THE NATIVE WAR. CAPTURE OF OHOUTAHI. (FROM THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE, MAR. 1.)

Evening Post, Issue 22, 4 March 1865, Page 2

THE NATIVE WAR. CAPTURE OF OHOUTAHI. (FROM THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE, MAR. 1.)

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 prisoners. Since then we have learned the following particulars: — It appears that on Thursday the enemy had seven redoubts thrown, besides the pah, which was, of course, tlieir main position. Of these, two were on the right and left of the pah, two on a hiuh ground, covered with bush, to the left and in advance of the pah, 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 flog staff had been raised, and <*the " hauhau " flag was flying. On Thursday afternoon, after John Williams had left, a party of 30 to 55 of the friendly natives, under Kawana Paipai, took one of these redoubts, killing six of its defenders. A council was held that night, and arrangements made for what was to be done next day. In the morning, fifteen men, including Hori Kerei, Kawana Paipai, and lloropapera, 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 Ciise they should be rushed upon by the enemy — five in front and ten behind. They found some of the trees round the redoubt felled, arid the five rushed forward and took shelter among the branches of a large tree lying with its root to the outside, while the teti took a position behind it. The redoubt was higher, and the men in it fired on them b.it did no harm. In returning the fire they killed three. Fifty men then came to

tlieir support. They rushed forward into the redoubt, where they found a win re and then entered it, when they found three or four bodies literally riddled. Fopine or M.imuku had been there, but skedaddled with fome of his men when the firing commenced ,¦ his son was one of the s ain. They set fire to the whare, and Kawani Pnip.ii cried out in a loud vnic, "To the fins; to the flag." While this had been going on other parties had at tacked other two rcoubts below, whose di finders retreated to the one with the fla:r, this bting the reason for Kawana Ptiipni's ctmimnml. J-'is party rushed down the hll nrnl with the rest opened fire on the redoubt. One of them then said, "sop fire and charge." They did so, and were within a fpw jards of the fiagstiff when a lmu 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, 'ihe parly holding the redoubt retreated, but were intercepted by some men led by Wirihana, and between the two parties several were shot down. The fik-ndly nativis, led l.y Hakaria, made for the O ontiihi pah and began firing at it. Topai came out and a ball pierced his arm, he took aim at his cousin, but mfcsed, and fell back into the ditch, hit near the shoulder by 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 pah, where there was a redoubt between it and the river. The enemy had also some men on a raft in the river, made ot some canoes. Wirihann's men were firing at them, when they heard in front a voice calling out, '•Oh Ilori Kerei, when will light come out of this darkness?" They ceased firing, and a woman came out with a white flag. Tiny 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. 'J he woman proved to be Pehi's wife, who asked to be taken to Hori Kerei. Wirihana sent ten men with her, and almost simultaneously with her arrival on the ridjje where Kerei was, two white flags, one above the other, were run up in the pah. The native assessors immediately ran round and ordered the firing fo cense. Mete Kingi, Kepa, Katraua Paipai and llaiinona went forward to the pah, and Pehi and his followers came out in single file, and halted opposite a row of friendly nativts. 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 anyone 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 Uihuharama as prisoners, and then most of the friendly natives returned to prepare a whare for him. Meanwhile Pehi retur led to his pah, and he and his men resumed tlieir arms. A friendly native, named Aropeta, about to enter Ohoutahi, was accosted by a native named Te llariwera, who had just come out, and told not to go in, otherwise he would be murdered. Aropeta went and told this to Hori Kingi, Mawae, and Aperanki, who quickly went into the pah, and found that Pehi asserted the right to go elsewhere and fijjht, and that his defeat only obliged him not te raise a disturbance on the Wanganui. He went, however, to the llthurama, accompanied by eight}' other men taken prisoners, besides women and children. When the last account left, which arrived on Sunday evening, the rebel chiefs had not given up their arms, and a de l ate was going on on the point raised by Pehi —as to whether his surrender in the manner in which it was made involved his capture; he claimed the right ot going away, and fighting anywhere else but in Wanganui. Fifteen of the enemy were buried by outpeople. Of the latter five were wounded — none of than, we believe, severely. 1 1 ak aria's son, a boy of about ten years of age, received "i ball at the lower part of hii left ear which came out at the cheek, and must have fractured the jaw-bone.