THE MAORI WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 151, 5 November 1868, Page 3

THE MAORI WAR.

LATEST FROM THE FRONT. By the arrival of the Wellington this morning, we are in possession of our usual files from the North. We tnke the following from the Wanganui Times of Oct. 29 : — During the various petty rebellions in these districts we have repeatedly endeavoured to impress upon the Government the desirability of placing before the public through the press j-uch reliable information a* the officer in command might see fit to communicate. We have personally discussed tha subject with Colonel Hnultain, and tried to convince him of the injury dune to the service, to the Government, and to the public by a system of concealment out of which must necessarily arise distrust and misrepresenta tion. ' In boldly breaking through that system Colonel Whitmore has exhibited one qualification essential iv a commander — that of self-reliance. We have always held that ■within the boundaries of a command, the Commander should suffer none to dictate to him as to the course which he should pursue, unless, when on the eve of an engagement he would hold a Council of War. In directing Mr B.'Oth to place before the public through the press such facts as ft is necessary the public should know, Colonel Whiimore lias followed a precedent which will ever be remernberud in the annals of warfare. In offering accommodation to a trustworthy and competent reporter to be present with the"; Force as a special correspondent, he also follows the practice pursued by the commander of an Imi erial army in all parts of the world. Special reporters with an army on active service tire always treated with the greatest courtesy aud reapect, and have peculiar facilities afforded to them for obtaining reliable information. The following are the documents for which we have to thank Colonel Whitmore : — Head Quarters, Putea, Oct. 27, 1868. Sir, — I think it will be conducive to the maintenance of public confidence, and indirectly to the restoration of tranquillity on this coast, that every pos«il>le publicity should be given to the occurrences at the i-'ront. I propose to enable yuti io publish an ad interim measure, but the news supplied to you will not be of a defniled or narrative description as a rule. Before long, however, I trust you will be in a position to make arrangements by which a trustworthy and c< mpetent person may be always present with the force, in the capacity of * special correspondent for your journal. I can only spy that I shall be very jrlad wheuever any •uch gentleman notifies his arrival to me, to give him every facility in my power to suppl.v true intelligence ; and in order that you may not be prevented from obtaining the services of a respectable person, by any consideration conned ed with the position, I shall put in orders that all special correspon dents may draw rations as capttdns, and for rage for one horse, as soon as they notify their arrival to me. In thus carrying out the recognised principle of modern warfare, that as it is impossible to maintain absolute secresy in military operations, the next best thing to ensure is the | übliration of nothing but the truth, an<f that by respectable and competent persons, I hope I may rely on the discretion of the special correspondents not to communicate any plans for future operations which they may be aware of, but which might be beit-av kept secret till they are carried out, for fear of their reaching the ears of the enemy. I trust also 1 may confidently appeal to your good sense and atriittism, when I ask you to support me in preventing men under my orders from supplying the local tress with information. This practice saps all discipline, and makes a very great addition to the difficulties of a Commanding officer. I have already cautioned the Force that the practice must be wholly discontinued, and that J will puci-h severely any disobedience of orders in this respect. No communication of such a nature can therefore reach you, even indirectiy. without a breach of my orders, and I hope you will neither publish nor receive information brought to >ou in that way. I stnd herewith a short narrative prepared by Mr Booth, X.M . of lecent events, and he will heresifter (until proper correspondents arrive), send you the heads of euch information as he thinks of public interest. I am, &c , G. S. VVhitmokb, Colonel.

Patea, Oct. 26. Sir,— On Wednesday .October 2 1st, Colonel "Whitraore, accompanied by Mr JJooth, K.M., arrived at Weraroa from Wanganui. Arrangements were at once made fo move on the greater portion of the native ftrce to Patea. The Colonel was desirous that the gettlere in the Wauotara district should concentrate in case of alarm at Nukumaru, and fortify themselvei in that excellent position. 22. Colonel "Whitmofe marched from TVc-raroa with 400 natives, leaving actiug sub-iaspector

McDonnell in charge, with -V force ofT, 35 armed constables, and 50 friendly natives with the Chicf b Te oti Takara"ngi"and 2 Epißa te Ao Kokiri. '■ "' ■ • The force encamped that night near tho mouth of the Waitotara river, in order to be able next morning to escort a herd of the contractor's cattle T;o Patea. 23. The force arrived at Patea about noon, aud Colonel Whitmore at once with a picquet, took up his head quarters übout a. mile out of the town of Patea, just beyond the R.M's Court-house. The whole of the armed constabulary together with Captain Spiller's company (150 men in all) were marched out to the site of the new camp, and a chain of defensive posts at once commenced. The canteen in town was closed and orders given to open one in the camp. 25. Sunday, a strong party composed of the mounted portion of the armed constabulary (about 20) vrith 40 mounted natives, and !50 natives on foot,.went out to the old redoubt at Kakaramea, to make a reconnaissance of TitokbWaru's position -when the force got well in sight of Otoia, about 200 natives were seen; and although they were observed to leave the position in considerable numbers f<hey did not come out into the open with the exception of about 50 men, who came out of the place where Broughton's horse was killed. They were fired upon but did not return the fire. AfttT the friendly natives hud fired a volley of defiance the whole force returned to Patea. 26. The whole of the native force moved up to-day from Patea, and took up a position on the right flank of the entrenched lines., ; The line of entrenchment which protects the bank of the river on the right, to a swamp on the sea coast on the left, is now almost completed. Two Armstrong guns are in position on the left flank. It has been found necessary to discharge tiie greater portion of the Turanaki and Ntlsan Tolunteers, as their time of service has expired, and they were unwilling to re-engage. It has likewise been decided by the Colonel to discharge the bulk of th-Wel-lington Rifles (who were in a state of insubordination) after trying the ringleaders by Court Martial. J. Booth, R. M.

The Wanganui Times issued an extra on Nov. 2, with the following news, which is dated 6 a.m.: — Early yesterday mornio?, Lieut -Colonel Gorton received a letter from the offlVer commanding 1 Weraroa redoubt, informing him that Tito Kowaru had advanced with a strong force to Perakama, and occupied a position at Papatipu, about 7 miles south of the Wereroa redoubt, and that he had been joineed by Apruhama, Paul, and nearly all the Waitotara natives. Colmel G>rton at once despatched seven troopers under the command of Lieutenant Fenrick with a despatch to Colonel Whitmore, at Fatea. The Wanganui Volumeer Cavalry, under the conunand of Capt Noake, started (it 4 p.m. yesterday, to reinforce the 75 men who now hold the Weraroa redoubt. until such time as the militia might get out. The Ist class militia mustered yesterday, received each one day's rations and a blanket, and at 4p m. marched for Kai Iwi. Thence they would start for the Weraroa under thccommand of Colonel Gorton at 3 o'clock this — Monday — morning. About four o'clock yesterday, Mr C. Durie rode into town after having narrowly escaped being murdered by the Hau-huus. Mr Dune's house, situated nn the north of the Wnitotany river, was attacked by about forty of the | enemy on Saturday night, and had not the inmates received warning just in time to enable them to effect their escape, they would have been murdered. So narrow was the e*c>»pe that Mr Durie had not time to dress, hut instantly bolted, waded or swam the creek, and after hiding in the scrub for some hours, succeeded in crossing the Waitotara, and thus effecting an escape. on ■ " aturday a part of Tito Kowaru'a forets — about 280 men — took up a position on the camping ground formerly occupied by General fhure, near Okokuku, previous to his «ttack upon that place. From the most reliable information that we can obtain, it appears that the enemy's force is in three divisions, each numbering upwards of 200 men. From the numbers who are known to have joined him since he crossed the Patea river, h'.s force must number fully 60i men. Colonel Gorton, with the Ist class militia, expects to reach Weraroa about ten o'clock this morning. Should he find matters as serious as reported yesterday, the 2nd class militia will be ordered out to-day. We are hourly in expectation of further intelligence.