The War on the East Coast.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 14, 8 April 1867, Page 82

The War on the East Coast.

TAURANGA. , •.; POUR HAU-HAUS ; KILLED, AND TWO v :. TAKEN’PRISONERS. ONE ! AEAWA ' KILLED. : (Erom the Tauranga Argus, 23rd March.) On Saturdays last, 16th insfc., 200 of the Arawas in charge of Major M/Donnell, •marched in 1 from Paengaroa en route for Rotorua, os a report had .reached town 'that the Hau-haus were mustering in. force fit that place and destroying their settlements, The Government padle steamer -Start, Captain Fairchild was at once brought into requisition for the convoy--once-of them to Maketu. She left here at two p.m. for that place, returning again on Sunday morning at daylight. Seventy -more, who came in too late on Saturday ;to be shipped with the first party (in charge of Mr G. Mail* and Lieutenant C, Pitt Ist W. R.) were then embarked. Capt. Fairchild at once got up steam and off to Maketu again, which place was reached about two p.m. Left shortly after arrival and came up the harbor about dusk. Shipped 100 of Ist Waikatos, together with fifty volunteers, in charge of Lieutenant Kidd and Ensign Curtis, for the same destination, and arrived again about two a.m on Monday. Landed them safe and then started again the same afternoon for Opotiki arriving there at halfpast S p.m. We then crossed the bar in tho steamer’s boat, and stopped at Opotiki "for an hour. Great- excitement pi’cvailed there, the bank of the river, close to. the landing plaje, being lined with eager spectators anxious to know the why and wherefore of the steamer’s visit, especially so when they saw the figure of Colonel Harrington, together with Captain Hunter, rising over the side of a vessel alongside tho small pier. Such expressions as the “ Colonel's arrived.” “ There’s something up.” • “ They come to get another batch,” and many other expressions; but they were agreeably, surprised when they found she had simply come down to bring Dr Oliver down to Maketu to join tho expeditionary force that started for Rotorua. The Volunteers were called out on Monday, as reports had come into the seiiletliat parties of twenty to thirty of the rebels were seen in close proximity to them and their intention was to attack Opotiki. The Sturt left about twelve a in., for Te • Papa via Maketu, at which price she landed Dr Oliver, and left there at six o’clock reaching it at nine a.m., on Tuesday. She then cleared out for Auckland, taking as passengers Colonel Hamilton, and Captain Marcom, H.M. 12th Regt., besides a number of discharged men. Truly is wonderful the quantity of work the St urt, (in tho hands of Capt. Fairchild) gets through ; and we have no hesitation in saying that ho has proved himself the best captain the Colonial Government ever had in their employ.

On. Monday morning an engagement took place at Rotorua, between a party of rebels, sixty in number, and between twenty and thirty Arawas. The result cl which was that four i£au«haus were killed, and two taken prisoners; one Aratva killed. He was taken up mortally wounded. Wo aro not in possession cl full particulars, but shall have them when we receive our special correspondent’s letter.: