CAPTURE OF RANGIAWHIA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 164, 4 March 1864, Page 3

CAPTURE OF RANGIAWHIA.

The Southern Cross of the 24th says : The annexed telegram, received last evening by his Excellency the Governor from General Cameron, will be read with interest (by military electric telegraph.) Seven hundred natives arrived at Eangiawhia from Paterangi at daylight this morning. About 12 o’clock they commenced entrenching themselves in a strong position (apparently the site of an old pa), about two miles on the road from this place. I moved out with the greater part of the force against them at P3O, and attacked their position, which was carried in the most gallant sty e by the 50th, under Colonel Weare. The enemy broke and fled towards Maungatautare. While marching to attack them I received a despatch from Colonel Waddy, announcing the evacuation of the Paterangi pa, which he at once occupied. Pikopiko and Rangeatea have also been abandoned. Rangiawhia is now occupied by us. I have ordered the greater part of Colonel Waddy’s force to this place, where they will arrive to-night, 22nd instant. Commodore Sir W. Wiseman was present with me during the attack. Enemy’s loss not ascertained, but probably not very heavy, as his resistance was short when once the 50th Regiment entered the position. Our loss was 2 men killed and 14 wounded. Lieutenants Doveton, 50th, and Pagan, 65th, severely wounded. It will appear that the General’s demon-

stration against Eangiawhia, on the 21st, besides insuring the defeat and capture of a body of natives, had the more important result for which doubtless, it was intended. The enemy saw that their retreat was not secure, and that it would be impossible to hold out much longer, cooped in their strongholds, and deprived of food. Taking advantage of what, to them, it would appear an oversight of General Cameron’s in not occupying Eangiawhia when it was in his bands, and which would have left them only one line of retreat on Maungatautare open, they evacuated their triangle of fortifications, and suddenly established themselves in the General’s front, placing themselves between him and Eangiawhia. This secured their retreat; but it did the very thing General Cameron wanted. •He had menaced their works and established posts to watch and harass them ; and then marched on with his main body threatening their rear. By thus threatening to attack, yet declining the fight and by the apparent irresolution indicated by the backward march on Te Awamutu, the natives were drawn out of their strongholds which were at once taken possession of by our forces, and before they had time to entrench themselves in their new position, General Cameron fell on them and signally routed them. He had drawn the “ wily man” out of his den ; and the result, when the British troops were enabled to encounter the enemy hand to hand, was soon manifest. They do not appear to have fought with their usual courage. Possibly recent lessons may have become profitable. We have now the entire country lying between Auckland and Eangiawhia in our possession. There are still a few pas on the Haratiu side of the delta in the enemy’s hands, but these must be abandoned North of Maungagatautare, as they are untenable against the General who has the command of the navigation and possesses the means of turning their rear, and shutting them out from escape except along his lines. Their retreat to Maungatautare would still have been open, if Eangiawhia had been occupied at first, and they could have escaped without encountering our forces. They might have evacuated the fortified triangle, retiring from Eangiatea pa—the apex of the triangle—by the round-about track through the lakes and by the great swamp to Kirikiriroa. A stand might have been made mid-way along that line at the Ohapu pa, a strong position, and again at Te Tiko pa. To have forced the natives into this action would in our opinion have been unwise. As it is, they have been humiliated, and forced to abandon all thenworks and fall back on theii' remaining strong-hold at Maungatautare. Any hour may bring us farther important intelligence. It seems clear, however, that the war in the Waikato country is pretty nearly ended. They may make a stand at Maugatautare, where Thompson has been with his people for some time ; but once defeated there and the power of the Waikatos and their allies is broken up.