WANGANUI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 323, 13 November 1865, Page 1

WANGANUI.

THE GENESAI/S TRIP IH THE GUNDAGAI. (From the Wanganui Times.) The Gundagai, Captain Fox, with General Chute and staff on board, left Wanganui on Thursday, the 19th October j crossed the Patea bar at 11*30, and landed the General. Immediately on arrival, the General and staff crossed over to the south side of the river, and inspected Captain Dawson’s redoubt and the outlying picquets, after which he inspected the camp on the north side, and then rode out to meet Brigadier-General Waddy, returning about halfpast five to the Gundagai, on board of which he took up his quarters for the night. The General had a good opportunity of witnessing the intricacy of the entrance to the Patea river, for during the evening the little ketch Ebenezer tried to come in and grounded in the attempt. Capt. Fox, being down at the entrance, saw the perilous position of the vessel, sent up for his boat, and with the assistance of the surf boat, managed to give the vessel a rope. . Colonel Gamble in the meantime kindly aending for a number of the troops to try and haul her off. The rope broke twice, and a larger one had to be borrowed from the captain of the Tyne. This was, at last, with some difficulty got on board, the sea making clean breaches over the vessel all the time. The combined forces of the Gundagai’ and surf beat’s Mews, and troops, fortunately were 8 able to haul her off. On Friday evening at 9 30 the General embarked again for Taranaki; light breeze from the S.W.; 1115 passed camp Manawapo ; 12-30 run past Waiongoro ; 4 p.m. passed Opunake, exchanging signals with the various posts in passing; 7*30 p.m. spoke the Wanganui about sis miles south of the Sugar Loaves; hailed her to stop and take on board Mr Strickland, who wanted to get back to Wanganui; 930 anchored off Taranaki, and landed the General and staff, baggage, &c. The Gundagai immediately weighed and proceeded on her return trip to Wangaifui, the weather looking anything but promising. Soon after leaving she encountered a strong head wind and aca, which tried and shook the old boat very much. The wind steadily increasing to a gale with much ■ea, all possible sail had to be kept on to keep the •ea from breaking on board. Arrived off and crossed the Patea bar at 11 a.m., remaining there till Sunday morning. At 10*15 Brigadier-General Waddy and staff, with a detachment of the 50th, embarked for Wanganui After getting out of the Patea the wind increased to a gale, with very heavy squalls, which helped her along so pinch that the trip which usually took four or five hours, was performed in two hours and three-quarters. -

Just as she got to the Wauganui bar, she was struck by a terrific squall that hove her weather wheel right out of the water, and consquentiy choked the lee one. The vessel became perfectly unmanageable, and every one thought that she would drive on shore and be wrecked, but after a great deal of manoeuvring she succeeded at last in getting into the river, every one thankful for not having been cast on the beach amid the boiling surf, for on one occasion she was within 20 yards of it, and almost powerless. Luckily she was only drawing three feet of water and did not touch the bottom ; had she once touched all would have been up with her.

During the squall the rain was coming down in torrents and the sea breaking over her fearfully. The officers and crew very highly of the manner in which Captain Leach, D.A.A.G., assisted them by (to use their own expressions) “ working like a nigger as one of the crew.”

The Brigadier-General complimented Capt. Fox on the very able manner in which he extricated the vessel out of her perilous sisuation, but Capt, Fox says that had it not been for the promptitude and alacrity with which the officers and crews obeyed his orders, nothing could have saved them. Mr Baker, the chief officer, received a severe contusion through the staysail sheet knocking him against the lee rail. The steamer is laid up to be strengthened, her trip to New Plymouth having done her no good; she is not fit lor a long sea voyage, and the present one will give the authorities a lesson.

JOHENAI OP THE INTEEPKETEE AND NATIVE CHIDES WITH THE PATEA EXPEDITION. We (Wanganui Times) have been favored with the following journal by William Jenkins, Esq., Acting Interpreter to the Imperial Forces serving atthePatea:— ° Having received orders to accompany the Brigadier and force on an expedition against the murderers of Mr Broughton and Rereti, and haring engaged the services of eight Maori guides of the Nguraura hapu, several of whom were near relatives, and one a brother of Rereti,—four of them proceeded on Sunday, the 15th October, to the Reserve Redoubt, and were at the service of Col. Trevor, the other four being attached to our party We embarked in the Gundagai on the following day, at 9 a.m., and reached Patea the same evening. On Tuesday we accompanied the Brigadier and 300 men of the 18th and 57th Regiments to Rakaramea redoubt, taking with us one 6-ponnder Armstrong gun. Having pitched our tents, at the Brigadier’s request Hata Rio drew a map of the locality he proposed visiting, and pointed out the various native tracks leading to the villages, and particularly to the one occupied by the murderers of poor Broughton. Wednesday, 5‘30 a.m. s we were on the move, Major Inman in command of the force. The weather was anything but propitious, much heavy rain having fallen in the night. The ground and the high fern through which wo passed was saturated. Heavy showers descended at intervals, so that we were pretty well drenched. The guide led the force by a circuitous route to the back of the pa, risible from Kakaramea, a fearful ravine intervening, and surrounding three sides of it. Wc crossed at the most convenient spot and that was bad enough; so steep and slippery that the ascent was exceedingly difficult—especially to the soldiers who had to carry their long Enfield rifles. The horses were left in charge of a guard, and the Brigadier and staff proceeded to climb the hill over the first gully, and here we found as bad a piece of road as any man could desire to travel on. On our right we discovered that the hill was skirted with apparently rich cultivations, and we peered into the forest surrounding, anxious to discover if a Hau-hau’s head was watching our movements. Here our guides exclaimed, “you English soldiers know nothing about bush fighting. We ought to have been here before daylight, and have readied the back of the pa before daylight; but now, should the pa be still occupied we are observed, and the rebels will either escape or lie in ambush to wait our approach ; besides the soldiers are ta.kmg all the time, and the enemy will hear them. This is not our way of fighting.’' We now, in single file, dipped into the deep ravine and scrambled up the other side, as we best could, getting at length on the ridge, wo followed a narrow but well defined track which led us out immediately at the back of the pah. On reaching the open, Ensign Jones of the 18th dashed up the hill with his men, and they were into the pah in quick time, followed closely by the guides and the whole force, but not a Maori was there! The place had evidently been deserted immediately the death of poor Broughton, The Hau-han flag staff was in an instant cut down each man appearing anxious to have a hand in its destruction. This pah is named Otoia, The Brigadier then desired me to take the natives down the path which apparently led to some plantation in the hollow to our right, and taking a few men with us wo very soon opened a J er J large Maori garden, entirely surrounded by dense bush. Far away down in the ravine we heard the crowing of a cock, and having closely examined the skirts of the bush and discovering the main Crack by which it is supposed the murderers returned to the pah, wo went back to our friends on the hill who by this time had prepared a second breakfast, for which we had acquired an appetite. During our repast another heavy shower fell and we retreated to the wharea to finish our meaL The weather having cleared

up the Brigadier discovered a Maori stockade on hill a little to the right, at the back of the position we occupied, and I was at once requested to take the Maori guides to look for a track leading thereto, a deep ravine intervening. The Brigadier with one hundred men remained on the hill, and Major Inman with 20D men followed us on (ho track which led us down to the stream, and here we found the worst piece of road we had yet met with, consequently we went very slowly, and by the time we were up the hill, we were all pretty well “done up.” One man not able to keep up with us lost his way, and was some little lime afterwards picked up, and when questioned by the Brigadier as to his conduct, he replied: “sure yer honor, it was the hill that bate me.”

We now lost our track and scrambled through the heavy sernb with great exertion. Hata Kio and myself leading the way and beating a path for the men. The Maoris again found found fault with the soldiers for talking so much, but it was useless, talk they would. Who could stop an Hibernian from talking, if it was only to tell Ins to hold his tongue ? On observing one fellow jabbering away, I told him to cease, when he replied :-“In troth sir, I cid’nt spake at all, I only told Mick not to make such a divil of a. noise. But on they jabbered and no one could stop them.

At length an open appeared and Hat a Rio explained “ we are close to the pah, cease talking, as if it is occupied, Maoris are near to us and will S®advantage over ns.” Suddenly rounded the bush, the stockade was before us, distant about 60 yards apparently newly elected, with poles transversely and fronted with green flax. A stand was made, and silence prevailed for a few seconds, the men gradually arrived. Major Inman ordered them to keep under cover of the bush. When a sufficient number of men had come up. the order was given for the assault, Captain Johnston of the 18th appeared on the open and calling on his men rushed up close to the stockade, and in a few seconds he was over the fence, and several others soon cut their way through into the enclosure which was surrounded inside by a deep rifle pit. Not a Maori was seen and theflag-stalf soon fell—the stockade was levelled to the ground, and at the back or ledge of the precipitous descent leading to Patea river, were the whares or miserable huts, and lots of potatoes and kmneras. The place was soon fired, some kutneras, native mats, calabashes, &c., taken away as relics, and the force retired. This place is called Whakapaiho and must have been erected about the time of (he murder of Broughton, as a place of retreat in case ol attack, and by all appearance had been deserted only a faw days. We found a belter track for our return, and in a short time rejoined the Brigadier on the hill, and having burnt the whares there the force retired by the track we had discovered in the front of the pa. The ravine which surrounds the pa is in the form of an horse-shoe, several feet deep, and exceedingly precipitous, one part of the ascent on the Ivakaramea side being by a strong ladder, called by the troops “Jacob’s Ladder.” The bill on which the pa stood has been rather strangely named “ Gentle Annie.” The ascent was so difficult that the men had to pass up their rifles in order to have both hands at liberty to pull themselves up. “ Such a “ winder” I have not had for some years, and the soldiers declared it was the most difficult journey they ever had. I heard one of the men behind me exclaim, as he came puffing and sweating up the steep —“ Be my sowl, this is a diyil of a place to fight in; what could we do if the niggers were after us jist here?” On reaching the top our olfactory nerves were assailed by a fearful stench. My first thought was that we had discovered the body of poor Broughton ; but we soon found our mistake ; there lay the horse lie rode from Kakaramea, which had been pierced to the heart with some sharp weapon. The saddle was gone, the bridle was on the horses’s head. I managed with some difficulty to take it off the putrid carcass and have brought it with me. The fate of poor Broughton is no longer a matter of doubt. Probably the Maori report was correct in substance, but not in detail. The horse was killed a long way from the pa, and not within sight of it, the deep ravine intervening. I concluded therefore that he was somewhere between the spot where the flag of truce was erected on the flat and the edge of the where we found the horse. I therefore requested the officer in command to scatter his men in all directions through the fern and a short distance down the skirt of the bush, in order to discover, if possible, the remains of our murdered friend; I felt exceedingly anxious on this point. The officer ordered a minute search to be made all over that locality, which was done, but without effect; no trace whatever was discovered. We had the satisfaction of doing all wo could, and then with very melancholy feelings returned to the Kakaramea Redoubt.

On Thursday, at B'3o a.tn. the force again moved northward, as far as the village of Manutabi. the approach to which was through a thick bush. A good look out was kept on either sid, and we emerged to the open and soon readied the spot where once stood the large village of Mauutahi, but no ta hut nor vestige remained. The Brigadier was then informed by our native guides of the existence of another village (Taumaha) on a hill to the right of out track, about 22 miles distant. We immediately started with part of the force, commanded by Major Inman, 18th regiment, an advance guard of 6 men were followed by the guide# and myself, closely backed by the

force in single file. We descended a guliy and at onc0 _ discovered recent foot-marks as of Maoris cooking their food for breakfast: We also saw evident proof that a horse had somehow ar other scrambled up the steep path : We were now ex* peeling a little excitement the Maoris were evidently near. Orders were given for silence and as quietly as possible we scrambled up the slippery track, on the fop of which was a fence—a most convenient position, had the Hau-haus felt disposed to remain so near—for popping off a few of us. The advauce guard were instantly withiu the enclosure when Ensign Jones of the 18th with Ins men, dashed across the open to a whare from whence issued smoke, hoping to catch a few Hauhaus,.as the men came up, one by one, the other whares were minutely searched for loot. The Maoris had escaped! We had evidently been either heard or observed. They must have made a hasty retreat. Cooked food was strewed about in every direction ; the fires blazing inside tho whares; the hangi still hot; heaps of singed, cooked pork lay outside and on the verandah of one of the whares, a portion of which was secured by the soldiers. Plenty of potatoes, kutnaras, and taro were found in the pits, but every moveable article valued by the Maori was gone. Son a of us got mats, calabashes, &e., which we brought away. I found a part of the Military Train harness, probably taken at the murder of tho Train man by these people, also a tunic belonging to another murdered soldier, and some boxes containing a gun caps. The Maori dogs slunk suspiciously past us, and six fine horses grazed in tho centre of the enclosure. At the request of our native guides I suggested the propriety of capturing them, but Major luman said it would be a violation of orders. So they allowed them to escape. The Brigadier afterwards said that it was a pity we had not either captured or shot them. Wo heard Maori voices about 100 yards off, but the force remained within, or close to the enclosure, which was surrounded on three sides by thick bush, from which the rebels might bars done us some mischief had they made a stand. But there could not have been more than twenty persons in the village, judging from the size of tho hangi aud other tokens observed by the guides, who were of opinion that several women and children were of the party, and the men had gone to cover their retreat, and would probably shortly return to watch our movements.

We did not destroy the potatoes, but burnt tba wharea and retreated.

Horopapera secured a dog, declaring that bo would hare some living animal belonging to tha Hau-haus, but on reaching the opposite side of the gully the brute hung back, upon which its captor exclaimed, “you Hau-hau dog, I’il kill you as I can’t find a Hau-hau to kill,” and ho despatched the poor animal with his taiaha. Tho brute yelled loudly ; the sound echoed through the ravine, and must have been heard by tha rebels, some of whom were, doubtless, concealed not far off, for shortly afterwards they returned to the burning village and fired two shots after us, as a challenge for us to return. We, however made the best of our way back to Kakaramea Eedoubt.

The stockmen took advantage of our expedition to endeavor to secure some of the numerous herds of cattle which could be observed all around us. They did not, however, succeed in driving any in, as the county, though exceeding rich and fine, is much intersected by swamps and deep guides. Some day, and I trust shortly, this district will supply beef, mutton, and dairy produce for tha support of tens of thousands of the surplus population of our father-laud. No one could desira richer soil to reward their industry than the ton miles we passed over this day.

All the Maori cultivations near the coast aro quite deserted, but they aro cultivating extensively inland, and preparing for mischief, as the tenor of the letters found in the second pa we destroyed unmistakeably indicates. This is an extract from one of them (a translation) : —“ This is my word to you, that you urge the people to cultivate food ; your word is good ; let nil the people, or tribes, obey your orders, and set to work cultivating food ; put it into the soil; and let the power to strike (to kill; and to cultivate food be joined to each other (i.e., let there be plenty of food that we may bo strong to slay our enemies}” and again “We have not yet held our consultation, for the assembly of the tribes at Okotuku; the people approve of the proposal that the tribes should unite (cleave to us) ; we forwarded the mails for the assembly of the people who are soldxehs; wo are in darkness concerning one word ; it is long (w e have waited long for a reply); by this time ws would have cast into the net (we should by this time have ensnared and destroyed our prey.)” These letters are written in obscure phraseology, but are higly significant of a combination for the destruction of i' ll who may fall into the hands of the 11 ua ha us.

Shortly after reaching Eakaramea, General Chute and staff arrived. The General held a consultation with the -Brigadier, after which I had the honor of an interview, during which tho General questioned me as to the probable strong holds of tho Hau-haus in that vicinity, and the best method of destroying them. To which I, of' course, replied that the only way to capture or kill the murderers and destroy their pahs is by organisation of a native force, and a body of Forest Bangers, backed by some of the Imperial troops, and that all movements, as far 5 as practicable, should be made during tne night, and the assault made at daylreak by the natives and Forest Bangers, from three or four points simuF taneoualy. this is the Maori mode of warfare, and,'

this alone will ,provo euecessful. Care should always be taken to lay a strong ambuscade in the line of retreat to prevent their escape. The Genera! expressed his approbation of the plan, and return to Wanganui in order to its accomplishment. P.S.—Two of the letters found in the Satire Btockade (Wbakaparo) related to the murder of Kereli. They were written—one from Okokuku, and the other from Te Putahi, a strong pah on the Whenuakura river, whence the murders of Mr Broughton are supposed to have retreated, and this letter was written September 29th and probably reached Whakapaiho the next day or on the day on which the murder was committed, viz., October 31st.