DISTURBANCE AT PATEA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 835, 25 July 1868, Page 3

DISTURBANCE AT PATEA.

Later Intelligence from Wanganui. Farther particulars of the Attack at Turuturumokai. Reprehensible conduct of Major Hnnter. Reinforcement for the Patea disturbance. Mr. Fox's Election invalid. Supplies running short at Patea. Through the courtesy of the Rev. Father Holland, who arrived overland from Patea last evening, we are pi ace 1 in possession of Wanganui papers to Saturday last, which enables ns to present our readers with the English telegrams, via Suez. Tho Rev. Father Rolland states that he found no obstacle from the natives duriug his journey along the coast. The Taranaki tribes, and those adjoining iutend remaining neutral, nor will they allow the rebels to fight on their lands. We learn from the Watujanui Tones that the Government has advertised in Wellington for 200 volunteers to proceed on active service to Patea, under command of Captain Buck. Reinforcements were expected by steamer on the 18th. A report has been circulated to the effect that Mr. Fox's election for Rangitikei will be " null and void" in consequence of Mr. George Roberts, a nonelector, having seconded his nomination. On the day previous to the attack, one of the rebels was at the Turuturumokai redoubt selling onions. We believe that the Maoris own to having had three killed and five wounded, but the men at the redoubt seem inclined to think that more must have suffex*ed. There were about one hundred and fifty Maoris in the attack, and Katene's brother was one of the natives killed. Our correspondent mentioned in his letter published by us last week, that tho Native force, which Colonel McDonnell was raising, had gone over to the rebels, taking with them, the firearms they had been provided with. This force we understaud, consisted of nine or ten, who were mere boys and of which Katene was nominally in command. No active operations are likely to take place at present ; but Colonel McDonnell is having redoubts erected for the protection of the settlers. Mr. Northcroft, jun., we understand, has been placed in command of a redoubt at Kakaramea. We believe that none of the property of thesettlershas been destroyed, with the exception of the burning of Mr. Smith's hotel some time since. Mr. Smith lost over £200 — all his stock, and some cash being consumed in the fire. Corporal Walsh at Waihi, while cleaning his gun accidentally shot himself in the leg below tho knee. He was immediately taken to the hospital, where he is rapidly recovering. Constable O'Connor was wounded on the night of the attack, but his name was not mentioned in the list we published last week. Captain Ross, we understand, was fighting for half an hour before he was killed, and was shot through the head. His heart was torn from his body and dropped outside by the rebels in their hasty retreat. We are in possession of an account, by Constable Milmoe, of the attack on the Turuturumokai redoubt, but from the lateness of the hour, it was received, we are compelled to postpone it till our next issue. Constable Milmoe, it will be recollected, was one of the four men who so bravely stood their ground, and kept the natives from getting over the parapet of the redoubt. The Wanganui Times says :—": — " From the first of this month to the present date the p.s. ' Start has been unable to reach Patea ■with some tons of provisions and other supplies which she has on board. Her able and anxious commander has, during that time repeatedly put to sea, and tried to enter the Patea river, but she has been repeatedly driven back. He starts again the moment he sees a chance of success, and many anxiously await the result. Supplies are falling short, the roads are almost impassable, and the entrance to the Patea river can only be made under favourable circumstances of wind and tide." The Wanganui Times speaking of the reprehensible conduct of Major Hunter, says, "We request the attention of the aathorities and the public to the following statements which we glean from the letters of our correspondents: — One says, 'The Maoris attacked the stockade at Turuturumokai at 5.30 in the morning, and continued fighting until after sunrise. Now, as the sun rose at 7.22 on the morning of the 12th July, the fighting must have continued for one hour and fifty-two minutes, or close upon two hours. Therefore, as the firing was instantly heard at Waihi, only three miles distant, why did not Major Hunter, in command of the Cavalry at that post, rush to the rescue ?' The same correspondent goes on to say, ' The firing was heard at Waihi, and the mounted force were ready to start, but they were ordered by Major Hunter — [who we believe was in bed, and did not rise] — to take off their bridles and feed their horses, thus losing time that should have been used in cutting off the rebels from the bush, so that Von Tempsky's men would have them in the open ground. This Major Hunter could have done, and saved many lives.' " Another correspondent says :—": — " The Mounted Constabulary, when saddled and ready to start, were ordered by Major Hunter to dismount and feed their horses before starting. Had he allowed them to go, there would not have been the number killed and wounded that there has been, and they would have been able to cut off the rebels from the bush. Upon Von Tempsky's men arriving at the scene of action, the men holding the redoubt cried out— "Had you been here ten minutes

sooner you would have saved many lives." Why was not Major Hunter there half an hour sooner with his men who were anxious to be led to the attack. ? From other and reliable information received we consider it a duty to Major Hunter and tho service to which he has the honor to belong 1 , to call upon the Government to order a Court-Martial, before which his conduct may bo thoroughly investigated. The charges preferred against him border so closely upon either incompetency or cowardice that he is entitled to a full, free and open investigation before a competent tribunal. Meantime, in tho present state of excitement, we ask the public to suspend judgment ; but whilst doing so, assure the Government that nothing short of an investigation before a Court-Martial will justify them in retaining Major Hunter a single day longer in the service. Should that investigation honourably acquit him of either incompetency or cowardice, we shall bo happy to congratulate him upon the result, but we again say that whilst such grave charges hang over Major Hunter, the lives and proporty of people should not be entrusted to his care, as commander of an important branch of the Patea Field Force.