OF MR. McLEAN ON THE EAST COAST.

17

A.—No. 4a.

proceed to Puketapu, and attack that place, which they thought could be easily taken, and afterwards proceed to Turanga, on the track the rebels took to that place; but just before starting Mr Hamlin Drought up a letter from Capt. Westrup to Major Lambert, which reported the engagement at Te Keretu ; and, also, that the rebels, under Te AVaru, were making towards the Hangaroa, where it was supposed they had built a pa. Mr Hamlin had a talk with the chiefs, and it was then decided to go to Hangaroa instead of Puketapu ; we accordingly started with a force of 376 men, got to Opoiti that night, and the following day reached AVaihau, from whence I sent a messenger to Capt. AVestrup (by the Ahimanu track), who was to return the next evening to meet us at Tarewa, on the Hangaroa, with a letter from Capt. AVestrup. We got to Tarewa the next day at 10 a.m ; sent scouts out on the hills, but could only see the fire at Te Keretu. There were no signs of the enemy being near Hangaroa. We, however, waited till 4 p.m. on Sunday, but the messenger not having returned, Hotene and the other chiefs thought it advisable to go on to Turanga with the whole force. We accordingly started and arrived at the camp near Patutahi that night, about 10 p.m. On Monday morning I went with Capt. Tuke to Turanganui, to see Capt. Westrup ; on the way down I met the messenger I had sent on Friday from Waihau; he said he had missed his way, and only got down to Turanganui on Sunday, at 10 a.m. (I am inclined to think he was frightened to go by daylight, and had only travelled after dark.) At Turanganui I saw Capt. AVestrup, who informed me that he did not wish us to come to Turanga, but as we were there, the best thing that could be done was to go up to Te Keretu, where the Ngatikahungunu were engaged with the rebels. We accordingly marched for that place on Tuesday, and reached the enemy's camp, &c.; outflanked them on Wednesday. A consultation was then held with the different chiefs, who decided upon dislodging them from a hill which they had possession of, and making a general attack at 5 a.m. the next morning. I then went with Te Hapimana and about forty men of the different AVairoa hapus to take the hill. We had nearly taken it when a messenger came to tell us that the Ngatiporou would make an attack on the main post, as the enemy's shots were going into their camp. By this time the Ngatikurupakiaka and Kehu joined us and drove the enemy off the hill, killing three men. I then left with the Ngatipuku and a few others and joined the Ngatiporou. The Heretaunga Natives then poured in a heavy volley, while we took two of the rebel positions, who fell back on their last line of rifle pits close to the river. They were then attacked on the one side by Ngatikahungunu of Napier, on the other side by Ngatikahungunu of Wairoa, and by Ngatiporou in the middle. They held their post till we were within fifteen yards of them, and were obliged at last to retreat across the river, in doing which they suffered severe loss, Nama being among the killed. The Heretanga Natives, however, kept up such a strong fire that the Ngatiporou and others were prevented from following the enemy through the scrub and across the river. Henare Parata, Kehu, and several more of note were killed here. I counted twenty-one killed in this engagement, but the Natives report having found thirty-four. Two prisoners were taken on this occasion, whom the Ngatiporou wished to shoot, but it was overruled by Tareha. The next morning Hotene and Ropata went out on the hills opposite, and saw the Hauhau pa on a wooded hill about four miles off. Tareha's people came up and wanted to attack the place, but Hotene refused, as he said the saving the two prisoners was an ill omen. AYe returned to camp, where after great persuasion the Ngatiporou agreed to go up the next day with Tareha's people. I then went with Mr Gascoigne to Tareha, and informed him that they were willing to go, when he (Tareha) refused, saying he had wanted to go in the morning, but would not go then. He shortly after left for Turanga, and it was with great difficulty I prevented some of the AVairoa people from doing the same thing. On Friday, the 4th, the Ngatiporou, Ngaitahupo, and AVairoa Natives proceeded to attack the Hauhau pa, the AVairoa Natives bringing up the rear. We went some distance up the bed of the Wharekopae River, then ascended a wooded hill about two miles long; when nearly at the top we sighted the pa, which was an earthwork at the top of the hill, with manuka scrub put round it to hide the fortification. On the one side was a steep cliff, thickly wooded in tho front, facing as it was flat ground, but covered with heavy manuka to within thirty yards of the entrenchment. I was waiting till Ropata came up to tho top of the hill, when some of our party fired a shot; the enemy then fired a heavy volley, which from some cause unknown to me caused a panic, and every man retreated with the utmost expedition for nearly half a mile. lat last, in conjunction with Ihaka Whanga, persuaded them to stop till Ropata returned ; but we could not induce them to return to the attack at that time. However, shortly afterwards I again started with Ropata and some sixteen men, and took up a position at the side of the cliff about twenty-five yards from the pa. I then went down the hill and found that most of the people had retreated, and that Ihaka AVhanga could not get his men to stir. I succeeded, however, in getting nine men, five of which I left to keep the road at the top of the hill, the remainder I took with me to Ropata's assistance, who then went down and got thirty more of his men. AYe dug rifle pits at the edge of the cliff with a billhook, and poured in a hot fire. About three p.m. we took part of the entrenchment, and killed three of the enemy. At this time Ihaka's people hearing we had possession of the entrenchment came up to the number of about thirty more. About 7 p.m. Ropata asked me if I would go down and try to get up powder, promising to hold the position till my return. I accordingly went down and met a messenger from Mr. Gascoigne, who said he had been trying to get the Natives, who had retreated, to go up again, but without success. I arrived at camp at 9 p.m., but nothing would induce the natives to go up that night with ammunition, as it was very dark. At daylight, however, the next morning they started with provisions and ammunition. Mr. Gascoigne and myself were just starting up with the rest of Ngatiporou and the Wairoa men, when we met a man who informed us that Ropata was coming down, as he could hold out no longer for want of ammunition. On Ropata's arrival it was agreed upon to return to Turanga, as they were thoroughly knocked up with their twelve days' marching. The men were in excellent spirits and quite willing to undertake another campaign when they had rested. Accounts vary as to the number killed in the different engagements. The Natives estimate the 5