BELL BLOCK. [From our own Correspondent.']

Taranaki Herald, Volume IX, Issue 419, 11 August 1860, Page 3

BELL BLOCK. [From our own Correspondent.']

Saturday, August 4, 18(iO. This has been a day of unusual excitement, the enemy having been very busy about seeking for any white specimen of humanity that chance might thiow into their way, or their own industry, in that particular pursuit, find out. At about half-past 7 o'clock, a.m., an alarm was given that Wni. Lyall was pursued by some of the lebel natives, who had been lying in wait at Mr Hulke's bush. A party of Rifles from the blockhouse, ever willing to tuin out to have a biush with the enemy, were soon doubling down the hill to the imminent danger of their necks, to assist a comrade in such uigent need. It seems that Ljall, on going to Mr Hulke's early in the morning, as was his usual custom, to see that the piemises mid garden were all right — f'ortuuately for him, obseived five natives in the bush about 100 yards off; he levelled his rifle and filed at them, ran to the friendly cover ot a furze hedge, leloaded and flied again : fl shots, were filed at him in return, but were wide of tho maik, he then made the best of his way to the stockade, hut before reaching it wa's, joined by the men who came to his assistance. They pursued the nathes, but without coming up to them, who re. tieated to the bush adjoining Mr A. Wills', where no doubt they found their fiiends; the puisuing party returned to the stockade, their morning's exclusion having given them an excellent appetite for 'heir breakfast, the inroad into the day's rations being rather alauning to their messmates. At 10 o'clock some of the enemy weie obsetved diiving cattle off Mr Everett's land ; none were allowed to leave tho stockade for the purpose of pieventing it. The Bpounder gun, chaiged with lourtd shot, was filed at them ; they were obseived to run to cover, but the shot did not seem to go near them i the second or thitd discharge proved moie effectual, as one of the group of natives was seen to fall, and Bombadier Madewell gave them another m the same style, which, if it did not the same execution — as a son of the Emerald Isle remarked—" bhure it made them lave that." The remains of the departed rebel having been picked up by his surviving lelatives, not forgetting the cattle, they departed without further molestation in the direction of the bush, whore they weie soon lost sight of. The annoyance and vexation of the settlers may be conceived on observing their property driven away by the enemy without being allowed to tiy to picvent it, or without any hopes being held out to them of being remunerated for their loss. The rebel commissariat department seem most indefat gable, and worthy of imitation on our part, having, as my fiiend Patiick remarked, "lashings and lavius, shnre they have mate for tay in the mornin', and tay in the eveniu', and mutton to the fortnight; bad luck to the nagers, there's no gettin 1 a slip ay a pig now at all at all— crapen about the hedges, not coutint wid beef and mutton, galore, shm-e it's for sogers the bastes are lookin, and the Milsha, God help them I" In the afternoon an escort party consisting of 50 men, under Lieut Richardson, pioceeded to the Paiaiti Pa for fiieivood ; on the men being posted to command the gullies and clumps of bush in the vicinity, the light of the paity was> fired on by some of the enemy concealed near Mr Ibbotson's. Ed ward Fieeman having crossed to the comer of Mr Everett's land where tho road turns down to the Mangati stream, observed on the rise of the opposite bank, distant some 300 yards, a body of about 40 of the enemy, concealed from Lieut. Uichaidson's paity by a clump of bush; he was fited on, but disdaining to run from a Maori, he waved his huge cutlass, his only weapon", in defiance, and in the excitement of the moment called them sad names, which no doubt hurt their sensitive feelings ami the dignity of their chiefs; small time however was allowed for the interchange of civilities, some of the soldiers and Rifles coming up, they handled their rifles so effectually

as to hit several, and the rest made a precipitate retreat. One aspiring individual of the enemy's party having taken up a post of observation on the bough of a neighbouring tree, after firing a few rounds, was obseived, and a soldier of the 12th, fancying the savage's time had come, let fly at him and knocked him off his perch just as he was about thinking of leaving it by a less direct method. Owing to the skilful arrangement of the men under Lieut. Richardson's command, the natives were evidently at fault, and their peculiar tactics of surprising a small party could not be brought into play. A support of about 40 of the enemy being observed fiom the stockade advancing from the direction of the Tima Pa, a signal was given to Lieut. Richardson to keep a sharp look-out on the enemy. A small party was also sent by Capt. Queade to the Mangati, on the Devon Road, to prevent any sur . prise fiom that quarter. These precautions were scarcely requited, as the enemy seemed extremely shy, filing from a distance that rendered them harmless. It was amusing to watch fiom the stockade their endeavours to diaw on a few stragglers into their vicinity. One would occasionally walk out into the open field, at a safe distance, with seeming caielessness, and drive any cattle that happened to be about; but such opportunities of bagging a native were invariably-refused, and finding nothing to be gained by a closer encounter, after a little more skirmishing, in which two or three more were said to be hit, they letnrned in the direction of the Tima pa, about 70 or 80 having been observed leaving the neighbourhood ol Mr Northcioft's land. (From the same. I August 10, 18G0. Sunday and Monday passed without one of the enemy showing themselves, they were doubtlessly busily employed giving a decent funeial to the departed, <md binding up the wounded— tho lesults of the Saturday's skirmish, but the crying being over, the requited numbei of guns fired off, and the mourners mourned to their hearts content, on Tues day morning, we wete astonished at hearing a number of guns fired off at the Wesleyan Chapel, about 1000 yatas from the stockade, to let us know, I suppose, that though some had gone where even Maoris are at lest, that still there remained a few who had not anived at that state of lepose. They were shortly after observed pig hunting at a eery nice range fiom the boundary of the block and continued so for the greater part of the morning, but as this is said to be only a post of observation, they were obseived accordingly, telescopes being in great request, rifles a drug in the market. A memorial of the settlers of the Bell Block and others on the station, was this day agreea to, requesting permission of tho Officer Commanding Her Majesty's troops to endeavour to protect the remnant ot their property from the enemy, by going in pursuit wheu■btfei they weie seen ori^the block, which request it is to be hoped will be granted. It is greatly to be deplored that out brave soldiers and volunteers have not been led out oftener against the enemy in their own style of fighting and on their own ground, with our supeiior weapons and intelligence, of the result there is not the shadow of a doubt, by our inactivity the enemy is rendered bold, and ascribe to fear what is the result of indecision at head-quarters. The friendly natives, astonished at our quietness, atter our friends ate murdeted and our property destroyed, say wo are only fit for eating and drinking —for warriors they refer us to the enemy, who, lo.immg from one exttemity of our settlement to the other, destioying and plundering, and keeping hemmed up in camps and stockades double their numbct of armed men. When aie we to have our guerilla bands pioperly equipped ? to encounter the enemy in Ins hiding-place and surprise him in his fancied stionghold, and dtive from our settlement this dreaded because unseen foe, who is said to be TTovering atound our town, ready at any moment to"" pounce upon, and eat us up. Well does the enemy know that they need apprehend no danger from us, except in the immediate vicinity of our encampments, so that they roam over our cultivated lands, drive off our cattle, and pillage our houses without encountering a foe. Yesterday some of the enemy's horses were captured, and one of the stoutest raffled to 40 subscribers at Is. each. It was the source of great amusement to the whole garrison ; Collins, the bugler of the 12th, was the fortunate winner. The destiny of the animal was du'y provided for, the owner of the animal intending to hire him out for rides round the camp at 2d. each, but the- Fates decreed otherwise — in the morning the horse was nowheie to be found. There has not one ot the enemy been seen since Tuesday morning up to tho time I write, and if our request of going in pursuit whenever they show themselves on our land be granted, their visits will be few and far between.

The following Memorial to the General has been handed to us for publication :— Hu« Blockhouse, August 7, 18G0. The respectful memorial of the undeisigned settlers of the Bell and Hua district, and others stationed at the Hua Blockhouse, sheweth, that, the Bell district is level, compaiatively Iree fiom bush, and mostly laid down in grass, and that the Hua Blockhouse occupies so commanding a situation as to overlook the whole of the suriounding country, so that the movements of the enemy may generally be observed at a considerable distance, That the rebel natives are daily in the habit of overrunning the district, lying in ambush for the murder of settlers, and driving- cafttle from the farms in the immediate vicinity oi the Blockhouse, that with only one exception, no steps have been taken to rescue the cattle, or to prevent them from being driven off. That the undersigned respectfully ask to he allowed the privilege of endea\ouring to protect the remnant oi their property, with such assibtanee as the officer in command of the Hua Fort can spare. W. K. IIULKE C B. DONKIN H. Wai.lis George RonrNsoN Glorge Fuller George Bertrand William Rundle L. R. Sheeres Robert Greenway Robert Greenway Robert Tate David Ferguson Gborge L. Ward William L\ all Thomas Clare Charles Everett John Kelly E. W. Hollis James Jones Romulus Street John Pextcuem. Samuel Howard William Hoskin H.Morrison Gcorge Jarran A. J. Hoskin Hamar Arden Arthur. Hoskin Thomas Kelly The Hon. Major-General Pratt, C.8., &c, &c., &c.

The Prince of Wales was to leave Plymouth in H.M.S. Hero, 01, commanded by Captain Henry Scymoui, (cousin to Captain H. B. Seymour of H.M.S. Pelorns) on the 10th July— the Duke of Newcastle, Lord St. Germaius, General Bruce, Major Teesdall, and Captain Grey compose tho suite, and escorted by the Ariadne, 2G, Flying Fish, 6, and the Osbdrne, yacht. They go first to Newfoundland, then Halifax, and thence to Ouebee. The Piince will, in all probability, visit the States incognito, and embark at some American port when his tour is completed. The Prince Alfred is to leave the Euryalm on her return from the Cape, and join H.M.S. St. George, 90, Captain the Hon. Francis Egerton, as the Queen wishes him to serve in a line-of-battle ship. He is to go to the West Indies and North America in her.