THE MAORI WAR. WANGANUI DISTRICT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 182, 11 December 1868, Page 3

THE MAORI WAR. WANGANUI DISTRICT.

(from the ltttelton times special cobbesfondentO Head Quarters, Nov. 28. Until within the last two days nothing of importance has taken place at the Front since my last letter. I think I mentioned that in consequence of a rumoured outbreak, or danger of an outbreak, at Rangitikei, 130 of the Armed Constabulary were dispatched to that district, but were stopped at Turakina by order of Major Marskall, their services not being required; there they still remain. This only adds one more to the number of false alarms that have been rife of late, and gives additional weight to the generally received opinion, both in camp and town, that the Defence Office and military authorities are kept in a state of ignorance as to native movements and intentions, friendly or otherwise. Whether it is that the gentlemen whose duty, it is to provide information in this respect are unable to furnish the genuine and are obliged in consequence to serve up a spurious article to satisfy the cravings of their superiors and keep up their own characters for intelligence, or whether they themselves are actually deceived by the wily native, I am not in a position to decide; but certain it is that their ipse dixit is taken for granted, the military heads act accordingly, and from false premises come to hasty and wrong conclusions. The main body of our little force is ' still at Woodall's Redoubt. The first of five blockhouses which have been contracted for to defend the Wanganui frontier in this direction arrived on the 26th, and has been erected at Kai Iwi. It was intended that it should be garrisoned by volunteers and settlers in the vicinity, but these gentlemen have a decided objection to the arrangement. They seem to think that once inside they would be like rats in a trap — no chance of getting out with an enterprising enemy in the neighbourhood, whilst, from the faulty plan of the building, they would be incapable of making a long or effective defence, I endorse this opinion, and would be sorry to be one of the defenders. ! On the night of the 26th, or, to speak more correctly, early on the morning of the 27th, Colonel Whitmore sent a cavalry expedition to Wairoato communicate with Captain

Haw.,es, whp jrW^th a, company of volunteers rais'e'din-'aifd^kboui'that built a redoubt, which they have since courageously j arid persistently held, asking for no extraneous aid, and bidding defiance to Tito and his army. Captain Newland, commanding the expedition, had instructions to keep a sharp look out for the enemy on his return, ami to cut off, if possible, every straggling par; /he might come across. This duty he ably performed.J^He surprised a party of Hau-haus at Mr Handley's Woolshed, near Nukumaru, and eight out of ten bit the dust. No quarter was given, and lam informed that the cries for mercy of one rebel were answered by the exclamation — " Poverty Bay, you brute ! " — accompanied by a pistol bullet through the brain. The Maoris were completely surprised ; their sentry, who was perched on top of the woolshed, must either have been asleep or watching with the eye of a gourmand the proceedings of his comrades below, who, having killed one of Handley's pigs, were busily engaged in cleaning it; and had it not been for the accidental discharge of a carbine not one of the savages would have escape.d^ Nothing authentic is known as to the j whereabouts of Titokowaru and the main body of his forces. The most reliable intelligence places him on this side of and close to the Waitotara, but the question is likely to be solved in a few days, as there is a rumour in camp of a forward movement. I trust it may prove a move in the right direction ; it will at least meet with the hearty approval of the whole force, who have felt completely sickened and disheartened by the late series of retrograde movements. Nov. 29. The riddle as to the whereabouts of the main body of the rebels is already solved.' Last night, they pitched their tents about the ground where Mr Moore's house lately stood, and within seven hundred yards of Woodall's Redoubt. This morning they were seen busy as bees, killing the fowls, &c, and making themselves comfortable. Their numbers cannot be correctly estimated, as many may be encamped in the bush, but I should say there were fully three hundred. They seem determined to fight and revenge the death of their men slain on the 27th. I trust Colonel Whitinore will not baulk their humour; he will never get such an opportunity again. Fortunately he has been reinforced to-day by No. 2 Company Armed Constabulary from Turakina, a detachment of the Patea Volunteers, and some men raised by Lieutenant Spiller on the East Coast, who started from Wanganui yesterday in the Sturt, for Patea, but she having to put back from stress of weather, they were ! marched overland this morning. Several rounds of ammunition have been expended this morning from the redoubt in long shots at the enemy, but not much damage has been done. The Armstrong would now be of use, but I believe there is no one in camp who knows anything about it — rather an anomaly, an Armstrong and no gunners. Dec. 6. My anticipations of a grand attack upon the new position taken up by the enemy near Woodall's, on the 29th ultimo, have not been realised, and he has been allowed to construct earthworks with impunity. On the morning of Nov. 30, Colonel Whitmore, Avith about 200 men, composed of the 3rd, 7th, and part of the 2nd divisions of Armed Constabulary, and the Mounted Constabulary, marched from Head-quarters to Nukumaru, with the intention of feeling the strength of the enemy in that direction, and of fighting him if he could be drawn from the bush into the open. Shortly afterwards the Wanganui Cavalry Volunteers, to the number of 50, joined the little force about five miles beyond the Kai Iwi, and the march was continued. The Hau-hau tents were plainly visible on a rising ground near the bush at Nukumaru, and it was evident that there was a strong body of the enemy encamped there. During the march from Kai Iwi, his mounted scouts had hovered about the head of our column, three quarters of a mile from our advanced guard. As we approached his position, the confidence of these fcllsws increased, and they were not more than 500 yards a-head of our cavalry, and about a mile and three quarters from the bush, when Captain Finnhnore received instructions to try and cut them off. The " charge " was given, and off like a bolt sped the Wanganui Cavalry Volunteers in hot pursuit. The rebel scouts were however well mounted, and held their own most gallantly ; the chase continued for about a mile and ahalf, when suddenly a volley was poured in from the bush, followed by another and another, and it became evident that our men had been drawn into an ambuscade. The I scouts had disappeared in the scrub, and a heavy firing from along the edge of the bush was carried on at a distance of about three hundred yards. The first volley went over the heads of the troop, but the second went in amongst them. Two horses were shot and two wounded, but fortunately there was no casualty amongst the men, although there were several . hair-breadth escapes. The

tfcpop returned; the fire for some time, but as nothing was to be x gained by a longer stay, and as they were not supported by infantry, they received the order to retire ; tkis they did slowly and in perfect order. This little skirmish reflects great credit upon the Wanganui Cavalry Volunteers, and, coupled with the gallant defence of the Weraroa redoubt some short timebackby ourEirst Class Militia — mere lads — goes far to refute the insinuations made by men high in authority — that the Wanganui men were a set of curs aad cowards. Colonel "VVhitmore, whilst the cavalry skirmish was taking place, pushed on his men, covered by skirmishers, and some desultory firing at long range was kept up during the day. The rebels were not, however, to be induced to leave the shelter of the bush, and the gallant Colonel, since Moturoa, has a most decided objection to enter it, so the expedition ended in smoke. A poor fellow of the Armed Constabulary, named Glennon, was killed by a chance shot during the advance, and this was the only casualty on our side. The whole force escorted drays with provisions for the garrison at Wairoa the same evening, as far as Waitotara. Next morning, Major Fraser joined with his division of Armed Constabulary from Patea, and the march commenced for Wanganui, which was reached by Colonel Whitmore and cavalry at 4 p.m., and by Major Fraser and infantry early next morning. During this day, Dec. 2, Colonel Whitmore and the following officers and men of the Armed Constabulary embarked in the Lady Bird and Sturt for Napier : No 6 Division, Inspector Roberta and ninety non-com-missioned officers and men, No. 3, Captain Newland, Sub-Inspector Goring, and 50 men No. 1 dismounted cavalry, Major Fraser, Captain Eichardson, and 45 men. > Colonel Whitmore fids; thus abandoned the district without striking a blow, for its defence. His departure, he states, is in consequence of peremptory orders from the De-' fence Minister, and he promises, after having put an end to the war on the East Coast in less than a month, to return to Wanganui and do likewise. Much faith is not put in his promises. He has not inspired either the public or the force under his command with confidence in his military abilities. Had he taken his departure alone, and for an indefinite period, it would have been matter for rejoicing; but the removal of the greater portion of the colonial forces from this district at so critical a period may lead to disastrous, perhaps fatal, consequences. We are at present powerless to attack and weak to defend; we have actually been abandoned to our own devices, but are still trammelled by having to obey the behests of Colonel Whitmore's locum tenens t vrho has received positive orders to do nothing, and as little of that as possible, until the return of his chief. On the 4th, two Hau-haus appeared before the redoubt (Woodall's), bearing a flag of truce. They brought a warning message from Titokowaru to the officer in command, to the effect that if the colonial forces did not " clear out" by next morning, the place would be attacked and the whole garrison slaughtered. Major Herrick at once forwarded the messengers (or spies ?), under escort to Wanganui. On being searched, a gold guard chain was found on one of them which was recognised as belonging to poor Hastings, killed at Ngutu-o-te-manu, and a silver watch with the name inside of a man of the Constabulary who was reported missing at the same place. These men are still in confinement as military prisoners, but must be eventually released, as they were received into our lines as bearers of a flag of truce, and as such should have been allowed to depart unmolested. Yesterday, Woodall's redoubt was abandoned, and another retrograde movement made to Westmere, within six miles of Wanganui, a small garrison (15 men), being left in the block-house. To-day, in consequence _of the arrival of a reinforcement of fifty men from Wellington, 'it has been decided that it is to be re-occu-pied this afternoon. Perhaps it may be given up again to-morrow ; in fact, things are in such a sad state of uncertainty that there is no telling what the next hour may bring forth.