THE NATIVE WAR.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 451, 12 January 1869, Page 3

THE NATIVE WAR.

GREAT VICTORY AT POVERTY BAY. CAPTURE OF THE FORTRESS OF NGATAPU. 120 REBELS KILLED, AND 80 PRISONERS TAKEN.

The General Government forwarded to the different telegraph stations, including Greymouth, but not Westport, news of a successful attack on the fortress of Ngatapu, occupied by Te Kooti and his followers. The place is said to be the strongest ever besieged in New Zealand, and to have been occupied by 200 Maoris. The troops and natives took the outer walls and works by assault, and after dark pushed on by rifle-pit and sap. At midnight Te Kooti shot the most influential of his prisoners, and evacuated the place, with all his force, escaping by a steep cliff. Our troops entered at 3 a.m , pursued the enemy, killed 120, and took SO prisoners. _ Very few women, and those by accident, were killed, and no children. The prisoners were 14 men, 50 women, and the rest children. Many of the women and children are mere skin and bones. There was no food in the place, and little ammunition en the dead bodies. Our loss is 11 killed and 9 wounded dangerously. Great praise is given to Colonel Whitmore.

These particulars are given by Mr Richmond, who writes : " All worked cordially. They were four nights in the trenches—one steady rain without huts. Ngatiporous are off on a long chase to-day, bent on exterminating the Iwi Kohura. I have thought it right and in accordance with the wish of the Government and country not to withhold their hands. Our commissariat and transport has been effective, and I hope .we shall be able to feed the pursuers. This achievement is due to the energy and resolve of Colonel Whitmore. The mere labor of toiling through bush up this mountain would have quelled most men unless supported by an unflinching spirit in the leader. Next to Whitmore I put Ropata, but in the common phrase ' where all' it is not for me to mention names. I am sure the colony will appreciate the labor, the risk, the courage, and success of our efficient little army.

'• This mountain is a sort of wsdge. The front is a moderate slope for a mountain, yet steep enough to make it very laborious for the assailants. The rear and flanks towards the top are precipitous, but not so as to prevent escape. The rear runs out in a knifelike edge of rock. The height above the valley must be about 1500 feet. The pah is on the slope ; a triangle with banks and ditches on front side. All the mountain covered with forest, the front slope chiefly light timber, the flanks and rear heavy timber; forest stretches continuously for miles in

every direction, except that by which one road approaches. A rare position, well calculated to daunt assailants. By the labor of a hack, Whitmore's energy has inspirited the forces, and they have dug their way up this great hill." Colonel Whitmore has also a despatch to this effect: — " The troops and natives were over night in . full possession of the outer wall and works, which were taken by assault in the afternoon, and during the dark the advance was pushed on by rifle pit and sap, so that when daylight came, the storm could not have been resisted. Under these circumstances, To Kooti shot the most influential of his prisoners, and escaped down the cliff, which, being very high and steep, and my force insufficient to surround the hill, I had trusted to keep the long side afe. . The women were first lowered, then followed Te Kooti himself, wounded in the shoulder,' and still lame of his wound at Ruake Ture, apparently having been one of the last.

" This was effected from 1 to 3 a.m., during which time Major Fraser, who was the nearest of the force, fired heavily, and with some effect on the place from whence the sound came. The last had barely escaped when our people entered, and however formidable the work looked outside, it was still stronger to look at close by. The Ngatiporous and Arawa divisions, who have behaved splendidly throughout, started at once in pursuit. Te Kooti's followers spread out into the bush in small parties. The pursuit was carried out in the same way throughout the day, and after dark these returned with their prisoners and plunder. They were engaged with the WeireraContingent,and killed Eangiaho, a chief of Hote. Previously to that Nikora had been killed, and his wife brought in. In all more than 120 have been killed. These numbers are accurate, the bodies being exhumed from the enemy's ditches found lying in or about the pah, or stripped of their arms and loads by those who overtook them. I think very few women, and those by accident, were killed, and no children. The Cohorns appear to have frightened the garrison very much, and killed some. The numbers inside must have exceeded our estimate, for the escort carrying Te Kooti must have been some forty men, and only eighteen out of the thirty TJriweras were killed. lam despatching fresh parties in pursuit, and hope still to catch Te Kooti. Every man of note in his band is killed except himself, and he cannot be far off. I blew down a large portion of one of the walls, and fired a royal sal ute last night in honor of the capture. Full plans and surveys are being taken."