ABANDONMENT OF KAKARAMEA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 143, 27 October 1868, Page 3

ABANDONMENT OF KAKARAMEA.

ABANDONMENT OF THE WERAROA REDOUBT. MORE DESTRUCTION -OF PROPERTY. WOMEN AND CHILDREN RETURN FROM PATEA. By the Ahuriri, which arrived from Wellington this morning, we have our usual files from the North. The Wanganui Times of Friday, October 23, publishes the following :— Early yesterday morning, Kakaramea redoubt was abandoned by our men, and almost immediately taken possession of by the enemy. As our men retired, parties of Hau Haus set fire to the hitherto undestroyed houses around Kakaramea, right on to Patea. •j, Duiing the early part of yesterday, 24 of Captain Hirtzell's men laid down their arm* and refused to serve a>y longer. The men of other companies, whose time will expire in a few days; say that they will not serve a day longer than they are bound to do. The small force in PHtea is thoroughly disorganised and discontented at the treatment received from the Government, especially in dit-banding and dismissing the best of the officers and men, its abandoning the settlers and givicg uo their property to be destroyed by ruth ess cannibals, and exposing themselves to destruction. The Sturt took off from Patea, and shipped on board the b.s. Rangitira Von Tempsky's men bound for Auckland, they having refused to serve any longer. Consequent on this state of things the women and children have been nent down by tlie p.s. Sturt, and some of the merchants and storekeepers have succeeded iv bringing down a quantity of their goods, which are now being stored in Wanganui. On Wednesday last, Colonel Whitm >re and Mr Booth proceeded to Weraroa, and after some conversation with Munia, Kemp, and the other chiefs, ordered the whole of the Wanganui Natives stationed there to hold themselvss in readiness to march for Patea next morning. 1 his morning Mr Cassey, of the Shamrock Hotel, Patea, arrived in Wanganui and informs us that at 11 o'cl»ck Ust night, he, whilst riding through at the risk of his life from Patea, met the whole of the Naiive Contingent with Colonel Whitm re at the Waitotara river. Some had crossed, oth« rs were in the act of crossing, and othera at this siile about to cross. Thu* the Weraroa redoubt has been abandoned by Colonel Whitmore, and the whole of the Pakakohi, with a contingent of Tito Kowaru's men and tin? whole of tbe disaffected, are left in possession of the entire tract of country from the Patea river on to Kai Iwi. < >ur friend Tito Kowaru has generously given the besieged settlers at Patea seven days' notice to clear out, otherwise he will attack and exterminate them. As Colonel Whitmore with some 450 of the Wanganui natives will reach Patea to-day, Tito may change his tactics, turn the Colonel's flank and send reinforcements to enable his men now at thia side of the Patea, to occupy the Weraroa re.ioubt abandoned by Colonel Whitmore. As we write— 11 a.m.— the scene upon the Government Wharf, where the p.s. Sturt has discharged the goods and chattels of the women nnd children, brought down yesterday from Patea, arouses the indignation of all who witness the evidences of the ruin hurled upon those people by Colonel Haultain whilst carrying out the policy of the present Ministry. We once more call upon Dr Featherston, as Superintendent of this province, to wait upon his Excellency the Governor, and place in his hands a written protest against the manner iv which the settlers in that portion of this province which ließ between the Patea river and the Kai Iwi are being expired to inevitable ruin by the suicidal policy of his Excellency's advisers.