POVERTY BAY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 383, 7 June 1866, Page 2

POVERTY BAY.

?r;oxr this district we have, intclliganes to Saturday, the 12th, but there does nos appear to be much s tirring at present. On Tuesday, tho Blh, a party cf 'Sgatiporus, under the chief Morgan, ami numbering about ono hundred, arrived at Turaj-gaMii overland from WMiapu, and received a grand ov»tioa from the friendly natives at the' latter place. Next cay the parly cf Ngatinorus ju. veiled to the camp of the Forest Hangers, distant about ten miles In in \V wuii’s Redoubt. From thence it is supposed liu-y \wii come buck to Tsimihuua’s pah. On ihe afternoon of Thursday, Hrd in.-taut, u parly of thirty live 11. 15, Volunteers and Military bottlers, under Major Fraser, arrived at Turaugtrui overland from VV airoa. Thoy left the latter place on iiis evening of Wednesday, the iuth ult. b'u'-iher partieulars with regard So this journey will appear m our next.—Tiiins, I7th May.

(From the Hawke's Kay Times, 2lat May.) Tx the last issue of the ‘Titles,’ we intimated the arrival at Poverty May of a parly of Volunteers and Military Settlers, under Major Fraser, overland.‘ fre.m Watroa; and we now, according io promise, proeetvi to give a few details—which, though necessarily imperfect, may be relied upon —regarding the rather fatiguing journey of those oi cm ; They (a force of thirty-five Hawke’s Bay Voluuteors and Ivliilitary Settlers, under Major Fraser, and accompanied by Captain Biggs, Hr Ormond, and Mr Cr. J 3, Worgan, ian., who was deputed guide) left Wairoa on tho evening of W edues.by, 25th April; and the mounted portion—numbering in all about- twenty, the rest being on foot—reached a place called Opowiti (about twenty miles) the cams night. The foot party joined Major FTsser (who was with the mounted men) nest day—-having passed the night at the church at Xo X’aaa. On Major Fraser’s arrival at Opiwili, he found that the friendly chief Ihaka Waanga had a few days before made a very clever capture of about fifty well-armed Hau-haus, among wboiu was the celebrated prophet, Hama, who, we may state, was one of those who escaped from tho Wacrangiluka pah last November, and who has since been wandering about the country, sowing the seeds of disaiibction broadcast among these who seemed to waver in their allegiance to the cause of Han-huuism. His capture, therefore, is a source of gratification. On Thursday, a party of five natives went up to a Maori plantation about ten miles from Opiwili, tailed Te lieuoi; and while abcent captured about thirty Hau-haus, who had been proceeding up the river in their canoes, which were laden with provisions. They relumed to Opivviri the same night, bringing the prisoners in with them. On Friday, the troops being short of food, Major Fraser sent out several parties to see if they could get any. One party, v. ho had gone in the direction of Te llenei, returned tho same night with a number of pigs, half a bullock, and oilier provisious-r-likewise five prisoners. The other panics were also successful in bringing in some potatoes, &c. Same day (L'rk!u\_) u Hau-hau and two friendly natives were sent out into the bush to ask the Hau-haus, who were known to bo in force there, to come in peaceably and give up their arms ; at tho same time to intimate *o them that, if they refused to surrender, they would have to put up with the consequences. ’Whether the threat had any eilcct in IVuhu-iiir.g tho rebels is not known : suffice if. to say inut the “ ambassadors” returned to jlarumaru (ho same night, bringing wicir, them a force cf 100 rebels—men, women, amt children ; and were joined nest day by all lha friendly natives, under Kopu, Faora Apatu, and Ihaka Waaugs ; together with the prisoners which had been previously taken. On Saturday, JiSUi April, a grand war nance look place, to celebrate the capture ef the prisoners—ihaka Waauga’s followers eclipsing tho others in their warlike appearance mid in the dexterity of their movements. Hie next da” being Sunday, was passed in rest, as it should be. Provision- having come up on that aay, the European force affected a start at S a.m. on Monday for Turanganui; reached To .Eenei the same afternoon, ana remained there ail

night. Parties of men were sent out to look for provisions, but were unsuccessful. Xext morning —the iorco having started on their journey at 8 a m.—soma discussion arose as to which was the proper course to pursue. However, the road pointed out by Mr W organ, jtin., (who was guide) w«s taken. It was under a range of hills, on the bank of the Wairoa river, and proved to bo very rough. After proceeding about five miles, they came across the tracks of two men and a large dog; also suw a place where some person or persons had evidently slept the night before. Ten more miles were traversed without interruption—the road, however, being excessively difficult. About 3 p.m,, while the parry were on the top of a high range, a very heavy gale of wind from the SAY. came on, accompanied with heavy rain, which latter continued without intermission till 10 p.m. As there was no firewood near the place at which the force were when the rain commenced, Maj or Fraser decided on pushing forward till ho came to where there was some. Owing to the road being so slipper)’, consequent on the rain, the pack-horses with the provisions came on very slowly, seeing which Major Fraser decided on going on without them, leaving civ men as a guard, and ordering mem to travel on tui they came lo a place where there was some bush, and proceeded to make a fire, but owing to the wood being so saturated with water, about two hours elapsed before they could get one kindled. The men having had nothing lo eat all day, and the pack horses not having arrived, they throw themselves down on their wet blankets to ** sleep—perchance to dream”—(of llan-haus or kaifctti;) Sleep, however, they could not, owing partly to their stomachs being empty, and partly to the intense cold. On Wednesday, all rose cold and hungry— with no food and no chances of mi y ; end many a w istful glance was given at a nice fat colt, belonging to one of the party. Every man now put his best foot foremost, in order to roach some place where they could get something to eat, for the cravings of hunger were now becoming unbearable. After proceeding about six miles, the men all halted, and came to the unanimous conclusion that the colt must die. Xo sooner said than done—a shat from an Enfield rule soon laying the poor colt on his “beam ends.” Idle was barely extinct from the pool' animal ere pieces were grilling on a famous tire which had been prepared by some of the patty —so eager did hunger make the pour follows. In a few minutes little was left of the unfortunate colt; and the “meal'’ bellig conclude'.!, tl’.o whole party proceeded on their inarch in reminded spirits; and about 1 p.m. rcache.'l iho top of a. higu range, !roiu which point was plainly visible the splendid bay of XurangH. About hah-past two, tne force arrived at the camp ot tueiv gallant “ companions in arms,” the iovest Rangers—the latter party greeting their arrival with three genuine British cheers. But however much Major Fraser's party relished the reception they met with when they Jirst hailed in view, they, no doubt, felt much more grateful for the hearty cheer utri comfortable beds which were provided tor them iusido the camp. Alter having passed a tolerably comfortable night, the men start’d for Turangamii, about nine miles, and on the evening of Thursday, 3rd May, they had the satisfaction of reaching iu safety the redoubt erected at that place, and named after the gallant Lfeut. Wilson.— We may here state that Oupt. Biggs, who left Wairoa with Major Fraser's party, took suddenly ill shortly after the commencement of the March, and retraced his slops to Wairoa.—As for the men with the packhorses, they, shortly after Major Fraser left them, somehow or other lost the proper truck, and were unable tq find it, or, in fact, any other ; so they dteided on returning lo Wairoa, which they accordingly did —reaching that township in safety.

AKOTUZIi ACCOUNT.

Camp Turiroa, ISth May, 18G6. I beg to forward you on account of our march from tins camp to Poverty -Bay and back again. On tho filth April a rumor came from up the country that Ivupu and Ihaka bad some HauUaus surrounded in n pah; so about thirty-five of us volunteered to go up and assist them in taking it. Wc started about 7 p.m., commanded by Major Fraser, who was accompanied by Mr Hamlin and Mr 11. Heighten, and Mr all of whom wore mounted. We reached” Te Tawa at nipht, and camped there, and nest day arrived at Opoiti, where wc found tho Queen Maoris, but the pah turned out to bo a myth. However, a great number of Hau-haus came in and gave up their arras. We stopped here until Monday morning, 20th April, when we all started for Poverty Bay, with two pack-horses, carrying biscuit, and not one of us knowing the road, and no guide of any sort. We encamped that night at To Reinga, and nest morning started again. We kept very well together till about the middle of the day, when it came on to rain most dreadfully, so the Major and some of the men who were mounted started off as hard as they could go, leaving the pack-horses and the men who were walking to follow as they best could. Seeing this, tho men who were best able to walk hurried on as Vv cli, and before night we were all scattered along the track for several miles in twos or threes, all trudging along with blankets, &c., all wet through. Tho hills were very steep, and could hardly bo climbed at all, as they were so slippery, and everybody was faint with hunger. At length night came, still raining, when some of us happened to see about 30 lbs. of biscuits that had been dropped by the Major’s party in their haste to get along, so we of course camped there, and lay down in our wet clothes and wet blankets, and could not even light a fire, as it was too darn to find any .wood, buck a night none of us had ever experienced before, and there were several old diggers amongst us. We were supposed to be inarching through the llau-hau district, and hero we were lying along the track for miles iu twos and threes. Why, twenty Han-haus could have come and killed ua all as they.came across us. However, in the morning we started again, and after walking for about two hours we came to where the Major and his party had camped, and about five miies further on we camo to a dead foil which had been shot ; and a good part of lum

eaten. dhere was also a note stuck up, saying tiiey “hoped wo were not far behind.” We stopped to rest here for almost an hour, and at last, after walking over a very rough country for about twenty-five miles further, we got to the E augers’ Camp, where we were very well treated indeed. day we got io the Wilson Eodoubt. liter we had been there a day or two, the roll was called, and it was found that seven men were missing, also the pack-horses, but not the slightest notice was taken of the event bevond a few remarks, such as—“ Poor devils; if "they have not gone back, they have been killed by the Hua-haus,” for I forgot, to tell you that in two places we all saw distinct tracks’of Maoris. Wo slopped in Poverty Pay until Sunday, 13th May, when we started to come buck again by the beach track, and arrived hero on the 17'.h instant, after camping ouo night at the Bangers’ Camp, two nights in the bush, and one at I'uhaka. Wa got on better this time, but were again short of tucker, as we had only three days’ bread served out, instead of four, and no meat of any sort ; but i presume we were expected to kill another foal. After such treatment, it will be a matter of wonder if any man over volunteers again out of the province.