THE EAST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 665, 18 March 1869, Page 3

THE EAST COAST.

ARRIVAL OP THE «vv r Ei_.i_,itsra-TOisr ; WITH IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE EAST COAST. TE KOOTI AGAIN IN THE FIELD. PARING ATTACK BY THE HAUIIAUS. FALL OF RAUPOROA PA. fORTY-FIVE HAUIIAUS AND TWELVE FRIENDLY NATIVES KILLED. WHAKATANE DESTROYED. (From the Daily Southern Cross, 15th March.) (V.":3li>' Ti-VBLT! excitement was caused in j. off n on Saturday evening on the arrival of the ss Tativanga from the East Coast. All sorts of rumors, mors or Jess exaggerated flr wide of the mark, were afloat. However, we regret to say that it is impossible to shut our eyes to the critical state of affaire on the East Coast, the dospera-lo TV Kooti, widi a considerable number of followers, being again in the field. He has it appears attacked the friendly natives «ith the same remorseless fury as characterised his attacks on the Europeans. He has already beseiged and captured Hohaia's ~., a t Rauporoa kdling several of its gnrriL n . attacked a fortified house and ki'led all its defenders but one, and destroyed the gcttlement of Whakatane. The loss he has inflicted on the friendly natives is variously stated, but taking the most reliable accounts, it is about 12, while his own los* is reported to be 45. So far, therefore, lie has not gained very much ; but at present we do not exactly know the amount of tint jrinrv he lias inflicted. There is, how ever one view of the matter which contains something of consolation in it. His attack on friendly natives will unite them against him, as one man, and, though, he may at the outset, gain some successes it is not diftlailt to foresee that he will bring certain destruction upon himself and his fanatic followers.

j Ir wi 1 be remembered fh.it n few days aao we |nbliahed some intelligence of the death of Mr Pitcairn, which had been derived from native sources, and it was hoped that the report would turn out to be incorrect. We regret to say that it has been confirmed. We stated, also, some (lavs iijjo, that Rakuraku and 50 followers had been taken prisoners by Te Kooti. At that time, as no mtel igence of the kind had been received by tha authorities in Auckland, the correctness of the report was doubted. The news brought by the Tauran;;a, however, mainly confirms ir, the fact bring that Rakuraku's party joined IV Kouil by arrangement, this siiow of being made prisoners being a mere ruse. It would arpear that Te Kooti, with a considerable number of followers, arrived at Rakuraku's pa on the 2nd inst. The name of the pa is Whakaraae, and it is Bituated immediately inland of the harbor of Ohiwa, which, as we explained in a previous issue, is midway between Gpofiki and Whakatane, the former beinrr the further distant from Taurangu, which stands about, midway between Mercury Bay and Whakatane. The pa of Whakaraae (Riikuraku's pa) is situate on a commanding hill about a mile and a half inland of the head of the water of Ohiwa. and is visible from all parts of Ohiwa, and we believe from the sea. Its position is each that it could not be easily surrounded, as it is barked by a bush. We may state that we have been informed by a correspondent that on the 201 h Te Kooti was at Maungupoukato, and Mr Commissioner Clarke went down and lnd all the women and children removed from Rakuraku's pa,and by his instructions the pa \va? strengthened. The natives had planted crops in the neighborhood., and professed their anxiety to remain and gather them It appears that on the 2nd Te Kooti's party arrived at Rakuraku's pa. Te Kooti appears to have surrounded the pa, and the inmates surrendered without the slightest show of resistance ; in fact, it appears that die whole affair had been pre-arranged. and that the form of a surrender was gone through merely to add prestige to IV Kooli's arms, and to intimidate the friendly natives along tho East Coast. For some time previous no ii e 3 were lit in order that the attention of the friendlynatives might not be attracted. At this time there was a party of natives at Marsh's pa, on the eastern side of the Ohiwa Harbor, while at Rauporoa pa there were about 40 Arawas, who had previously been reinforced by 10 of the Ngatipukeko. The pa of Rauporoa had been strengthened some days previously in anticipation of an attack" by the Hauhaw. Te Kooti's followers and Rakuraku's people had fraternised, and Te •Kooti inquired whether any Europeans *ere living in the ceighborhood. He was informed that Mr Pitcairn lived at Ohiwa, and in the evening Te Kooti paraded fen of his old comrades of the Chatham Islands. It is stated that they were all ■wetted like soldiers, and that Te Kooti four revolvers in his belt, with his Word by his tide and a telescope in his hind. intimately Hemi Kakitu, and »angiaho were told off to make ihe attack. We may state this Rangiaho is not the feme man that shared Te Kooti's fortunes

at Ngatapa. The murderers proceeded to Te Tarawai, and there procured a canoe, and soon reached the island of Uretara, in the middle of the Ohiwa harbor. Mr Pitcairn, ifc appears, was out shooting at the time. We have been informed that Mr Pitcairn had been warned of the dange rof. his situation, and removed to Ohiwa island as a place of safety. The island, however, afforded no refuge whatever, as it coufd be approached on foot at low tide. Mr Pitcairn had often been told that the locality in which he had been sur veu"g was quite unsafe, but on every occasion he expressed his firm tnist in Rakuraku's people, from whom he exo "cted to receive notice of any intended attack He had been advised to remove to the mill near Hohaia's pa at Raupora, but declined to do so. The murderers on their arrival in the island, found there a native woman who had acted as housekeeper to Mr Pitcair-, an old man and a boy. The murderers threatened to kill the woman — whose name is Ruta—if she would not betray Pitcairn. She appears to have consented ; in fact her treachery is of t he basest description, On his arrival on the ishmrl in his' canoe, Ruta met Mr Pitcairn and asked him for his gun, but he declined to give it up and stepped out of the canoe, proceeding towards his house. The woman still urged him to give up his gun, and on his persisting in his refusal she caught hold of it. Ilemi, one of the murderers, then stepped forward from his hiding-place and snatched the gun whilb at i tlie same time Rangiaho struck Mr Pitcairn on the left side of the head, completely, cleaving Ids skull. One or two more h!o'.vs wera dealt, and the body was draggod into the hut—the stores which Mr Pitcairn had procured from Mr Simpkin's store at Whakatane on the Monday, being packed up and taken away. Mr Pitcairn's watch and instruments were also stolen, the body of the unfortunate gentleman, being left in the hut. After this cowardly deed the bond of murderers returned to Whakarae, Kuku raku's pa, taking with them the woman Ruta, who had betrayed Mr Pitcairn. On the same night a party of the Upokorake tribe at the Hokianga pa were surprised and taken prisoners The next day a native woman named Wereweri, who had accompanied Mautuanui, wife of Ol.ena, m Whakatane, was taken btfore '1 e Kooti. as also was Kuta. Te Kooti informed them that he did not intend to attack Wliakaton • but that the Hauliau yod had given him the whole of the ftast Coast as far as the East Cape, and that ho wovdd attack all the settlements in detai 1 . All who did not oppose him he would allow to remain in quiet posses.-ion of their land, but those who took uart against him he would drive them from the face of the earth. lie sys he will first attack the Arawa, then Opotiki, and exterminate the Ngatiporou. men, women, and children.

C'n Tuesday, the 9th instant, Te Kooti, with a party of about 20'.? men, proceeded to the pa occupied by Uohaia, which, as we have stated, is called Rauporoa, on the Whakatane river. The garrison of the pa observed their approach, but as they displayed a white flag they were taken fin Arawas. They contrived to get close to the pa under cover of a large housi*, situate about 30 yards outside, and several women and children who were outside called out to thorn " Haere mai, haere mai" The] garrison, had, however, been on guard, n\ d as soon as the attacking parly got sufficiently near, they were recognised, and a tremendous volley was fired at them from the whole face of the pa and twelve fell dead. Te Kooti's men returned the fire, killing llori Tuisui, a leading chief, and a woman, who were outside welcoming them. The Ngatipukcko (Uohaia*s people) then rushed outside and drove the enemy away, slaying eight more of them. The llauhaus took shelter behind the house, and had a karakia, after which they commenced sapping up to the works. For] three whole days the siege was continued, until the sap had approached close to the palisades. The besiegers then threw ropes over the palisades, and pulled down a por tion of them, producing a practicable breach. They must have been considerably taken aback when they found confronting them a ditch and parapet. Te Kooti pro bably having suffered heavy loss, and being short of ammunition, proposed a parley. The gallant defenders of the pa had been two whole days without water, though the river flowed at the very base of the ii ill on which their pa was built, within twelve yards of them, and owing to the ii.ferior nature of the Government cart ridges they had great difficulty in keeping their guns from fouling. It will hardly be credited, but the fact is attested by the most t! us'worthy natives, that in this extremity the garrison were reduced to the necessity of using urine to clean out their guns. When the parley was proposed they ceased firing, and the fighting chief of Hohaia's party, Te Meihana, replied to Te Kooti, who said he meant no harm towards them, aud would offer them the option of either making common cause with him, or remaining neutral while he attacked the Aravva. He presented Meihana with a new revolver as a pledge of his friendship. The fighting chief accepted the revolver, but said no truce would be made unless Te Kooti and his party removed to the other side of the river. The Ngatipukeko, a hapu of the tribe of Ngatihaus, expressed their determination to continue the fighting, notwithstanding they were short of anmunition, unless the besiegers would cross the river. No sooner had Te Kooti's party retired than the defenders of the pa sent away their women and children towards Richmond, situate at the junction of the Rangitaika and Tara< wera rivers. To keep Te Kooti in check, twenty picked men were placed on the side

of the pa towards the opposite bank of the Whakatane river. The remainder of the garrison then left the pa, following the women. Serine his mistake, Te Kooti again attempted to coss the river, but whilst doing so his men were so exposed to the fire of the garrison that they were compelled to seek cover. Te Meihana and his twenty picked men then retired, forty tf Te Kooti's cavalry pursuing ill em. Shots were exchanged, but the progress of the cavalry was impeded by the bush, and the pursuit was-only continued a distance of five n.iles. One of our informants states that there were a number of horses in the pa, upon which Te Meihana and hia men escaped. However this may be, I hev succeeded in reaching Matata with the loss of one horse. Too much praise cannot be given to these plucky fellows for the gallant defence they made. Th ir gross number could not have exceeded * , 100 of whom were under Te Meihana and llapariri, 00 of whom were Nyafipukekoa, and 20 Ngatiana under Hori Kawakura. All of these men were in arms against us, but having been beaten their land was confiscated, one-half of it being given back to them as an act of grace. Ever since they have remained staunch.

A native woman, who visited Whakatane after the fight, was told by Te Kooti's own people that they had sustained a loss of 45 killed. The loss of Hohaia's party was only 12, so that in this case Te Kooti was clearly the loser, besides suffering the mortification of being outwitted. While t'.ie attack on ivauporoa was taking place, a small party bad been despatched by Te Kuoti to attack the house of a Frenchman named John Guerin, better known a 3 Johnny, on the opposite side of the Ohiwa river The Frenchman had previously put his house into a thorough state of defence, and at the time of the attack the garrison consisted of him self, two women, two < hildren, and three men. 1 hey defended themselves in the most courageous manner, repulsing Ihe Hauhaus four times, but at length their ammunition was exhausted, and all except the Frenchman and one native were killed. The two then attempted to make their escape across the river to the pa on the opposite side, but in the retreat the Frenchman was killed, the native es caping with a wound in his shoulder to Matata. He reported that he had shot three of the enemy with his own hand, and that the Frenchman had fought desperately, killing a great number. He also reported that about fifty Arawas had left the other side of the Ohiwa for Whakatane, and wo may add that 40 more men have since been despatched to the same place. On Friday mrrning last, the 12th, Vltjor Mair went down from Opotiki and occupied a strong position at (he mouth of the Whakatane river, and on the edge of a steep range which runs inland towards the Frenchman's house already mentioned, Miijor Mair went out, with a party of men, to reconnoitre Te Kooti's whereabouts, and proceeded inland in the direction of the mill, where he found Te Kooti, in great { M'ce. On seeing the approaching force Te Ko< ti sent out his cavalry to meet them, and, on Major Mail's party preparing to receive the a tack, he supported the cavalry with his infantry. Maj -r Mt>r judged it advisable to retire, and accordingly re turned to his former position in the piss between the hill and the Whakatane liver. M-jor Mair's present force is said to be 20'', about equally compos' dof Maoris and Europeans. Te Kooti's force—from the reconnaissance made by Major Mair —is es'imated at about 300, 70 of v\hom are yavalry. It is probable, how. ever, that be will be reinforced by 15(J Whakatoheas who were in the bush.

Mr Pitcairn's body was brought in on the sth lo the Arawu pa. Mi* Simpkins, the Whakatane storekeeper, having taken out a party to Uretave, where the murder took place. Mr Simpkins himself, we are in formed, had a narrow escape. His store was robbed of its contents and razed to the ground, and he only escaped with his life. On Wednesday last, Te Koofi's forces moved down to the village of Whakatane, and burnt it to the ground, and on the following day they destroyed the Roman Catholic mission station, A few stand of arms have been issued to the fiiemi'y natives who were in want of them. Wnilst on this subject, we may mention that the tra.torßakuraku had been supplied with a number of stand of arms Un Friday last, as the Tauranga left, Te Kooti was within 1,000 yards of Major Mair's position, and an attack was feared. It is thought from Te Kooti's conduct that he estimates the gairison to be weaker than it really is, and that he will be emboldened to make an attack.

Captain Simpson left Tauranga on Friday morning last, with seventy men as a reinforcement to Major Mair.

To Kooti was observed from the decks of the Tauranga, galloping about on a gray horse, within 7CO or 600 yards of Major Mair's positien. He was attired in a red shirt, with boots and breeches, a sword is suspended from his side, and no fewer than lour revolvers are placed in his belt. His men were firing at Major Mair's position, while mounted orderlies were galloping about in all directions, saluting their chief, >md receiving orders in regular military fashion.

The Tauranga, which returned on Saturday night, did not remain long in harbor. Early yesterday morning the Kesi dent Minister, the hon. Dr. Pollen, was astir making arrangements for the conveyance of stores and ammunition for the use of the force at Whakatane. The utmost despatch was used by Captain Sellars and his crew, and by noon the Tauranga steamed gallantly away for the East Coast.

* The number is left blank, apparently by accident, in the Southern Cross.