CAPTURE OF OHOUTAHI.

Wellington Independent, Issue 2178, 11 March 1865, Page 6

CAPTURE OF OHOUTAHI.

TWENTY-FIVE BEBELS KILLED. EIGHTY TAKEN PEISONEKS, IKCLTJDLNG PEITI, PEHl's SON, XOHANA, HARE OF TAUPO, AND MANIHEKA. After the skirmish just reported, it appears that a brief armistice ensued, but on the 24th of February, the friendly natives under "General Mete Kingi," as this staunch ally dubs himself, again took the offensive, and attacked the enemy. The first intelligence of the engagement reached Wellington in the official despatches, which we subjoin: — [copy.] Resident Magistrate's Court, Wanganui, 25th Feb., 1865. 9 p.m. Sir, — I have the honor to report, for the information of the Government, that an important victory has been achieved by our native allies at Jerusalem over the rebels. Enclosed is a translated copy of a despatch which I have received from the native assessors, and have furnished the commanding officer here with a copy of same. Reports states that all the pahs were taken, and 25 of the enemy killed, and only two wounded on our side. The Chief Mamaku escaped, the rest being taken prisoners — viz., Pehi, Pehi's son, Tahana, Hare of Taupn, and Manihera. I regret to state that John Williams, who, I reported yesterday as being badly wounded, died this morning ; he is to be buried on Tuesday next, when every attentiou will be paid out of respect to the deceased. I have further to state that the General lias crossed the Patea with 900 men, and is likely to encounter some opposition. A detntchmeut of the (58th, 250 strong, marched to the front this morning under Colonel Moraut. As there is no opportunity at present by steam, I send this by a mounted messenger. I have, &c, (Signed) D. S. Doiiie, R.M. To the Hon. the Attorney-General, Wellington. [enclosure.] Iruhiira, 251h February, 1805 To Major Dune, to Mr Watt/and to ' Mr Waters and to all the European geutleinen. "On the 24th of this month General Mete Kingi gave orders to the soldiers to commence the light, and the chiefs K.iwana, Paipai, Katene, Kuihi, Operaniko, Toma, and Pama, got up and consented to give battle. These were the chiefs that assaulted two pahs, and took them, killing three, viz., Heremia, Heta, and another name unknown. The chiuf that was slaiu was '« v T?.v'hero, son of Tupi"" '"

I M.-imaki:. The 400 all tben rose up to do batile in (he space of »n hour, and the enemy fled inly the bush, the survivors remaining in the large pah which we surrounded. Pelii's wife came out with a white flag, and the filing of the soldiers was ordered to cease, when they made o«er to us, namely Pehi, Topia, Tahana. Do you write to the General, and c.nvey thisintelligence to Colonel Logan. From your friends — from HoNI KINGI, Mkte Kingi,Aperaniko, Haimona, and Toma. A true translation. (Signed) It. W. Woon, Government Interpreter, Wunganui. The Wanganui Chronicle of tlie Ist inst - supplies fuller details of tlie engagement ; as well as a difficulty which ensued about the prisoners : — On Saturday we announced in general terms that Ohoutahi had been taken by the friendly natives, and a number of its defenders, including Pehi, Topia, Tahana, Hamarama, and, indeed, all the rebel chiefs of any note on the Wanganui taken prisonersSince then we have learned the followingparticulars : — It appears that on Thursday the enemy had seven redoubts thrown up, besides the pa, which was of course, their main position. Of these, two were on the right and left of the pa, two on a high ground, covered with bush, to the left and in advance of the pa, and the remaining three on slight eminences in the lower ground near the redoubts occupied by the friendly natives. In one of these three positions a flag-staff had been ■ raised, and the " hau-hau" flag was flying. On Thursday afternoon, after John Williams had left, a party of 30 to 35 of the friendly natives, under Kawana Paipai took one of these three redoubts, killing six of its defenders. A council- was held that night, and arrangements made for what was to be done next day. In tlie morning, fifteen men, including Hori Kerei, Kawana Paipai, and I Horopapera, went up the hill on the right to ! make a feigned attack on the redoubts above. On. arriving near the top, they formed themselves into two parties in case they should be rushed upon by the enemy — 5 in front and 10 behind. They found some of the trees round the redoubt felled, and the five rushed forward and took shelter among the branches of a large tree lying with its root to the outside, while the ten took a position behind it. The redoubt was higher and the men in it fired on tliem but did no harm. In returning the fire they killed three. Fifty men then came to their support. They rushed forward into the redoubt, where they found a whare out of which some men were firing They poured several volleys into the whare and then entered it, when they found three or four bodies literally riddled. Topine or Mamuku had been there but skedaddled with some of his men when the firing commenced ; his son was one of the slain. They set fire to the whare, and Kawana Paipai j cried out in a loud voice, " To- the flag ; tothe flag." While this had been going on other parties had attacked other two redoubts below, whose defenders retreated to the one with the flag, this being the reason for Eawana Paipai's command. His party rushed down the hill and with the rest opened fire on the redoubt. One of them then said, " stop fire and charge." They did so, and were within a few yards of the flagstaff when a hau hau boy ran forward and began to pull the flag down. They fired at him and almost blew him to pieces ; tore down the flag and rent it into small shreds. The party holding the redoubt retreated, but were interrupted by some men led by Wirihana, and between the two parties several were shot down. The friendly natives; led by Hakaraia, made for the Ohoutahi pa and began firing at it. Topia came out and a ball pierced his right araa, he took aim at his cousin but missed, and fell back into the ditch hit near the shoulderby another bullet. Wherever a head appeared above the parapet the firing was directed to it. While this was going on, Wirihana, with forty or fifty men, had advanced to the left of the pa, where there was a redoubt between it and the rivei\ The enemy had also some men on a raft, in the river, made of some canoes. Wirihana's men were firing at them, when they heard in front a voice calling out " Oh Hori Kerei, when will light come out of this darkness !" They ceased firing and a woman appeared with a white flag. They were about to fire on her,, when Wirihana intercepted them, saying "It is White's orders that after surrendering no one is to be hurt," but with difficulty he restrained them. The woman) proved to be Pehi's wife, who asked to bo taken t© Hori Kerci. Wirihana sent ten men with, her, and almost simultaneously with her arrival on the ridge where Kerci was, two white flags, one above the other, were run up in the pa. The native assessors immediately ran round and ordered the firing to cease. Mete Kingi, Kcpa, Kawana Paipai, and Hairnona went forward, to the pa, and Pehi and his followers came out in single file and halted opposite a row of friendly natives. They were unarmed. The assessors had great difficulty in restraining their followers from violence, and it was only by repeated commands and threats that if any one disobeyed White would "whakawa" (try) them, as his orders were not to kill any after having surrendered, that they were kept quiet. Pehi and his people agreed to go to Hihuharama as prisoners, and then most of the friendly natives returned to prepare a whare for him, Meanwhile Pehi returned to his pa and he and his men resumed their arms, A friendly native named Aropeta, about to enter Ohoutahi, was accosted by a native named Te Hariwera, who had just come out, and told not to go in, otherwise he would be murdered. Aropeta went and told this to Hori Kingi, Mawea, and Aporaniko, who quickly went into the pa and found that Pehi asserted the right to go elsewhere and fight, aud that his defeat only obliged him not to raise a disturbance on the Wanganui. Ho went, however, to Hihuharama, accompanied by eighty other men taken prisoners, besides women and children. When the last account left, which arrived ou Sunday evening, the rebel chiefs had not given up their arms, and a debate was going on on the point raised by Pehi — as to whether his surrender in the manner in which it was involved his capture ; he claimed the right of going away and fighting anywhere else but in Wangnnui. Fitiren of ;.]• ■ •;,- :-.-, v.-r?v buried ' rour ™opli\ Oi'i&'i-.i- ' •■•'.!•/' wou . ■>.

"none of them, we believe, severely. Hakaraia's son, a boy of about ten years of age, received a ball at the lower part of his left ear which, came out at the cheek and must have fractured the jaw-bone. The above was published as an. Extra on Monday, and since then we have heard nothing with which to supplement these details. The arms of the men taken captive came down last night ; and the men themselves are expected this evening or to-morrow, not however, we are sorry to say, as prisoners, but as free men who propose to take the oath of allegiance. This puts them on so entirely different a footing that wo fear the victory gained will not have sogood a moral effect on the other natives as might otherwise have been expected. Hori .Kingi, with 100 men, went up to Piperiki to have an interview with Topine (IVlamuku), but before they arrived he had left. Some say that it was Topine's nephew aud not his son that was killed. As we go to press, we learn that the wives of some of the captive chiefs have been brought down to Aramoho. This gives a much more favorable complexion to the affair. THE DEATH AND FUNERAL OF JOHN WILLTAMS HIPANGO. The following particulars relative to this chief are taken from the Wanganui Chronicle : — This morning about eight o'clock this chief expired in the Colonial Hospital. On Thursday he was shot in the right breast while taking up the most advanced position before Ohoutahi, the enemy's pa. He did not fall but walked calmly away, and then his followers immediately brought him down to Putiki, where he arrived at 3 a.m. yesterday, and was afterwards taken to the hospital. At first it was thought the wound was not mortal, and that it was made by a spent ball which had not penetrated the ribs; but on further examination it proved otherwise, and ho lingered in agony until morning. In the death of this chief the settlement has experienced a very severe loss, and the natives an irreparable one. Prom the foundation of this place he has been the firm supporter of the pakeha. In the commencement of the war of 1846, at great personal risk, he arrested the murderers of the Grilnllan family ; and in the present troublous time he has rendered himself conspicuous alike by his skill in the council and his daring in the field. In 1855 he had the honor of a presentation to Her Majesty. We understand that the funeral will leave his house at Putiki next Monday at 3 p.m., when the authorities, military and civil, as well as his other numerous friends, will, doubtless, wish to pay the last token of respect to his remains. Monday the 27th, beingappointedforthe funeral of the chief John Williams Hipango, at the time arranged his numerous European friends assembled at his house, amongst whom we observedColLogan (commander of the garrison), and many other officers, the lion. Mr Mantell, native secretary, the resident and other magistrates, and a very large number of the old settlers and townspeople. The beautiful flag presented by the ladies to the loyal natives was most appropriately laid on the coffin by Colonel Logan, and when the procession was formed it was carried before it, the flag of old England covering the corpse. The three Episcopalian and the Presbyterian ministers went first, the firing party of militia followed, then the flag, and after it the coffin. The two sons of the deceased were the chief mourners, several relatives walked with them, and then the Europeans, who in fact formed the chief part of the procession. In the church there was a large assemblage of ladies, who broke through the usual custom on this occasion. The service was read iv Maori by the Revs H. Taylor and B. K. Taylor, and concluded with a short Maori hymn. From the church the procession ascended to the burying place on the summit of the hill, which was a very toilsome march, there being no proper road up the Hill. Several of the European friends of the deceased volunteered to relieve the native bearers and cheerfully bore the coffin up the steepest part of the way. This kind act gave another proof, if one were wanting, of the high respect entertained for the departed. On the conclusion of the seryice three volleys were fired over the grave. From the summit of this hill the view of the town, the river, and adjacent country, as well as of the sea, is very beautiful. It is to be hoped that the memory of this good and loyal chief will be perpetuated by' the erection of a monument which will form a conBpicuous object if placed on this spot. Nearly all the adjacent lands seen from this place once chiefly belonged to the hapu of which the deceased was the head ; indeed, Hoani Wiremu's claims at one time extended over a very large portion of the western coast— from the Manawatu to the Patea, a distance of nearly a hundred miles, and inland to Pipiriki. If an obelisk were erected it would serve as a memento of Moutoa, as well as of this, the principal chief who has fallen. A plain column, with the names of the engagements and the principal chiefs who took part in them, might be built here with the money voted by the Provincial Council for a monument after the Moutoa fight. The sympathy displayed on this occasion b} r the European portion of the community will long be remembered by the native race, and tend to cement the bond of union between the two.