WAIKATO.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1984, 17 November 1863, Page 3

WAIKATO.

THE PIONEER'S RECONNOISSANCES.

FIRST RECONNOISSANCE OF MERE-

MERE

The New Zealander gives the following interestngnanathe of the reconnoissance of the late Maori position of Meremere, as also the examination of the Waikato river as far as Ranghiri.

On Thursday, the 29th ult, the steam gunboat Pioneer made her first reconnoissance of the native position of Mereinere.

In order to describe the affair intelligibly it is necessary to notice the movements and situation of the Maoris previous to the steamer's visit.

The natives who fired at the picquet near Pokeno, on Wednesday and who are stated by the friendly natives to have been 300 in number went round by the head of the Maungatawhiri to the Whangamarino during the night, and at daybreak fired into the Whangamariuo stockade from the high ridge to the north of the post. Having performed this feat, and without effect, they made off precipitately, Lieut. Pickard, R A., "laying his 12-pounder Armstrong gun in the direction of a ridge which he knew they must cross, and when, in a few minutes, they appeared at the expected point a shell exploded with nice precision over them. Niue canoes filled with men were shortly seen to cross the Maramarua Lagoon and proceed to Meremere.

About 12 o'clock Captain Mercer's Artillerymen were busily engaged in getting the heavy 40-pounder Armstrong guns on their carriages, and into position on the Whangarnarino height a number of men of the Koheroa escort had just arrived, and were looking on at the artillerymen's work, and Captain Heapby was employed on the hill side making a plan of the Maori position when suddenly a volley was fired from the tea-tree scrub at the other side of the creek full into the groups of our people, and at a moment when no one thought about such a

thing 1 . No one on our side was hit ; the escort, having their pieces loaded and in their hands, opened fire instantly, and the natives, who had stolen unpevceived to the edge of the swamp, were now seen scampering off from tea-tree scrub and flax bush, with the rifle bullets spurting up the water witlin a yard of them. Lieut. Pickard dropped a 12-pouuder shell in the scrub immediately a-head of them as they ran. What tbeir loss might be, if any, there was no means of telling.

Major Strover now got his splendid 40---pounder Armstrong guns on their carriages, on the Whaugaroarino Bluff; and as the last pun became fit for service, tbe Pioneer gunboat shot past the island in the middle of the river and steered straight on for Meremere.

Instantly a swarm of Maoris rose from the gullies and hollows of the place — men evidently chiefs — ran hither and thither, wustering their people, and manning 1 the long lines of rifle-pits. A leader on a white horse, familiarly termed by ihe soldiers " the Adjutant," hurried about making probably what was considered an effective disposition in which to await the attack.

Tbe Pioneer steamed steadily on, and, passing ihe point at whicl) the Avon usually reconnoitred, anchored most unconcernedly abreast of the rifle-pitted landing place.

A cloud of smoke now burst from tbe bauk at tbe landing — the Maoris bad fired their lower gun, but whatever it might have been charged with no effect appeared in the water „ Another puff of smoke sprang up— this time from a kiud of embrasure in tbe upper line of rifle-pits ; tbe shot fell miserably short, endangering their own people mure than those ill tbe steamer.

Again tbe same gun fired, and with similar effect, the langridge kuoeking up the water, but nearer to the pits than to the steamer.

Tbe pun at the landing dow belched out again, and a jet of watec spouted up alongside tbe guuboat. She was at last hit. A broken. rocket tube fell on board, but without any injury resulting. Tbe natives had evidently dug up this projectile and used it as a charge of langridge.

At halt-past two the gunboat bad anchored, and the Maoris commenced the cannonade; it was now three o'clock. The side of the steamer was in a moment enveloped in white smoke, and a shower of the fragments of a sheirtore up the earth about the lifle-pits at the landißg; another followed, and another, while not a movement was made noi a creature stirred iv the native position.

Now a sharp crack is heard in another direciion, followed by a sustained hissing sound — the 40-pounder Armstrong gun has sent its shell from Whangamarino, and it bursts over the long Hue ul nfl<i-pits on the hill top.

The steamer agaiu lires, -and shells alternately from the 40-pound ers, the missiles bursting over every part of the position. The time fuse appears rather short for the 40 poander range, and the shells burst in the air, but its concussion fuse explodes the shell as it strikes the ground, and a shower of earth sent into the air indicates the spot where it fell.

All this time the natives appear paralysed they make no reply whatever from their guns; but at length, from a point near the water, where a palisade has been erected to arrest the march of any troops that might attack the place from the Whangamarino side—from this palisade a sharp volley of musketry rattles out, succeeded by another, and then a general drop* ping fire from the whole extent of rifle-pits. The balls ping ou the steamer and patter on the iron plating, one occasionally coming through ao opening, or glancing sharply off the cupola. No one is struck, save perhaps some man in his coat skirt or the brim of his hat

The appearance of the steamer — as she lay for half-an-hour quietly reconnoitring the position, without deigning to fire a shot, or to return the Maori cannonade — was grand, and suggestive of the idea of the overpowering strength of science when in contact with baibarism.

General Cameron and bis staff bad now made themselves acquainted with the nature of the position : at each loophole a sketch was being made, while the natives expended much ammuuiiion.

At last, to show apparently that it was not silenced, the gun in the upper line of pits opened out again ; but its charge, as usual, fell miserably short. The steamer's head now payed slowly with the current, and after a re» connaisance carried on within about 300 yards, for more more than two hours, she left Meremere and its guns and rifle pits. When about halfa-mile distant, aud entirely beyond all reach of missiles, the natives leapt upon their parapets and fired off every available piece, yelling and dancing in unison with their volleys. Major Strover and Lieutenant Pickard, however, had not yet quite finished their reconnaissance ; and a well delivered shell or two from the guns at Wliangamarino quickly induced the owner of every head at Meremere to get it at once behind the earth works —at least where practicable.

During the affair large canoes full of men were constantly pissing from the tongue of land at the junction of the Maramarua and Wakangutu rivers and landing behind the Meremere position, reinforcing it.

We believe that General Cameron, Commodore Sir W. Wiseman, Commander Mayne, and each of the individual of the staff on board, were perfectly satisfied with the power and performance of the Pioneer.

A Bushrangers' Spree. — On Sunday evening we received information tbat Gilbert and his four companions reached Canowindra, as promised, four hours after they left Mr Rothery's, About six o'clock they rode into the town, tied up their horses, and commenced searching- every house and person for cash, but obtained a very limited amount. They took from the only stores in town, Messrs Pierce and Hillar, about £30 worth of men's clothing, and £3 in cash ; after which they adjourned to Bobinson's, junior, inviting ail bands to have a ball, for which Gilbert paid — tea \ being first ordered. I may state that the landlord and his wife had departed that morning from Bathurst, leaving only his sister and two Miss Flanagans in charge of the house. After the tea-things were cleared away, Gilbert very politely requested one of the young ladies to play him a tune on the piano. Some short time after, a dance was proposed, and commenced about 9 o'clock, ai d continued till daylight the next morning (Sunday). Constable Sykes being amongst the company, it was proposed by Ben Hall, that he (Sykes) should act as M.C., and that Burke and O'Meally should receive any company that might arrive during the evening. The company, we are informed, numbered eighteen at twelve o'clock, and the number was not augmented after tbat hour. Gilbert and his companions called and paid for ! all they drank during the night, and the night* amusement is spoken of as one of the j oiliest affairs that has ever taken place in that small town — nut a low or improper word being spoken, by the gang. Gilbert kept the company in roars of laughter at intervals during the night, by giving an account of the police, whom he designated as a lot of cowards, and said that when he left Rothery's he mentioned where he was go»ng» knowing full well that they would not reach Canuwindia until they (the bush* rangers) had left. He said they never came till a day or two after. However, to finish ray narrative, the bushrangers left Robinson's at five '' t o'clock, and retired to a paddock opposite, i wheie they had two hour's sleep, and left Canowindra unmolesied at eight o'clock. — Cor* respondent to the Bathurst Times Can't you trust me, Mr Butcher, a joint of meat this morning ? No.&You owe me for that already on your bones. - ; ; „: . ... . i^s^^Mi^^X "• ■ , ■ '" ■ <■■ ■ ' -'- ■ ••<~i<4yfei'»>S-^.-t!' :