INCIDENTS OF THE TARANAKI WAR.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1892, 9 July 1863, Page 5

INCIDENTS OF THE TARANAKI WAR.

Saturday, June 20. — The board of the various tolls to be levied on travellers and goods at the celebrated ' gate ' of the Taranakis, which was taken by the soldiers on the 4th instant, was brought inlo town to day and exhibited on the town bridge till sunset when it was put on board tha Eclipse to be taken to Auckland. The board is about 7 feet 6 inches high, and 2 feet 6 wide, painted white — the letters which are very well made, being dark green — the back is red. It was set up near Te Ika roa a Maui, the great assembly house at Kapoaiaia near Warea, but was afterwards brought up to Puketehe, just beyond Tataiairnaka. It will be remembered by our readers that this was the ' gate ' at which the passengers of the Lord Worsley were made to pass in single file, and the charge of 5s exacted from each individual, The following is the translation from the original Maori : —

Taranaki. Te Ika roa a Mam. The home where lie the laws which are in force here of King Matutaere Potataa, near the gate, for payment of offences which, stands here : — « £ s d 1- Minister of the Gospel . . . . 50 o 0 2. Newspaper mail „ 300 0 0 3. Maori disciple of the Governor,.. 200 0 0

4. Wealthy pakehas, don't let them go through the gate (if they do) 5 0 0 0. P.Uceha policeman 500 0 0| IS. Maori policeman 5 0 0 7. Maori assessor reciving p»y from ; the Governor 5 0 0 8. If be comes as a kingite 0 15 0 9. A king's letter in the mail ... 0 5 0 10. A letter putting down the authority (of the king) 10 0 11. Letters from kinsmen outside ... 0 5 0 12. Letters tempting the tribe ... 015 0 13. Letters coining in an irregular way (not by the mail, &c.) 10 0 14. A neutral coining as a Pakeha ... 0 5 0 15. A. preaching Maori Minister ... 55 0 0 16. (Letter) badly tempting (the tribe) seize it [and make the bearer pay] 500 0 0 17. The (above is the) law for the pakeha people Tolls of the Maori people : — 1. A cart of wheat or other things ... 0 10 2. Things carried on a man's back... 0 0 1 3. A pig carried in a cart 0 0 6 4. Pig driven 0 0 6| 5. A cow or horse, each 0 2 0 6. There are no rules referring to neutrals outside [the Hauranga natives] but a load carried from inside (the gate) 0 0 1 7. Money of the tribe for purchasing free 8. The law for Maories outside and inside the gate — 9. Take notice. Do not steal O man [i c., do not try to evade these tolls (if you do you will pay)] 5 0 0 By (authority of) the keepers of the toll-gate of Matutaere. Kere, Policeman. July 8, 1862. Kofoama, Policeman.

We were shown to day Dr Hope's gold seal and key (the former with his crest engraved on it) taken from his body by his murderers on the 4th ult. They were found by one of the skirmishing party yesterday from the Poutoko redoubt lying on the spot where Hori, the half-caste was captured on the 29th ult. It is said tbat Hori will be tried by the civil law The Eclipse returned from Tatarairaaka at dusk whither sbe had gone this morning with cargo boats containing supplies' The heavy surf and dangerous landing place prevented the landing of a portiou of the goods, which were brought back- The Eclipse left for Manukau immediately after her return from Tataraimaka, with the General and Staff. We hope to see the gallant General back again. Colonel Warre is left in command at Taranaki. From Poutoko we hear that the rebels at Kaitake are making considerable alterations in their defences. The pa is removed, but the tops of houses can be seen over the ridge . Palisading has been erected at the edge of the bush. The spur of the range is apparently abandoned but there is no doubt that rifle pits abound, and the natives are living out of sight in the gully beyond.— Yesterday a Maori woman, at Bob's asked permission to join her husband amongst the rebels, which was granted by the General, who sent by her a letter to the enemy in which be requested them to remove their women and children from their fighting pahs as he could not be answerable for the consequences should they be found in a pah taken by the troops. Sonday, June 21. — Weather wet. The day has passed without incident.

Monday, June 22. — Porikapa informs us that the Southern natives are building a large pa in the bush some distance beyond Kaitake. He has heard this by way of Mataitawa, and believes that as soon as the pa is completed the natives will come up on marauding expediiions in the neighbourhood of tbe town,— Captain Gresson's party of Volunteers from the 65th, and also Captain Ralston's from the 70th, together with Captain Atkinson's Volunteers, daily beat the forest lands in all directions, while the 57th do *heir share at Poutoko and Oakura, but the ' wily negro' is non est.

Wednesday, Junk 24. — It is said that a red flag has been flying to-day at Mataitawa. As this flag is never hoisted excepting as a signal for war, we may expect news from Wi Kingi's people, to the effect that they have determined to commence hostilities. — Weather cleared up. Strong gale from (he S.W.

Thursday, June 25. — A native from Waitara came in this morning with intelligence ,that Hapurona has decided upon fighting against the pakeha, and that therefore it was not safe for white people to go carelessly about Bell Block. Subsequently, Wetere, of Mokau, owner and master of the Parininihi, schooner, came into town from Mataitawa, and informs us that the Mataitawa natives decided yesterday to commence hostilities. Wetere intended to employ European labour tomorrow to launch his vessel, which has been lying sometime on the j.bank of the Waitaia river for repairs, but does not consider it safe now for them to go to Waitara. He says that the Mataitawa natives will send in a letter announcing their determination as they had not made up their minds whether they will attack Teiraand Riant or the Bell Blockhouse. Tikaokao, the chief of Mokau, is still at Mataitawa, but Wetere does not know what his 'thoughts' are. The mounted Artillery Corps under Capt, Mercer with Lieuts Rait and Hickard, and afterwards Captain Atkinson's Volunteers started for Bell Block. The former returned before sundown, and the latter about 6.30. No natives were seen — The detachment of the 57th at Tataraimaka was relieved to-day by three companies from Poutoko and Out lira under Capts. Russell and Snortt. Captain Woodall and Lieuts. Brutton and Thompson and their men, who have been at Tataraimaka sine? the 4th of April, remaiu with the rest of the 57th at Poutoko and Oakura. When the troops were passing Hauianga on their way from Tataraimaka they were fired at by some natives at a long range. The fire was returned by our skirmishers, when the natives scampered off.

Friday, June 26. — We hear this morning that Hapurom sent in a challenge yesterday, addressed to* the Governor, the General, Mr Bell and Mr Parris.' It is written on half a sheet of account papev, and is signed by " Hapuruna, the General of the Maoris." He says that " he, and all the people, are now ready to fight, and will fight by the light of the sun." He also wishes that the troops should go and figbl him, if they do not he must make them by occupying European land at Bell Block! ETACUATION OF THE KA.TIKAKA, We hear that the enemy has completely evacuated the positions lately occupied by them on the Katikara, and Colonel Warre, who went over the ground with a party of 30 men, found it utterly deserted. After the troops left on Thursday, about 70 or 80 natives returned and fired several shots, but whether this was ntsant as a challenge, or their usual volley over their dead, it is impossible to conjecture, Mr Arthur Bayley, of Tataraimaka, who was present at the stornvng of the native redoubt, estimates the number of rebels killed at about 40. No Maoris have been seen on Johnny's flat since the fight. The Maoris on the spur of the range keep strengthening their position, and strong working parties are daily seen employed there. , A MISTAKEN SHOT. An incident occurred to-day June 18th, which shows the necessity of giving the friendly natives (if they are to be permitted to go at large) some distinguishing mark from the enemy. A soldier oue of an escwrt going out of town to-day to Poutoko, met Tahana, a Moturoa native, (who was dressed in a blanket) one of the working party on the Great South Boad, and levelling his rifle at him, fired, the bullet, fortunately for Tahana, missing him, although he was only thirty yards distant. The soldier, who was not sober, was immediately taken into custody.

AN INNOCENT REBEL, A Moturoa native, named Waibe, passed through the town this evening, 14th June, with a double barrelled gun, and foolishly attempted | to escape from some of the townspeople who ' very properly endeavored to detain him. He st cted off along the beach towards his pa pursued by several persons, and surrendered himself on finding that the picket from Moon's stone house had run across the sand hills and headed him. He was marched back to town and handed over to the military authorities. | Waihe was takeu before the General on Monday morning, who at once set him at liberty upon finding that he was one of Poharama's natives. He had been to Waiwakaiho yester-" day, where Martin Tupoki had given him the gun, and was not aware that he incurred any risk is carrying it through the town, which he had done openly. He ran away from the pakehas simply because they wanted to take away his gun. THE PBESS KOBBEBY. 1 Aporo, the native, who was one of the principal leaders in tbe attack on Mr Gorst's printing establishment in Otawhao, was apprehended for v the offence on June 13. and has been committed for trial. Et was supposed that the Waikatos, indiguant at the seizure of one of the tribe of their allies, may have risen, and hence the removal of the troops to Auckland, but as I yet this is not known. The Waikato is distant I about eight miles from Auckland.