JOURNAL OF EVENTS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1514, 16 April 1861, Page 5

JOURNAL OF EVENTS.

[From the Taranaki Herald.] Monday, iVlarch 18. — The steamer from Waitara during the night came up again with the body of Lieut. McNaughten, R.A., who was shot dead yesterday whilo in the act of laying a cohorn at the head of the sap. A tremendous iire was kept up yesterday upon the enemy's position, the mortars destroying the rifle-pits, and doing great execution emongst the inmates. The sap has been pushed up close to the Arei, and it is expected the pa will be taken to-night. The death of Lieut. McNaughten is a very severe public and private loss. As a soldier ho had distinguished himself throughout the war for his skill in gunnery and ooolness in action, and enjoyed the esteem and regard of all who knew him. It is remarkable that this young and gallant officer fell on the anniversary of the day the artillery first opened fire in Taranaki , tho first gun having been fired by himself on the 17th March, 1860, at the L pa. He was in eveiy engagement from that time to his death. The deceased arrived in the colony between two and three years sinco to relieve the late Capt. W. M. King, commanding the detachment of lt.A. in New Zealand. — A letter l'rom Waitara dated to-day states, "On Saturday thero was heavy firing all day, and one 57th man and three 65th were wounded. One of the 65th, T. Hannah, ofthe Light Company, was mortally wounded through the top ofthe head. He is to be buried in town, beside his comrade Rooney, who fell at Mahoetahi. He survived Corbett, another comrade, exactly 12 months, who ,'was killed at the L pa last year. The demi parallel has reached the rifle pits on the left. A heavy fire all day yesterday,ond a. lnnsfc linflnrfcnnatfi day ibt'.ue.- 11l tllO afternoon, about 3 p.m., Lieut McNaughten, R. A., was shot dead while laying a cohorn mortar. The bullet struck him in the wrist, and entered his right breast, severing a main artery, and causing death in four minutes. He is a great loss to the service, and much lamented by ali who knew him. He has been 2_ years in the colony, and has just completed a year's active service, and well did he perform his work from the time he commenced at L pa, on that day 12 months. (A p.m.) Heavy firing all the morning, and a red flag flying at the high hill in rear of Pukerangiora until about 10 a.m. I forgot to say that the enemy came down on Saturday, at about 8 p.m., to take away again the sap roller from the head of the demi-parallel, but they met with a warm reception from the 65th, who were on guard in No. 8 redoubt, also from a shell which was planted for them with a friction tube, and went off when they stirred the roller. They must have lost several of their number, as they came down about half-an-hour afterwards with a light, and again met the fire ofthe 65th." — H.M. colonial steam sloop Viotoiia arrived at Waitara to-day from JVlanukau, with Mr. McLean, Chief Land Commissioner and Native Secretary, and 15 chiefs on board. The party will have an interview with the rebels tomorrow morning. — The arrivals to-day are the Salcoinbe Castle, from Auckland, and Victoria, schooners, froiu»Manukau, with timber, &c. li. M.S. Fawn was observed in the afternoon steaming North, and Wonga Wonga, for Wanganui, left at 6 p.m.*— Firing at Waitara heard occasionally during the day.— An escort of militaiy and militia, under command of Major Butler, 57th Regt., proceeded to Bell Blook this morning for commissariat hay.

I uesday, March 19.— A letter by the Tasmanian Maid last night from Waitara informs us that the trooj s and rebels were hotly engaged during yesterday. Some rifle pits were taken and filled in, and a determined attack was made upon the 40th skirmishers on the right front, when several of that gallant regiment were killed and wounded. Two officers, Lieutenant Rees and Whelan, were severely wounded, and three privates killed An account of this affair, with a nominal list of the killed and wounded, will be found in our correspondent's letter. A flag of truce was again hoisted to. day by the enemy on Te Arei, and Mr. M'Lean and . the chiefs, with Messrs. Parrts and Drummond Hay, we hear overland, are holding a conference with the native chiefs on the edge ofthe bush, on the right of No. 6 Redoubt. Hostilities are again suspended. Lieutenant McNaughten, R.A., was buried to-day with military honours at St. Mary's churchyard by Archdeacon Govett. A large number of military and civilians attended the funeral.

Wednesday Mahou 20.-The Southern rebels havo been binning- extensively to-day. This morning between one and two o'clock they fired Mr. Fishleigh's houses, about GOO yarda from No. 8 blockhouse, and large volumes of smoke have been rising in the direction of the Carrington-road. Natives were seen moving down the gully towards J Hammerton'a mill with lights, hut retired on receiving a volley from tlie blockhouse which commands the gully. An escort with supplies for Omata, of 200 men and a 24-pounder howitzer, under Lieutenant-Colonel Young, 65th Regiment, marched at eight a.m., this morning. It was expected there would bo some skirmishing, as it was reported that the Southern rebels had sunk riftepits on Bundy's hill, which commands the road this side of the Herekawe stream, and were prepared to attack the escort. The report was unfounded. A white flag flying at Pou.oko, the friendly pah, was taken to be a flag of 'iruce on Waireka, and the men wero ordered not to -fire at a small pah recently constructed on Law's land, near the site of the Omata village. All the cattlo and sheep have been driven south, and having burned all the houses, smail parties of these natives are now turning their attention to the destruction of the fencing on the farms.&e. The Tasmanian Maid, with" Mr. Parris on board, went south this morning as far as Waireka to communicate with

th<r "friendly natives at the Poutoko. We hear the rebels fired several shots at the steamer.

TiumsDAV, March 21. — Tlie startling intelligence (if anything can surprise how-a-day) reached town that the Waikatos have left Te Arei and are on their way home. This .morning they were observed leaving and crossing the river, and firing their pieoes in the air. Mr. M 'Lean and the native chiefs .slept in Te Arei pa last night. At about riiiie, a.m., it was known in town that the I southern natives had left their position at Waireka and retired south. About ten o'clock Captain Burton and another from the Omata Stockade rode i into town and stated that he had taken a few men from the stockade and been over the position, thus confirming the previous report. The rebels have retired upon Kaihihi, where they have halttd. These southern hordes have been for two months and upwards on our land afc Waireka. In addition-. to' the'* cold-blooded- mui'ders committed hy them last March, many estimable settlers have fallen since into their "hands by the most treacherous means. The •abstraction of live stock, agricultural implements, and household property has been enormous. In addition to all this, the destruction of property ' that could not be carried away has been wanton and complete, houses having been burnt, and even fencing destroyed up to the morning of their flight, and after it had been decided upon. The Tasmanian Maid came up from Waitara, and reports that a number of the Waikatos had left, and that Mr. McLean was holding a kvrero with Wi Kingi, which had not terminated when the steamer left. The band of the 57fch Regiment, under the direction of Mr. Galea, played on the green near the militaiy theatre. Friday, Mauch 22.-— The Victoria left late last evening for Manakau with Mr. McLean on board. Nothing is known of the result of his meeting with the insurgent tribes, and the following notice issued by the Officer Commanding the garrison, would seem to be all we are to be put* in possession of by the authorities, though mystery in such a case, with natives as contracting parties, is absurd : — NOTICE. " A cessation of hostilities liaving been granted to the enemy in the province, all active operations for the present will cease, and, during the truce, the Major-General Commanding requests that the most amicable relations should be kept up between the natives and the settlers. He desires, however, that the following rules be still attended to :—- --" That all persons in tho town still keep within the outposts ; and at Omata, Bell Block, and Ngapuketurua near their stockades ; and that all the usual guards be kept ; and parties will only be allowed to proceed beyond these limits who have passes signed by tlie Deputy Quarter-Master General. | " By Command, " Chari.es Sillery, " Colonel, D.Q.M.G., . " Commanding Garrison. " New Plymouth, March 22, 186 1 ." Owing to the unfavourable state of the weather the band of the 65th Regiment did not play according to appointment. Saturday, March 23. — A letter by the steamer from Waitara dated yesterday, says : — " We have a lovely day, and a pleasant change from the dust. I have fisited the karaka grove this morning: itis a lovely spot. About 60 yards further on lies the flagstaff which was seen on the day No. 3 redoubt was erected. Close to it, about twenty yards further are two graves, one of a native who was killed when the 65th occupied Kairau, and the other that of private James M'Kindry, 65th Regiment, who, was killed by an ambuscade on the 1 4th of January. Each grave is inclosed. M'Kindry was shot hy Hapurona's party, and died as he was carried off, and was not tomahawked. At the head of iM'Kindry's grave is a piece of board, with tho following inscription : — " Hanuere 16, 1861, Hi* Pakeha." Private Ramsay, of the 40th, who fell here on the llth September, 1860, is buried here somewhere near the native who was killed on that day. Hapurona shot Ramsay ; he was olose to him. only about fifteen yards. McLean and the chiefs went over to 000 w_ E_:.. _'..-j»o©j>i<.- aabout, eleven, a.m., and returned to Huirangi camp about half-past one, p.m., bringing about a dozen of Kingi's people with them. They look well and don't appear to have suffered much ; they show the marks of their wounds in many places, and it is really wonderful how they gat over them so well. The Waikato who got away afc No. 3 redoubt on January 23, with the bayonet as a trophy. He had three severe bayonet wounds and yet recovered. When McLean went over to Mataitawa the natives exhibited the greatest possible degree of joy to see him and his party. They appear to be well sick of the whole affair." It is rumoured that W. King and Hapurona havo sued for peace, and have agreed to surrender all Jthe land between "Waitara and Waiongana. and as far inland as Te Arei. The following ".chiefs accompanied Mr. McLean from Auckland • — Apemana, Ngatitama hapu, from Wakatu ; Hoepa, Ngatitoa hapu, from Porirua, near Wellington ; Mongonui, Ngapuhi hapu, from Bay of Islands ; Hoani Ropiha (John Hobbs), Ngapuhi hapu, from Waitara (cousin to King), lives in [Auckland ; Rihari, Ngatimahuta hapu, (Waikato), from Mangere, near Auckland ; Ngatene, Ngatiruanui formerly, now a Waikato, was brought away when a child, and lives at Manukau.