TARANAKI.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 44, 3 November 1860, Page 2

TARANAKI.

CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL OF EVENTS. [From the Taranaki Herald, .] Saturday, October 6.—A party of 30 men, under Lieutenant Wrixon, 65th regiment, proceeded to-day, as an escort to carts, to Rata Nui, Captain Charles Brown’s farm, four miles in the forest, for timber. Intelligence received from Waitara that the Tasmanian Maid dragged her anchor during the flooded state of the river occasioned by the late rains, and has been run on the north bank of the Waitara. The Wonga Wonga started at eleven this morning to reconnoitre the coast towards Warea, and returned at four, p.m. Weather fine. Sunday, 7.—lt is rumoured that Governor Browne has tendered his resignation in consequence of SirG. C. Lewis’s despatch on the war; and that an attack upon Auckland by the Wailcatos was apprehended. Monday, 8. —Ropiha visited Mataitawa on Saturday, where a party of Wi Kingi’s allies, the Puketapus, are located, with a permission from the District Commissioner (Mr. Parris) for Matin, the brother of Raniera, the assessor, who had expressed his desire to join the friendly natives, to accompany him back again. Ropiha returned this morning, bringing with him not only Matiu, but six other rebels, with four women, who, for reasons best known to themselves, have come over to the friendly side, and amongst them Hoera Pirere, or Big Joe, Manahi’s brother, who, it seems, has come over in a fit of vexation occasioned by some quarrel with his southern friends. On the receipt of the intelligence that Big Joe was one of the party, Mr. Parris requested a number of friendly natives, with Tahana and Raniera at their head, to proceed to the spot where the rebels were (on the edge of the forest, near Suyirt’s farm) and bring him in by force, if necessary, and make him prisoner. An eye witness, who could see the proceedings from the pa at Waiwakaiho, saw Raniera’s party advance. On nearing the bush they fired their pieces in the air as a token of of amity,- which was returned by the rebels. Others were seen to join and salule each other, firing off more guns, and after the lapse of an hour or more, the whole were seen to leave the bush and come towards the friendly pah at Waiwakaiho. Firing was still kept up during the march, and on crossing the Waiwakaiho bridge all the women from the different pahs congregated and set up the most dismal howling imaginable, taken up afterwards by the men.

When the rebels arrived at the. pah, Big Joe was seen to be the leader, _ marching past with great coolness and audacity, and on coming within a few yards of the resident natives, they also took up the howling, which was kept up by both sides without intermission : some of the old hags vying with each other who could howl the loudest, for two hours. When this Maori mode of greeting had subsided, rubbing noses and more crying commenced, which ended, all sat down, when Mr. Parris, who had ridden into town when the party had crossed the bridge, came up and addressed a few words to.them, at the conclusion of which Big Joe stepped forward and laid his musket at Mr. Parris’ feet, and was followed by the rest, and the muskets were taken possession of by a, policeman. Not a word was spoken by the rebels during the whole affair. About this time a party of military arrived under Lieut. Chevalier, 65th Regt., when Mr. Parris requested Big Joe to follow him. Big Joe, apparently knowing all about it, got up, cast a look at the military, coolly took off his cartouche-box, handed it over to a native, and placed himself between a file of soldiers with fixed bayonets, and marched into town, apparently under the impression that it was a mere matter of form. As the party approached the town, numbers of the townspeople were on their way to see the murderer, Manahi’s brother, the notorious rebel, Big Joe; and by the time the party reached the barrier gate in Devon-street, there was scarcely room to get through the crowd, who were groaning and hissing at the prisoner. Joe, however, never winced, and maintained his bold and defiant look; he was then, lodged in the goal and ironed. The other six rebels and four women are left at large at Waiwakaiho. Why the whole were not made prisoners of war is not stated; and we shall be glad to hear why the whole of them, being rebels in arms against her Majesty’s authority, one only was captured. It has not the merit of conciliating the natives, who finding us so. ready to- “ rub noses ” with our enemies, impute the act to cowardice. With reference/to Big Joe’s antecedents during the war, it will be sufficient to copy the following from our Journal of Events: — “ March 31, 1860. —It is positively asserted that Hoera Pirera, commonly called Big. Joe, was Avith Manahi duringthe action on Wednesday, and that he and Manahi, with several of the Taranaki tribe, were concerned in the butcheries on Tuesday last. Big Joe is Manahi’s brother, and both were very loyal, as the phrase is, the other day; and when Mr. M'Lean met Poharama’s natives at the Kawau pah, on the 21st ultimo, Avhen they declared for the Queen, Big. Joe, with great audacity, got up and made a speech, expressing his intention to be a Queen’s man, and entirely disapproving of the conduct of Wi Kingi, &c.” ® It is scarcely necessary to state that Hoera has been with the Ngatiruanni rebels since the outbreak. We are told by Eopiha that there were no casualties on the side of the enemy in the affair on Saturday, under Colonel Leslie. He adds that Horopapera, Hapurana’s son, had a bullet through the sleeve of his shirt. Ensign Butler and a party of the 65th escorted carts Avith produce from Bell Block to-day. Tuesday, 9. —Weather fine. The expedition to Kaihihi left the toAvn this morning, between 7 and 8 o’clock, and Avill encamp to-night at Tataraimaka. [lt should be stated that many of our friendly allies held back for some time this morning, in consequence of the rebel Hoera having been consigned to durance vile, but the Avhole Avere eventually prevailed upon to stick tp their colours, and they overtook the expedition on the road.] Total rank and file, 1,043; exclusive of bullock drivers and servants. The Light Company of the 65tli gave three farewell cheers, before leaving, for their late Colonel' (Major-General Gold.) Oiie 68-pounder gun, and three 24-pounder howitzers, and 50 carts laden Avith ammunition, and camp equipage and baggage accompanied the expedition, and the Wonga Wonga, with extra, ammunition, left during the afternoon, to communicate with the forces on the land. It is thought there may be some fighting, the Ngatiruanui are reported to have come up to reinforce the Kaihihi rebels, and Wi Tako Avith men from Wellington, Otaki, Rangitikei. &c., to have joined. Wi Tako was at Pungairere, about 10 miles beyond Warea, last Aveek. This chief has been preparing for this for some time, having sold all his property at Wellington. Firing Avas heard in the forest this morning in the rear of the Hua, and as the garrison has been much weakened by the departure of the military to the South, every precaution has been made against an attack. Persons residing outside the lines are to sleep in toAvn ; no troops are to go outside the lines ; and inlying piquets are again told off to be under arms during the night, and to parade at four o’clock in the morning, until further orders.

Wednesday, 10.—One of Mr. Rundle’s lads, riding out of Waiwakaiho this morning, was advised by the friendly natives at the Henui not to go on, as a war party, with Wi Kingi at their head, were at Waiwakaiho. It appears, however, that there is no ground for alarm. From personal enquiries we have made of these friendly natives, we leam that after Hoera was. taken prisoner by the military, a woman started off from Waiwakaiho to Mataitawa, and informed the rebels that Hoera was taken to be shot, and Matiu and the rest to be lodged in prison.. Thirty natives, headed by Ihaia te Wharepa (Wi Kingi never stirred from his place), immediately left to come for ‘ utu ’ and on reaching the liua (or behind the Hua), detained three whites who were out in the bush, who would no doubt have been butchered but for the iollowing circumstance ; When Matiu and the other surrendered, two natives, who accompanied them, remained in the bush to hear the issue of the surrender, and were communicated with by Heta, who went and informed them that Matiu, Ac., were safe and with their friends, and that Hoera was only taken prisoner by the pakeha to await his trial. Heta returned again to Waiwakaiho, and Hone and Tarurutangi started ofl to Mataitawa, and met the ‘ taua ’ (Ihaia te Wharepa’s party), who had the three white men, explained matters, and all returned home. to their ‘ kainga.’ No natives, therefore, prowling about. We also learn that in Colonel Leslie’s retreat at Waitara before the natives bn the 29th ultimo, Horopapera, Hapurona’s son, was killed by the fire of the rear-guard, and is buried. This is stated to have been their only casualty. It will be seen that Te Ropiha stated that Horopapera was only shot through the shirt sleeve.

Thursday, 11—The Tasmanian Maid, detained in the river recovering her anchors, which she was obliged to slip in the recent freshet, came up to-day, and reports all quiet at Waitara. All quiet in Auckland. In some extracts we have made from the New Zealander and Southern Cross, it will be scon that the Waikatos have

determined on making another raid upon us. We may, therefore, shortly hear of the arrival of 400 or 500 Waikato rebels at Waitara. “H.M.S. Iris and Fawn are preparing for sea ” (says the Hew Zealander ), “ for particular service.” Four, p.m.—“Two of the mounted oscort have just arrived from Kaihihi with despatches, and report the troops are hotly engaged with the rebels; the former have taken up a position at 200 yards. Five of our force are wounded, including Captain Pasley, R.E., in leg; Sergeant Howatt, R.E., is severely wounded in groin; the rest slightly wounded. J. Batten, militia, slightly wounded. Six, p.m.—The Wonga Wonga has just arrived from Kaihihi. A crowd of people assembled on the beach when the boat landed. She does not bring any later intelligence than that brought by the mounted escort. A correspondent writes: — * “ October 11,1860. “ Time will not allow of my entering into details, consequently you must be content with a rapid sketch of events. On Tuesday evening we reached Bayly’s farm, or what was formerly known as Fort Strange, where we camped. The next morning, with beautiful weather, we marched as far as our present head-quarters, which are situated half-a-mile in the rear of the first, or bush pah, on the north side of the Kaihihi. On this day (Wednesday), after the tents had been pitched and entrenchments thrown up, a reconnoitring party was sent out and many shots exchanged with the enemy. No casualties on our side; the enemy’s unknown. This morning (Thursday), a party of Engineers, with fatigue parties from the various corps, with covering parties, went out to approach by entrenched lines and traverses, and form a platform for the heavy gun; the position chosen for which will command the other two pahs in the neighbourhood; the smaller guns within 200 yards of the pahs. Much firing on the field of battle. The casualties on our side are reported to be five—Captain Pasley, severely in thigh; Sergeant Howatt, R.E., dangerously; 1 bugler, 65th; 1 sergeant, 40th; the others I cannot now learn.” We hear that the 8-inch gun and 24-pound howitzers had opened fire at the distance of 200 yards, and that the shot from the former was doing great damage to the pah. Friday, 12. —The Cordelia steamed down to Kaihihi this morning at five, a.m., and returned at ten. She did not communicate with the shore, but reports that the troops were in action, and that a pah appeared to be inflames. H.M.C.S Victoria, from Wellington, arrived this morning with Colonel Wyatt, who assumes the command of the 65th, vice Major-General Gold, and the I.C.R.M. steamer Lord Worsley, with the mails for England from Nelson. The Victoria left at three, p.m., for Kaihihi, with Colonel Wyatt, and the Cordelia at the same time for Manukau, with Major-General Gold. Mr. Drummond Hay and a native came in to-day from Waitara overland. No news. The Waikatos had not arrived, but were daily expected in strong force. Six, p.m.—Two of the mounted escort have arrived from Kaihihi, with the satisfactory intelligence that the pahs (three in number) have been taken to-day and destroyed by the troops, the rebels having vacated them the night before. The pahs are described as being very strong, but were not proof against the 8-inch gun. The loss of the enemy is not known, blood was found in one of the pairs. The wounded in yesterday’s skirmish are all progressing favourably. The forces will return to town to-morrow, in consequence, it is said, of a despatch received by the General from Auckland by the Cordelia regarding the descent of the Waikatos. Saturday, October 13.—A message from the forces south reports them at Tataraimaka on their return to town.