kooti, and were hand and glove with the murderers, have come in. Ngatiporou, on account of the dispute with Tareha respecting the boy-prisoner protected by him will not allow those villains to be killed. It is said Major "VVestrnp has issued ordei%3 for their immediate destruction. Major Westrup will be supported by every right thinking man in New Zealand. 1 p.m. —The Sturt arrived with a reinforcement of TO men under Colonel Whitmore. The arrival of Whitmore was notified by inscriptions upon some of the m >re conspicuous of the buildings, announcing that " The grave-digger has arrived ! " [The correspondent then indulges in the strongest censiu-e of Colonel Whitmore, partly attributing to him and his proceedings the state of affairs in Poverty Bay.] 5. p.m. —The Ladybird has nrrived. Three steamers and two schooners at one time in Tuning; - nui Bay, is an uncommon occurrence. The Sturt steamed into the river, and made quite a pretty picture. It is very rarely a steamer crosses the bar. Saturday, December 5. Last night a messenger arrived to say that Te Kooti is camped upon a precipitous hill about five miles from Makeretu (the late Front). This hill has been rifle-pitted all round, and it is believed that here Te Kooti will " stand the hazard of the die." Please God it proves so. The hill is said to be ?urrounded. I would fain hope so. But Te Kooti has been surrounded before, and got away. The messenger, a European, came for ammunition. 8 a.m.—The 400 men that arrived per Sturt and Ladybird yesterday, have started for the Front. If Te Kooti makes a stand we shall doubtless settle this East Coast difficulty; for which success, of course, Whitmore will claim all the credit, and so fulfil a prediction uttered by many, viz., that he will "build up a mock reputation upon other men's foundations." 12 noon.—Some of the Hawke's Bay natives have arrived. One of the number, wounded, died yesterday on his way here. 1 p.m. —Information lias arrived per Mr. John" stou, owner of the Muriwai station. Ropata, a Ngatiporon chief; alter the withdrawal of Ngatikahunguna, owing to the absence of Hotene and his men, who were absent for provisions, was left with seventy men to surround Te Kooti's position. Seeing the inferior number opposed to them, the enemy made a chai'ge. They were beaten back by Ropata and his men, who followed the enemy and took possession of his outer rifle pits. As soon as ammunition arrived, of which Eopata and his men only retained three rounds per man, it was Eopata's intention to storm the Hauhau position. From natives present at the affair we learn that the women and children with Te Kooti were heard loudly lamenting. Seven of the enemy killed, wounded unknown ; of Ropata's men, one killed, six wounded. Fifty-six bodies have been counted at the scene of the late fights at Makeretu. Sunday, December 6. Ngatiporou being unable to hold the enemy in check, retired some distance, and are watting for reinforcements, when Ngafcepe, Te Kooti's hill fortress, will be stormed. "Ngutcpe is an ancient Maori fortification of great strength. Unlike other native strongholds, it is said to be supplied with water. There is no reason at present to suppose that Te Kooti meditates another retreat, his position being well adapted for a final struggle. Karepa, a son of Tamihana's, and a noted villain, who was one of the three guides that volunteered to conduct the murderers to the houses of Major Biggs, Captain AVilsou, and other victims, is reported killed. It is said thafc Ropata, a chief of the Ngatiporou, seized and drew him over a parapet, and slew him. Dead bodies continue to be discovered at Makeretu: nigh one hundred in all have been counted. A great quantity of spoil has been secured by our allies, and over one hundred pounds in money. 12 noon.—The enemy has retreated from Ngatepe into the bush. The whole of our native allies ai'e on their way back to Patutahi. Whitraore and his forces are camped about four miles inland of Patutahi. The enemy will be pursued as loon as our natives have recruited. The expedition has collapsed. Whitmore's assumption of command has proved the signal for the return from the Front of all our native allies. Thus all Mr. M'Lean's able and so far successful plans are rendered abortive. Even after Government had neutralised Mr. M'Lean's efforts to a certain extent, that gentleman had retrieved then* wretched blunder—a certain victory was likely to have been achieved, and the murderers annihilated. By the arrival of Colonel Whitmore, and, this, his second wretched failure, thousands of pounds have been squandered for nothing. Ask Ngatiporou —enquire of any and1 every settler here why this expedition was abandoned, and the name of Whitmore and Government, coupled with "curses, not loud but deep," are a sufficient answer. Whitmore is where I last mentioned. As soon as his " strategic movements " and " able dispositions " have been made, I suppose we shall as usual hear of his retreat. A little grave digging will then probably be done, or some one flogged. The finale will be a flaming despatch —confirmed of course by the "rations and forage correspondent," and when master and parasite have disappßai'ed Poverty Buy will bo left ruined and deserted, Ministers may whistle for their boasted utu, and the Colony may audit the account. His Honor the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay sent the following telegram to Wellington : — " Napier, December 8, 1 p.m. " On further enquiry and having received letters from Ropata, Hotene, and others, I find the ascertained number of the Hnuhaus killed ate 70. " Loss on our side—lo killed 20 wounded. "Te Kooti and party are still in considerable strength and retreating, making rifle pits as they go towards Puketapu." The settlers of Wairoa beyond Howick, which stttlement was overrun by the rebels in 1864, are engaged iv the praiseworthy conduct of putting their house in order. The best way to secure peace is to be prepared for wai% and if the settlers south of Auckland would all follow the example of the settlers of Wairoa, Waiuku, and some two or three other districts, they would aob wisely, although, as yet, all is quiet in Waikato,-— New Zealand Herald, Dec, 5,