OCCUPATION OF TE NGANA, NEAR THE STONY" RIVER (HANGATAHDA).

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 652, 28 January 1865, Page 3

OCCUPATION OF TE NGANA, NEAR THE STONY" RIVER (HANGATAHDA).

[from our own correspondent.]

Since tho arrival of tho Defence Minister from Auckland, the inactivity that had so long paralysed the onergies of tho Taranaki settlers, appears at last to bo replaced by a spirit of dotermiuation to do something on the part Of the Government in tho sliapo of locating tho Military Settlers on thoir homes. The town acres will at once be allotted, and as soon as ciroumstancos will allow, tho 50-apre farms will bo handed over to their future respective occupants. As a prelimiuary step, ou Saturday, last Colonol Warro and staff, accompanied by Major Atkinson and Mr, Parris, rode to Tataraimaka, whero they remained for the night. The next morning, Sunday, the party proceeded southwards for some two or three miles to Tukitukipapa, the, position of a Maori pn, formed of earthwork exactly after the model of the English redoubts, w|th_ flanking (ufphu Ami tiiton cor.iploie;^~lt id hero tfiat tne* natives who sent i» their names as desirous of making peace in December reside. Tho natives on tlio present occasion a-lvaaccd to meet tho ■ party unarmed, aud afier a long conversation, Colonel Warro aad Major Atkinson, with tho S.aff, proceeded by an inland road to Ngana, the sito of the new position on the Hangataiiua or Stony River ; it is situated about one mile and a half from the sea. In tho meantime Mr. Parris entered the pa for the purpoao o( answering any questions that might ho asked.

On tlie Colbuol returning 1 , which he did by tbo beach road, the natives came out singly and pro&onUKl themselves before him, each inaa making a speech pxprossive of his desire to livo in peaco and quietnesp. In the same ordor the pa was again entered, when tho guns were brought out, and placed on the ground botweou tho Colonol and Mr.' Parris, amidst some moro speechifying. After this, with the same ceremony, the spears with hatchet heads wer<^ laid near the guns ; and tho whole of this part of tho proceedings was brought to a conclusion by a presentation of sharks' teeth, greenstones, &c.

Three men — Minnrapa, Rihara, and Hanoti — who, from having befen" connected with the Waireka and other murders, are excluded from any bonefit of tho proclamation, came forward with their guvs, and gave themselves up as prisoners, returning with the Europeans to Tataraiinaka, where they wero handed over to the oflicor commanding the garrison.

Monday, January 23. Tho following force left town — Captains liivesay and Bateman, Lieutenants Onslow, Money, and Longley, with 150 rank and filo of the 43rd Light Infantry, heavily laden with their pack 3. The mon, after a weary march of twelve niilcS over hot and dnsty roads, reached Talaraimaka, the garrison of which, consisting of I 212 men, with the officers Captains Close and Hatchell, Lieutenant and Adjutant Talbot, Lieutenants Todd, Garland and Cairns > Ensigns Armphelt and Pearson, with Staff Assistant Surgeon Grant in medical the whole under tho command of Major* Colvillo, marched southwards for the pmposo tif occupying To Ngana. On the force arriving' at Tukitakipapa a whito flag was run lip on tho native staff, evincing that as yet they had not altered their peaceful intentions. Passing the pa, tho route running parallel with the beacli was takou to within a short tttetanco of" the old crossing place of thia daugcrous river, when aftor passing through forn increasing in height as they progressed inland, Te Ngana was reached, and a rounded hillock chosen as a camp. No tracks of natives wero visible, but a stout post had been stuck in the centre of tho road near iho river to show that it wu« not the intention of tho rebels to allow their lands to bo taken and occupied without a struggle. On Tuesday morning Lieutenant Ferguson marked out, on the summit of tho hillock, the boundaries of aredoubt, the parapets of which iunder the fatigue parties aro rapidly taking 'shape. All around the fern is high and luxuriant, eh as to preclude tlie possibility of grass or other ['herbage finding room to grow, consequently thero jis but little fedd for cattle aud horses ; added to 1 this tho surface wator is from the swamps, aud ! übt at all suitable for drinking, but this will be j remedied by the making of wells. So soon as the building of the redoubt 18 sufficiently adj Vauccd it will be occupiod by a company of tho I Otago contingent.