IMPORTANT FROM THE EAST COAST.

Timaru Herald, Volume II, Issue 64, 5 August 1865, Page 3

IMPORTANT FROM THE EAST COAST.

FIGHT BETWEEN THE ARAWAS AND

PAI MARIRE&

FIVE MAORIS EATEN.

The Daily Southern Cross of the 21st July contains the following 1 : — We were shown a private letter yesterday, which had been received from Maketu, giving* particulars of a recent engagement between the Pai Marires, under the command of the chief Kereopa, and a number of the Arawa natives, under the friendly chief, Adam Clarke. We have before stated that Kereopa, after visiting* the settlements on the East Coast, had started with his followers for Taranaki, b) T way of Rotorua and Rotoiti ; and we now learn that, after proceeding- some distance inland, he was stopped by the tribe under Adam Clarke. Some fighting took place, and Kereopa pitched his camp close to Adam Clarke's pa. The former had about 60 men under his command, and Adam Clarke had about 70. A few days afterwards assistance was sent to Clarke from Maketu. One hapu of the Arawa, about eighty m number, started for the lakes ; and another party of about seventy, under Messrs. Mair and Nesbitt, Resident Magistrates, also immediately after. Upon the second party reaching Rotorua they found the first hapu returning, as they said they could not procure provisions sufficient to enable them to reach Clarke's pah at Te Whaiti. The whole of them then returned to Rotoiti to consult ; and m the meantime large parties of the Whakatohea, Ngatiawa, Uriwera, and other tribes who had accepted the Pai Marire faith, about 600 m number, marched inland to Te Whaiti, and surrounded Adam Clarke's pah, effectually cutting off his supplies of water and provisions. In order the more effectually to surround him, eight pas were constructed and well manned. On the sth of July Clarke made a splendid sortie, attacked the pawjiicji obstructed hiui from obtaining his supplies, and drove the rebels out of it The rebels m the other pas,

seeing the state of affairs, hastily mustered their forces and made a counter attack, at tl}e. # saoie. time trying* to cut off Clarke's retgeat.- Six or seven men alone had been left to guard the pa, and it would quickly have- been taken had not Clarke seeing* the danger, boldly charged the six hundred, and regained his pa. He lost five men. Kereopa also lost five. The five dead Arawas were taken by Kereopa and his people and decapitated, and the fanatics then ate the eves and feasted on the bodies, amidst the performance of their horrible fanatical rites.