CONTINUED NARRATIVE OF THE HEKI CAMPAIGN.

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 24, 21 June 1845, Page 2

CONTINUED NARRATIVE OF THE HEKI CAMPAIGN.

Saturday 3rd May. Landed at Onewero, named by the 58th Rutland Bay; the natives of lamati Waka s party met them on the beach tor the purpose of escorting us to his pah. -iney danced the war dance on the beach: this custom is very absurd; they excite themselves by noise and gestures to fight, and think they terrify their enemies also. The country through which we passed is far from being fertile, or attractive in point of scenery; there were many good views of the troops en route, and as the paths only admit of one or two at a time, our cavalcade extended over a long line of country. Jn the evening we encamped on the banks of a small river, and during the night the rain fell

in torrents; we had no shelter, and the daylight was exceedingly welcome. On tlie previous evening the natives surrounding a large fire sang several of their war songs, and one of the 58th sang atf Irish song with a good deal of humour in return, which apparently gave them much amusement. Sunday, 4tli May. Started for Mr. Kemp's at the Keri Keri—lost our road—returned to it after a time, and eventually reached his Mission Station— a pretty situation,—on the whole I think it the most picturesque spot as a mission station in the island. Mr. Kemp allowed our troops plenty of sheep and a few potatoes, thanks to our commissary's credit. In the evening one of Waka's people addressed a prayer to the " God of Battles" for a favourable issue to the conflict. Monday. This morning I received orders to start, with 20 natives as an escort, to O Kaihau, Waka's pah, for the purpose of getting temporary accommodations for the troops; this pah is distant about seventeen miles from the Keri keri. We had an alarm that an ambush was awaiting us but the natives behaved very well, and one or two always went before the others to act as scouts. The most dangerous place on the road was a wood through which we passed, all of us stealing through with the utmost silence. "When nearly within three miles of our destination, a small party of. Heki's people,was observed on a hill to our left, who retired after exchanging a few shots, and eventually we reached our destination in safety. I was kindly received by the natires, who gave me the best accommodation they could. I found three men belonging to Waka's party in the pah, who had been wounded a few days before in an engagement with Heki's tribe. One of them, who slept in the same house with me, had a ball through his arm, which had afterwards gone into his back; he suffered great agony during the night, and complained that the cold affected him severely. His wife was very attentive to him, and was constantly bathing the wounded part with warm water: they are much in want of blankets for their wounded men, for they all seem to suffer from cold. Macquarie tells me that Heki has lost 20 killed and 40 wounded; he speaks well the British Government, and states his determination to introduce a code of laws, like that of England, amongst his own people. Tuesday. I collected about 45 natives, who commenced building the houses for the troops. Some dispute occurred in the pah, and only a portion of the natives would work. However, before evening I had managed to get accommodations finished for four hundred men, and collected a suliicient number of pigs and potatoes to last our people two da)s. Kowitti arrived at Heki's pah with 400 men ; about 200 men have left him andreturned home, saying theyhad not robbed the people of Kororarika. I have heard that the Kai Rangitira has drawn off his people from Pomare's parly, although he still says that if any harm happens to his friend he will revenge it upon the missionaries. Macquarie observed to me that their present system of warfare was very different from their original customs, and that since the present war had commenced, both Heki and himself had agreed to spare the women and children; nevertheless, there were two women of Heki's tribe who came out.and fired at Wak'i's party more than «nee. It may here be observed, that this is a striking improvement on their ancient and savage customs, and that cannibalism appears to be completely done away with. They have gone even to the extent, among themselves, of giving their engagements an almost chivalrous character, inasmuch as it is a mutual understanding between the contending tribes that no ambush shall be allowed on either side,—and the days on which they have fought have been mutually agreed to, and the ground selected for the combat had been fixed upon previously. The troops arrived this evening, and I sent a report to my commanding officer of information which I had received from a Frencn priest who I had seen, and who had left Heki's pah in the morning, in which I stated the strength and character of the defences, and the number of men in Kowitti's pah, and also the number in Heki's.

Wednesday. Nothing particular occurred; I made a memorandum of the number of pigs and potatoes supplied by the natives for the commissary ; troops employed in cleaning their arms. In the evening I had an opportunity of noticing that in savage communities, as well as amongst the more civilized, there are always causes of jealousy and discontent, and private pique is very often encouraged to the injury of the public good. Such unfortunately is the case here, and we have wanted many accommodations on account of it, and I am satisfied that you cannot place confidence in the unanimity of feeling, or the assistance of native allies when you most want them; self interest is the moving feature of "le native character, —and payment for his services, although he may be reckoned your best mend, is absolutely required, on his part, for every fresh service he may be required to perform.

Thursday. Having surveyed the defences of Heki's pah, the commanding officer ordered the troops to advance. As none could be spared to protect the Rocket brigade, I procuned 40 natives from Waka's party to accompany them to jne scene of action. The rockets commenced nnng on the pah, but they were so close that bounded over and went half a mile beyond 11 ; one struck the earth in front of the pah and exploded, and another struck the fence too high U P and went through the pah appearing tome jo nre it in two places, but the natives soon exwiguished them. I saw a native who had visited «eki's pah the day after the action, and he said that had it not been for Heki's expressing his belief that the rockets could do no harm many °t the people would have forsaken it after the nr st discharge. While the rockets were firing, our light infantry, sailors and marines, took possession of a breast work occupied by Kowitti, in winch attack we lost three or four men. ■I no main body was under cover of a hill in front 01 the fortress. The skirmishing went on for some time, when Kowitti was discovered by a native cautiously advancing to attack our rear; j«e alarm being given, the order was given to J°e troops to turn and charge them; this was immediately done, firing as they advanced, and JVowitti's 400 men retreating in a close body, ■uttered 'a severe loss. Heki took advantage of

Kow?to? WvT fU j* er attacks were made by jvowitii, but he was driven off with loss len livel?«.3? r? art in the fi S ht - Two naour ' m ? n aP f hla and H . eki nobly-saved our men from surpri se - an d brought many of heavy fi W rf nded r er t0 the main bod y u »der a neavy nre from the enemy. The rest of Waka's lUtle ™ lined to Se°an actTv Xt in? t a T Slr ' and ,* had great difficult Y ™ getting them to carry the wounded all the way \L OU I ?" cam P 1 m 1 c i nt:" they took many of the wounded to a hill at a mile distant from the ?W aT™ and U ] e y wished t0 leave 'hem there After a great deal of persuasion they removed them to the encampment, but they would no do so unless I carried their guns and muskets, which I agreed to do. I then sent the natives to letch more wounded retaining some to fetch water and assist me in affording every assis tance to the wounded men. I afterwards attended a S< interpreter on Dr. Pine, of the 58th in procuring such assistance as he wanted from the natives to his patients: by this time it was dark, and the rest of our troops returned from the scene of action. I slept that night in the pah, and I had the satisfaction of hearing the natives give the highest praise to our troops for their conduct. They all agreed in the opinion that had the rockets set fire to the pah, the victory wouid have been completely ours before mid-day. They described Kowitti's defeat in glowing colours, and admired the steadiness of our men in retiring to load and advancing to fire again. After the last repulse of Kowitti, nothing eventful occurred during the fight, excepting the loss sustained in bringing off the wounded to the main body. The natives all say that we should not have sent on our men where we did till the pah was on fire, or we saw our rockets would answer the purpose for which they were intended,—and they also wished us to retire to Waimate, where there was plenty of food, and wait the arrival of our large guns. They seemed much disappointed at our departure, and even dissatisfied, and evinced fmuch less inclination to assist us than they did on our arrival.—so much so that I question whether we should have procurred sufficient assistance from them to carry our wounded had it not been for the circumstance of their being powder and lead on board the vessels for them. J. Merrett.

Government Gazette.—The account of the Heki campaign is published, somewhat tardily and reluctantly, in the Government Gazette. Our readers will judge of it by its own merits. It is surely trying any man or set of men favourably to test them by their own story, and our verdict upon this business is that a more bungling case, in a British officer's despatch, was never yet put into print. " The weather and the want of guides " was against them no doubt, but wherever was a matter in a new country unaccompanied by casualty ? But the rocket brigade ! ! " That was not so favourable as was anticipated." What stuff is this? Wellington used to send home a terse and concise account of his success or failure, and it was seldom the latter ; but this is indeed a new mode of writiug military despatches.

The report of Major Bridge is of a different character aliogether. It is manly ; and if there is some of the energy he expresses, displayed in conduct hereafter, we shall not in future hear of Maori wooden palisades being impenetrable to British arms.

The Col. of the 96th may vapour as he pleases, it is himself and his officers—not his gallant men —who are complained of. We hear, from good authority, that a Judge Advocate is here to institute a Court Martial on some of them.

The native people, in there way, are as wise as our own, and they draw the conclusion that delay, on our part, is synonimous with defeat—and so the necessity of warfare is multiplied, and the probability of slaughter increased. — Auckland Times.

Supreme Court, Auckland. — Ford, Gutterage y Knoivles, and Smith, four privates of the 96th, were indicted for feloneously rioting in the house of Thomas Henderson, in Shortland-Crescent, on the 27th of May. Mr. Pott opened the case for the prosecution, and proved afterwards that a patty, consisting of various numbers, but which at last swelled to about a score of the soldiery of the 96th, visited the house of Mr. Henderson at four in the afternoon, threatening that they would return again at seven and pnli the house down; thep did return about that time in strong force; the picket was sent for hut joined the rioters. The front of the house was demolished; the shutters were closed, but the soldiers pulled them down. The civilians weie quiet, and gave no provocation. All this was proved by the various witnesses.

Col. Hulme gave .all the men good characters ; and said he was surprised that these

things did not more frequently occur, for the soldiers (officers and all) were constantly provoked and insulted by the townspeople. Some doubt of identity was thrown over the two latter prisoners by the evidence of some of their comrades, and after a masterly defence for all fuur hy Mr. Bartley, the two former only were convicted. They were sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.— lbid.

The latest accoun s from the Bay of Islands state, that Hone Heki has intimated to the Government that he is desirous of peace; but not less inclined to carry on the war, if His Excellency the Governor prefers fighting.— He states that he has been sufficiently punished by the destruction of his pahs, his canoes, his provisions, and the loss of so many of his followers—for the little c. ime, which he has committed, of cutting down the Flag-staff: to which he was instigated, he declares, by French and American people, who told him that the English would enslave, ultimately all the natives. Heki likewise urges, that the lives of the Pakeas, at Kororarika, were at his mercy, and that he prevented, not only the slaughter of those who left it, but also of the Missionaries and others, who have remained. He is anxious, that the Government should let him and Nene fight out their own quarrels and not interfere. However rebellious and unlawful the conduct of Heki it is very far different to that of Kowaiti and Pomare. Heki displays a nobleness of character, with feelings that, under othet circumstances, would he deemed patriotic; and he has, certainly, proved himself not to be so sanguinary as many applauded heroes of civilized nations.

The brig Victoria, and the schooner Velocity, having on board troops, sailed on Tuesday evening for the Bay of Islands; and it is anticipated, that nearly the whole of the forces, now in Auckland, will follow this day, under the command of Colonel Despard. They will be accompanied by four guns, under the command of Lieut. Wilmot, R.A., son of Sir Eardly Wilmot, Lieutenant-Go-vernor of "Van Diemen's Land, who lately arrived from Hobart Town, with Messrs. Boyd and Kerr, retired officers of the same corps, as volunteers on service in this colony. — Ney>-Zealunder, June 7.