CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume IX, Issue 434, 24 November 1860, Page 2

CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL.

Saturday, Nov. 17. — We are informed that 200 Taranakis, under Parenga Kingi, are at Hauranga and Tataraimnka, and that Epiha, one of the Waikato chiefs, is to meet them to confer about future proceedings. From the friendly natives, who appear to know the movements of the enemy, we hear that the Waikatos intend commencing on Monday a depredatory movement towards town, and scatter themselves over the adjacent country. We also hear that the Waikatos have written two letters to the friendly natives inviting them to go over to then, and that if they disregard the opportunity they will be treated a^ " whiteskins." — Two natives, Hone and Te Whaie, have gone over to the enemy during the week, and Matiu has been with the Waikatos since the Mahoetahi fight, which he saw ; he went over on the following day — no doubt to give them every particular respecting the battle. Whether Matiu used his gun on that day we do not know. We should like much to know in what light these natives are considered. As far as they are concerned they believe they can come and go when they choose. Common justice requires that at least they should be told that if they go over to the enemy, after joining our side and taking the oath of allegiance, they will be considered and treated as traitors. Several who have gone over to the enemy, after being with us as allies, may possibly be under the impression that when peace is concluded they will not be punished. — The Will Watch, with despatches from Major-Gene-ral Pratt, left at 1 p.m., with a strong fair breeze. — The schooner Sea Gull, with live stock from Wanganui, arrived at 7 p.m. We have the following from a correspondent :—: —

" The Waikatos have sent emissaries to these parts, who are trying to prevail upo'ii our Wanganni natives to join their forces at Waitara, and to break out all over the country : and their argument is that if they (the Waikatos) are defeated, the mono ot'Niu Tireni will be gone, and they will be trampled upon by the white man. Old Pehi, I hear, has refused to join, and is. decidedly inclined for peace, though he is favorable to the King movement. About forty Waikatos are at the head of the river, trying to sow the seedb of disaffection amongst the upper river natives, but I trust to no purpose. Topine is firm, and has refused to accede to their request to join the rebels at Waitara. He has, however, joined the King movement. There will be a large meeting of the natives at Wsinoho, about four miles up the river, when the subject of going to Waitara, and the Waiknto question, will be discuss d ; but Lower Wanganui is for the Queen, and I do not apprehend any danger to this settlement." Sunday, Nov. 18,— The Tasmanian Mai4

from Waitara came up to-day. She reports the natives busily employed cultivating at Pukekohe and Huirangi, the Waikatos are planting potatoes extensively. Weather fine. The trenches manned as usual, and visited by Colonel Wyatt, 65th Regt. Monday, Nov. 18.— Weather wet during the night, and cleared up this morning. — We have been requested to call the attention of our officers to the state of the piquet houses, and the necessity of having them occasionally cleaned out and straw laid down in them. The piquet house known as " Adams' Stable" is really not fit to put men into. It swarms with vermin, and the men are compelled to lie down on the ground with no covering exceptiug some old fern, which is three parts dust.All the piquet houses are more or less unfit for the purpose ; sweeping them out and a supply of fresh stiaw would greatly conduce to the comfort of the guards and bo fully appreciated. The light duty man whose duty it is to supply the piquets with candles (if we may make the suggestion) might once a week be employed in this service.

Tuesday, Nov. 20. — Weather fine. — The gunboat Caroline, from Manukau the 18th inst, arrived this morning with despatches for the General. She brings intelligence that 800 Waikatos vtore about leaving Upper Waikato for Waitara.— lt ib leported in town that the Waikato party at Huirangi have occupied Pukerangiora, an old fortification where the Waikatos in 1832 killed great numbers of the Ngatiawa tribe, who •were driven over ahigh precipice in hundreds. Pukerangiora is a strong position about 3 miles beyond Huirangi. It is said this will be the head quarters of the Waikatos. — From Mahoetahi we hear that rifle pits, capable of holding 1000 men have been discovered in the small bush on the south bank of the Waiongana, and about 400 yards in rear of Mahoetahi. The bush is being cleared and the rifle pits filled in. Had a reserve of natives occupied this bush during the attack on the 6th inst., the party from Waitara might have been greatly annoyed in their flank. — The Taranakis at Hauranga have returned. The natives inform us they came up, according to ancient custom, to shew the Waikatos their readiness to assist them in avenging the fallen at Mahoetahi.

Wednesday, Nov. 21.— The Wonga Wonga from Wellington vi.i Wanganui. with cattle, was at the anchorage this morning. We are glad to hear she is to run between this port and Wanganui and Wellington. She made the run from the foimer port in thirteen hours. A correspondent at Wanganui, writing yesterday, states —

" I am sorry to day the upper river natives are wavering ; they have received a letter from the Waikatoi calling upon them to go to their immediate assistance at Waitara The letter was written at Hangatiki, Waipa, dated 18th Oct., and waß brought by Wi Pakau, a' King's agent, who is here trying to get recruits for the taua for Waitaia. The letter is •ignificant, and is to this effect : — " ' Go our messenger to Wanganui, to all the chiefs there. This is our word to you residing in our Island of New Zealand, rendered evil by the Governor, and who arc lesiding'under the protection of the Almighty and of our King ! This is our word— listen all of you ! Let your men remain covered (or rather, go on cooUini;— the word used being taona), if Auckland uncovers the men (meaning if Auckland be the fust ag(.'re-<ors) tfien let your men be uncovered, and let it be uncovered for all the towns in this Island of ours. This is another word — do you come up by Taumatamnhoe, and see hs here at'Waitata; he swilt to come up in the days of tho month of October.' " Signed by 29 Waikato chiefs, (among whom was Wetini Taiporutu, killed at Mahoetahi.) '• Topine, I am afraid, is wavering, and I believe the Waikato loss will decide him on going to Waitara. Pehi and Hori have decided to send Topia, Pehi's son, to confer with tho Waikatos at Waitara, when he will return and repoit, and' then Wanganui will decide. Topia is a King native and no doubt will be talked over by the Waikatos, though I believe his father, Pehi, is disinclined to go to war, and this may be our safety ; for should the up river natives rise against his consent and sanction, we shall not be affected at Wanganui, especially as most of the natives fiom Pipiriki downwards are government natives." The Victoria left for Manukau this afternoon, it is believed to bring down the mail. Weather very fine. Thursday, Nov. 22. — The Wonga Wongd for Wellington via Wanganui, sailed this evening. She takes a large number of sheep, principally breeding ewes, to be put upon a Wanganui run. Friday, Nov. 23. — The town was surprised this morning by the intelligence that the Waikatos were at Waiwakaiho, and had fired upon and wounded a young man named John Bishop, who was on his father's farm contiguous to the bridge. Bishop and a native boy were walking on the flat on the town side of the bridge and opposite the pa occupied by friendly natives for the protection of the bridge when

they received a volley from behind rising ground, about 15 yards from where they were standing, (an old Maori entrenchment) Bishop was hit through the wribt and in. the groin, but the Maori boy escaped. The two immediately ran into a wooded swamp under the pa, and succeeded in escaping ; Bishop reached the town where he fainted from loss of blood. From the number of shots fired a large party must have been in ambush.

6 p.m. — Bishop's wound in the wrist is severe, the bullet passing through the two bones. The wound in the groin is superficial, lie had a single-barrel fowlingpiece in his hand when the bullet struck him, he dropped it, and it was taken away by the Waikatos. Duiing the afternoon, a native woman saw about 200 of them across the river, and when they saw her, they passed Bishop's gun one to another with exulting yells. They afterwards waved to her to return to her pa. It is said the Wnikatos are encamped near Mr. Smart's farm. — An officer and a mounted volunteer rode into town to-day from Mahoetahi. From him we are informed that the stockade is not erected on Mahoetahi, but on a hill in the bush before menlioned where the rifle pits were found. This position (called Puketuroa) is much stronger and more elevated than Mahoetahi, and was a Maori pa of ancient date, having no less tlun seven terraces. This was not known before from its being thickly covered with Karak.i trees, now cleared away, and the stockade nearly completed. The enemy are occasionally seen, but keep out of ldnge.