TARANAKI.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 49, 8 December 1860, Page 4

TARANAKI.

—♦— CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL OF EVENTS. [From the Taranaki Herald.'] Saturday November 3.—A party of Militia and Rifle Volunteers left early this morning to visit the farms on the Frankley road. The party consisted of 50, under Captain King and Lieut. Jonas. They went as far as Patterson’s saw mills, and brought in a quantity of wood, sawn timber, &c. Tracks of natives were seen in the hush roads, and on returning the party searched Elliot’s and Smith’s farms, as they were informed natives had been recently seen in that direction. Sunday, 4.—Weather gloomy with slight showers. Lieut.-Colonel Carey and a party on horseback went this morning to reconnoitre a commanding site called Sentry Hill, landward of Mahoetahi. The report that natives were occupying this position, and that large quantities of potatoes were stored there, was incorrect. —Major General Pratt inspected the garrison at their alarm posts in the trenches this afternoon. Monday, 5.—A large vessel was seen off Bell Block yesterday. Information by the Tasmanian Maid received this evening from Waitara that during the day while a working party from Puketakauere were engaged putting a bridge over a swamp they were attacked by a party of the Waikatos. A skirmish ensued, in which one man, private Lally, of the 65th, was severely wounded in the neck. The rebels were ultimately driven back towards their encampment at Huirangi. They had two large banners with them, one white and the other red. Information was also received that a party of Waikatos had occupied Mahoetahi. It transpired during the evening that a force from town, commanded by the General, would proceed in the morning at 4 a.m. to take the position named, and the different corps were warned for this service. Col. Wyatt, 65th Regt., to command the town. Tuesday, 6. —Before 4 o’clock this morning the troops prepared for the march to Mahoetahi, the carts were filled with baggage, ammunition, &c., and 2 howitzers (24 pounders), were in readiness to start at 5 a.m. The Militia and Rifle Volunteers mustered opposite the Militia Office, and the whole force commenced the march at 5 o’clock precisely. The expedition comprised the following : —Staff, Major General Pratt, C.B. (commander of the forces), Lieut. -Colonel Carey, D.A.G., Lieut.-Colonel Sillery, D.Q.M.G., Dr. Mouat, C. 8., Lieut. Forster, R.A.,A.D.C., Lieut. King, (Militia) A.D.C.; Captain Strovcr, R.A., and 1 sergeant and 12 rank and file royal artillery (with two 24 pounder howitzers); Capt. Mould, R.E., and 10 royal engineers; Major Hutchins, Capt. Leeson, Lieut. Dudgeon, and 84 men of the 12th Regt.; Colonel Leslie, Capts. Richards and Messenger, Lieuts, Dowman, Jackson, and Johnston (Adjutant), Ensign Morphy, and 16S men of the 40th Regt.; Capt. Turner. Lieuts. Bailie, Urquhart, Toker, Chevalier and 223 jtnen of the 65th Regt.; Major Herbert. Captains Brown and Atkinson, Lieuts. Morrison, Messenger, Hammerton, Webster, and 120 men of the Militia and Rifle Volunteers (30 of the former and 90 of the latter); Captain DesVceux and 20 of the mounted volunteers. The medical officers in attendance were Dr. White, 65th Regt., and Dr. Niven, staff. The morning was beautifully fine and the dew had laid the dust on the roads. As a Rifle Volunteer, and.forming one of that corps in the expedition, wc shall proceed to give an account of what took place as it came under our own notice. The Bell Block was reached at 6 a.m., when a part of the civilian force (militia) were left at the stockade and their place taken by Rifle Volunteers. On reaching the declivity before coming to the Mangoraka river, a halt was ordered, and the guns limbered up and taken to the front and skirmishers thrown forward, while Mahoetahi, distant about a mile and a half, and the country adjacent, was observed by the General with a telescope. The order to march was again given and the force proceeded—the 65th in advance forming a skirmishing party and support, with the General and Staff, following by the Rifle Volunteers, the guns, the artillerymen, the engineers, and the train of carts: the 40th and 12th being rearguard. The Mangoraka stream was lorded, the men wading through the stream, and in silence and good order all advanced towards Mahoetahi, a hill on the left of the Devon Line, about 8 miles from town and 3 from Waitara. In a few minutes firing was beard in the front and the order was given for the guns, under

Captain StrOver, R.A., to be brought to the front. At this moment, one man of the 65th, private Connolly, came to the rear, wounded in the arm by the third or fourth shot from the rebels. The General here dismounted from Ins horse, and ordered the guns to take up a position at 50 yards distance from the pa., where he remained while a heavy and continuous fire was kept up from a gully to the right of the enemy s position, and proceeded on foot to the front, where he remained during the whole action guiding and directing the movements of the men. An order was now sent to Major Herbert, commanding the Rifle Volunteers to take position to the left, in skirmishing order, which was at once done, the men skirmishing in high fern, and across a deep swamp, gradually approaching the enemy’s position. Firing was now opened upon the hill by the howitzers, with shell, and the crack of the rifle was becoming more and more rapid. The 65th in front were under Captain Turner and Lieut. Toker, the light company, and Lieut. Urquhart, being sent to the extreme right, to protect the flank of the attacking force, and Lieut. Chevalier, with 30 men, to protect the guns. The Volunteers were extended to the left front of Mahoetahi, and their left flank under Captain Atkinson on the extreme left, and were fast lessening their distance, and by a rush took possession of a mil about 100 yards from the pa. The order at this moment was received by Major Herbert to charge the pa, when lie ordered the men to fix bayonets, and with a hearty cheer the pa was gallantly stormed simultaneously with the 65th in the front (the General being with them), the men running up the hill under a rapid fire from the rebels, who when the pa was reached retired behind the banks and whares in the rear. Now commenced a fierce fight hand to hand in some instances, when two of the 65th, privates McGivern and Rooney, and two Volunteers, H. Edgecombe and F. Brown, fell mortally wounded, shot by the enemy at a distance of a few yards. Captain Atkinson, with a small party, occupied a low hill on the left and kept up a destructive fire on the rebels on their flank, thirty or forty of them being a few feet distant from the rest of our party on the hill. _ It was some time before the natives could bo dislodged from the rear of the pa, where they were keeping up a smart fire wounding several of the 65th and Volunteers, including Captain Turner, severely in mouth, and Colonel Sillery slightly. Lieut. Toker and a few men of the 65th, with Mr. W. S. Atkinson (Native Department) were hotly engaged at the right of the pa, while the Volunteers were as actively employed on the left, when most opportunely Major Nelson’s column from Waitara, with 100 men of the 65th from Paketakaucre under Colonel Mould, R.E., and Lieut. Talbot, 65th, came up in the left rear, and with a 24 pounder howitzer dropped a shell amongst the rebels under the bank in our rear, which caused them to make a precipitate retreat down the hill into a swamp and across the country. Some of them ran up the Huirangi road, where they were taken in flank by the Waitara force, and in rear by Lieut. Urquhart’s party, with fatal effect; two shells were also thrown with good precision amongst them by Lieut. McNaughten from Waitara. It was now a complete rout, and the natives still fell in making their retreat, throwing away their pieces and cartridge pouches in the fern. Several liid in the swamp where they were shot. It was a short and decisive victory—no natives were to be seen, beyond a few stragglers in the distance. The General, now, with a reconnoitring party of the 12th, 40th, and a part of the 65th, proceeded up the Huirangi road and came round back by Ngataiparirua and Puketakauere. At Huirangi two flags were flying, a red and white one; shortly after they were seen the red flag was lowered and the white one lowered half mast. Several bodies of the rebels were seen lying in the Huirangi road. The friendly natives 100 of whom accompanied the expedition, with Messrs. Parris, Atkinson, and Wills, proceeded with carts and foraging parties of soldiers, to gather the bodies of the rebels, who were lying on the ground in rear of the pa and in the swamp. The greatest number lay on the right of the pa, where the shells and cannister from Captain Strover’s guns did great execution. Thirty-one, including two principal chiefs, and the head chief of the tribe (Ngatihaua), Te Wetini Taiporutu, were brought up and laid out on the ground. One prisoner (unhurt) and six wounded, all dangerously, were also brought in. A large pit was dug under the brink of the hill and 28 bodies interred, the bodies of the three chiefs being put into a cart for interment in town. We are told by a friendly native that the body of a young chief, named Te Purewa, was left behind and buried with the rest. He is a chief of more importance than Taiporutu, being son of Te Malta, and nephew of Te Waharoa, the great ancestor and warrior of Ngatihaua. At 3 p.m. the forces prepared for the return to town, leaving 200 men of the 12th and 05th under Major Hutchins to garrison and fortify Malioetahi. Five of the wounded rebels were put into carts, the sixth being too far gone to move ; two died on the road, and we reached town, tired and begrimed with dust, at 5 p.m.—the termination to this memorable engagement. Our casualties were as follows : Wounded- Colonel Sillery, D.Q.M.G., slightly. 40th Regt.— Wounded: E. McKay, slightly. 65th Regt.— Killed : Private Wm. McGivern, Private Francis Rooney. Wounded : Captain H.F. Turner, right side of lower jaw, severely, hall lodged; Sergt. Wm. Knight, right cheek, severely; Privates Bernard Boyham, very severely, hall lodged; T. Coleman, chin and neck, severely; Patrick Connolly, left fore-arm, severely; Hugh Gibson, right toe of left foot, slightly; DanielMcßrierty, left arm, very severely, compound fracture; Wm. Roberts, both legs, slightly; Cecil Wm. Ray, right fore-arm, one bone broken, severely; George Wilmott, right thigh, very severely, compound fracture; Richard Whitlow, left side of head, severely, bone touched. Rifle Volunteers.— Killed'. Privates 11. Edgcombe and F. Brown. Wounded : Richard Langman, jun., slightly in breast and arm ; John Ward, slightly in groin : W. Vorcoe, slightly in knee; Thos. Veale, ditto., in knee. While the bodies of the rebels were lying after being placed in a row at Mahoetahi, the prisoner (Renata by name) was ordered to pass along and give, their names to Mr. Parris and Mr. Hay. One of the wounded natives died on the way ; into town, and two died shortly after their arrival. The bodies, five in number, and our own killed, were conveyed to the Military Hospital. The two wounded, Tc Poari and Te One, a native monitor, were placed in medical cave in the native hospital in Te Kuwait pa in town. The prisoner, who was brought in by the Rifle Volunteers, was put in irons and placed in the town

jail. This man* Renata, was caught without arms. He was found in the fern feigning to he dead, and required several good shakes before he thought proper to show animation. A large number of muskets, double-barrelled guns, and pouches filled with ammunition were found and brought away. We are told about 60 stand of arms were recovered. A 65th soldier took from a dead native a 40th rifle and 14 rounds of rifle cartridges. Many of the men came home with a trophy in the shape of a gun or pouch, and one had a valuable green stone god, taken, from one of the chiefs. Where every one did his duty in this sanguinary conflict, we need not particularise. The charge of the Rifles is acknowledged by all to he a brilliant one; and the bravery of the 65th men, who were the first in the pa, needs no comment from us. Captain Turner, who was severely wounded, and Lieut. Toker, we believe, were under a heavy and continuous fire. Major Herbert, and Capts. Atkinson and Brown, led their men with conspicuous gallantry. The Staff Officers also were conspicuous, and were to be seen wherever their presence was required. A Volunteer (W. Marshall) saved the life of private Jones, 65th, by bayoneting a native who was in the act of tomahawking him while struggling with another native in the swamp who had closed with J ones. —The steamer Wonga Wonga arrived from Manukau this evening. She brings intelligence of the approval by the Home Government of the Governor’s proceedings in reference to the native disturbances in this province; and that the 14th Regt. is on its way from England, and the 60th (3rd bat.) is en route from India. This news is particularly gratifying in the present stage of affairs in New Zealand. —The severe loss sustained by the enemy to-day will either be a death blow to their hopes, or bring about a general rising of the Northern tribes to avenge the death of their chiefs —the latter the most probable, from tlic disaffected state of the natives. It was stated to-day that reserves of natives were seen in the distance, on Sentry Hill and inland, Rewi’s party, and Wi Kingi’s people, who no doubt would, as at Puketakauere, have attacked our forces in flank and rear, but for the sudden and spirited charge into tlie position ol their friends. These reserves, never rendered the least assistance to the besieged and routed party of Ngatihaua®. A few were seen to come down the Huirangi, hut did not cross tlic Waiongana. A few shells discharged by Lieut. McNaughten into a bush about lialf-a-mile the other side of the river, no doubt prevented them making any advance.

Wednesday, 7. —One of the wounded natives in Hospital died this morning. . His name. is Heini Taiporutu, son of the chief Te Wetini Taiporutu. He was dangerously wounded, having several bayonet wounds in his body. Two wounded now remain—Te Poari and Te One; the former severely, the latter a. flesh wound in the leg. The latter has written a letter to the Waikatos at Huirangi—in which he has expressed his appreciation of the kindness shown to him and his fellow-prisoners by the Pakelnv—so contrary to their treatment of the 40th, who fell wounded into their hands at Puketakauere. Ho made no secret of his letter, and the general purport of it is urging the rebels to return to their homes. He alleges that he came down to uige his part}' to return from Mahoetahi when he was shot in the leg. He immediately sat down on the ground, and to the first soldiers who came up he handed his gun, butt first, begged for his life, which they spared and carried him to camp. The Taranaltis having expressed a desire for peace, Archdeacon Govett was requested to visit them by tlie General. We hear that they are quarrelling amongst themselves, and would be willing to cry off on equal terms. Some horsemen who have visited Mahoetahi to day reported that the rebels came down this morning and danced the war dance. The Victoria left for Manukau last night, with despatches for the Governor. Captain Norman during the day yesterday arranged with Colonel Wyatt to land some men to work the guns in case they might he needed during the absence of the force at Mahoetahi. Weather fine. The Wonga Wonga left to-day lor Wanganui and Wellington having completed her engagement with the Government. Thursday, B.—The Tasmainian Maid, from Waitara this morning, reports that J. Hawkcn, contract bntcher, has been missing since yesterday morning. It appears that J. Ilawken visited Mahoetahi the day after the battle, and imprudently returned towards camp without company. Yesterday search was made, liis horse was found shot dead, and a letter on the ground which had evidently been takenfrom his pocket. No trace of Mr. Hawken could he discovered. Information received from Mahoetahi to-clay that eleven more dead bodies have been found in the fern, and that the natives acknowledge to having 71 missing of their tribe. The ascertained number of the native loss is 45 killed. The Airedale amoved from Manukau at 10 a.m. She brings many members of the General Assembly. All quiet in, Auckland. The Victoria reached just as the Airedale was leaving Onehunga. At 12 o’clock, noon, the bodies of the three chiefs, and the three natives who died from their wounds, were buried in St. Maty’s Churchyard, the funeral service (in Maori) being read by Archdeacon Govett. The bodies were placed in coffins, and buried in two graves. The funerals of the soldiers Rooney and McGivern, and the Rifle Volunteers Edgcombe and Brown, took blace at 2 p.m. They were buried with military honours the hands of the 40th, 65th, and rifles being fin attendance. The General and Staff, all tlie officers and men off duty in the garrison, and a great number of Militia and Volunteers, followed the bodies to their last resting place. The bodies of the Rifle Volunteers were carried by 65th men, and those of the two soldiers by rifle Vollunteers. Rooney and Brown are hurried in St. Mary’s churchyard, Edgecombe in the Primitive Methodist cemetery and McGivern, in the Roman Catholic burial ground. Wc arc glad to report that the wounded are all progressing favourably. Capt. Turner’s wound is very severe, and all the attempts to extract the ball, which is firmly lodged in the jawbone, have proved fruitless. He left for Wellington in the Airedale this evening, with two months’ leave of absence. Friday, 9.—Late this evening the Niger and ci ilonial steam sloop Victoria arrived from Manukau with despatches for General Pratt. Saturday, 10.-From information received to-day, through friendly natives, there is no reason to doubt that John Hawkcn is killed. His horse was shot by a hoy, and in falling, and before Ilawken could extricate himself from the saddle Tainihana of Kaipakopako despatched him with a tomahawk. Information has just been received that several chiefs were also among tlic slain on Tuesday, and that several natives died after getting near to, and af Huirangi.