SIEGE AND FALL OF NGATIPA.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 155, 30 January 1869, Page 5

SIEGE AND FALL OF NGATIPA.

The following Despatch from Colonel .Vhitmore is taken from a recent Gazette : “ Turanganui, Jan. 8. Sir —I have the satisfaction of informing the Government that on the sth instant the bush and mountain fortress of Ngatipa —the chosen stronghold of Kooti and his vand of murderers —fell into the hands of the Colonial Forces. Previous reports wing the account of the siege to the 4th instant. On that day the sorties of the enemy along our whole line became frequent, and Major Frazer, who had charge of the rear, sent to inform me that he feared he could not much longer prevent the escape of the enemy, unless I caused an immediate attack. I requested Ropata to send out scouts to make a more minute examination of the position, and learned from them that the outer ditch and wall mi<dit be taken by a concealed movement. I despatched a party of A.C, (No. 8, Arawa) and thirty Ngatiporou to carry out this project, resolving, when in possession of the outer work, to blow up the inner lines. The party advanced under cover of the bush, the attention of the enemy being engaged by a heavy fire from all the trenches, and with a bound and a cheer they scaled the edge of the cliff and took possession of the left extremity of the work, the enemy immediately retiring. Meantime the right was seized by Wikiriwhi and Arapata with their men. This operation was finished by dark, and by dawn our men were but a few feet from the com-

pletion of my purpose when we learned that the enemy were escaping. The fortification was immediately entered by our men, when it appeared that Kooti had made off, lowering his men and some of the women down the steepest and therefore least guarded part of the cliff. The escape had scarcely been finished when we entered the fortification, and the enemy were so weakened by insufficient food and prolonged watching that I was confident of overtaking the fugitives. A large part of the native force was at once in eager pursuit. By sundown the number of killed, either in the pah or in the pursuit, had reached 120. By night of the following day most of the pursuers had returned, bringing two of ivooti’s wives, and 136 of the band were killed.

Although the women fought and excited ! the men by their cries, I am happy to say that in obedience to my orders they and ! the children were spared. Had it been c ther'.v;'r;e, the ordinary customs of Maori wa v '.ve, and the s" 'gular attrocities committed by Kooti’s band, might have palliated the want of mercy ; and the obedience of the Ngatiporou and Arawa is proportionately creditable. I blew up the main fortification in the manner I had already planned, and the result was an excellent breach. I then tired a sa’.ute of twenty-one guns from the cohorn, and on the evening of the 7th and morning of the Bth evacuated the hill The total number of the enemy certainly ascertained to be killed, up to the time of the last pursuers, is 136 ; but I am generally informed more were killed than have been recorded, and many of the wounded must have died in the mountainous forest which extends for many miles in every direction in rear of the fortress. Among the dead are many men of note—Nikora, of Ngathineuri, the leader of the murdering party, and Eangiaho, one of the highest of the Uriwera chiefs, are the best known. The pursuers were few, if any of them, acquainted with Kooti, and it is possible he may be among the killed; at all events defeated, twice wounded, a fugitive, and failing in his prophecies, he is not likely again to trouble the district, or assemble a fresh band of assassins, evert should he survive the hardships before him, or escape the vengeance of the Uriwera upon an im poster. Thus the murders of our unfortunate countrywomen and their children have been avenged on the spot chosen as the strongest in a very rugged forest country, by the wretches who perpetrated these crimes.

The harmonious working of the Colonial Forces, composed of about equal numbers of Europeans and Maoris, has thus conquered unprecedented difficulties, and I feel it almost impossible to select for praise out of a force all of whom displayed extraordinary zeal. * *

I trust I shall not be thought to lay too much stress on the capture of Ngatipa, which, besides the interest attaching to the overcoming of the physical difficulties of forest and mountain, and distance from supplies, has the great advantage of reassuring our men as to their own capacity to deal with a desperate and remorseless enemy, and to perform any service which the colony can require at their hands.— I have, &c., G. S. Whitmore, Colonel.”

Casualty Return of the Killed and Wounded at the seige of Ngatipa, Ist to sth January, 1869 :

Officers Killed. —Sub-Inspector Captain Brown, No. 7 Division, A.C.

Officers Wounded. —Acting Sub-Inspector Capel, No. 7 Division, A.C. Non-commissioned Officers and Men Killed.— No. 1 Division, A C. : Sergeant Hetaraka, Constable M'Ewen, Constable Sawyer, Constable Cbislett. No. 3 Division, AC. : Constable Clarendon. Ngatiporous : Hori Pourewa, Rapata Paingaware, Hunia Huapapa, Heremiah Taurai, Himiona Matahu. Non-commissioned Officers and Men Wounded. No 1 Division, A.C. : Constable Crosbie. No. 3 Division, A.C.: Constable Smith, Constable Clancey. No. Division, A.C. (Arawas) : Constable Ihaia Matunua. Ngatiporou; Horepa Pobino, Herewini Te Mano, Riwai Pukerua. Total.—One officer, and ten non-commissioned officers and men killed. One officer, and seven non-commissioned officers and men wounded.— G. S. Whitmore, Colonel.