KAIRAU.

Taranaki Herald, Volume IX, Issue 444, 2 February 1861, Page 3

KAIRAU.

As usual, I shall continue this week's notice of events from the last I have seen published in your paper, and therefore let me commence from Saturday, Jan. 26. — On which day nothing of crnsequence occurred. Sunday, Jan. 29. — Fine — and one of New Zealand's beautiful days. The enemy did not hoist their white flag as is their wont ; whether they have forgotten their allegiance to a higher power, or have been frightened by the advancement of civilization, I know not. At 266 yards from No. 3 redoubt another one, No. 4, has been completed— l3.'Vardsi square—which was occupied this evening by a party of 50 men, under the command of Capt. Hare. The night passed quietly away without any annoyance from the enemy. /Monday, Jan. 28.— Another beautiful day. From the front redoubts shots passed between the enemy and our advanced skirmishers, and those occupying the works as a guard. Afterwards the 9-po under I gun from No. 2 redoubt boomed forth ; for the re- | mainder of the day all quiet, and during the night nothing worthy of notice occurred. Tuesday, Jan. 29. — After the usual working party had been marched to the field of operations, the

skirmishing parties were sent both to the right and left. The scent of decaying animal matter was perceived, and orders were given for the advanced guard, which consisted of the 65th, to seek out the cause, when another dead body of a native was found with a double-barrelled gun by his side. He had, as is usual with the natives, his cap pouch attached to his hand, and a box of caps in his pocket. Private Wilks, of the 65th, obtained his gun. The body was buried on the spot on which it was found. The wind bears upon its wings intelligence that other remnants of mortality are near at hand. Wednesday, Jan. 30.— Firing from the right, left, and front rifle pits of the enemy, which was an. swered by our men in the flanking and front positions of our advanced works, and shortly by the 2* pounder howitzer and the 9 pounder gun, the former having been taken to the right front, the latter to our left, so as to protect the skirmishers and working patties collecting fern for the construction of those works, the carrying out of which will reflect lasting honor upon those who are now acting as engineers in this wild part. Some idea of distances peihaps will not be quite unacceptable. I cannot vouch for the actual measurement, but, at all events, the figures below are an approximation. From Kairau to No. 2, 520 yards, from which to No. 3, 320, to No. 4, 266, to No. 5, 238. No. 5 will be occupied this evening, and No. 2 closed up for the time. The duty of the troops is hard in the extreme, scarcely a man being certain of a night's rest. W.I.G.