TARANAKI BUSHRANGERS AT WANGANUI.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 666, 6 May 1865, Page 5

TARANAKI BUSHRANGERS AT WANGANUI.

We have been favored by Captain Hirst, who left here on the 21st March, in command of a party of Bushrangers for the Patea, and returned in steamer cßangatira'c ßangatira' (on leave of absence, urgent private business requiring it) on Friday the 21st instant, with a perusal of his journal. With his permission we snbjoin some interesting extracts : —

March 21.—" Embarked at New Plymouth at 3 p.m. on board the s.s. Ahuriri, with Captain Bracey, Lieutenant Kirby, Ensigns Bear and Dalrymple, Assistant Surgeon Suther, 150 men Taranaki Military Settlers; also, Lieutenant Newland, Ensign Chapman and forty-seven noncommissioned and Rifle Patea Rangers. Fine weather all night, the men in good health and spirits.

March 22.— " Arrived off Patea at daylight. Anchored at 7 a.m.; good view of the camps, &c. The Sandfly, government steamer inside the river high and dry. Gundagai at Wanganui; surf boats at Manawapou, and no means of crossing the bar. Waited five hours ; fine weather but threatening. Glass going down, not room for half the men below, and no great stook of provisions on board, decided on running for Wanganui for the night, and perhaps get orders to return in the morning. Arrived at Wanganui 5 p.m. Landed with Captain Brasey to report our arrival, and found that the Hon. Major Atkinson (Defence Minister) and Colonel Logan, had gone up to Parikino, in the steamer Gundagai. No instructions left or any one to give us orders, so went on board again and stopped the night. March 23. — "Captain Brasey started this morning to Parakino on horseback, with a native guide. The men this day were very uncomfortable owing to being wet and on the deck of the vessel two nights. To add to this the butcher had not sent any meat on board, consequently the men, had only one pound of bread each for breakfast — no coffee or anything else. As I was left in command, I ordered a " tot of rum " to be given to the men j went on shore myself, got the meat ; took it to a bakehouse, had it cooked and sent in on board ; by this time it was noon. Not a man was allowed to leave the vessel, and as the previous night had been very showery the poor fellows were exceedingly uncomfortable, but on the whole behaved very well. As tho day wore on the weather became worse, and I decided to land the men. Just as I got ashore a canoe came down the river with the Hon. Major Atkinson aud Colonel Logan. We were then ordered to land at once. A large punt went alongside and took all the rangers ashore in one trip. Although it was quite dark and raining torrents we formed fours and marched to the market place, pitched tents, and through the kindness of Colonel Logan, 57th regiment got dry straw and made all pretty comfortable for the night. After the rangers were landed the punt returned for the Military Settlers, so that at 9 p.m. all were on shore and housed for the time.

March 24. — " Busy cleaning arms, drying our olothes, &c. Felt much pleasure at the very cordial manner of the 57th towards our men. This feeling of the two forces is very pleasing. Had a parade ; inspected arms, and found them in good order. Men are well conduoted and correct.

March 25. — " Embarked my own men and 50 T.M.S. under Captain Pennefather on board tho Sandfly for Parakino. Left town at 2 p.m., but owing to a heavy fresh down the river could not get up that night, and landed at a place near Mr. Buckthought's farm. Pitched tents, served out rations for the next day, mounted gflard, &c, Mr. Buckthoughfc 1 found to be a first-rate settler ; he did his utmost to make all welcome This day is the anniversary of taking of Kaitake. March 26.— At 7 a.m. struck tents, packed baggage, loaded canoes with stores, &0., and in light marching order (guided by two friendly natives) started overland for Parakino. Went some five or six miles up a valley, crossing a river about knee-deep six times, and then bogan to ascend a mountain about three miles of a very steep road — so difficult in many cases, that the only means of progress was by grasping the fern and tutu. To make matters worse the rain begam to come down in torrents and continued without intermission until we reaohed Parikino at about 4 p.m. Having arrived at our destination safe, we were informed for our comfort no baggage had arrived, and were told that owing to a freshet down the river we should not have it up till next day. At this post we found Major Roekes, Lieutenants Powell and Broughton and Dr. Gibson who did all in their power to make all hands comfortable. The phrophecy respecting the baggage turned out false, for at 5.30 p.m. the canoes arrived and although the rain continued to descend our men discharged the stores and pitched the tents. The ground, however, was all worked up into mud and no dry fern could be got. The men consequently preferred sitting up all night. Their conduct throughout was highly creditable.

March 27. — " Dried clothes and stores, and got camp in order. The country very hilly, but the land good to the top of the hills.

March 28. — "A board was held this day on the bread and meat, of which about 150 tierces was condemned. Captain Brasey arrived with remainder -of Military Settlers, and orders for Bushrangers to move further up the river twentyfive miles to a place called * Koriniti,' or in English ' Corinth.'

March 29. — " Embarked in about 14 canoes at 7 a.m. taking stores, tents, &o. At noon reached Atini (Athens) and landed. Found natives very kind. Stayed an hour, and then proceeded to Corinth which place was reached at about 3.30 p.m. Landed and took possession of a strong sawn timber stockade on the top of a high steep hill ; got all stores up, tents pitched, &c. Conduct of men very good. Natives brought presents of grapes, potatoes, pork, fowls, &0., for all hands. Very monotonous work going up the river. Nothing but high hills, so steop generally that nothing bnt goats oould find a footing, and covered with bush or scrub, such as manuka. Bought from natives very good pork as rations at 3d. per lb. ; potatoes, £4 per ton. There is about 1000 acres of" good available land about here ; but like that at Parakino, of steep

Maroh 30.—" Parade at io a.in., arms in good' order. At 4 p.m. Capt, Brasey arrived with hia company of military settlers and Btores. March 31.—" Parade at. 10 a.m., all corroofc. If men behave as they aro doing/there will beno fear of defaulter's sheets. Captain Pennefather arrived with his company '(No. 10.) ' ' ; April I.— «« Parade as usual" at 10 a.m., and allcorrect. Afternoon, the Hon. Major Atkinson 1 came up with Captain Noakes, Messrs. Booth, White, Nixon, Carr and -others. At 9 p.m. received orders to embark at daylight next-day for Ranana (London) with the whole forcedistant say 15 miles, taking up with as all tho stores we can. r

Apnl 2.—" Pine weather : moved off at 8 a.m.; river of same character all the way up, but hills rather higher and steoper. Reached London in safety, though some bags of biscuit wore lost overboard going over tho rapids. Landed and after an half-hour's rest, marched for Hiniharam (Jerusalom). About half a milo above London, is the island of Moutua, whore tho great fight took place between the Queen natives and the Hau haus, the former losing fourteen killed and the latter fifty. Walked up to see the place • and had a full and interesting account of tho, whole affair from Mr. Booth and Himona. This is a fine native of 40 or 45 years of age. Tho Queen's natives were beaten from one end of tho island to the other, and some had retreated across the river, when Himona turned, knelt down, saying he would die there. He, however, instead, shot two of the rebels dead at about seven yards. Some more of his party stopped • with him, tho rest rallied, and a defeat was thtis turned into a victory. Afterwards we marched overland from London to Jerusalem, a distance of about 11 or 12 miles. We passed through a great deal of very good available land ; I should think from 6,000 to 10,003 acres ; a large part of whioh might bo ploughed. Much land herois fenced, aud is, or has been, under cultivation. In fact from the top of a long but not very steep' hill which we had to cross, I had the most lovely viow I have seen in New Zealand. We arrived' at Jerusalem at 5 p.m., and found baggage 4c. all there. Pitched tents and turned in, as we were to too up at daylight and away. ColonelNixon having proceeded to Pipirild with some friendly natives was expected back during the ' night. April 3.— Embarked at daylight in about 40 canoes, leaving all baggage stores, Ac, behind. Force mustered abont 300 men. Colonel Nixon not yet returned. Went up the river with' Queen's flag flying in foremost canoe, of which Ensign Dalrymple had the honor to be in charge. Wooded hills almost perpendicular and covered with bush or scrub. I was lucky in being in tho first canoe ( for speed on the river. It was very exciting work going up the river, the natives saying every now and then — « Look out.' At length I am told "that we have only one more point to round and we shall be at Pipirild. At that point there is a great rapid. We give way, and only three canoes are now ahead of us ; wo passed two of them and reach the rapid. The rangers jump into the river, leaving tho natives to take the canoe round the point, whioh being done the rangers jump in again," make a dash' and we are at Pipiriki in safety. The position is considered to be tho most important in the island. It is 75 miles from Wanganui, and the great central depot of this part, for at this point all the main tracks meet, namely to Taupo, Waitotara, Patea, Rangitikei, Ac. We found' Colonel Nixon had gone to a pa up the river some three miles further to see Pehi. About au hour after we arrived he returned, bringing Pehi with him. I had the good luck to be present at the interview between the Hon. Major' ' Atkinson and this chief— the former was cool" and firm — the latter violent and abusive. After a long talk the Major closed the matter by saying that if Pehi would consent to our staying it ' would be all right ; but if not he might try to dislodge us, and we would then take all his labd from him. At this the old fellow kicked up a. great row and then gavo in. The natives say that this place is only two day's ma^ch from Waitotara River, or say four day's march from Mataitawa. Men employed' in building two redoubts and one intrenched camp.