INCIDENTS OF THE WAR

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1976, 29 October 1863, Page 3

INCIDENTS OF THE WAR

We have already published a summary of Northern News, and now raeke a few further extracts from our files.

The intelligence from the front is devoid of importance so far as any vigorous operations against the rebels on our part. Despite the exertions of the flying column, in driving the Natives from the bush, the murder of isolated settlers, is becoming almost of daily occurrence. We subjoin from the Auckland papers an account of these recent atrocities. hamltn's murder. The report received by a previous -mail of Haralin's murder lias been confirmed- The following are additional particulars. Mr. Hamlin, who lived near Ring's redoubt came to Wairoa with his bullock dray, to take away a load of domestic utensils, &c, for Mr. T. L. Wallis. He was accompanied by Mr. Wallis' son, a boy not quite ten years ol age, and as they were returning with their load from Wairoa towards Papakura, they were both shot close to Mr. Henderson's. Mr. Haralin must have been killed on the spot, but young Wallis still survives, although I understand his recovery is hopeless, the ball having entered at 1 the lower part of the javr and come out near the temple. There is no doubt the murdering wretches had watched the team,Jind seeing that it was only accompanied by an old man and a boy, both unarmed, they laid in ambush and accomplished their diabolical act. The murder was discovered by Mr. Golding, who came down the road in search of cattle. Mr. Hamlin's body was conveyed to Riug's redoubt, and poor young Wallis was taken to the same place for medical treatment. A MAN AND BOY SHOT. The Drury Correspondent of the Cross writes on the 16th inst : — " Another man shot and frightfully tomahawked. Jackson and a boy named Sutherland were fencing behind Hay's house after dinner yesterday. The natives came and shot Jackson. The boy heard his screams, and ran. The boy was fired upon, and several wounds inflicted. He lay there all day and night, and came out this morning. Jackson's body is got out." Thursday, noon. I have just sent you a telegram down in regard to Jackson and Sutherland, Jackson was a comparatively young man, sober and industrious, and had for some five or six years been employed by Mr Hay. He, and a boy named Sutherland, were engaged in a Nit of bush behind Mr Hay's residence, preparing some fencing, when in tie afternoon of yesterday the natives came down on them ; one party attacked Johnson and the other the boy. Jackson was shot, aud afterwards fearfully tomahawked by the brutal savages. The bead is almost severed from the body, and the shoulder and other parts are also terribly hacked. The boy Sutherland ran for his life, pursued by the wretches. He was fired upon, and also received various cuts with some instrument. He has flesh wounds in the leg, and two cuts at the back of the head. On being attacked he fell, aud pretended to be senseless, aud the natives, I suppose, thought they had completed their , horrible work. He lay there all night, and this morning thinking it safe managed to come out. Several men went in search of the missing individuals this morning, saw the boy, and mistaking him for a native, fired upon him, but

1 apparently without injuring 1 him. The Epe n t then returned to Papakura, and reported tha* they had seen natives. The boy came out, yraa ri . c seen upon the road, and was taken to the house > of the Rev. Mr Norrie, where he received every , attention. A doctor was immediately sent for, ■ and his wounds were properly dressed. He ■ has since been taken down to the hospital t marquee, at Papakura. The body of JacksoQ , has been recovered, and removed to Papakura. 1 MURDER Or MR. AND MRS. FAHEY. , [ The Dairy correspondent of the Cross writing on the 17th gives particulars of the murder of Mr and Mrs Fahey : — " Yesterday morning 1 , as was their daily custom, Fahey and his wife, who bad been sleeping in a whare in the camp, went out to their place to milk their cows and attend to their garden. Fahey, I believe, was some distance ahead of his wife, who was cautioned by some persons on the, road, and informed as to the danger she and her husband were incurring by persisting io working in a locality so isolated and insecure. She said she must go to her husband. The ■ Fitzgeralds had staid at their place all night, and they lived very near to Fahey's. It must have been between nine and ten o'clock in the morning when a loud scream reached the ears of the Fitzgeralds. At first they thought the two old people were having a quarrel. Then a shot was heard. Fitzgerald seized bis gun, and \ went over towards Fabey's, and his boys saw a ] number of natives. Mrs Fahey was seen running towards a gate, pursued by the natives; and afterwards the natives were seen retreating ' into the bush. When Fitzgerald arrived at Fahey's, he found Mrs Fahey lying oa the ground. He spoke to her but she was dying. , He then found Mr Fahey, who was still alive, but horribly tomahawked. Fitzgerald spoke to him, but he was unable to answer. In the meantime the two boys ran to the camp with the tragic intelligence. Colonel Chapman immediately despatched a number of men, and ordered them to " double." Some of the artillery also galloped to the scene of the murder. The natives, however, were gone. The bodies were brought in the ambulance cart. It appears Mrs Fahey was engaged in washing. A native women and a man were seen taking the clothes off the fence. Fahey's house was ransacked, and articles destroyed and carried away ; and amongst the latter was Fahey's rifle. A box of caps was found in the house by one of the regulars. Mrs Fahey was shot through the body, but not tomahawked, as was at first reported. Fahey was frightfully cut about the face and head. For some time, yesterday, his mind was evidently deranged, as bis speech was incoherent. He fell into a sleep, and until late last nighthe was still alive. There is no hope of bis recovery. An inquest will be held to-day on the body of Mr? Fahey. TWO MORE LIVES SACRIFICED. The same correspondent writes on the 19th inst : — It is my painful duty to have to record two distressing 'occurrences of which I have just received intelligence, by which two lives have been lost -a corporal having been accidentally shot by a sentry, and a man having poisoned himself — both belonging to Pitt's Volunteers. At the Wairoa Redoubt last evening a man of the name of Joseph Atkins died from the effects of poisuii administered by himself. An inquest will be held on the body to-morrow. Atkins belonged to the 2nd Waikato regiment. This morning at St John's Redoubt, Corporal J. Allan, of the Victorian Volunteers, was accidentally shot by one of the sentries, and died about an hour afterwards. An inquest will, I presume, also be held on the body of this unfortunate man. The papers also report that a Sergeant named Johnston had been shot dead from an ambuscade of the enemj. A DARING EXPLOIT. The Southern Cross of the 21st says ; — On Tuesday last Ensign Von Tempsky of the Forest Rangers, and Sub-Inspector Macdonald of the Colonial Defence Corps, having obtained permission from head quarters, started on a private expedition into the enemy's lines. They were absent four days and during that time succeeded in penetrating as far as the position at Paparata, and accomplishing the object of their journey without being discovered. As may be imagined the expedition was attended with no ordinary amount of personal risk, but the cooluess and courage of both parties together with their intimate acquaintance with bush life, was fully equal to the occasion, and enabled them to overcome difficulties that would appear insurmountable to many. For one whole day they lay concealed ia a flax swamp within a short distance of the enemy's position through which ran a path, along which the Maoris were passing and repassing continually, at a distance from them of a few yards only; but their ambush was skillfully chosen, and while concealing their bodies from observation, allowed them to see all that went on. At one time the danger of discovery was likly to be imminent, as dogs were beard barking and yelping after a pig, and had the animal taken to the swamp, the dogs would most likely have scented then out. But fortunately all passed off well, and they got out of ibeir concealment at night, rather cramped and stiff with laying there so many hours without beiug able to shift their position, besides being drenched with rain which fell in torrents nearly all the afternoon. Tbat same night they returned to Wangamariuo, arriving about 1 o'clock. The journey back was accomplished much more rapidly than when going, as having travelled the path in going they were enabled to follow it back, with certainty. DEATH OF HONI ROPIHA TAMAHA. We announce with paiu the death of the Chief Honi Ropiha Taraaha, better known in Auckland under the name of " John Hobbs." He died at his own bouse, in Mechanics' Bay, on the morning of tha 13th instant, after a long and painful illness. A tinn aud faithful friend to the Government and the settlers, Honi Ropiha, during the last 18 years, rendered many and important services to the Colony. In May, 1845, at the attack on Okaihau, he* brought out, under the fire of the whole side of the Pa, a wounded seaman of H.M.S. North Star. His gallantry was cordially acknowledged by Captain Sir Everard Home and the whole of the crew. He also on several occasions brought iv wounded soldiers, and discovered the ambush which had been laid by the Natives in the same action at Okaihau, thus in all probability saving the Lieut.Colonel of the 58th and detachments of the the 99th from severe loss. Oa every occasion he went in front of the troops, and often pointed out the hidden enemy. At Ruapekapeka he headed the friendly natives in an attack and drove the enemy into the Pa with loss. He was constantly employed by the Government ia later years ou confidential communications with various Native Tribes, and was ever distinguish- , ed by the fearlessness with which he contended on the side of the Government and the European colonists. No matter how dangerous the service might be, he was ready at any moment to undertake it.

Just before his death he made a new will disinheriting some of his relatives who have joined the king parly. He was the friend and companion of Sir George Grey in many a long journey, aud in many a difficult interview with the N aiives. . [

We trust that the Assembly will be asked to make some proyisioa for bis WidoW.^— New Zealander, 15th inst. . ' ' '". VI