IMPORTANT FROM THE WEST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 403, 16 August 1866, Page 3

IMPORTANT FROM THE WEST COAST.

PA TEA EXPEDITION. CAPTURE OF A PA—TEN REBELS RILLED! The Wanganui Times published an Extra on the evening of the 4th August, which contains the following from their own correspondent ; Camp Manawapou, 31st July, 1866. The Hau-baus expected that Major M’Donnell would leave Patea on the 27th to join the contingent at Waingongora, and intended to intercept him, but were disappointed. He left at 9 p.m. on the 26th, and arrived safely the next morning. The next day he received a letter from some rebel chiefs requesting him to go and meet them at Otipawa ; but knowing their treachery, and to show that he was not afraid of them, he started at half-past ten on the morning of the 28th, taking with him 80 men, camposed of Native Contingent, Patea Rangers, and some cavalry. They met the rebels, with whom are three Europeans, but no satisfactory arrangement could be come to. At two p.m, on the 29th Major McDonnell and his party returned, bringing with them a young native chief. On the morning of the 30 h one of our native women, a good hand at either the rifle or the tomahawk, went up to the rebel camp with a message from the young chief, and returned in the evening. No definite or satisfactory arrangement can be come to, bat a few days will bring matters to a crisis. We have now “ the right man in the right place,” and Major M‘i)unnell will bring them to one of two things sharp—the rebels must either make an unconditional surrender, or fight it out. You shall be kept advised of the result. Patea, 2nd August. The Military Train orderlies which arrived here to-day from the upper posts brought intelligence of an engagement which took place with the forces under Major M'Donnell and the rebels as lately as yesterday. At a late hour yesterday evening the gallant Major, with a party composed of Native Contingent and Patea Rangers attacked and captured a Maori pa soma miles from Manawapou in the neighborhood of Ketamarai; it is named, I think Opitawa. On getting up to the pa the W9rd was given to charge, and at it they went, carrying it at once with the bayonet: The rebels were evidently quite unprepared for such a sudden assault, and made a desperate though ineffectual resistance. Their casualties are reported to be tea or a dozen; there were none on the side of the loyal forces with one exception, and that a very melancholy one. It appears that one of the Rangers during the general melee, following the first rush of the troops, got between the rebel fire and that of the attacking party, and unfortunately fell from an accidental shot from his own side ot the combatants; he most probably in the excitement of the fight advanced to hotly, and thus fell a victim to his own gallantry. I believe several prizes were taken consisting of fowling pieces, spears, and green stones, and what is somewhat interesting the carbine of a trooper of the Miltary Train, murdered*some time ago at a place called “ Sound Brush,” was found aud identified. I trust to-morrow to be able to give you a more detailed report of the affair.

THE CAPTURE OF POKAKAI.

MANUTASI TO BE ATTACKED. MAJOR M‘DONNELL’i3 EXPEDITION ON THE WEST COAST. (From the Correspondent of the Wellington Independent.) Mauawapou, 4th August. Perhaps the most successful attack yet mad© on a rebel pa on this Coast was made the night before last on Pokakai, by the Colonial troops, under the command of Major M'Doimell. Pokakai is-a new place, and until a few days ago, was unknown to Europeans. It is situated about two miles north of Ohaugai, and was the central place of meeting for me tribes on the Coast. For that reason, the Major resolved upon attacking it first. At half-past four o’clock in me afternoon, Captain Wilson’s company of Military Settle i s. Captains Ross and Newland’s companies of Forest Rangers, and the Native Contingent, under Capt. M‘Donnell, about a hundred and eighty of all ranks, murciied out of camp. A few minutes after, the Major paiaded ms column, with the Cavalry under command of Lieut. Bear. After a fatiguing march of six hours through swamps and rivers swoolien by lute rains, and broken country, we arrived la the neighborhood of the pa. A reconnoitering party was then sent forward, and soon returned, reporting that all was quiet. The force remained fast until the moon rose, when

Captain "Wilson’s company was ordered to the front. The Major’s plan was to surround the pa if possible, but owing to the heavy underwood, high fences, and other obstructions in the neighborhood, it was difficult to carry it out. However, Captain Wilson managed to threw ids men out in skirmishing order on the left front, but notwithstanding the fact that silence was observed by every one before Captain Kewland had brought his men to the front Captain Wilson’s men w r ere fired into. They at once returned the fire, and charged the pa. A panic seized the rebels, and they retreated by the river, leaving their women and cildren, and thirty-one stand of arms. Aperahamama, the great Ngatiruanui chief, and five other rebels -were slain. On our side, there was only one casualty. A private in Capt. Eoss’ company named William Spain, entered a whare, and was shot by one of bis comrades, under the impression that be was one of the three Europeans who are known to he in the district. The pouch and carbine of the Military Train man who was killed some time ago, by the Hau-haus, near Waingongora, and several sums of money, varying from one to fifteen pounds; also,a quantity of cartridges were round in the whares. The women and children having been removed to a distance, the whares were fired and the place wholly destroyed. The men were then ordered to fall in, and soon after marched off, and reached camp at dawn, tired, hut satisfied with their night’s work. Yesterday Captain M'Donoell went out with a parly of the Contingent to recover eighteen horses stolen from the Cavalry a few’ nights ago by the rebels. On nearing Manatahi a boy from the village met him and said that this friends were not inclined to give up the horses for the present, but perhaps would do so when Mr Paris came into the district. Captain M'Donnell replied, that it would be better for Ids tribe to deliver them up at once. The boy then went back to the village and soon after returned and delivered the same message as before, Captain M’Bon* Bell-then returned to camp. I btlieve it is Major M‘Donne!i’s intention to march on to Manatahi to-night and aupprise it as he did Pokakai, and recover the missing horses if possible. If he does not succeed in the latter, there are plenty of horses belonging to the enemy widen can made use of if necessary. Tills FSOJST. We take the following from the Wanganui Chronicle, of the Bth August:— There has been a good deal of movement and excitement about Major M'Donnell’s quarters since the spirited brush with the rebel natives, reported in our last, but little or nothing of a definite- character has occurred The rebels appear to have taken the lesson administered on that occasion pretty well to heart, and have been making several tentative overtures for peace, which, of course, are listened to, but no more, until they shall lay down their'arms and sue in humble form. Te Ua has been among the natives of the district haranguing them and counselling peace, but he advises them to make their submission to Mr Parris of Taranaki rather than to Major M'Donnell, probably’ reckoning that easier terms may he obtained from the former than the latter, who is regarded as the embodiment of pakeha prow’ess and determination. The Major has assured these natives that he will have nothing to do with Mr Parris, and that they must submit to him or take, tho consequences. Among the prisoners taken in the recent fight was the wife of an influ entiai chief, who was made the medium of communication between the parties, and a great meeting of the natives with Major M‘Donnell was fixed to come off yesterday (Tuesday) from which important results are expected. Salutary terror, at all events, prevails over disaffection at tho present moment. An officer engaged in the fight tells ns that tho rebels lied with the utmost precipitation, leaving their guns behind them—-thirty-one of which were picked up and taken into camp. Among. the slain was Aperabama, cue of the must influential chiefs of the district.