Taranaki.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 231, 18 April 1861, Page 3

Taranaki.

(From the Waitara Correspondent’of the Nelson Examinet.)

Saturday, March 16.—Very heavy firing, on our side to-day. Another 68-lb. guh brought iip from No. 6, and placed to thej right of No. 7 redoubt. Four.of our men met! with casualties, one of them died soon afterwards. About three, p.m., the enemy came up through the bus!) in the rear of the right of jNo. 7 redoubt, and fired several vollies on our advanced skirmishers. They were driven by'shot and shell from the guns. Sunday, March 17.—Very heavy firing a’l day. Last night the enemy tried to remove ■our sap rollers, but the shells attached to them burst,, and killed and wounded several of them. One of the Maoris lost both bands, and another both arms. In the afternoon, Lieutenant M'Naughten, of the artillery, was shot through the wrist and body as he was laying the coliorn mortar at the end of the second parallel, close to the rifle-pits on the left front of the pah. He did not think he was mortally wounded, and his death is deeply regretted by the men... It was exactly oile j year since he opened fire on the L pah,; under Colonel Gold, and a, .braver or more] meritorious young officer was not in the service. He bad been at Waitara all through tiie war. He was, we hear, son to Sir E. M‘Naughten, of Bushmills, County of Antrim.’ Late this evening, when quite dark, several shells were thrown into the pall. We could see them rise, turning over and over, and, after reaching their highest point, coming down very quick, the fuses emitting a bright light. We hear every shell costs from 7s. to Bs. each ; they are of an oblong shape and made to burst into 49 pieces. This day. we visited Matarikorko, and got a view of Mataitawa, W. Kingi’s residence, through the telescope. There' are’three cluster of huts or wliares on ah elevated plateau or flat, one of these standing on a small eminence, the others close to the edge of the plain with a steep descent to the river; all are banked round and stockaded. On the hill to the left is a large plantation of Indiau corn. The Waikatos are still more to the left in a valley. Mataitawa is fully four miles from Pukerangiora, our present point of attack. Monday, March 18.—Yesterday, the 57th I were in the trenches,, and a great number being /rishmen, and Sunday being St. Patrick’s day, they asked their Major to allow them to rush the pah. He asked their General, but the latter would no! accede to the request. We understand also the 40th and 65th some days, since had agreed to rush! the pah,, and this having transpired these regiments are not allowed now to work together in the trenches. This evening, about halfpast four, the enemy came up in force'through the bush again, in the rear of our right, firing volleys on our skirmishers, about twenty men of the 40 111 Rogf. T}.i« firing was very heavy

at one post. The enemy came shouting loudly; our men were ..quiet, and kept their ground, not allpwigg the enemy to cross the bottom of the ravine. After a little they retired, and were heavily peppered by shot and shell on their retreat. VOn our side two officers were wounded, three men killed, and six wounded. Next day we heard the enemy in this affair had twelve killed and eighteen wounded. The attack was made because the Naval Brigade; while planting a 63-pounder in battery, hail defiled two chiefs - graves.

Tuesday.— -This morning a flag of truce was hoisted to consider proposals of peace brought by some Waikato chiefs and Mr. M'Lean yesterday in the Victoria. Wednesday.— To-day the Waikatos went off, firing farewell vollies. They were short both of ammunition and provisions. A number of W. King’s natives came tp-day to No. 6 redoubt, where they have been feasted. One fellow in his cups boasted that the Maori was as good as the pakeha, and they would not give up the land.. Thursday— To-daythere Vis a., meeting, in No. 6 redoubt of -Maories, and Messrs.M‘Lean, Parris, and Hay, Native Commissioners.. Colonel Leslie read a letter from Mr. M‘Lem to his men on parade, to the effect that at Puketakauere, on the 27th June, there had been 110 natives killed and 160 wounded, many of whom afterwards died. Friday —To-Jay a lot of potatoes were into No. 6 redoubt by \V. King’s men as prerents to the'soldiers, and they said that they had plenty more. We have been told by those who have visited the deserted huts of the Waikatos, that they seemed to be wretchedly poor and miserable hovels. It is rumoured that since the war broke out about 1400 of the enemy have perished either by disease or wounds. Saturday, 'Match 23—Nothing particular worth noting. Sunday —To-day the Niger arrived bringing more guns and ammunition. Great numbers of visitors to the camp to-day, many of whom rode overland. There has been no dash or skill in all the war. , The General drove..the Ma'orips into the bush, instead of enticing them into the open' country; and, when they cnnie out into, the open country, he let them be there unmolested. A fire is seen at night within a -mile of the camp, close ’to a clump of trees: instead of getting volunteers to steal quietly up and either givethem a volley or fake a few prisoners, nonotice whatever is taken of, such parties, forthe officer in command has his hands tied.

[From the Taranaki Herald, March 30.] The s'agnation of the week has fairly closed our journal of events. On Wednesday his Excellency the Governor, with Mr. Weld, Native Minister, Mr. /HTaker, Attorney General, and Mr. Commissioner ilfcZean,.'arrived at Waitara in the Victoria. The Niger returned from Auckland with 50 tons of ammunition on Sunday. Parties of settlers have been out to examine tlie state of the country,, and it appears that except on the upper Mangorei road, the ravages of the enemy have been complete enough. Four houses out\of five are gone, and of the remainder, part have been spared as lodging houses for the enemy, and.fire had been set to others, but had not taken. .On A rough estimate five-sixths of the cattle are gone, by one means and another. 'L’lie stench of putrid ainnal matter is common, and many bodies of cows, bullocks, and sheep, shot in mere waotonness, are strewed along the roads. Not a horse is to be seen. The progress of the thistle will not be fully seen .till, .spring, but, already it is evident that we-have.here our work before us. .The examination of the abandoned defences at Waireka shows the. position to have been much less formidable than its reputation. It. offered ; only one front, and was assailable easily in rear. ’ This morning Major-General Cameron anil staff landed, and proceeded to Waitara.

[From the Taranaki Herald, April 6.] This week lias been again a blank. Gossipfrorii the visitors to the camp is the only relief to the monotony. The Ngatiawa natives show no shadow of irritation or mistrust, and they are treated with kindness and consideration. Hapurona’s followers are perfectly frank. They willingly show the wonders of the Pu* kerangiora position to all who have permission to visit it. 'They state that Tlapurona made peace because the Governor and the Bishop wished-it, and they estimate the Waikato b sses in killed at 300, the Ngatiawa only 14. 7’iiree large graves at Pukerangiora corroborate this statement. On going down to,visit tile Governor llapurona was dressed 'in a gunny bag ; on bis return he appeared in a blue shirt and truwsers.. The men generally are eager for clothing, potatoes, spirits, and tobacco. Money is at a discount. The natives describe the.artillery as having effected little ; one man only was killed by a shell, the man who attempted to remove the second' sap roller. Much powder was got from dead shells. The rifle did all the execution. The week is Wound up by tire publication in town of the terms offefed W. Kiugi. Noon to-day’was the hour appointed for his answer. Friendly natives in town talk freely in blame of the .Governor’s offer. They consider that the overtures should have come unequivocally from W. King to make a solid peace probable. General-Cameron'left for Auckland in the Airedale on Sunday, and is expected back daily in the Fawn. On Monday, the Naval Brigade left Waitara in the Niger for Manukau ; and on Wednesday the Victoria took her departure fur Melbourne with. Major-General. \ Pratt and Staff on board. r : •