MILITARY MOVEMENTS AT TARANAKI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 353, 26 February 1866, Page 1

MILITARY MOVEMENTS AT TARANAKI.

(From the Taranaki Herald, 17th February. We reported last week that a pa, said to be Taurabi’s, had been attacked and taken by a mixed force of troops and Bushrangers;' but we were not then able to give the particu’ars. It appears that on the 6th instant a force, consisting of 150 men of the 43rd, under Cap tai s Livesay and Talbot, and Lieutenant Lougloy, with Captain Corbett’s company of Bushrangers—Captain Harris in command—started from Tipoka at 9 p.m., and proceeded along the beach to the southward till they came to the Moatoti stream ; here they turned inland, and went up to Ngatoto, which was found deserted. They went on through the bush to Hukanui, also deserted, and then still further inland to Piripiri, the place they were seeking, which was reached about I*6o on.the morning of tbo'Gth* Captain Corbett and some of bis natives were in front, and when they got to the foot of the hill on which the whares stand a dog began barking, having no doubt beard them ; but the natives appeared to be incredulous of danger, for one of them came out and abused the dog for making such a noise. It was now deemed prudent to await till dawn, just before which oue of the friendly natives (E;ariki) crept up to the whares, and came back reporting that he had heard the natives snoring. At dawn the advance was made,! Captain Livesay’s company taking the left, j Captain Corbett’s the right—the other companies acting as supports. There was a little tiring from the whares on the left (which were lower down than the others) as the troops advanced, but the natives bolted from the ones above, completely surprised apparently, and without having had lime to pick up their guns. One of them was shot while escaping by Captain .Corbett himself, and more would have been killed if the supports and some of the rear of Captain Corbett’s own company hud not from the dimness of the light, we suppose—taken those in front fur rebels and opened fire on them, forcing them to lake cover and wounding two. Two Maoris were said to*have been shot near the whares on the left, and two more in the bush, making (if the statement is correct) five kil led in all. After destroying the whares and crops, the force proceeded through the bush to the southward for a mile and a half or two miles, when they came to another pa, Ngaarikierua. which was palisaded in front, but had no defences to speak of behind. The rebels were heard bore shouting the words Pai Marire, with unintelligible gibberish in the intervals, at the same time firing off their guns, but they did not get their courage up to the sticking point, and retreated without offering serious opposition. One of the whares here was found fitted up as a blacksmith’s shop>, with forge, bellows, anvil, and tools complete. The place was destroyed entirely, and the crops partially, and the force leturned by way of Te Manila to the camp at Tipoka. On the following day, the 7th, Captain Harris, with some of the 43rd ami the Bushrangers, proceeded to Ngatoto, where the whares were destroyed and some of the crops, but the rain coming on. Captain Harris retired, leaving the work unfinished. On Friday, the 9th, word was brought to the camp at Opunake tl at W, King!, Matakatea, Heremaia, and 40 or 50 of their followers, had gone over to the enemy. The news was hardly crediud in the camp, and a letter was sent up to them to ascertain the

truth, but Heremaia on receiving the letter rammed it down his gun and fired it off, which was his only answer, at the same time informing the messenger (Tamati Kaweora) that he would be shot if he came again. On Sunday an old Maori woman is reported to have given information of those natives and others having laid an ambush at Te Kamu for the purpose of cutting off small parties going from the camp. In consequence cf this Captain Livesay, with some of the 43rd, and Captain Mace’s mounted men went up to Nukuteapiapi (Matakatea’s place inland) for the purpose of destroying it. Shots were exchanged without any effect, the natives retired from the scene, and the place was , burnt. On Monday last, about the Middle of the day, Captain Mace and the mounted men came iuto town, having been to Wanganui and back. They went on as part of General Chute’s force as far as Waiugongoro, and then asked leave to go on to Wanganui by thems Ives, which was readily granted. General Chute, we believe, having expressed himself very much pleased with the services they had rendered. They left Waingongoro (Waimate) on Monday,'the sth, reaching Wanganui the same night at 10 o’clock, though delayed for two or three hours by the tide at the Whenuakura. Stayed till Thursday, when they started homeward, again arriving at Patea the same day. The next day came on to Waingongoro, the plains about which place are fairly swarming with horses and cattle. On Saturday, they arrived at Opuuake, and on Sunday took part in the attack on Nukuteapiapi, as already mentioned. Ou Monday they came into town, bringing with them about twenty horses taken from the enemy’s country. At a late hour last evening we received the following particulars from the mounted men who have returned to town of the operations, und~r Colonel Synge, 43rd L. 1., against W. Kingi,Matakatea, and Hereniaia’snatives. On Thursday a force of about 300 men of the 43rd L.I. marched three anda-half miles inland of Urauroa, and destroyed a village from which the natives decamped on the approach of the troops iuto the bush which surrounds it. The natives kept up a smart fire from the bush, which the troops returned. After burning the whares and destroying tho crops, the force returned, and were followed by the natives to the edge of the forest, where they succeeded in wounding two men —private Miles severely in hip, and another man in the angle slightly. Colonel Synge’s force is returning to Warea, and, it is said, thence in town. On g.dng down, at three o’clock in the morning from Warea, mounted men saw two Maori dogs on the beach beyond Tipoka, and, on returning on Thursday, about halfpast 10 p.m., saw a light, and several dogs rushed out of the flax between the-Marchio-ness and Warea. No doubt, on both occasions, the rebels were close by, and were probably preparing to lay ambuscades, and it was fortunate that they failed in their object, as the mounted men were only eight in number.