CRUISE OF H.M.S.S. ECLIPSE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2218, 13 June 1865, Page 3 (Supplement)

CRUISE OF H.M.S.S. ECLIPSE.

The following account is taken from the Herald of the 27th uh\:— 11.M.5.5. Eclipse, Ctipt. Freemantle, returned from lier cruise to the East. Coast, yesterday at noon, bringing intelligence of an engagement which took place between her crew and the natives :it Opotiki. Host of our readers will remember the Eclipse faking her departure from this port on Friday last, the 19th instant, for the East Coast, having on board Mr Fulloon, and the native chief Tewai, the object of the cruise being if possible, to capture some of the natives implicated in the murder of the Rev. Mr Volkner at Opotiki. When the Eclipse left the harbor she steered a course for Whangatare River, and upon arrival there, Captain Freemantle and Mr Fulloon, native interpreter, went on shore. After having an interview with the natives of that place, they returned to the ship, and without delay proceeded to Opotiki, and arrived there at midnight on Sunday, the 21st. At half-past one a.m., j Captain Freemantle, with all the boats manned: and armed, containing some eighty men, safely 1 landed, with the intention of surprising, if possible, the Pai Muviros, but unfortunately before the men reached the pa, where the natives were located, they perceived that they had been discovered, and the enemy were too strong for them, and fearing their boats mig«Jit be cut from them, they retraced their steps. Immediately they retreated the Opotiki natives gathered themselves up, and were quick in pursuit. They commenced an attack upon the men of the Eclipse by firing several times, but luckily, only succeeded in wounding a corporal of the marines in the arm. The (ire was returned by a volley from the marines, as they were retreating, and a bullet struck ILekaro Riki, one of the most influential chiefs at Opotiki, who fell to the ground and expired immediately. It is believed tlmt oilier natives were wounded, and it was afterwards stated that Pibipihi, a half-caste, was missing, and supposed to be dead in the fern. Capt. Freemantle at once embarked his men and returned to the ship. In the evening the Eclipse steamed to Ohewa river, near Te Kaka, and from thence to Wangaporawa Roads, where she anchored on Wednesday morning. Captain Freemantle in company with Lieutenant 15oughay landed here, and after communicating with Pat lira (Butler) went on board again, and steamed back to To Kaka. William King then came on board the Eclipse and informed Captain Frecmant le where Ephriam ((he native who tied the rope round the Rev. Mr Volkner'.sncck) could be found. The vessel then proceeded to Awanui, near To Xaka, and at. half past ten a.m., Tewai, with i wo seamen disguised as Maories, went on shore to find and capture Ephruim. Only ten minutes after Tewai, and the seamen had landed, firing was heard ashore, and Captain Freemantlo very promptly landed with some men to render assistance. When Caplain Freemanflc reached the shore he learnt that FCphraim had been found by Tewai and the two men ; that he had been twice seized and had slipped away from the two men, owing to the large number of women that gathered round. When Ephraim attempted to make liis escape, Te-wai fired his revolver at him, which uu-

. I fortunately missed him, and the crowd of women was then so great thsit Tewai, (oaring he should ] wound some of (hem, did not Hko to lire again, , ami so the murderer made his escape. Tewai. ! Captain Freemaulle, and all returned safely on board, and (lie Eclipse left Awanui for Auckland on Thursday morning, and anchored in the man- ' I o'-war oiling yesterday aLnjon. The annexed appeared in a second edition of the Herald of the previous day : — Friday, May 20, 1 2 o'clock, p.m. 11.M.5.5. Eclipse has just returned from the ' East Coast, and brings the following intelligence : — ( The Eclipse arrived at Opoliki on the night; ot (he 21s(, Captain Free-mantle landed with all the i boats manned and armed, with the intention ot f surprising the Pai Marines, but before the men , reached the redoubt they were perceived by the Pai Marires and compelled to return, fearing the , boats might, be cut oif from them. Tn their retreat the Mnorios followed and attacked them, ' wounding one of the corporals in the arm. The lire was returned by the men of the Eclipse, and one of the principal chiefs, Hakaro JRiki, fell dead. A half-caste, named Pihipihi was also missing, and supposed lo have been killed. On the 23rd the Kelipse arrived at Wangaparawa roads where dipt. Freemsvnlle and Lieut. Boughay landed, and had an interview with Patura (Butler.) From t hence vent, to Te Kaka where Wm. King came on board and informed C'apt. Frcemantle Avhere Ephraim could be found. Shortly afterwards Tewai and two men disguised as Maoris went on shore, and found Eprahiam at Awtunii. Firing was soon heard, and Captain Fremanlle went with assistance, whem he found that Ephriam had been caught, by Tewai, but owing to a crowd of women having gathered around, he had succeeded in making his escape.