FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 14397, 3 January 1911, Page 2

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

TARANAKI’S EARLY HISTORY. (From the Taranaki Herald of 1861.) j Tuesday, January I.—The Tasmanian Maid came up this morning-, bringingij the following account of the expedition from the camp:—“The day ■ we left town (28th) we arrived at Mahoetahi about 7 a m. and halted for an hour for breakfast, after which we moved op by. the road to the left'of'the blockhouse and crossed the Waiongona , at the prophet’s pa ahoye- tlite junction of the Mangorako. "Wo arrived at AVaitard at 10 a.m. and encamped’near the pa. AVe got orders, to move, at 4 a.m. next day and got on tho road at that hour, passed tho site of the old L pa, and arrived at Ngataipariruh at 5.30 a.m.—moved on the i advanced ground to Kairau and commenced firing and throwing, shells in_ tho gully to- , wards, the pa at Matnrikofiko. A working party commenced to make , a redoubt, and after a short time (8.30 a.m.) the Natives crept up”through the fern and gave us a volley. A sharp fire was kept up 1 until 9.30, and then all was quiet until 12.30 p.m. A‘ heavy fire was then commenced and continued : all day and night. Tho- 65th fell in ■ at 7 a.m. and marched back to camp at AVaitafa with tho naval brigade. Left the 12th and 40th iu camn at Kairau, who were engaged With the enemy until 5.30 next morning. All quiet on Sunday. The fire: on- Saturday was terrific, and'well sustained- on our sice, . ■ which kept the ■ rebels well in check. They firetj: out of rifle , pits ■ without showing themselves or taking aim,-and; the bullets went.yery high. Our. people fired 70,000 rounds of ammunition, . and about 120 shell and case- shot. In going over some of-the rifle pits a splendid tomahawk, all bloody, and a pouch,-.. a large knife,!,and atpipo were found, and various, other articles. Two Maori letters were also found, one fyom Takerei Torangi to “AViremu Hoeta, , Rewi, arid others,” in which ,he_ urges them to spare the women and children. 'Hiis morning intelligence was received that tho enemy \ had evacuated their pa and position, and two conipanies of the 65th and a few of the bluejackets rushed into it and hoisted the -Union Jack, one the- Colonel ofthe L 6sth had for the purpose.- Tt was well and quickly done. One hundred and forty, men of the 65th have gone to garrison Matarikoriko.” h ' v The Tasmanian-Maid left for Waitara with stores, etc., and returned at midnight. The Cordelia also came up, bringing Colonel Careyj D.A.G., Dr. Alouat, and some wounded men. Wqather continues fine. Following is a Hsj of killed and wounded on Saturday and Sunday:— KILLED. 40th Regiment—Privates James Chun. nery and Michael Lehan. : ,■,' ~ 65th. Regiment.—Private John Cain. AVOUNDED. Royal . Artillery.—Gunners ; William , Smoker and Jeremiah Wright. - Royal Engineers.-?—Sapper Johnston. Naval Brigade.’—Alfred Broome, A.B. 12th Regiment.—Private Robert Dye. 40th Regiment.—Sergeant Instructor of Musketry Patrick Collins, Ser- , geant F. -Mwlej Privates - Roger , Lyons, Richard Fitzgerald, Janes Southwell, John Sullivan,- John Smith, Benjamin Greenwood, William Gaplico, John M'Bren, Thomas Davy, J. A. Fox. 65th Regiment.’—Sergeant William - Speakman, Privates James Haggan and Martin .Kinsella. Wednesday, January 2.—From another letter, dated yesterday, from tho earap wo make the following extract;— “Wo have filled in the rifle-pits-and burnt the pa and whnres near ufl. A fence has been erected round the gravel of the chiefs and others, five-in-num-ber. Two men of the 12th were wound- _ od on Saturday,, also one, of. the Engineers and two Artillerymen. The 65th and 4t)th men who, were killed were buried at Waitara- camp on Sunday. Mr. Wilson Says the Waikato force is About 500. men, besides Wi Kingi’s men; they do not appear to work together or agree. Hanurona was down at the fight arid called out to ns in the ■evening iiot;to-go away. (A part of . t]io force had returned to Waitara camp,) At 10 o’clock 100 men of the 65th, under Colonel AA’yatt, Licuts. Urquhart, Lewis, ! arid pennefather, H-cnt over to the large pa to reconnoitre, and returned at noon. We see a good many Natives occasionally at tho peach grove,, and they have quantities of rifle pits down there. The troops will bo at them soon again, and we suppose may go either to Pukorangiora or Kingi’s pa.” ■ . ■ The Cordelia came up this morning, and Mr. 0. Carrington, Provincial SurVeyor, and staff, left in her, it is, said, 1 to fix the positions of Matarikoriko and other places taken from the enemy. A blockhouse is being erected on Matarikoriko, a position commanding tho large plain around, and will ho permanently garrisoned. The ’Tasmanian Maid lias taken down a quantity of timber for tho purpose. A party of Waikatos were at the Hua and Katoro, near the AVaiwakaiho. They seized upon and took prisoners about 18 friendly Natives, including some women who wore in the fields attending to their crops. They were afterwards released. This party of rebels are believed to he out for cattle and food. The Cordelia came up in the afternoon, andi at the same time tho ALctoria left for Manukau. for reinforcements it is rumoured. A large party of Waikatos, estimated at 601 L are at the White Cliffs on the way to AVaitiira, and the Cordelia left for that part of the-coast, ’ A wooden plug from an .Emield bullet wan extracted from the wound of one of the men shot at Matarikoriko; the enemy must have used some of the ammunition obtained at Puketakouere. The latest intelligence we!, have from the camp at Kairau is that t]io enemy are erecting a stockade at the peach - grove near Huirangi,, and digging rifle pits, preparing for another stand. The Rev. Mr. Wilson, who has had several conferences with .the enemy, is of opinion that-they are expecting large reinforcements. ‘They intend to fight out the quarrel at Waitara, and, if so, it IB there that the troops should be concentrated. „ _ _ . Thursday, January 3. — The Tasmanian Maid arrived from AVaitara at 3 a.m. The Natives are at Huirangi and its vicinity. The Native account of the enemy’s Joss on the 29th arid 30th ulto. is 7 lulled and from 50 to 60 wounded. Some Natives carrying home a son of To Pakaru, chief of Kawhia, badly wounded, told this to Nikorima’s people at PuKekohe. Amongst tho killed is a principal AA'aikato chief, Karira Te Karu, from' Aotea. A gentleman from the camp, however, informs us that he saw himself five large graves, m which several must be interred. The Ngatirnanui tribe are on their way to town. Tliev had reached Umurqa, Wl Kingi Matakaten’s settlement in the Taranaki district. Their intention is to unite with tho Taranakis and take up their old position at Wairekai Trenches manuotl as usual and afterwards inspected by Colonel Sillery, D.Q.G.