THE CAMPAIGN ON THE WEST COAST.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 512, 27 April 1869, Page 3

THE CAMPAIGN ON THE WEST COAST.

■ ♦■ ■ (From the Taranaki Herald.) The movements of the forces since our last issue have been a perfect mystery to everyone. Last week we were congratulating ourselves on the speedy destruction of Te Wetere and his followers, but before our journal could have reached the Waitara, intelligence was received in town that the Colonial forces were again on the move, and that they were off for the East Coast at once. All these movements may be judicious on the part of the authorities, and perhaps we snail hereafter have to acknowledge that they were wise ; but to those not in their confidence it appears not only very stupid, but looks like a wilful waste of money. Our idea is that they are in an awful muddle, and puzzled what to do, and, therefore, to keep up an appearance, make a great mystery of what they are about. The following is a. brief record of what has been done at our frontiur during the past week : — The s.s. St. Kilda, with Colonel Whitmore and staff, proceeded on Friday, the 9th of April, to reconnoitre the coast from the mouth of the Waitara to the Mokau river; Four shells were fired from the steamer ; the first fell in the Mokau river ; the second no one saw explode ; the third burst before it fell ; and the last fell amongst the scrub near the cliffs. The pteamer then returned to the Waitara, and in the evening, after taking the Hon Native Minister and a Division of the Arawas on board, steamed for the Manukau. The Hon. Mr Richmond's visit to Auckland is no doubt for the purpose of seeing the Hon Dr Pollen. It was rumored in town last week that the Native Contingent of the Arawas had refused to continue fighting on the West Coast. This we believe was correct, and on the St. Kilda arriving at the Waitara, the hon. Native Minister ha.i an interview with them. On their being assembled, the hon. Mr Richmond asked them what were their grievances. They, however, gave- avasiye .answers to his questions, merely- Saying- that they wished to know where our forces were going to fight. To this he answered that until he knew ■whether they were soldiers or not he deplined to tell them, and then imperatively demanded whether they still belonged to our forces qr not. After a hm^ro among themselves, the Arawas at last gave the hon. Native Minister an answer in the negative. He then replied to them that he was very " dark" at their proceedings, and what they had done would cause him to be " dark" with them for some time to come. However, as they had given him a direct answer as to what they intended doing — and as they were no longer soldiers — he would tell them what he wc-s going to do. He said that he had his brother, and his relatives and friends all in this place, that his-property was here likewise ; these he was going to leave and take the troops to the East Coast to fight Te Kooti. They (the Arawas) were not soldiers now, so it did not matter to them where our forces went ; but he told them this, to show that the forces had not come there to fight his people. He was " dark" with them and should remain so for a very long time. After this the Arawas were for becoming " soldiers" again, but the hon. Native Minister was firm, and said that as they had decided that they were riot soldiers, he could not now take them into the service of the Government again. On Sunday last, the Sturt, with Colonel Whitmore and a portion of the Armed Constabulary, left the Waitara for the Manukau. The St. Kilda returned yesterday to fetch the remainder, coming into the Waitara and going out by the same tide. The Sturt also arrived, and brought a mail from Auckland. .The authorities having been informed that Tito Kowaru, his women, and baggage were at Pakipaki, — a place on the south banks of the Waitara river, and about two days march from Tikorangi— a secret expedition was organised to go out and attack him. Preparations were made on Monday with the greatest secrecy, and although the uninitiated might not have noticed anything particular going on, those whose business it is to watch for news, could, not help observing that little private committees were being held by three or four gentlemen who constitute our authorir ties. On Monday night, carts were heard passing along Devon-street till a late hour, reminding those who had been here during the past war of old times, and these were vehicles conveying rations and stores, together with stretchers, &c, necessary for an expedition where an engagement was expected. On Tuesday morning, at about 6 a.m., a force, consisting of 100 natives under Te lhaia, and 50 bushrangers, under Captain W. Messenger — the whole commanded by Major Brown — were preparing to start Ngatimaru, where it was supposed Tito Kowaru was ; but through some misunderstanding arising between the bushrangers and those in command (the particulars of which we have not been made acquainted with), the expedition was postponed. The affair with the men having been set right, we suppose, the expedition was re-or-ganised, and was to have proceeded at 6 o'clock >on Thursday morning. The men had four days' rations and water served out to them, and when on the point of starting another obstacle came in their way. It was then ascertained that Tito ' Kowaru, who had heard of the expedition,

had reinforced himself and come close in, and was strong, comparatively, to what ho was at the beginning of the week ; besides this, Colonel St. John, who was under orders to proceed to Auckland in the Sturt immediately on her arrival, could not guarantee any assistance, as he was hourly expecting to leave the place. His Honor the Superintendent and Mr Commissioner Parris, who were to have accompanied the force, we believe, considering the risk was too great, stopped the expedition, and came into town. A meeting of magistrates was held, the proceedings of which were strictly private, but they decided that nothing ought to be done till they heard again from the Hon the Native Minister. The consequence is that everything remains just as it was, and the force never went at all. Where the fault rests will have to be decided on some future occasion. We hear that Tito Kowaru is gathering strength and getting near our out-settlements, and we ir j left without a force to defend them. An orderly arrived in New Plymouth on the 16th inst., bringing the information that Wiremu Kingi, one of our pretended and too much trusted " friendlies" in that disturbed district, harbors and feeds Tito Kowaru and his band, who are at present stationed at Mokau, a disaffected locality about fifty miles to the north of New Plymouth. Tito, it is said, rides a white charger, and dresses in a red shirt and dark trousers with red stripes.