THE WAR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 567, 29 March 1869, Page 2

THE WAR.

(From our Special Correspondent.)

y*- Taiporohenui, March' 21. Haast evening .Colonel. Whitmore interrogated the women we had just brought in, but elicited no information, beyond Titokowaru's followers having dispersed. y One of the women, who was terribly' frightened and half crying, "said, " Titokowaru ! never expected to have been followed up in the bush, as'he had been ; that no European had ever done it before, and "that he did not think it was fair." We are just going to move our camp about two miles nearer to the bush, and to-morrow start again in pursuit of the enemy. Keteonetea, March 22. We started from camp this morning on our march to the Ngahaere, where it is supposed that the enemy nre now encamped. After a march of about eight miles, we arrived at Teiroa Teiroa' Moena ("which place was attacked by the Colonial forces under Colonel- McDonnell about two years ago), where we halted for about an hour. There are a great number of cultivations around there, with fine crops of potatoes and Indian corn; we had not time to destroy these, but left them until our return. After having continued our mai'ch for some distance, we came upon a place where the enemy had built several temporary whares'j by the appearance of them it was thought they had arrived there about the Saturday previously, and had certainly been there the day before, as the ashes were so hot that yon could not keep your hand on them. After a tedious march of about seven hours

w re arrived at a creek, and by the color of the water immediately saw that we were in close proximity to the lake ; and after proceeding- about a mile further the cplumnAvas halted, and one of the scoucs came back and told Colonel Whitmore that they were almost on the edge of the swamp. He immediately went to the front to reconnoitre, and a more unpromising- or inaccessible position one would not wish to see. Immediately in our front was a large swamp at least a mile across, in which a densely wooded bush was sLanding, on the edge of which was a large village. In this village lives a very influential chief of the Taranalri tribe, named Aliitnna, who is said to be neutral. However, we had. traced the enemy into his pah, and, however dangerous, Colonel Whi tin ore was bound to cross it if possible. After having reconnoitred the island as far as it was possible, he ordered the force to retire and

camp 6n v tlie / Mgye of the creek for the night. • The Ngahaereiis a place whicK niahyj k now, rby /report, as being impregnable..: The natives say that it was" once attacked by 500 Waikatos, who sunk in the swamp and were lost while attempting* to cross. ' Colonel" Lyon and his division were left at Teiroa Teiroa Moena. March 23. To-day all the men are employed in making- ladders, about nine to twelve feet in length, formed of three poles with supplejack twisted in and out, or else made of fern-trees bound tog-ether, which are to be laid across the swamp, to enable the force to cross it. No'fires are allowed to be lit till after dark, so that we may not give the slightest indication to the enemy of our whereabouts.: In the camp one'hears .; nothing- but a busy hum and a slight noise of axes working-; at the distance of a quarter of a mile not a sound can be heard. By 4 p.m. a sufficient number of ladders had been made for the force to cross on, and they were carried up as:close to the edge-of tb.e: swamp as was considered safe without beingobserved-. During-- the day Kemp and some of his natives had been out reconnoitring-, and when they returned stated that they had found a place, a .short distance higher vp f which was not quite as broad" as where we were. As soon as it was dusk Colonel Whitmore started off some of Kemp's men, to try and see if the swamp was as bad to cross as it was represented. Several of the officers spoke to the. Colonel, and told him he was trying- a. most, hazardous experiment, and I think most funked the crossing" over the' swamp. Certainly, the reports spread by the natives would cause one's hair to stand on end at the bare idea of having-to pass over. According to their idea it was an overgrown lake, and that if any one broke throug-h the. crust he was lost. About 11 p.m. Kemp returned with two or three of his men ; the night being very dark lie-had-lost his road and the remainder of his men. The Colonel then g-ave orders for .the force to be dismissed, as he would not make an attempt to cross until the following night. We heard today that two more of the men wounded at Otauto had died, Chas. Watt, No. 2 Div. A.C., and Buonaparte, No. 8, Div. A.C, (Arawas), the remainder are all doing" well. Captain Collins, the quarter-master, airived here -to-day, wirh packliorses loaded with ammunition and provisions. March 24. . , Winiata and the remainder of Kemp's party returned to camp about 1 a.m. Winiata and two others succeeded in crossing the swamp; the difficulty has been, g-reatly exaggerated, as it only took them up to the waists the greater part of the way., but was deeper on the opposite side. ' To-day the force is employed, the larger portion on the road between here and Teiroa Teiroa Moena to make it safe for the pack horses, as one or two g-ot bog-ged in the creeks, and had to be hauled out by ropes, and the remainder in cutting a track to the place where Winiata had crossed. To-night will decide the matter whether the swamp can be crossed or not. March 25. Last night, about 11 p.m , the force beg-an to move. About 4 o'clock, the kupapas, with Hori Grey, crossed just where Col. Whitmore came up, and then a portion of the Arawas, under Capt. Gundry, advanced, carrying the ladders with them, which were laid in the worst places. The danger of crossing had been greatly exaggerated; it was certainly a bad swamp, but it had ji firm bottom, ond with the exception of one hole, the mud did not reach much above the knee. By about c a.m.-, the whole force had crossed and we lay down until 5 a.m., when we commenced to move in the direction of the village, which lay opposite our camp. After proceeding foi about a mile, we came on to a smal] settlement, which we quietly passec round, and struck into the bush iv order if possible to surround the neck of land on which the lnrg-ei , village was situate, and cut off th(

; : : : ;- "--<■ retreat of the natives '■ into 'the-busii: - We/had arrived to within about'ft * quarter .'of a mile of the neck of land, wHich we purposed" surrounding, when -Kawana Paipai rushed into the openings towards the pah, and shouted that the Wanganuis were coming1. The kupapas immediately followed, and then we heard the natives shouting- in the pah on our arriving- at the top of the rise. Kemp ' was calling to them not to go, as we did not intend to harm any of the friendly natives, but only to take any of the natives who were in'rebellion. Whilst the parley was being1 carried on, the natives were quietly leaving- the pah and retiring- into the ' , hush by the very spur that .we had " l intended to have surrounded, and- ' Col.- Whitmore would- not allow.any .. of the force to fire, fearing-: that ;the • neutral natives might be shot. Col.' Whitmore was certainly placed in.a. position such as no other colonial officer ever was.- Ahitana is one of the most influential chiefs in the district; if he declares war, the whole' of the natives in v the district will follow him, therefore the g-reatest caution must be used in order to prevent any further outbreak in this district. Whilst the. natives were rushing- into the bush, Kemp called to them to return, and that no harm would happen to them, but they did not heed his words, . Ahitana, it wa^ said, had gone to a meeting at the; (f Waitara, but his son was in the pah 5 when the Colonel entered; there' !; were only about 9: or 10 men, wo- - ' men, and children remaining. They said that Tito Kowaru had passed ' through on the Saturday previous, ami ' proceeded to Te Ngutu o te Manu, and that when they first saw us that there were ten rebels living in the upper pah,; <! amongst Avhom was Pepe of MawhitU whiti, a native who had been engaged since the first murders were committed. Ahitana's son was sent to recall the na-' tives, but did not return. The natives remaining gave the force leave to cook what potatoes and corn they wanted, and also killed several pigs. According -lathe native custom, where neutral natives harbor the enemy, all property is confiscated, and consequently-all the property, in the village of any worth, was looted. :4f In one of the whares twelve new plan- ■- kets were found; the Arawas first discovered them, and were about to seize' themj when the kupapas said that,<as it was a friendly pah, it was not right to take them. The natives not coming back, lS! o. 8 (Arawas) and No. 2 Divs. A.C. were sent in pursuit,, but failed to* overtake them. In the meantime the kupapas themselves took alHhe blankets but two, and what other property they could lay their hands on; and wherr taxed with looting the whares, said that' ; it was done by the Arawas, who had hardly been half an hour in the pah. As soon as the pursuing force returned, the force returned to the opposite side of the swamp, it being understood that-the natives should all come in on the following day. ■ ■!' ■ '■; ; " March 26. This morning the force are all preparing to return to : Keteonetea; they are to- . fall in at 8 a.m. Ahitana's son. one other chief, and two natives; have just arrived ; thejr state that they are unable to find their women and children. Col. Whitmore remains firm; he will not allow them to dictate to him ; he-says: "I will not listen to your words. If you are neutral,-be so. ; I have acted towards1 you as a friend. The part of a neutral tribe -isjthat it should not assist either party... You have not acted thus ,• you have entertained - and shown hospitality towards our enemy ; I now require you' ■to assist me. Show me the road taken by Titokowaru." It was ultimately • settled that they should come! into the' ; camp at Keteonetea the follpwing.day, ; 1 bringing all their arms, women, .and ' children. Ahitana's son said he was; afraid he could riot find them all under' three or four days, but promised that a,. - portion of the tribe, as many as he couU get together, should come in. The force arrived at head-quarters about 3 p.m.,----when Col. Whitmore, Lt.-Col. Gorton, Captain Swindley, and Mr Booth, R.M., proceeded to Patea. I believe the camp will he removed to Waihi on Sunday next. On Monday the force will proceed to Te Ngutu o te Manu, where it is l supposed Titokowaru has retired to ; I doubt if we find any natives there. Ido not think that the force will follow fig^ ther. I believe that, after going $JP£' Ngutu ote Manu, Colonel WhiflM^ , will leave a suflicient force in the^JX <■ trict for its protection, and proceed ar soon as practicable to Tauranga. lonJy mention this as probable, but have no authority for stating it. . Lt.-Col. Gorton returned from ITew Plymouth yesterday, and reports all quiet. It must be remembeied that the force penetrated the bush nearly eighteen miles, and that it

Tval impossible to surround; the swamp, it being aboui 60 mileS in circumference. The Ngahaere /was totally unknown to any Europeans,,arid only one of the natives knew 'anything about it, and he imperifectly. No Imperial force would ever have attempted to attack it; and most i singular, Colonel Whitmore received a letter from, Mr Parris, who cautioned him to be very cautious, as the swamp round, the JSTgahaere \vas most dangerous. I do not think that any European has ever visited the Ngahaere previous to our force ; it will certainly: have" a most • beneficial effect on the rebelsj showing them that they have no place.of safety, either in the bush or out of it. .-v; Although a. few rebels are remaining in. t the district,, it is most improbable that they Avill attempt to concentrate here, having so many wounded to attend to,; and also bein^r very limited in their supply of ammunition. ..■■.'.-...