THE KAITAKE NATIVES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XII, Issue 610, 9 April 1864, Page 2

THE KAITAKE NATIVES.

From the ' Taranaki Herald,' April 2. The natives appear to be still hanging about Kaitake and have been making reprisals in their own way. Oa Wednesday last, at about two o'clock, a party of three, two belonging to Captain Carthew's company (Otago) and one an artillery man, all unarmed, went down from the redoubt to the Wairau stream, which runs in the wooded gulley to the west of Kaitake. While at fhe stream they were fired upon by a party of natives who had been lying concealed close by; one escaped unhurt, the second' one (F. Bilton) was wounded in the back, but managed to get far enough away to be safe (the total distance from the stream to the open ground where the camp stands is only about 100 yards) but Stewart, the artilleryman was disabled at once, the ball breaking his thigh bone, and when relief came, which was within a few minutes, he was found frightfully tomahawked though not quite dead, he died however immediately afferr wards. The natives of course had disappeared, but shortly afterwards another party of them fired a volley from the edge of the bush at the picket on the top of the ridge — then they also retired. Where they are now is not known, but if the range were hunted over it would soon be found whether they are in dangerous proximity or not. Besides the potatoes at Ahuahu they have no doubt other cultivations are not far off which have not yet been discovered, and while food lasts they are likely to hang about and do us mischief. It may be noted that this single ambuscade has cost us more than taking Kaitake itself. The prisoner Ihau states that there are three other large cultivations between Te Tutu and the Hangatahuna, besides extensive ones at Mokotunu (his own place), where (as yet) there is no pa. It would perhaps be better to visit the latter place first, before .disturbing them on the ranges if they are still there. On Thursday an old Maori was taken prisoner sitting under a Rata near the cultivation on the hill to the right of Kaitake. His name is Wi Toki ; he was an old man when the first settlers arrived twenty years ago, 'and is thought to be about 90 now, and is so decrepit he can hardly move. He has been very properly given over to the Poutoko natives (his relatives) to be taken care of. +