LATEST NEWS FROM TARANAKI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1413, 20 March 1860, Page 3

LATEST NEWS FROM TARANAKI.

By the Overland Mail, we have received Taranaki papers up to the 10 th inst.,from which we extract' the following

particulai'3 :

{From Taranaki Herald, March 10.) Reports during the week have been so numerous, and in several instances have had so little foundation, that we have thought it might be most acceptable to our readers to give them a detailed journal of events day by day, rather than curtail them, as must necessarily be the case in any general observations we might otherwise offer upon them. W. Kingi and his natives have retired before a superior force, and he is now strengthening himself at a pa seaward of Kairoa, which is about five miles from the Devon road, and at no great distance from the course of the river Waiongaua. The site is selected more perhaps for communication with Taranaki and Ngatiruanui than for defensive purposes, though these have by no means been overlooked. Tho road to Waitara is open, and may remain so iintil some act is committed by either side which would load to decided hostilities. For all this, travellers cannot be too much on their guard. The Bell Block and * Oraata stockades are advancing towards completion, and there is a rumour — not without foundation, we believe— -that similar works will be constructed around the Town. Every precaution is taken by His Excellency to ensure the safety of the inhabiting, who on their part evince the mo3t laudable spirit of loyalty and determination to support Her Majesty's representative in his measures for repressing turbulence and disaffection.

JOURNAL of events since Saturday, 3rd March, to the time of publication

Sunday, 4fh March.-— How unlike a day of i-est ! It soon became evident from Uie bustle in camp that W. Kingi's reply to the Governor's communication was not considered satisfactory, ' The troops wore frequently paraded and inspected— thelskirts of their great coats, in which they were to march instead ot' their scarlet uniforms, were tucked up-— 25 teams of bullocks were collected on the ground, and knapsacks, trenching tools, and stores of all kinds were in readiness for moving. Towards evening the tents were struck and every preparation made for the troops to march before daylight. The weather continued so fine that it was decided to put the camp equipage, and mo9t of the heavy things on board H.M.S.S. Niger, ani this excellent alteration ot plans dispensed with upwards of 50 teams. The services of a mounted escort of volunteers was accepted by the Commanding Officer, and C. Des Voeux, Esq., received the appointment of supernumerary Captain of Militia to enable him to take the command of them. This force is mostly armed with a sword and revolver. A considerable number of the settlers were spectators of the unusual scone, and many were the speculations as to the probable effect of so large a force (above 400 including officers, engineers, and artillery) would have upon the natives whose misconduct had led to the proclamation of Martial law in Taranaki. Monday. — At 4 a.m., the troops, preceded by some of the mounted esoort, started on their silent march with the heartfelt wishes of the settlers for the safety and success of the expedition. The comparatively few who had risen at so early an hour to see them off were de3ired not to cheer:, and little was heard at any distance but the cries of the bullock drivers. The advanced : guard was followed by 2 field pieces, and the carts and main body followed, the whole under the command of Colonel Gold, Commands ing the forces. Tho Niger having embarked his Excellency the Governor, steamed about this time for Waitara. Dut ring the day great anxiety waa felt for news and it was not until 8 p.m. that the mounted escort returned with the cheering intelligence that the troop 9 had reached Waitara without obstruction. On arriving at Ikamona (a spot oelebrated in Native feuds) the force struck off the Devon road and crossed at the junction of the Mangoraka dud Waiongaria rivers hero they rested for some time to allow the carts to come up, and "get the guna across. From this point an advanced guard of skirmishers was thrown out covering nearly a' mile of country. ; the service .was very harrassing Vbut it effectually guarded against ambuscade or surprise* - When Waitara" was sightedthe Union Jack was flying over W, KiigV pa arid on arriving at the ground at *2' p.m. it >yas found that the Niger ha#

Vrled everything anol waiia po33osiio:i'» t>i j -ntivei lia/inr retire .l ' precipitately at t'ia sight ef he blue jackets and mv rhirn- 'L'lie a ipearance of the military as'the bo;ly woiml its way along the roal, prc-eaods I by the skirmishers antl followed by the guns and ba.3is.ige* wag" goiV is described as very picturesque ;is well as iiap)ii:ig sight, and we doubt not stnt'ik terror into, tho hearts of the natives who were poste.l on the surround-' in? heights. Jn town, which' was left with a few men and one officer of the 65th regiment to protect the barracks and magazine, preparations were made by Major Herbert "com snandine the tia and Volunteers for its defence against surprise. The latter corps furnished the first guard for tho Commissaiiit and Barracks, and guards 'were also continued night and day 'over tHe harbour boats. •• Outlying pickets .of Militia wore posted, ' and the " Militia, were ordered to be drilled daily and sup* plied with ball cartridge. During the evening intelligence was bi'ouglit that W. Kingi had requested aa interview 1 with the Governor. A favourable inference was draw** from this ans accordingly tlie two 24 pounder howitz'ei's 'on board the Niger were not landed, an,d the Harbour boats were returnelto towa with the pilot, and the Niger was to follow in the morning with the Ooverhor. This intelligence tended to allay apprehensions of ho stilities and gave hope of a speedy termination of existing difficulties. " "''••• •-••■■ Tuesday — The provision carts starte.d this morning for the camp in charge of a mounted escort. Intelligence was some hours afterwords received that the natives had erected a stockade during the nigh% and stopped the escort, and that ' the ' Niger with her steam up had been recalled by two guns fired from the river, A mounted volunteer at once undertook 1 to proceed to the Waitara, and one of the harbour boats was despatched by' sea. The former returned in the evening and reported that the carts had been stopped by the natives who gave way however before the firm attitude taken by the escort, that the seamen had landed, and that together with the military had proceeded to capture and destroy the pn ; but which was found empty, and that Teira had burn,t W. Kingi's pa at "the mouth of the river. This put us all on [ the gui vive, strong outlying pickets ' of volunteers and militia mounted patrols were ordered out to guard the "town against any possible attempt' upon' it. Heavy rain during the faternoon and evening.' ' Intelligence also' received that southern natives Vfdre about to join 'W. Kingi's party. Passes, with the Royal arms and V. ft, inscribed thereon, i.^sued to natives, and strangers requested to leave the town, . - ■ . • •

Wednesday. — The Niger was at her anchorage early this morning, and \\'u Excellency, Captain Steward, and Mr. Rogan landed. Lieutenant - Colonel Murray arrived by ' land, and resumed the chief commaad of the men. The two 21 pounder howitzers were.Hnded with the ammunition and takeirtd Maryland Hill. Ruiuours of the Taranaki tribe 3 joining the enemy still rife,' and Mr. Parris wag sent by His Excellency to enquire into them. ' Strong outlying pickets' of militia posted, and the mountect patrol again ordered out during "'.the night. According co late accounts frdrn Waitaz-a, the troops were bu3y fortifying the camp, J trenching, &c. '■ The natives had not been seen since" the destruction of their stockade, and are supposed to' be? erecting pas further inland. •••'*■ • * {Thursday — The Tatarairnaka settlei'3 yforo this day -recommended to come into . town. The Taranaki natives; numbering about 300, will join Wring's party in the event of ;i ."Collision tfith the troops. These natives aro not to " Ite depended upon, as they are the most worthier and savage.^tribs in Now Zealand. ' :Taraati Wiremu of the \Pou toko 'pa and /hi-? party of 80 men, have signified tlieir wish to sw ar allegiance'^to-j.tlie Queen, and assist ; the ; -^vernmentj as also have the Moturoa natives tintler Poharama. numbering about 4O. ::^tii : con* sequence of some questionable characters having obtainel pas963at't^ Bell Block" outpost/ and come intoVtowh^allnative^ north and south are now' prohibited from coming into town: "Only >ucV"hative3 as live in the town.diatrict are-fufniah^d with pasaoa. '": Nothinjg important f Ms come in from WaitaratO'day-^thie'trodps w6re hard at work building r ßre^Vtw6r i k? and otherwise streugthening' tneii* 't>o3ition.- lJ - ■--"■• -_ --■ ■-.. • *&*■ •,-•-■ - .Friday.— Weather .changed with rain but little or no winzir The ;^er F sin"ce her arrival Ori Thursday woek ! iias never had occasion to lift her anenqr.and .the weather altogether has been "remarbSlj prjopitiouß for operations, "\ 20 ' marivies 30 bluejackets, the Ist and Sra^lieuUnants,' a midshipman, "an vla33la"tan"t^'surgeon,~an<l gurihe^ together 'yritK a ~X2 pounder howitzer, landed *iii. 1 r^isx. from the Ni^eivahd ppited'on' a ''cdmmahding to the !N. "E. N of "%& town. '"•!fii« leading" of the blue: jftckefc? is a novel sighrin Tanftiatpi-it *Ma? ' ihfe first; tirn^ men Worn '■'%: man^f-War'-hare la#e3i ia thw towii. up from; tile Imch. with 1 tnelKantl'i>K. ■ .. . • S-r-t*,- -<V „„,..-•. W..-^, ii-lu-K .yC^.lj«< • ~

ing the sailors dragging the gun, and were greeted with a hearty cheer from the assembled towns people on passing over the Huatoki bridge. It is not saying too much for this arm of the service that we believe that in case of emergency they will prove a most formidable force in resisting attack. Passes, available for one day only, were sent to the. Bell Block and Omata outposts to-, admit loyal natives residing outside the settled districts coming into town on lawful business, Nothing fresh from Waitara. 80 Volunteers and Militia are doing picket 1 duty to-night. I

(From our Correspondent at Waitara)

In these warlike times a narrative of the military proceedings during the past week will, doubtless, prove interesting to your readers. At half.past three on Monday morning the troops destined to take possession of the land at Waitara purchased by the government from Teira, silently assembled at the camp on the parade ground, where the detachment of the 661h Regiment, the party of Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers had. bivouacked the preyious evening.- Punctually at four the advance sounded, and the column marched off in slow time, and with the gtnis and baggage train and rear guard co..uld not have, been .less than half a mile in length* Sixteen mounted settles under Captain Des Vcbux escorted the haggage. Early as the Loin' was. manyof the townspeople lined the road to -sec the departure- of this imposing force, and many fervent wishes were expressed for the success of this gallant band. The column readied the Waiwakaiho bridge at dawn, and haulted at the Mangabne bridge, when skirmishers were thrown out in the bush on each side of- the % assent". and -having thoroughly searched it the advance. sounded and the march was continued to Mangati when three carts with planks to bridge tlie Mangoraka and Walonp-ana rivers joined ' the cortege Skirmishers were again • thrown out a-ud the column moved down the road, leading to the old Puketapu. pa, and then to the rijjht to the junction of the river. The skirmishers performed their duty admirably, notwithstanding, tbe difficulties of the ■country." On reaching the rivers the water was found to beso^low that the advance guard march rd right through with* . out baiting, the skirmishers extended, swept the country, and occupied Tamati Teito's pas commanding the line of maicb, and the column and convoy followed, the whole crossing without the slightest mishap ; a halt of half an hour on the river bank proved most acceptable to the teetotallers. On tbe advance again Bounding the colninn irrarJe.a sweep inland the skirmishers gallantly pushing on through fern breast high until they reached the Devon line, where a halt ensued near its junction with the Mamaka road ; the bullocks were unyoked, and the. horses tethered out, ard the weary, hungry soldiers imagined breakfast time bad' arrived. After a diligent search,, .however,, no 'vater could, be found, and the officer commanding forces deter* _ mined on proceeding on to the Pukekohe pa, where the force arrived at about two o'clock, to experience a like disappointment, as no goodwater could be found nearer tbau. the river, a distance of a'quarter of a mile, towards .which the poor thirsty souls. rushed with their canteens. The position was found to be an admirable obe capable of being defended against any native force, and commanding tbe principal portion of the potato crops at Waitara. In an incredible short time tbe tents were pitched, tbe baggage train unloaded, a magazine formed, the trenches of cover, cooking places made, so that in the course of the afternoon, from a waste covered with weeds, the pa assumed the appearance' of a strong military position. A night attack expected, the troops remained under arms till broad daylight,-, and 'vel corn e indeed must have been the .repise that followed. : ..On Tuesday morning the troops were . occupied in strengthening their position. At JO a.m. an escort of mounted volunteers'with their sergeant left town in.- charge of three carts' with provisions for the troops ;»t Waitara,. and whilst, proceeding on. the Devon line near the Waiongana, they met Wi Tana wlio advised them to return and fake -the beach road as William King's natives had built a pa o.n the direct road to tbe camp and would not allow the carls to pass. It being too laic to retrace their steps without occasioning unnecessary alarm for their safety, the escort continued its route to near the junction of the upper and luwer Waitara road's until it was stopped by a Waitara native named Hohaia who ordered it -to return, which, was. <le>. clined ; he then stated William Kingls party would take what was in tbe carts in payment for their houses which the soldier? had that morning' set fire to. The Serjeant informed him that tUe natives had fired the pa (which proved to be the case, Teiia and bis people having set fire to tbe Kuhikuhi, William .King's place of residence, which wastotnllycqnsumed;),The natives still continuing to obstruct tbe road, the sergeant, bulled him- aside witji'his borse/whereupon. be put down bis head and requested him to cut it off. Believing him Ho be one -of the four natives doomed to destruction so as to enlist the nympatfay of other tribes in. favour of William Krng, it was determined ndt-to-.use force, and bo-was asked to get up and ride" on the cart or proceed along the road before the cart, vt '-towards Mailioatahi pah, but he persisted that hn wimlci-le-main where be was toor-oss the fein to the native stockade, which the sergeant- fearii>g' l an, ambuscade positively rofused to allow pirn to do N and having ordeteu*"' two-oi'-tneparty'to'deViiin' him, rode towards (the. pab and. .parleyed w-itlr the natives, with whom, he was ; forn.mat.ely .Well, acquainted. They coiisisJe.cl.oLa pavty ol fyam 40 to 50 of William ' King's!, I-Japerona's and Tamibana's men, assisted by Math e'w and Ednaici King, and TaimlumaywliO' after a little persuasion sent. word to >Holiaia- tl) .allow -the carts to pass. Tbe escort moved on aiu] whenabreast of the sU;ckndeHohaia exclaimed " How. about payment for our bo-uses which" the' soldfers' bave burnt," whereupon tbe escort closed on tji.fc caits, and by showing a bold-front got safety tt> the fence' across ' tlie road,- where they, met' Mj. Pairis. Captain Steward; and .Aiclideac'oir.Goveit. Upon :■> riving at the camp thWffair 'wjis reported to the.. Go.vernox.and'-H'olonel Gold, who rebolved upon giving, the Natives tweiily: minutes notice to clear oi|t, and if they .refused to vacate tbe pah, to fire upon them, and the following letter to that t fleet was sent by Mr, Parris: — . ' •• ■■ ■':•;' ■} To the Chief who Obstruct? the- Qti'tii'S''"' YouJiare presumed to 'block up the Queen's' iM»d, -to build. on tbe Queen's lund," mid •• to .stop Hie free passage of persons' going' and c< nr.tig. ' „''■'.• This is levying -'War apairi'sftbe Queen. Des, troy \lc places you have bnilt ; ask my forgiveBfps uv(\ you fch'all leceive' it... If you 'refuge* Joe blood of yoiir people be on your.. own. bead} J shall fiie upon 'j?pji in twenty minutes

from this time if you have not obeyed my order.

(Signed) T. Gore Browne Camp, Waitara, 6th March, 1860

In ten minutes tbe pa was abandoned. - I have omitted to mention that within a stone's throw of the pa the escort found a strong party of sailors and marines posted, the knowledge probably of which h&d induced the Natives to refrain from attacking the escort. At half-past three, three companies marchedoutof theCatnp with a British Hurrah, followed by tbe guns, artillery-rhen, and engineers, and the mounted escort. They joined the naval brigade at the foot of the hill, and it was truly amusing to see the impatience of the tars to take the lead ; a bank and ditch were in front of their gun, and the artillery occupied the road, and to get out of the dilemma Jack suggested taking a flying leap with his gun over all. It was rich likewise to notice tbe eagerness of a little middy with his wee legs encased in shapeless canvass gaiters, watching his chance to-be in at the death, looking as wicked as if he were in charge of the forlorn hope about to storm the Redan. The skirmishers having ascertained that no ambush was posted near, the word was given to rush the pa, and with a cheer on went the storming party, down came one side of the pa, just so much as to form an opening, when in rushed the force, and in an instant the stockade was alive, and the little middy on the top of the inner embankment. The palisade took about half'an-hour to pull up and burn, but the embankment of fern and earth for a long time resisted the efforts of the sappers to level it. Word was then passed for every man to take a stick of firewood on his shoulder, and the column returned to the camp, reminding one of a drift of wood moving at a funeral pace.

Since Tuesday the troops have been occupied in improving the camp clearing away the fern in its vicinity, ' and malcing themselves comfortable. In their present position the force can maintain its post against three thousand natives, and in open field are a match for half the number. The tigers are in clover, with murphies and pork in galore, and woe be to the niggers that venture within reach of their claws!

The following despatch from the Colonel commanding the Forces has been kindly furnished us for publication : — [copy.] The Waitara, 6th March, 1860.

Sir, — J bave the honor to report that I proceeded'this day at 3 o'clock, p.m., with the Royal Naval Brigade under Captain Cracroft and force as per margin* to capture and destroy a fortified stoekade about two miles hence. On our arrival the place was empty, having been just vacated ; it was strong, with galleries beneath tbe trenches, and I destroyed it and returned here,- where I have siuce been busy in strengthening my post.

I have the honor, &c,

. (Signed) C. E. Gold, Commanding Forces, N.Z. His Excellency the Governor,

&C. &C. &C. *Staff— Lt. Col. Sillery, Dep: Qr. M. General

Acting Brigade Major J. Paul lloyal Artillery — I sub. 14 privates .

Royal Engineers — ] sub,

65th Regt.— 2 capts. 7 subs. 2 staff. 24 ser-

geants, 307 rank and file Royal Navy— l capt. 2.lieuts, 60 seamen and

royal marines.