TARANAKI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 227, 15 February 1865, Page 2

TARANAKI.

OCCUPATION OF TE X GAN A, NEAR THE STONY RIVER {OANOATAHUA).

[From a Correspondent of the Taranaki I£erald.~\

Since the arrival of the Defence N Minister from Auckland, the inactivity that paralyzed the energies of the Taranaki settlers, appears at last to be replaced by a spirit of determination to do something on the part of the Government in the shape of locating (he military settlers on theiphomes. The town acres will at once be alloted, and, as soon as circumstances will allow, the tiftvacre farms will be handed over to their future respective occupants. As a preliminary step, on Saturday last, Colonel Warro and staff, accompanied by Major Atkinson and Mr. Parris, rode fca Tataraimaka, where tiny remained lor the night. The next morning (Sunday) the party proceeded southwards for some two or three miles to Tukitukipapa, the position of a Maori pah, formed of earthwork, exactly after the model of the English redoubts, with flanking angles and ditch complete. It is here that the natives who sent in their names as desirous of mating peace in December reside. The natives on the present occasion advanced to meet the.party unarmed, and, after a long conversation, Colonel Warre and Major Atkinson, with the Staff, proceeded by au inland road to Ngana, the site of the new position on the Hangatahua or Stony river; it is situated about one mile and a-half from the sea. In the meantime, Mr. Parris entered the pah for the purpose of answering any questions that might be asked.

On the Colonel returning, which he did bj the beach road, the natives came out singly and presented themselves before him, each man making a speech expressive of his desire to live in peace and quietness. In the same order the pali was again entered, when the guns were brought out, and placed on the ground between the Colonel and Mr. Parris, amidst some more speechifying. After this, with the same ceremony, the 'spears with hatchet heads were laid near the guns; and the whole of this part of the proceedings was brought to a conclusion by a presentation of sharks’ teeth, greenstones, &c. Three men Minarapa, Eihara, and Haueti—who, from having been connected with the Waireka and other murders, are excluded from any benefit of the proclamation, came forward with their guns, and gave themselves up as prisoners, returning with the Europeans to Tataramaka, where they were handed over to the officer commanding the garrison. Monday, January 23. The following force left town—Captain Livesav and Bateman, Lieutenants Onslow, Money, and Longley, with 150 rank and file of the 43rd Light Infantry, heavily laden with their packs. The men, after a weary march of twelve miles over hot and dusty roads, reached Tataraimaka, the garrison of which, consisting of 212 men, with the officers Captains Close and Hatchell, Lieutenant and Adjutant Talbot, Lieutenants Todd, Garland and Cairns, Ensigns Armphelfc and Pearson, with Staff Assistant Surgeon Grant in medical charge, the whole under command of Major Colville, marched southwards for the purpose of occupying Te Ngana. On the force arriving at Tukitukipapa a white flag was run up on the native staff, evincing that as yet they had not altered their intentions. Passing the pah the route running parrallel with the beach was taken to within a short distance of the old crossing place of this dangerous river, when, after passing through fern increasing in

height as they progressed inland, Te Ngana was reached and a rounded hillock chosen as a camp. No tracks of natives were visible, but a stout post had been stuck in the centre of the road near the river to show that it was not the intention of the rebels to their lands to allow be taken and occupied without a struggle. On Tuesday morning Lieutenant Ferguson marked out, on the summit of the hillock, the boundaries of a. redoubt, the parapets of which under the fatigue parties are rapidly taking shape. All round the fern is high and luxuriant, so as to preclude the possibility of grass or other herbage finding room to grow, consequently there is but little food for cattle and horses; added to this the surface water is from the swamps, and not at all suitable for drinking, but this will he remedied by the making of wells. So soon as the building of the redoubt is sufficiently advanced it will be occupied by a company of the Otago contingent.