HEAD-QUARTERS CAMP, TE AWAMUTU.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 165, 11 March 1864, Page 2

HEAD-QUARTERS CAMP, TE AWAMUTU.

[From tlie Correspondent of the Daily Southern Cross,} March I. The rebels, it would appear, have not yet removed to a sufficient distance from our camping grounds to be beyond the reach of injury from reconnoitring expeditions and obtrusive visits by small bodies of troops engaged on foraging excursions. Proportionately as their extent of territory. becomes gradually reduced by the pretsure onward of the invading forces and the consequent recession of the natives, every yard of ground would appear to become more and more dearly prized, and to be hotly contested for No sooner has the camping ground been pitched upon and the soldiers again taken their tents, after expelling the enemy from some new position, than a return is again made to within one or two miles of our position. Active operations are then commenced to throw up earthwarks, and construct riflepits to resist the further progress of the soldiers if possible, and which, if time were allowed, would gradually expand into the dimensions of a second Paterangi, impregnable, and only to be overcome by surrounding the position, and starving the belligerents into an unconditional surrender. Although the rebels so hastily evacuated Pikopiko, Rangiatea, and Paterangi, fortified as these places had been with so much care and labour, they have not failed to perceive the value of the protection afforded by holding such position ; and the decision of General Cameron not to attempt an assault, but to gain the rear, for the purpose of cutting off supplies was an overwhelming proof that their la-

hours had not been expended in vain. On the Monday the General’s visit to Rangiawahia, the rebels assembling in great force from the deserted pas before Te Rore, commenced in great earnestness the erection ■of a earthwork, on the slope of the hill on which the settlement stands, It was dislodging them that the spirited skirmish of that day took place, the particulars of which must have been made public long before this communication can be printed. But the natives, although beaten at every point, did not hurry far away when pursuit was discontinued, before settling down again, and -are doubtless now busily at work erecting fresh earthworks. They are known to be assembled in force about three miles from Rangiawahia, between that place and Maungatautari, where a redoubt has been known for some time to have been in existence. Subsequent movements from the head quarter’s camp have been attended with similar attempts at resistance on the part of the natives, so far as regards the construction of rifle-pits. An expedition, consisting of about six hundred men, under the command of Colonel Waddy, started for Kihikihi on Saturday morning last, and on arrival there steps were at once taken for the construction of a redoubt by our forces. The troops remaining in occupation of the spot were the 40th, 70th, and Jb'orest Rangers. The natives previously occupying the village fled before the advancing force, without offering the slighest resistance; leaving behind, as pickings for the soldiers, almost the whole of their household fittings. On the succeeding day, however, the picquets stationed on the hill tops noticed that about a dozen Maories had retured to the rise of a hill about a mile distant, and were engaged in the construc-

tion of rifle-pits, intercepting the line of road to Orakau, a village three miles from Kihikihi. To ascertain the strength of the rebels and the nature of their-works. Colonel Waddy was directed to proceed yesterday to the village of Orakau, and at half-past one o’clock a force consisting of about 550 soldiers were paraded for that purpose. The expedition was comprised of detachments from the following regiments : —4oth, under command of Colonel Leslie; 70th, under Colonel Mulock; Cavalry, under Captain Walmesley; and Forest Rangers, by Captain Yon Tempsky. The Forest Rangers took the lead on the line of march, and were ordered to act as skirmishers, if necessity required, as well as to clear the path of all obstruction in the way of posts and railings. When the force had marched near upon three quarters of a mile, a Maori gun was fired as a signal, by natives evidently on the look-out, and this was followed immediately by two more shots, fired in quick succession. A large whare to the left of the track was next observed to be enveloped in flames. As the Forest Rangers advanced, the first obstacle met with along the line of road was a a strong fence thrown up as a barrier, to prevent- further encroachment into Maori territory, but which was quickly thrown down, and a clear passage made for horse and foot following. Within twenty paces of the pailing, and on the left-hand side of the road, the rebels had commenced the construction of rifle-pits. The main line had been sank about three feet deep, and extended about 40 yards; another line having been apparently just begun a few yards lower down the gentle slope of the hill. , The principle line was traversed, and ran hi a crescent shape. The Maories had evidently deserted the place in hot baste, for a longhandled spade was found leaning against the side of the pit, and another with a broken handle a few yards distant. A great number of kits and mats were found in and about the pit, where the Maories had lolled lazily whilst smoking their pipes and indulging in the enjoyment of a game at draughts —a draught-board having been left in the pit; but the men had disappeared. A wellshaped manuka paddle and a' kit of maize were picked up a few hundred yards from the place—these having possibly been dropped by the person carrying them, and intended to serve as dinner for the labourers, when the alarm guns were fired, and he had hurried instanter to the place of rendezvous appointed under such critical circumstances. To prevent our lynx-eyed picquets noticing the progress of the work, the Maories had adopted cunning contrivances, so far as were afforded on the spot, but they all proved of no avail. Tall branches of tea-tree and stacks of fern had been piled up, to prevent the new earth thrown up from the pits being perceivable from camp, and where the soil had been thus raised several feet above the ordinary level, branches of manuka were then stuck into it. It may be considered fortunate that the rebels did not deem it advisable to man the pits, as the troops came

upon them so unexpectedly and in such a mass, that had a volley been fired into their midst, a very great sacrifice of life must have resulted. The troops, however, pushed on unmolested, and passed several whares and cultivations of wheat, maize, potatoes, &c„ finally coming to a halt near a tworoomed wooden building, which, to all appearance, had been built for European occupation. It was now totally deserted, and the windows all broken. On the march about 50 or 60 natives were seen hurrying towards a hill to the right of the village, and on which, it was said, a redoubt had been erected and a King flag was flying. Several volleys, as of defiance, were fired by the Maories from the hill, but being between 2 and 3 miles distant nothing was gained thereby. After a stay of about a quarter of an hour, the retreat was ordered, and Kihikihi was regained about 5 o’clock. The loot secured by the men was not of very great value, consisting simply of a few kits of potatoes, a fowl or two, and a young pig. The General and staff, accompanied by a few of the cavalry, paid a visit to Pikopiko yesterday morning. Colonel Pitt arrived in camp last evening, and will resume his duties as assistant military secretary. The redoubt in course of construction here is now approaching completion.