The Taranaki Herald. NEW PLYMOUTH, MARCH 10, 1860.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 397, 10 March 1860, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. NEW PLYMOUTH, MARCH 10, 1860.

Reports during the week have been so numerous, and in several instances have had so little foundation, that we have thought it might be most acceptable to our readeis to give them a detailed journal of events day by day, rather than curtail them, as must necessarily be the case in any general observations we might otherwise offer upon them. W. Kingi and his natives have retired before a superior force, and he is now strengthening himself at a pa seaward of Kairoa, which is about five miles fiom the Devon road, and at no gieat distance from the couise of the river Waiongana. The site is selected more perhaps for communication with Taranaki and Ngatiruanui than for defensive purposes, though tljese have/been by no means overlooked, """flie road to Waitara is open, and may remain so until some act is committed by either side which would lead to decided hostilities. For all this, travellers cannot be too much on their guaid. The Bell Block and Omata stockades are advancing 1 towards completion, and there is a rumour — not without foundation, we believe — that similar woiks will be constructed around the Town. Every precaution is taken by His Excellency to ensure the evince the most laudable spirit of loyalty and determination to suppoit Her Majesty's representative in his measures for repressing turbulence and disaffection.

JOURNAL of events since Saturday, 3rd March, to the time of publication. Sunday, 4th March. — How unlike a day of rest ! It soon became evident from the bustle in camp that W. Kingi's reply to the Governor's communication was not considered satisfactory. The troops were frequently paraded and inspected — the skirts of their great coats, in which they w ere to march instead of their scarlet uniforms, were tucked vp — 25 teams of bullocks were collected on the ground, and knapsacks, trenching tools, and stores of all kinds weie in readiness for moving. Towards evening the tents weie struck, and every piepatation made for the troops to march before daylight. The weather continued so fine that it was decided to put the camp equipage, and most of the heavy things on board H.M.S.S. Niger, and this excellent alteration of plans dispensed with upwaids of 50 teams. The services of a mounted escort of volunteers was accepted by the Commanding Officer, and C. DesVceux, Esq., received the appointment of supernumerary Captain of Militia to enable him to take the command of them. This force is mostly arnwl with a sword and revolver. A considerable number of the settlers were .spectators of the unusual scene, and many were the speculations as to the ptobable effect of so large a force (above 400 including officers, engineers, and artillery) would "TlSve upon the natives whose misconduct had led to the pioclamation of Maitial law in Taranaki. Monday. — At 4 a.m. the troops, preceded by sume of the mounted escort, started on their silent maich with the heartfelt wishes of the settlers for the safety and success of the expedition. The compaiatively few who had risen at so early an hour to see them off were desived not to cheer, and little was heard at any distance but the cries of the bullock drivers. The ad vanced guard was followed by 2 field pieces, and the carts and main body followed, the whole under the command of Colonel Gold, Commanding the Forces. The Niger having enbarked His Excellency the Governor, steamed about this time for Waitaia. Du-

ring the day great anxiety was felt for news and it was not until 6 p.m. that the mounted escort returned with the cheering intelligence that the troops Intel reached Waitaia without obstiuction. On arriving at Ikamoana (a spot celebrated in native feuds) the force struck off the Devon road and crossed at the junction of the Mangoraka and Waiongana livers. Heie they rested for some time to allow the carts to come up, and get the guns across. From this point an advanced guard of skirmisheis was thrown out coveting nearly a mile of coun • try ; the service was veiy harassing but it effectually guarded against ambuscade or sui prise. When Waitaia was sighted the Union Jack was flying over W. Kingi s pa and on arriving on the ground at 2 p.m. it was found that the Niger had landed everything and was in possession, the natives having retired precipitately at the sight of the bluejackets and marines. Theappeara..cv u (l],» .ulllluij .lo 1-liL- XjxjJj 1, Ui.ua .to way along the load, picccdcd by the skirmishers and followed by the guns, and haggage wagons is described as a very picturesque as well as imposing sighr, and we doubt not struck tenor into the heaits of the natives who were posted on the surlounding heights. In town, which was left with a few men and one officer of the Csth regiment to pioteet the bonacks and magazine, preparations were made by Major Ilcibert commanding the Militia and Volunteeis for its defence against suipiise. The latter coips furnished the fiist guard for the Commissariat and banacks, and guards Weie also continued night and day over the haibour boats. Outlying pickets of Militia were posted, and the Militia were ordered to be drilled daily and supplied with ball caitridge. During the evening intelligence was brought that W. Kingi had lequested an interview with the Governor. A favomable infeience was diawn from this and, accordingly, the two 24 pounder howitzers on boaul the Niger were not landed, and the Harbour boats were returned to town with the pilot, and Uip Niger was to follow in the morning with the Governor. This intelligence tended to allay appiehcnsions of hostilities and gave hope of a speedy termination of existing difficulties. Tuesday — The provi&ion caits started this morning for the camp in charge of a mounted escort. Intelligence was iome bours_aftenvards received thai the _naiiy_es had elected a stockade during the night, and stopped the escort, and tint the Niger with her steam up had been lecalled by 2 guns flied from the liver. Amounted volunteer at once undeitook to pioeeed to Waitara, and cne of the harbour boats was despatched by sea. The former relumed in the evening and reported that the caits" had been stopped by natives who gave way however befote the firm attitude taken by the escort, that the seamen had landed, and that together with the military had proceeded to captuie and destioy the pa, hut which was found empty, and that Teira had burnt W. Kingi's pa at the mouth of the liver. This put us all on the qm vive, strong outlying pickets of volunteers and militia and mounted patrols were ordoied out to guard the town against any possible attempt upon it. Heavy rain during the afternoon and evening. Intelligence also leceived that southern natives weie about to join W. Kingi's paity. Passes, with the Royal Arms and V. R. inscribed thereon, issued to natives, and strangers requested to leave the town. Wednesday. — The Niger «as at her ,inehorage early this morning, and his Excellency, Captain Steward, and Mr. Rogan landed. Lieutenant-Colonel Murray arrived by land, and resumed the chief command of the men. The two 24 pounder howitzers were landed with the ammunition and taken to Marsland Hill. Rumours of the Taranaki tribes joining the enemy still life, and Mr. Panis was sent by his Excellency to enquhe into them. Stiong outlying pickets of militia posted, and the mounted patrol again oidered out during the night. Accoiding to late accounts fiom Wailara, the tioops weie busy foitifying the camp, trenching, Sec. The natives had not been seen since the destruction of their stockade, and aie supposed to be erecting pas further inland. Tliursday. — The Tatnraimaka settlers were this day recommended to come into town. The Taranaki natives, numbering about 300, will join W. King's party in the event of a collision with the troops. These natives aie not to be depended upon, as they aie the most woithless and savage tribe in New Zealand. Tamati Wiremu of the Poutoko pa and his party of 80 men, have signified their wish to swear allegiance to the Queen, and assist the Government, as also have the Moturoa natives under

Poharama numbering about 40. In consequence of some questionable characters having obtained passes at the Bell Block outpost, and come into town, all natives north and south, are now prohibited from coming into town. Only such natives as live in the town district are furnished with passes. Nothing important has come in from Waitara to-day — the troops were hard at work building breast works and otherwise strengthening their position. Friday. — Weather changed with rain, but little or no wind. The Niger since her arrival on Thursday week has never had occasion to lift her anchor, and the weather altogether has been remaikably propitious for operations. 20 marines, 30 blue jackets, the Ist and 3rd lieutenants, a midshipman, an assistant surgeon and a gunner, together with a 12 pounder howitzer, were landed at 1 p.m. fiom the Niger, and posted on a commanding position to the JT.I). v,f tl»o tV, .11. Tk, lowing nf 1.1 .io jackets is> a novel sight m Taianaki — it being the fast lime men from a man-of-war have landed in this town. They marched up from the beach with their band playing the sailois diagging the gun, and were greeted with a hearty cheer from the assembled towns people on passing over the Iluatoki bridge. It is not saying too much for this arm of the service that we believe that in case of emergency they will prove a most formidable force in resisting attack. Passes, available for one day only, weis sent to the 801 l Block and Omata outposts to admit loyal natives residing outside the settled districts coming into town on lawful business. Nothing fiesh from Waitara. 80 Volunteeis and Militia are doing picket duty to night.

[From our correspondent at JVaitara.~] In these wailike limes a narralhe of the military proceedings during the past week will, doubtless, piove interesting to your lenders. At half past tlnee on Monday morning the troops destined to take possession of the land at Waitara purchased by the government from Tena, silently assembled at the camp on the parade ground, wheie the de. tnchmcut of the 05 th Regiment, the paity of Royal Aitillery and Rojal Engineers had bivouacked the pievious evening. Punctually at foui the advance sounded, and the column marched off in slow time, and with the guns and baggage tram and lear guard could notha\e been lesb than half a mile in length. Sixteen mounted settleis undei Captain Des Voenx escoited the baggage. Eaily as the hour was, many ol the townspeople lined the ro.id to see the dcuiuiuio ot this imposing lorce, and many feivcnt wishes were" e\pTei.suriorrßirsucerßi. "or I:hTs~gal--lant band. The column leached the Waiwakiiho hiiilge at dawn, and halted tit the Mangaone blidge, when skirmisheis weie thionn out in the bush on each side of the ascent and having thoiougbly seaiched it the advance sounded and the maieh was continued to Mangati when thiee carts with planks to biidge the Mangoraka and Waiongana rivers joinid the coit%e. Skiimisliers weie again thrown "out and the column mo\ed down the road leading to t'le old Puketapu pa and then to the right to tile junction of the river. The skiimisheis peifoimed their duty admirably, notwithstanding the difficulties of the country. On leaching the liveis the watei was found to be bo low that the advance guard marched light thiough without halting, the skumibhers extended, swept the country, and occupied Tamati Teito's pas commanding the line ot muich, and the column and convoy followed, the whole crossing without the slightest mishap; a halt of halt an houi on the livei bank proved most acceptable to the teetotalleis. On the advance again sounding, the column made a sweep inland the skirmisheis gallantly pushing on through fern breast high until they leached the Devon line, where a halt ensued near its junction with the Mamaku load i the bullocks were unyoked, and the horses tetheied out, and the weary, hungry soldiers imagined breakfast time had anived. After a diligent search, hoivevei, no water could be found, and the officer commanding the forces determined on pioceeding on to the Pukekohe pa, where the foice airived at about two o'clock, to expeiienee a like disappointment, .us no good water could be found nearei than the river, a distance of a quarter of a mile, towaids which the poor thiisty souls rushed with theii c.mteens. The position was found to be an admirable one capable ol being defended against any native foiee, and commanding the principal poition of the potato crops at Waitaia. In an incredible short time the tents weie pitched, the baggage train unloaded, a magazine foimcd, the trenches cleaied of cover, cooking places made, so that in the coutse of the afternoon, from a waste coveied with weeds, the pa assumed the appearance of a stiong military position. A night attack being expected, the troops remained under aims till broad da) light, and welcome indeed must h.ue been the repose that followed. On Tuesday morning the tioops were occupied in stiengthening their position. At 10 a.m. an escort of mounted volunteeis with theii sergeant left the town in charge of thiee carts with provisions for the troops at Waitara, and whilst pioceeding on the Devon line near the Waiongana, they mot Wi Tana who advised them to return and take the beach road as William King's natives had built a pa on the dnect road to the camp and would not allow the carts to pass. It being too late to retrace theii steps without occasioning unnecessary alaim for their safety, the escort continued its route to near the junction of the upper anil lower Wiiitara roads until it was stopped by a Waitaia native named Hohaia, who ordered it to return, which was declined ; he then stated William King's party would take what was in the carts in payment for their houses which the soldiers had that morning set die to. The sergeant informed him that the natives had fired the pa (which proved to be the case, Teira and his people having set fire to the Kuhikuhi, William King's place of residence, which was totally consumed.) The niUive itillcun-

tinning to obstiuct the road, Jthc sergeant hustled him aside with his horse, whereupon he put down his head and requested him to cut it off. Believing him to be one of the four natives doomed to destruction so as to enlist the sympathy of other tribes in favour of William King, it was determined not to use force, and he was asked to get up and ride on the cart or proceed along the road before the cart, or towards Mahoetahi pa, but he persisted that he would remain where he was or cross the fern to the native stockade, which the sergeant fearing an ambuscade positively refused to allow him to do, and having oideied two of the party to detain him, lode towards the pa and parleyed with the natives, with whom he was fortunately well acquainted. They consisted of a party of from 40 to 50 of William King's, Ilapurona's, and Tamihana's men, under the command of Hapurona, assisted by Matthew and Edward Kmg, and Tamihana, who after a little persuasion sent woid to Hohaia to allow the cat ts to pass. The escort moved on and when abreast of the stockade Ilohaia exclaimed " How about payment for our houses which the soldiers have burnt,' whereupon the escort closed on the carts, and by showing a hold fiont got safely to the fence across the road, where they met Mr Parris, Capt. Steward, and Archdeacon Govett. Upon arriving at the Camp the affair was leported to the Governor and 0010..tl OvlJ, t.l.w rcoulvtd w^on gi >jn~ tho Ntttivow twenty minute, notice to clear out, and if they refused to vacate the pa, to file upon them, and the following letter to that effect was sent by Mr. Pairis :—