THE MATAITAWA NATIVES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XII, Issue 610, 9 April 1864, Page 3

THE MATAITAWA NATIVES.

From the ' Taranaki Heraia,' April 3. Another chance has been given to Wm. J King and his people of making peace. On Wednesday last three ambassadors, or rather three pairs of ambassadors chosen from among the friendly natives, were sent up to Manutalii one after the other to invite the people of that place to ■ come down to Kopuataitu to talk about peace : Mr. Parris was at the latter place and Colonel Warre at Sentry Hill. The invitation was declined. They wished to know ' whether peace had been concluded with Waikato and Taranaki ? If all the

tribes were here they could talk about peace ; as it was they could not.' When the last pair of envoys went up they found the trenches all manned — the people with their guns and in fighting costume, and among them some Ngatiruanuis, four of whom they recognised (Anavu and three others). Negotiations have been therefore again broken off. J We would recommend for the consideration of His Excellency, or whoever it may be that is prompting these move ments, whether, before another attempt of the kind is made, it would not be wiser to ascertain privately what terms these natives will accept. When Waitara was given up it kept them quiet for a month or more, but nothing else followed, and they naturally joined the enemy. The justness of their resistance to Governor Browne having been admitted, they no doubt looked for compensation for the losses they had sustained in making war against him. It is possible, therefore, that if they were offered a free pardon and a grant of land — say, Bell Block — they might be induced to become permanently peaceful. But this should be ascertained quietly, without show, that our dignity (of which we are always so justly careful in our dealings with the natives) may not suffer in case of a refusal. One thing is perfectly clear, that Wm. King and his people still look upon themselves as part of the hostile confederation against us ; and as long as this feeling exists it is merely silly to talk of peace with them alone. It is doubtful whether they would even grant us a second Waitara peace.

♦■ Fatal Accident. — It is our most painful duty to record an accident which occurred on Thursday last, -by which Edward Marshall lost his life. He aud his brother were cleaning out his well ; he was below, and the rope breakingwhere it was joined to the chain, the bucket when nearly at the top fell upon him cutting his head frightfully. He survived a few hours, conscious, and even able to make his will, and died about 10 o'clock on the same night. He was a young man of excellent character, brave, honest, and good, and his sudden loss will be long felt by his comrades and friends. —Herald, March 26. Capture of Maori Flags. — We are very sorry to find that the two Maori flags taken at Kaitake by H. Jury, one of the mounted corps, have been sent up to Auckland. We have no doubt this is in strict accordance with the rules of the service ; but as they were taken by a settler, we hope General Cameron may be induced to send them back again, and so encourage what the Duke of Newcastle is so^ anxious to see established ' the self-confidence of the local forces.' — Herald, April 2.

We have been kindly favored with the following account of military operations to the southward, which though not exactly representing our own opinion in all respects, is valuable as the testimony of a trustworthy eye-witness. OPERATIONS AGAINST THE SOUTHERN NATIVES. [fkom the 20th to the 29th uit. inclusive.] Many of your readers may have experienced feelings akin to disappointment at your necessarily hurried description of the successful operations against the southern natives by the force under Colonel Warre, C.8,, from the 22nd to the 25th ult. inclusive, in your issue of the 26th March 5 but I am sure they will agree with me in always preferring statements of facts, however short, to any elaborate and high-flown description, generally on these occasions in a great measure, the creation of some fertile imagination, knowing that a detailed account will always be forthcoming, as in this case, after we have been able by careful inquiry to thoroughly master the plan in all its details. We are now in a position to give a correct resume of that well-spent weeks work, and to do justice to the generalship which won such important results at B) cheap a rate. Colonel Warre from frequent and careful reconnaissances had satisfied himself (as did also General Cameron when here) that the rebel stronghold at Kaitake could never be carried in front without a loss which would have mude its fall a subject of regret rather than of rejoicing; and it also did not escape his notice that very heavy loss would be inflicted on any party who having successfully forced their way through the bush in rear of the enemy's position, attempted to seize, unprovided as they necessarily must be with any appliances for establishing a breach, the two pa's if held by the natives. It will be seen from the foregoing remarks, that to command success Colonel Warre had to carefully provide for two events ; first, he had to find a body of men who could successfully traverse the bush and attack the natives in rear, seizing their pas: secondly, he had to keep these pas empty so as to enable the party on arrival ' to occupy the same. From the Colonel's experience of the bushrangers under Captains Atkinson and Good, his knowledge of the feeling that animated the whole of the settlers, the first difficulty must have given him but little uneasiness. The second however, was not solved until the 16th ultimo, when a heavy battery Armstrong guns, under Captain Martin, R.A., arrived, welcome alike to soldier and civilian. Four days were allowed to recruit for the men and look to their guns, and on the fifth day the natives of Kaitake were instructed in their merits. On the same day, Captains Schomberg and Russell's companies of the 57th, under the command of Major Butler, 57th, marched out to Oakura, and Kaitake was expected to fall on the morrow. This, however, as it turned out, was not the intention of Colonel Warre, as likely thinking that so strong a demonstration against their principal stronghold, would draw almost the whole available Maori force to defend it, thus leaving their other positions comparatively unguarded. 2.30 a.m. on Tuesday, saw the bushrangers under Capt. Atkinson and Cap--tainß Lloyd and Schomberg's company of the 57 th en route for Te Tutu, in company with two Armstrong guns under Capt.' Martin, R.A., the other guns being left at Oakura with Major Butler to continue the shelling of Kaitake, 50 of the 57th regiment, and Captain Carthew's company of militia, under the command of Captain Russell, 57th regiment, being sent down to the Ahnahu road to keep the natives in check. After considerable difficulty in consequence of the densenesa of the bush, Te Tutu was reached, and from its appearance I am inclined to think that it had not been in-

habited by any considerable number of natives for some weeks. The pa itself was weak and undefended by rifle pits, in fact in its position its only strength consisted. There were some 20 acres of cultivations destroyed by the force, but little loot was to be discovered, and the party had to content themselveß with an indifferent greenstone and a very bad saddle. This bad luck was, however, partly compensated for by the discovery of six bullocks in splendid condition, the property of our old friend Big Jack. They were soon in the possession of the mounted men, and safely driven to Oakura. The force returned to camp about 4 p.m. pretty well knocked up with their day's work. It may be well to mention here that a few shells were sent nightly into Kaitake to keep the occupants on the alert, and although the distance from Oakura to Kaitake is close on two miles, viz,, 3,400 yards, these shells seemed almost not to possess the power of missing tho object fired at ;. and I cannot help remarking that great credit is due to Captain Martin and his artillerymen for the practice they made on every occasion. It was really wonderful. The next day (23rd) Captain Page's company of militia, and 50 of the 57th regiment, all under the command of Captain Russell, 57th, were sent down with six mounted men and eight carts to bring up the chapel from Tataraimaka, which Colonel Warre hod notice the day previous that the natives had began to destroy. This party was only just in time, as on reaching the place they disturbed six or seven natives who were bent on the same errand and had already kindly arranged the whole of the boards so as to give as little trouble as possible to our people. With a pleasing modesty they would not wait to be thanked, although the mounted men at once rode after them for that purpose, and they soon disappeared in Outfield's bush. Disappointed in not being able to give vent to their gratitude the mounted men, whose motto must surely be hie et übique, solaced themselves by taking charge of five horses and a foal also belonging to Big Jack, and these soon reached Oaknra ; the carts (thanks to the natives) having little to do but to load up soon followed. That same evening it transpired in camp that the destination of the two companies of the 57th, under Captains Schomberg and Russell, Major Butler commanding, which were warned in addition to Captain Carthew's company, militia, and two Armstrong guns, under Captain Martin, R.A., to meet Colonel Warre at Hauranga at 7 a.m. the next day, was Big Jack's pa at Ahuahu. Soon after the hour named Colonel Warre and staff appeared at the rendezvous, and on his arrival the force immediately moved on. The natives first opened on the advanced guard under Capt. Russell from the rifle pits on tho top of the range, but the troops taking no notice of this salutation pushed on in single file, and went close under the spur, discovered a long line of rifle pits, which if properly manned would have caused seriouß annoyance to an attacking force. These were at once occupied, but a few shots being fired from the bush in front, " fix bayonets " was the word and in dashed the leading section, and were rewarded for their trouble by finding a track that led for about three quarters of a mile through alternate dense bush and cultivations to the top of the ranges.- In the meantime Colonel Warre, with Capt. Schomberg's company, had kept the main road and reached the top almost simultaneously with Capt. Russell's party.' A rush was then made at the pa, and if the few (there could not have been more than 15) natives had only occupied their rifle pits considerable loss might have been inflicted on the troops, as on first rushing up they were unable to force their way through the palisading, and the unusual sight might be witnessed of a number of determined men with their hands pulling down an enemy's palisading, who were at the time firing on them from under cover of their whares and the neighbouring bush. The natives had not continued their right flank palisading more than a few yards into the bush, and the men were therefore in within two or three minutes of the rush. Strange to say only two casualties occurred at this point, viz., Privates Bishop and Hynes, 57th Regt., wounded severely. This was chiefly due to the cover afforded to the men by the enemy's abandoned breastwork. Capt. Mace's horse was shot up at the pa, and as all the mounted officers rode close up to the palisading they may well be congratulated upon this being their only casualty. It was well that so few natives were left to defend Big Jack's stronghold, as without taking into consideration the difficulty of getting even as far as the pa, the pa itself when reached was one of the strongest I have seen. They had rifle pits loop-holed and covered over with earth and split trees close up to the palisading, so that I doubt if artillery would have had much effect on them ; but this is of little consequence — the 67th being now inside and engaged in overhauling the whares, which they found well, I may say handsomely built, and in^every respect suited for a winter's residence. TThe commissariat department was evidently also in a flourishing condition, and the 30 or 35 acres under cultivation were, on the arrival of the troops, in a most promising state, although I am afraid that the sight of them, when revisited by the owners, was not consolitary to their feelings as agriculturists. Two very handsome taiahas were taken and also a whalebone mere (one taiaha and the mere have since been recognised as the property of Big Jack). The troops having burnt and destroyed all the crops, wharee, &c, retired, and reached camp about 4 p.m., much pleased with their day's work. No respite had been afforded to the Kaitake natives, as Capt. Lloyd had been busy shelling them in the absence of Colonel Warre. All the pas on the ranges being now in our hands with the exception of Kaitake, Colonel Warre proceeded to make his final arrangements for the capture of that important position. Five different parties were told off for the work, and they were disposed as follows : — Ist. Two companies of Bushrangers and a company of Militia, under Captain Atkinson, and guided by Bob Erangi and Komene, were to leave Poutoko at 4, a.m., and be ready to rush in in the rear of the position. 2nd. Captain Corbett's company (No. 5) of Otago Volunteers were to leave their redoubt at 11, p.m., the previous night, so as to be ready to rush the lower pa. 3rd, Captain Lloyd, 57th, and Captain Wright, 70th, with their companies, were to force their way through the fern up the Bpur to the enemy's right, and turn their rifle pits. 4th, Major Butler, with Captain Schomberg's company of the 67th were to ascend the spur on the left of the position and endeavour to cut off the natives' retreat, &c. sth, Colonel Warre, with Captain Russell's company of the 57th, were to go in at the lower palisading and up the main rood. Every one was to be in position by 10, a.m., and the arrival of that hour was to be the signal for a simultaneous advance. Captain Martin, R.A., with his guns, was to move off at 7, a.m., and keep up a constant fire on the upper pa from both sides of the Oakura river Accordingly at a little before 10, a.m., on Good Friday, everything being ready for the final rush, Colonel Warre addressed a few spirited words to the storming party of the 57th, the men cheering in reply. Captain Corbett and his party, who were hid in the fern within 60 yards of the pa, hearing these cheers and thinking that the 57th were storming the pits, at once dashed forward, and in a manner that won the unqualified admiration of all who had the good fortune to witness it, entered the lower pa, driving the natives who were hid in the Indian corn close by into the bush. Captain Corbett with great judgment immediately sent his left subdivision to occupy the upper pa. As it was he was only just in time, it being almost a race between the Otago men and the natives who should first be in. However the Militia were too quick for them and succeeded in their object, although the rebels gave them a volley within fifteen yards as they came up. The natives in the rifle pits seoiug

Captain Corbett's party in possession of their pa, springing as they apparently did from the centre of the earth into the centre of their position, and also seeing the 57th close on them, lost all heart, and only attempting to save their lives disappeared in the denso bush which bounded their position, and nothing more was heard of them till we had been some two hours in the place, when they opened a tremendous fire from the bush, at long range, chiefly directed against Captain Schomberg's party, which however did little damage, our casualties being only Private Neary, 57th, wounded, and also a horse belonging to one of the monnted orderlies (afterwards shot). Nothing could better prove how thoroughly surprised the rebels were by Captain Corbetfc's appearance than the wildness of their fire, as out of his whole party they only succeeded in wounding Sergeant Appleby. This wound has, however, cost the settlement a valuable life, and it was with feelings of the deepest regret which I am sure are shared by the whole of the inhabitants, that we heard on Monday that lockjaw had supervened, and that he was then rapidly sinking. He diud on Tuesday morning, and was followed to his grave on Wednesday by every available man of the regular and militia forces. Several others had very close shaves ; one of the party having a ball through his trousers, and another through the frog of his waist belt. The Bushrangers were a few minutes late, their guides having made a mistake in the track (the only wonder was that they found it at all) and it will give to tuoß^who are not conversant with the country sonie?idea of the difficulty of forcing a passage through the bush, fei'n, &c, when they are told that it took Captain Atkinson's party of Bushrangers from 4, a.m., to 10, a.m., to march from Poutoko some four miles distance by the road, and Captain Corbett's company from 11, p.m., to 5, a.m., to get close up to the pa which was hardly a mile from the redoubt they The natives had evidently considered the bush, &c, on their flanks and in their rear impracticable for the pakeha, and they had yet to learn that to Englishmen properly led, the bush, though difficult, is not entirely impassable. It is a general remark that a position before it falls looks more formidable to the attacking party than it does after they are in possession. But the reverse of this was the case on this occasion, and I only heard one feeling expressed, namely that of astonishment that so formidable a position should have been taken with so little loss. I should say there must have been fully a mile of rifle pits, secured from a rush by a strong palisading with flanking angles, and complete with traverses, &c, so as to almost neutralise the effects of our shelling, a quick and safe exit being Becured to. the occupants by the Wairau stream, which stood them on this occasion in good stead. There was only one fault to be found with the rifle pits, and as it is one that the natives invariably fall into, I will not indicate it for obvious reasons. The natives in the hurry of their departure left behind the king flag and the fighting flag, both of which fell into our hands, and were as a matter of course sent up to the General. In addition to these trophies we found ourselves in posse sion of at least fifty acres of cultivations, not to mention two ploughs and five carts. From the immense quantity of potatoes stored at these three pas, and the extent of land under cultivation, I am afraid that we must at once abandon any idea that we may have formed of forcing the natives to submit through the medium of their stomachs. The three days following the capture of Kaitake the troops were busily employed in turning the upper pa into a first-rate redoubt, and great credit is due to the regulars and militia for the energetic way they worked, but under the superintendence of such an indefatigable officer as Lieut. Ferguson, R.E., this perhaps is only what might have been expected. He is certainly the hardest working officer I ever met with in his department, and judging frbm the result of his labours, his mind must be as quick to conceive as his hand iB to execute. I have forgotten to mention that the Bushrangers when withjn 200 yards of the upper clearing fell in with that well-known old turncoat Kati, and he was soon satisfactorily accounted for by Sergt. Lawson, T.M. It is impossible to form any accurate idea of the casualties amongst the rebels, and I therefore forbear from touching on this subject. One prisoner only (Ihau of Mokotunu) was taken by two of the mounted orderlies, G. Tatton, and W. Brooking. Colonel Warre has earned for himself in these operations the character of a first-rate strategist and the thanks of the settlers. If Colonel Warre had attacked Kaitake before the arrival of Captain Martin's battery, the bush party would in all probability, from the ineffectual fire of smooth bore guns at long range, have found the pas occupied, and they must then have either retreated, or else have rushed at the pa and attempted to cut down ■ the palisading with their billhooks and thus effect an entrance, an attempt, the successful results of which would have been as problematical as the slaughter would have been certain. If Colonel ' Warre had first attacked Kaitake the natives would have retreated through their regular bush track to Ahuahu, and I can only refer to the description of that pa as already given as to whether it would be a pleasant place to attack defended by 200 men, and even if Ahuahu had fallen the natives would have had Te Tutu left them as a rallying point. Since the events narrated above the natives have been lurking about their recent stronghold at Kaitake, where a redoubt was at once erected and occupied, and a sad affair occurred on the 29th ultimo, by which a valuable life was lost to the service. An unarmed party consisting of three men of the Royal Artillery and three of No. 7 Company Taranaki Militia were down at the creek some little distance from the redoubt, when they were suddenly fired into by a party of natives in ambush in the scrub on the opposite side of the stream. Gunner Steward was unfortunately wounded in the first volley, 60 severely that he was unable to make Mb escape, and in consequence was frightfully tomahawked, it is said by Big Jack. Privates Bilton, Halliwell, and Arden, of Captain Carthew's company, who were within a short distance of the unfortunate deceased, contrived to make their escape, the two latter safely, the former receiving a severe wound ; a ball struck him in the back, passing over the shoulder blade and through the arm. Dr. Webber, who is stationed at Kaitake, attended upon the wonnded man at once. He was brought into town, and we are happy to report that under the care of Dr. Rawson and his staff at the Militia Hospital he is progressing so favorably as to be able now to move about. During the last few days the force at Kaitake (Fort Warre) have had several foraging parties out in the enemies' country, and each time have brought in loot of some description, consisting of produce, kits, mats, tomahawks, adzes, side saddles, pistols, burning-glasses, crockery, &c, the latter plunder from settlers' houses during the first war. A crippled Maori was also found, an old man about 90 years of age, who had evidently been placed in our way to be taken care of. He has been sent to the " friendly natives " at tho Institution.