THE NATIVE REBELLION.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 164, 20 March 1869, Page 4

THE NATIVE REBELLION.

/ — o — LATEST FROM THE FRONT. SURPRISE OP THE REBELS. Captain Cracknell, of the Falcon, reports that just before sailing from Wellington on Wednesday, the coach came in from Wangrnui, bringing information to the effect that Colonel Whitmore and party had met with the rebels unexpectedly in the bush, and was able to fire a volley among them. It was stated 4 Europeans had been killed, and 12 wounded. The loss of the rebels was not known, but, as usual, they sought safety in flight, leaving their women and children, together with their cooking utensils and luggage in the hands of our men.

ATTACK UPON AN ESCORT. The following is from the Chronicle of 11th March : A gentleman who rode into town last night furnishes us with the following particular’s of an attack which was made by an ambuscade of the rebels yesterday : An escort of a mixed force of 40 men, composed of Armed Constabulary, Patea Rifles, and Carlyle Volunteers, and mounted men, along with four other travellers (of whom our informant was one), started from Patea for Wairoayesterday forenoon. Lieut. Hunter, of the Patea Rifles, was the officer in command, but—if our informant is correct—he neglected to take even the most ordinary precautions to prevent a surprise on the march. Neither videttes nor scouts were detailed for duty.

This force acted as an escort to seven drays carrying three thousand rations, which the contractors, Messrs. Beamish and Dale, were despatching to Wairoa, to which post a forward movement of 500 troops was being made the same day. A flock of sheep was also being driven along. At half-past one o’clock the force was b

irought to a temporary stand on the other side of the Whenuakura river. The infantry were standing about while the foremost files of horsemen and one of the carts were in the act of fording the river, when an unexpected volley was fired from a concealed force of Maoris, variously estimated at from 100 to 150.

On the first discharge one man, a stockman, it is believed, was seen to fall. A second and heavier volley burst from the heights, and afterwards a hot fire wasopened on both sides. Our informant was on this side of the river at the time, and proceeded to make the best of his way to Waitbtara, where he apprised a portion of the field force, that was there crossing for Wairoa, of the matter.

A trooper or two who afterwards rode up to Waitotara gave but a gloomy prospect of the affray ; but it is only reasbnable to suppose that panic may ;have influenced their descriptions. So far, we only know of the existence of a skirmish on the sea beach ; the result is yet quite unknown to us.

It is to be hoped that the firinginay have been heard at Patea or at an advanced post beyond Wairoa, or that tidings may have reached either of these posts, in which case assistance must have been rendered.'

As soon as further particulars come to hand, we will make them public. It was known, for some days previously,, that the enemy were in that locality, as their fires were visible at Gentle Annie, and on Monday they advanced near the mouth ot the Whenuakura and burned the house of Wright, the ferryman.

The following is the report of the Wanganui Times: — Mr. Dale arrived in town at 8 o’clock last night bringing the following news

At 2 p.m. yesterday, an escort consisting 1, of about 50 men, under the command of Lieut. Hunter, conveying rations and stores from Patea to Wairoa, were attacked by a party of about 100 to 150 rebels, at the Patea side of the Whenuakura river. It appears that whilst the first dray was in the act of crossing the river a volley was fired into the escort, on which one man, who had been driving sheep, fell, but whether shot or thrown from his horse, Mr. Dale cannot say. Our men immediately took shelter alongside the drays, and opened fire upon the rebels. As the attacking party had got behind our men, and also had some men at this side of the river, our men, so few in number, could neither retreat to Patea, nor cross the river and escape on this side, they would have to fight it out, and were doing so manfully when Mr. Dale left.

Col. Whitmore moved his head-quarters yesterday morning from Wereroa to Wairoa, and was therefore within about seven miles of the eight or nine drays and escort, when attacked. Being inland of the rebels he had them between him and the sea, so that we may expect in the course of to-day to hear that the escort held their own until relieved, either from Patea or the Wairoa. Since Sunday last smoke has been seen at Gentle Annie, and rebels have been seen prowling about in that direction. Where Titokowaru is, or where his head-quarters are established, has not been ascertained. Certain it is, however, that he has a strong force in Col. Whitmore’s rear—in fact on the Waitotara, whilst our main body is now either at Patea or within a few miles of it. We are in hourly expectation of- further intelligence. ALAEMING NEWS PEOM WAIKATO. We received the following telegram from our Hamilton correspondent yesterday : “ Hamilton, March 5.

Mr Hetit has just arrived. The natives are in a very excited state in the district between here and Alexandra.

Tamati Kgapora has prbmised to give warning to Europeans if he possibly cun in the event of war.

He, however, advises us to be on our guard.

Tamati does not know the whereabouts of Keihana and his party. The late projected attack pn Alexandra is fully confirmed.” Other telegrams were also received later in the day stating that the King had sent messengers warning the settlers at Alexandra to be on their guard against Keihana. It is also stated that the King and Tamati Ngapora will do their utmost to prevent the Europeans being surprised. i The Waikato natives were much annoyed at the news of the murders at the White Cliffs, and a monster meeting is shortly to be held at Tokangamutu, at which matters will be calmly discussed. Tawhiao has also sent a message to the natives who are engaged digging gum at Kgaruawahia to return at once across the aukati. —Southern Cross. . .I’.;.' I '!■ -I* f ; ANOTHER MURDER BY THE HAUHAU3. The Independent of the 11th says a European named John Grimmel has been killed by Te Warn, who is supposed to bo building a pa at Waikaremoana. Te Warn had made overtures to the XJriweras, but they declined to join either him or TeKooti, Te Kooti is at Waimana, a branch of the Wakatana, some 20 to 30 miles from Opotiki. He is reported to have borne 200 men with him, ' ' '

The resident Maoris in Taranaki have declared that they will prevent any disturb ances taking place in their district.

TB KOOTI PREPARING TO ATTACK OPOTIKI.

The A dvertiser says a letter ’.from Majo Hair, dated Opotiki, March 3rd, was re. ceived by the St, Kilda, which .Visited the place on that day to. obtain information. Te Kooti had left the Waioeka Valley on the 20th ult., for Maungapohatu to unite his forces .with those of Era te Maikowha, Tbibwh in Opotiki r as “ the murderer,” from the fact that all the murders committed in the district for two years past were his work. The Waikato party said to have joined him, consist of about 16 Ngatiporou (the wandering gang who deatrof€|iHhe Frith-Thompson monument at Matamata), and as many Erewera ; Anarii Matete, of Poverty Bay, Te Munu, Te Kewene, and Te Popata were the leaders of ' the party. They joined Te "Kooti.before he left Waioeka. He endeavored to get . Urewera to join in an attack on Opotiki, before he left, but they replied by inviting ,him to Maungapohatu. Kooti had talked of returning to Poverty Bay, but Major Mair, had no idea he would do so, whilst a garrison of constabulary remained. He was more likely to direct his attention to Opotiki, Ohiwa, or Whakatane. Major Mair seems to have been at ease about Opotiki, but

expected one or the other to be attacked. On the day of writing it had been learned that the enemy were at Otara, on the Waimana liver, evidently menacing Ohiwa, from which place they were 20 miles distant. Their force was estimated at 130 to 140, or, if the Kuatahuna people had joined, somewhat more. Of these upwards of 50 are believed to be Chatham Island men. The garrison at Ohiwa is sixty strong, and these are friendly, besides Major Mair believes the loss at Kgatapa to have been over-estimated. The Government, however, possess a nominal return drawn up by refugees from Kooti’s camp, which brings the number up to a higher point than Major Mair’s calculation. This letter is so far satisfactory that it proves the garrisons at Opotiki and Ohiwa were not in the dark as to Kooti’s movements, and could hardly have been surprised by his force. It is in the last degree improbable that Rewi had joined, or, indeed, would join. His game, if warlike, is higher, and Kooti is not likely to accept a secondary part after his late career of absolutism.”

There are three redoubts at Opotiki, ■which are garrisoned by 151 men, besides 25 of the Armed Constabulary. A number of friendly natives, Arawas, have also been armed by the Government, so that they will be prepared to defend the settlement against any force that Te Kooti can bring against it. Two of the outposts, being some (distance from town, could be surrounded, but they could not be taken whilst the garrison had provisions. [lt will be remembered that our telegrams last week stated that Opotiki was surrounded by Te Kooti on the 11th.] LETTER PROM THE KING. The Government have this morning made public the contents of the letters from the Maori King to his subjects, rumours in reference to which caused so much uneasiness yesterday. Assuming that all of it is published, taken by itself it is one of those ambiguous Maori productions which may mean anything or nothing, except to those who have a clue to the mystery, although, on the face of it, it appears to resemble a warlike quite as much as a peaceful proclamation. But it does not require the

letter to show us that an extensive rising of the King party is in contemplation. We have had warning after warning that such a contingency may at any moment occur. We give subjoined the letter of the Maori King, as published by the Government. The messenger who brought it is known at Upper Wanganui as Eihari Eupahu, or Richard the humbug. The Government announce that Mete Kingi, from whom their copy was received, accepts it as genuine, and read it as peaceful; but the promise of conducting these new “Israelites” to the house of their ancestor, on which event peace will supervene, seems to us to have rather a warlike meaning, if it means anything at all: ORIGINAL OF TAWHIAo’s LETTER. He toranga ringaringa i te tau ki nga hoa i te moth e manakohia nei e au. 1. Te iwi, e moe, kei tahuri mai ki ahau, ke te moe te motu. l P ' 1. Te iwi i roto, o ipbe, inaaku kpe o kawe ki te whare o tou tapuua o Iharbira. ' 1 , 2. Tera e hoki te ia ki tooha Marihotanga. ' ■ Na Taawhiao. TRANSLATION. , - “ A stretching forth of the hand during the year to the friends in the island which I love. “ Oh,, people ! sleep !do not turn round upon me ; the island sleeps ‘ ‘ Oh people within the pale of Kingism, sleep ! I will .conduct you to the house of your ancestor, —of Israel. , j “2. The wave of the rapid will hereafter return to its state of calm. ■ ,■ - :•■ “Tawhaio.”