EXPEDITION TO THE EAST COAST. TWO PAS DESTROYED, AND OVER 500 PRISONERS TAKEN. EVACUATION OF PUKEMAIRE.

Evening Post, Issue 227, 30 October 1865, Page 2

EXPEDITION TO THE EAST COAST. TWO PAS DESTROYED, AND OVER 500 PRISONERS TAKEN. EVACUATION OF PUKEMAIRE.

The following is condensed from the Hawke's Bay Herald of the 24th inst. :— H.M.S. Brisk having arrived off Waiapu on Sunday, Ist instant, and Captain Westrupp, Lieutenant Ross, and 45 men of the Forestßangers having been landed next (Monday) morning— it was resolved by Major Fraser to take advantage of this reinforcement to make an immediate attack upon Pukemaire pa, or, at all events, to reconnoitre it in force with the intention of making a position tenable in anticipation ol an attack at a future time. On the morning of the 3rd a force consisting of 45 Forest Rangers, 25 Hawkea' Bay Volunteers, and 40 Military Settlers under command of Major Fraser, together with a large party of natives started for the scene of operations. On arriving at the church, distant shout 400 yards from the pa, the main body, or i reserve, under Major Fraser, remained there, opening a fire in front. Lieut. Biggs, with a small body of volunteers, and Gapt. Westrupp, with part of his rangers, accompanied by a few Tuparoa, natives, were sent to the right to reconnoitre, while Ensigns Tuke and Boss were despatched to the left for the same purpose. Thuß, simultaneously, a fire was opened upon every angle of the pa, the detached parties having to make their way along an abrupt slope, clinging for support to shrubs or anything they could lay hold of. Lieut. Biggs and a few of his men, with the ' assistance of some friendly natives, managed, under cover of trees and scrub, to get within 15 yards of the farthest, or western angle, of the pa, and to open fire upon it with great precision. Soon after, Greeves, a military settler, exposing himself too much while delivering his fire, was hit, the bullet entering his waist belt and coming out at his back close to the spine. He was immediately carried away ; while Sergeant Hodges, Lance Corporal Watts, and Keegan, a military settler, were detached as a covering party, i.e., as we understand, to draw the fire of the enemy from the wounded man. Sergeant Hodges, who throughout acted with great courage, had hardly undertaken the duty when a ball struck hit left hand, carrying two of

his fingers clean away ; and, in another minute or so, he was again hit— the hall this time entering his breast and coming out two inches below the shoulder blade. He was carried to the base of the hill, where the ball was extracted by Dr, Ormond. 6 reeves (one of the last men who joined the M. S.) expired in a few minutes after, suffering great agony, but sensible to the last, and engaging in prayer. Soon alter Lieut- Biggs, having had his small force reduced by the eight men required to bear away the wounded, went for further assistance, a*id while returning in company with Sergeant Major Smyth, of the military settlers, the latter was hit on the elbow, but the ball did not penetrate through, or fracture the bone. Lieut Biggs* object in getting assistance, was to carry out an idea he had formed of rushing the pa at the angle where his men had been firing. Getting no help — indeed, the ammunition by this time getting low, the supply ordered to follow not making its appearance, and the men being faint for want of food, there was no effective' assistance obtainable— he yet managed with the men who were left to him, 14 in number, to rush the pa, a Tuparoa native having previously thrown a rope over the outer palisading, by which means it was dragged down and a breach made. Getting into the outer trench, there was nothing but a fence between the assailants and defenders, and some sharp fighting ensued, during which the natives admit having lost eight men, including the great Taranaki chief Te Whiwhini, which was a heavy blow. Their total loss in the attack must have been considerable, as on a subsequent day fourteen fresh graves were seen in one place, and seven in others. Lieutenant Biggs and his gallant little party ultimately retired, their ammunition having been expended and themselves soaked by the incessant rain, a state of things which also checked the enthusiasm of our native allies. Several of our correspondents refer in the warmest terms to this spirited attack, making mention of the coolness and courage of Lieut. Biggs. After the return to camp three days' rain succeeded, rendeiing another expedition impossible, but on Sunday night, the Bth, Captain Westrupp and Ensign Boss, with the Forest Rangers, left camp, and before daylight on Monday morning were at the pa, which it was found had been evacuated. It was immediately set fire to and destroyed. Next morning early, two bodies started in pursuit. Lieut. Biggs with 30 volunteers trom his own corps and the military settlers, subsequently joined by 90 Tuparoa natives under the chiefs Bopata and Te Hotene, and 10 from Te Uatepe, started by the inland route. As soon as Biggs had started, Major Fraser. with about 60 Europeans, and the same number of natives under Mokena, started by the coast with the intention of meeting the other party. They arrived, however, too late, as the sequel will show. Biggs, meanwhile, his force increased to 130 men, proceeded through the bush in the direction of Kawa Kawa. Following up the retreating party to Hungahungatoroa pa, strongly situated on the top of a hill, two sides of which are precipitous — about eight, miles distant from Eawa Kawn, Lieut. Biggs and party halted when within 150 yards of the front of it, and opened fire, which was kept up for a considerable time. Fiuding that the process of reduction was likely to be somewhat tedious at this rate, Mr. Tuke, and nine volunteers, accompanied by some friendlies, settled the matter by a very plucky thing. By scaling one of the precipitous sides of the hill, in doing which they risked their lives at every movement— a false step would have been destruction — they reached a position behind, and partially overlooking the interior of the pa. The garrison was only made aware of the fact when a plunging fire frera the rear began to make havoc in their ranks, and were very much astonished at a feat which they had deemed impossible. The fire became very severe from this point. About twelve o'clock, Lieut. Biggs, acting, it is supposed, under instructions from the officer commanding, opened a negotiation with the people in the pa— offering to spare »11 who would give up

their arms, and acknowledge allegiance to the ' Queen. A curious scene is said to have fol. lowed. The East Coast natives (Ngatiporou) began to haul up the white flag ; while the Taranakis (Ngatitohea), of whom there were 50 or 60, vigorously opposed the attempt — the dispute between the two parties appear* ing to run high. At last, after the lapse of an hour, some of the East Coast people breached the pa, and expressed the willingness of the whole of them to accept the terms offered. The Taranakis, seeing this, breaohed the pa also, and bolted over one of the precipitous sides of the cliff. Three of these were shot iti the act, and their old allies in the pa, disgusted at their conduct, also favoured them with a few parting shots. The Ntfatiporou, to the number of 200 men, and about 300 women and children, then surrendered—giving up all their arms, about 120 guns. The loss of the enemy in this affair was 20 killed and several wounded. On the European side the casualties were only two in number—Lance Sergeant Dearlov* wounded, not dangerously, in the arm and shoulder, and Private Hazell slightly in the face. Arapeta, one of ihe Tuparoa friendlies, received a dangerous gunshot wound in tl c thigh. The pa having been destroyed, the motley group who com ituted the army of prisoners, now accompanied tlie troops to camp, which they reached on Sunday, 15th. The day at ter, the troops were drawn up on one side of an open plain in front of the pa; the njitiv. allies on the opposite side. The male prisoners, to the number of 200, were then marched from their encampment-—one by one saluting as they passed the British ensign —and placed in the centie. The ringleaders were then called out by Mr. Deighton R.M., and marched off under escort to the camp, previously to their being shipped on board the Success. The remainder at their own request, took the oath of allegiance—being, at the same time, informed by Mr. Deighton that they would have to remain at Waiapu and await the Governor's decision respecting them. They appeared to be thoroughly dispirited and beaten ; expressed themselves as very glad the war was over, as well as their thankfulness at the kind way they were treated by the Europeans. Captain Seymour, of the Rangatira, brings intelligence of another decisive victory gained by the Arawas over the Hau Hau», taking upwards of 80 prisoners. Te Ua. the prophet, and 28 of those implicated in the murder of Mr. Fulloon, are in charge of the Arawa police, the remainder in custody of the Arawa tribe. *" j I

The Rangatira, Captain Seymour, from Auckland, Tauranga, and Napier, Arrived in harbour early yesterday morning. An advertisement elsewhere in our columns announces that the drapers and olothiers of this city have agreed to close their establisK ments at seven o'clock, p.m. (except on Saturdays) from the Ist of November. Yesterday evening a melancholy accident occurred, by the drowning of a little girl, named Annie (Jodber, in a well on her father's premises in Hopper street. It is supposed that while playing in the yard, in an attempt to cross the well the covering gave way and ehe fell in. An inquest was held to-day, when a verdict of accidental di'ath was returned. Tlie Southern Cross is in receipt of private intelligence that when the last mail was leaving England, it was in contemplation by the Government to invite Sir George Qrey to retire under the Governor's Retiring Pension Bill. The Fire Brigade meet for practice this evening at No. 2 Engine House, next th c Post Office, at eight o'clock. At a meeting of the Presbytery of Canterbury on Wednesday last, a communication from the Rev. — Steele, of Sydney, was read, stating that the Rev. J Copeland was about to pay a visit to New Zealand, with the view of obtaining from the Presbyterian Church of that colony the means of placing an additional missionary in connection with the New Hebrides mission. Mr. Steele, in his letter, rtquests the sympathy of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church in favour of this undertaking. We (Lyttelton Times) have inteUlgenoe by West Coast telegraph that the Claud Hamil-. ton arrived at Hokitika on Monday last, with a cargo of cattle from Sydney. The shippers of the live stock are killing it on board, and te ling the beef on shore, By this smart dc | vice the prohibite enactment is overcome, a lucrative trade is opened up, and the diggers

fet a good supply of beef at a reasonable rate. It is said that Captain Cellem, of theQueen> has received the appointment of Harbour Master at Napier.