CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume IX, Issue 442, 19 January 1861, Page 2

CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL.

Saturday, Jan. 12. — The Victoria from Manukau anchored in the roadstead at 12 noon. The Cordelia hence the 9th inst., had not arrived at Manukau yesterday morning. The recent gale, it is supposed, had prevented her reaching her port. — Information was received in town to-day that a woman named Meri Poka, had come over from the enemy to Kairau camp, giving herself up as a prisoner, in consequence of a quarrel with her husband. This woman reports that the Waikatos are short of food, and live principally upon fern root and beef, the latter supplied by marauding parties. That at Matarikoriko the rebels were short of ammunition, particularly the Ngatimahuta tribe, and 100 pouches were subsequently filled by Wi Kingi. That the Waikatos brought little ammunition with them, and were to be supplied by Wi Kingi. That the casualties on the enemy's side on the 29th and 30th ult. were 7 killed, and several wounded, — at Mahoetahi, 39 missing, and 10 wounded, — at Puketakauere, 5 killed and 9 wounded. She tells a story of a wounded soldier who was found! in the fern some time after the action,, and who would have been spared but for his. " swearing" at them. This woman has; been sent down to Ihaia's pa, where she will remain. Sunday , Jan. 18.— The Prince Alfred arrived to-day from the Southern Settlements to take up the English mails ; and _tho_Niger came from Waitara _to be stationed here, the Victoria lying off Waitara. The Tasmanian Maid left for Waitara at dusk. This invaluable little steamer is kept actively employed now that headquarters are at Waitara, making a trip to and fro every day.-— An expedition is to leave head-quarters, to move in the direction of the enemy's position, to-morrow, starting at daybreak. — The Rev. Mr Wilson visited the Ngatiruanui party at Kaihihi to-day, where he found Manahi and about 100 men— the main body being at Warea. He went with the intention of persuading them to abandon their system of murdering defenceless and wounded men. They received him with some asperity, and, in answer to his requests, told him that they should not depart from their usual custom, but would murder men, women, and children who might fall into their hands, and endeavoured to justify their conduct by observing that the settlers had taken up arms, and that the little boys they had murdered were getting food for the armed settlers. Mr Wilson found it useless to remonstrate with them, and was told by these southern savages thai should they meet him on the road they might murder him. Monday, Jan, 14. — The mail Steamer Prince Alfred left to-day at 12-30 for Sydney.*—A party of Waikatos in ambush near the Mangaone Hill fired two volleys at two mounted men (Greenway and Howard) recovering cattle, and also at a cart on its way to the Bell Blockhouse, but fortunately without effect, although the horsemen passed within a few paces. It is known that small parties of the enemy are prowling about. — At 3.30 this morning 600 of the Naval Brigade, 12th, 14th, and 40th, commanded by General Pratt, left Waitara Camp for Kairau, where they were joined by Colonel Wyatt and the 65th, leaving a garrison for the Redoubt and Matarikoriko. On reaching Kairau at about 5 30 the whole force for service advanced in the direction of Huirangi, the enemy's position, the General commanding in person. The natives, who have their rifle pits along the edge of the Huirangi bush, and across the Toad leading into the peach grove, and also in the bush to the left, were seen hurrying in small parties to take up their places in the several rifle pits, which extend about a mile and a quarter in length from the brow of the hill over-

looking the Waitara river, to the remains of the pa, Ko-te-wai-o-naha, on the right, and, on the advance of the troops, commenced a heavy fusilade from these hidden pits along almost the whole length of their position. The 65th, under Colonel Wyatt, advanced in skirmishing order, with the 40th on the right and left, with supports, the 14th being left in the Kairau Redoubt, the 8-inch gun in the Redoubt being manned by a party of the Naval Brigade. A heavy fire was now kept up by the artillery, and the practice was so good that it effectually silenced the enemy's fire, and a position was taken up by Colonel Mould, about 600 yards in advance, iind a working party told off to construct a Redoubt. This, the object of the movement, was proceeded with rapidly, and the occasional shots from the enemy proved quite harmless ; there was not a single casualty during the day. At 9*30 a red flag was hoisted by the enemy on a flagstaff on the edge of the bush, when some well directed shots were fired at it and it was hauled down. The Redoubt, which will be called No. 2, ■was completed before dusk, and a party of the 40th, under Captain Bowdler, were left there to garrison it, and the General with the Waitara force returned to head-quarters. -—The following notice, issued by the commanding officer in town, is consequent upon intelligence that natives are in considerable numbers in the neighbourhood :—