NATIVE WAR AT WELLINGTON,

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 227, 11 July 1846, Page 74

NATIVE WAR AT WELLINGTON,

Another awstjl Murder in the Huti . — It was generally reported in town durin v the past week that the rebels had again lei't the Hutt for Pauhautanui. On Sunday i.t was stated that Ranghiaiata, with most of his followers, had started from his pa for Rangiriki, in order to effect a junction wit \i the Taupo tribe, and to destroy a fortification which was being erected by the Ngati - awas, in order to stop the passage of the Taupo tribe along the coast. The hostil e natives having threatened to burn tie premises of Messrs. Stilling and Barton, for the last three weeks a picket of milit ia and mounted police has been stationed in the last-named gentleman's house, whilst a line of sentinels kept up communicatk n from thence to the bridge. The picket is called off at eight o'clock in the morninj*. These reports were no doubt circulated ly the rebels for a purpose ; and many of the Hutt settlers began to return to their land for the purpose of chipping in wheat, feeling secure, from the report, that the rebels had evacuated the valley. On Saturday night a few ducks were carried off from Mr. Barton's land, inducing a suspicion with some, that the natives were still lurking about. It is now our painful duty to record the fact of the presence of the rebels on the Hutt, from the painful circumstance of the murder of Mr. Richard Rush, a Hutt settler. On Monday evening the inhabitants of Wellington were again thrown into a state of great excitement, intelligence having arrived from the Hutt to the effect that a man had been found murdered in the valley that morning. The unfortunate deceased, Richard Rush, had gone out about eight o'clock ia the morning to look after his horse, which had strayed away during Su^i-" day. The murdered man went in the direction of Barton's paddock, and it appears that some of the rebels, who were lurkilig about in that quarter, surprised and torojahawked him, splitting his head into four pieces. After perpetrating the murder, the rebels hailed the friendly natives from across the river, informing them that they had killed a white man, mentioning the spot, and stating that they might have the body. Captain Hardy, the officer in command at the camp, at Boulcott's, sent out a body of military and armed police, who found the mangled remains of Rush, but fell in w: th none of the enemy. The Hutt militia, exasperated at being driven from their homes and at the murder of Rush and the previous murders of the Gillespies, threater ed to cross the river and meet the rebels on Tuesday morning. Yesterday they made several attempts, at various points, to cross the Hutt, in order to put their threits into execution, but, owing to the late heavy rains, the river was not fordable. The murdered man has left a widow and four cbl dren to lament his loss; the widow is near her confinement with a fifth. The arri ral of his Excellency Captain Grey, is inde ed anxiously looked forward to by the entire body of the settlers. The above horrible event adds one more seal to the bond, c bliging the authorities to explain, at proper time, and reason of the delay in action. We trust before we again go to press to have to report the arrival of Captain Gr ;y. — Wellington Independent, June 17. Porirua. — On Friday last the road par ty, stationed at Elliott's stockade, were compelled to leave the stockade, which is erected near Jackson's, owing to the hej ivy rains flooding the river, which completely washed them out. The party fell back on the encampment at Paramatta, but we are sorry to say that, during the march, 1 ;wo friendly natives, who were employed carry- | ing the baggage, were drowned by falling into the stream. Their bodies were discovered on Saturday, and conveyed to Tai lpo pa for interment. — Ibid. Wairarapa. — The settlers in this iistrict have sent in a memorial to the officer commanding the forces, requesting hire to detach a body of soldiers for the defence of the lives and property of the settlers. "Until the arrival of reinforcements, we presume their request will not be complied witl .. — The Wairarapa natives have had a meeting, which was attended by many of the settlers in that district. The natives came to the determination, that unless the Government would supply them with arms for their defence, in case of a visit from Ranghiaiata, < ;hey would join with him for their own safety. It appears to be the impression of the settlers, that it would be unwise to arm tl em, unless a body of military was stationed in the valley to act as a check on them. — (b. We understand that the longboat of the Tyne, lately the property of Mr. Suis ted, has been purchased by the Government, and that the carpenters of H.M.S. Calliope are busily employed, under the directic n of her officers, in fitting her out. We be] ieve

it is intended to lengthen her, and to mount a swivel, when she will be sent round to Porirua as a gun-boat. — Ibid*

Latest from the Hutt. — It is rumoured that during the night the rebels blocked up the road between the stockade and the camp, by felling trees. The troops attacked the natives this morning, but were compelled to fall back to their own position, having an officer and four men wounded, and two missing. — Ibid.

Skirmish between the Military and the Rebels on the Hutt. — On the afteriijon of the 16th (Tuesday last), Captain Reid, with forty men of the 58th and 99th llegiments, fourteen friendly natives, and nine of the Hutt militia, started, from the tump at Boulcott's, in the direction of the Taita, for the purpose of ascertaining the stale of the fords of the river Hutt. The party of militia were thrown out as an advanced guard, followed at some short distance by the natives and military. At a distance of about two miles from the camp, thfcre is a large clearing, the ground in places bcjing covered with dead trees. The party apiproached the clearing without molestation, an|d the advanced guard had passed a large toiara tree lying lengthways on the road, j when a friendly native, jumping up on a st'iirap, observed, to his astonishment, a party oilthe rebels lying three deep on the offside ol the tree. He gave the alarm by firing hi : musket and exclaiming " Ranghiaiata's Mixories." The rebels, finding they were di scovered, poured a volley into the military, \v' ao were within fifteen yards of them. The fire was returned by the troops, who got vi der cover, skirmishing for some time. A pa rty of the enemy succeeded in taking up a position on the right of the military, who w ?re thus exposed to a cross fire. The er emy likewise making some daring attempts toi cut off the military, the bugle was sounded to- retreat. The party fell back to the camp. Tjtie firing having been heard from the camp, ajparty of fifty men, under the command of C aptain Dressing and Lieutenant Page, was despatched in the direction of the sound. E Puni also started off with his natives, but did not fall in with the enemy. Ensign White, the officer in command of the militia, stationed at the stockade in the Taita, hiktring the firing, thought that a party of his men, who had been despatched for provisions that morning, were being attacked by the rebels. He accordingly turned out ■with a sergeant and twelve men, advancing in the direction of the camp. On entering j\ ■ "abey's clearing, the party was fired at by a I body of the rebels, who were lying in aijnbush. Mr. White extended his party, eftch man taking a tree for a cover, keeping up a warm fire whenever the enemy showed himself, and advancing as well as the nature of the ground would permit. Hearing a shouting to his right, and being afraid of getting outflanked, Mr. White gave orders fejr a partial retreat. Observing the natives av^in advancing, Mr. White ordered his men forward a second time, and checked their advance. Hearing the shouting repeated on his right, and night coming on, and having only left a small party to defend the sfcockade, and fearing for its safety, Mr. White and his party fell back to their position. None of the militia were injured, but if, is believed many of the enemy fell. Lieu'.xnant Herbert, who is severely wounded, ■v.ras a volunteer, and in the smoke was left bjshind by the military. Finding himself tihus left alone, he was compelled, wounded ap he was, to take refuge in a tree, where he r;nnainded some time. On getting down, he observed a party of natives, and thinking tjiey belonged to the enemy, he threw him%*p]f behind a log. The natives turned out to be E Puni's party, who conveyed Mr. Ijlerbert to the camp. We hear the conduct of Lieutenant Herbert spoken of in the highest terms of praise. He kept up a constant fire till he was wounded in the left Kind and shoulder. We trust he will soon be enabled to resume his duties. Fortunately none of our party were killed, which it is stated was owing to the presence of some of the friendly natives, the enemy knowing full well that if one of the Ngatiawas fall, the whole of his tribe will rise to avenge his death. The following is a list of the wounded: — 58th Regiment: Lieutenant Herbert, severely ; Lance Corporal William Negas, severely ; Private John ftPHall, do. ; Private Henry Pollicott, do. 99th Regiment: Private James French, dangerously. Two of the men were missing till Thursday, when they made their way to the camp, uninjured, .having lost their way ill the bush. E Puni's natives, on Thursday, scoured the bush, and near the spot where tie conflict took place between the militia and the rebels, several blankets were found along side pools of blood. We also hear that two or three guns and tomahawks were discovered, bearing out the supposition that

some of the rebels had been either killed or severely wounded by the militia. — Ibid., June 20.

There has been a large meeting of natives at Porirua, at which a most decided feeling was manifested by all present in favour of the Government. Rauparaha in his speech said he had pledged himself, both to Governor Fitzßoy and Governor Grey, to maintain peace as far as he and his people were concerned, and to unite with the Government in their exertions to restore tranquillity and promote the welfare of the country. He also stated that he had pledged himself to Major Richmond, Dr. Selwyn, the Bishop of New Zealand, and to the Rev. Mr. Hadfield, to the same purpose, as well as that he had, in the presence of all the Ngatiawa and Ngatiraukawa chiefs, stated most positively his determination not to take part with Ranghiaiata or his party. All the chiefs present coincided in the most positive manner with him, and he intends coming into Wellington, with Major Arney, to show that he is sincere. During Mr. A. C. Strode's stay at Porirua, Rauparaha went frequently and advised him to bring in his men to the fortification, as they might be attacked by Ranghiaiata's people, which advice, we believe, has been adopted. This has the appearance of meaning well. He lately brought a present of potatoes, from Otaki, to the camp. We have been reminded that Rauparaha, since his pledge to the Government, has not committed any act to make him forfeit his claim to be considered as having at least good intentions. He was the first to give information about the murderers of poor Gillespie and his son. He gave warning of the first attack on the Hutt camp; and to the officer in command at Porirua, we believe, he has afforded satisfaction. Whatever prejudice we may entertain respecting him, it is evident he is far better as neutral than an enemy. Rauparaha has heard the doubts of the white people, and says he must only leave it to time to prove whether what he says is true or not. The Ngatiawas are suspicious of him on account of some old animosities and atrocities, charges which the Ngatiraukawas with Te Rauparaha also prefer against them. — Ibid.

A plan was formed, and nearly carried into effect by the rebels, to surprise a party of soldiers at Porirua. An officer and twenty or thirty men started from the camp to Taupo, accompanied by Rauparaha, as a mark of respect to the friends of the two natives who were unfortunately drowned last week, and who were about to be buried. At one part of the beach, between the two places, a large rock stands out, round which the path winds. A body of the rebels occupied this rock, with the intention of allowing the military to pass, and then to cut off their retreat to the camp. The rebels were not aware of the presence of Te Rauparaha, who, being compelled to raise his voice when speaking to the officer, thus apprised them of the fact. Fearing to injure this chief, and knowing the vengeance which would follow in case they did, the hostile natives gave a loud shout and fell back to the bush. — Ibid.

James French, a private in the 99th Regiment, who was dangerously wounded on the 16th instant, during the skirmish between the rebel natives and the military under Captain Reid, breathed his last on Wednesday. The poor fellow was buried on Thursday, in the cemetery, with military honours. The Rev. R. Cole performed the funeral service. This is the twelfth victim of Maori vengeance. — Ibid., June 27.

On Tuesday night one of the sentinels, at Porirua, observed a number of natives creeping towards his post. He immediately fired, and thus gave the alarm. Captain Armstrong ordered the bugler to sound "Turn out the whole," when the rebels in the bush replied by sounding the bugle which was taken from the murdered bugler on the Hutt in defiance Ibid.

Yesterday application was made to the town militia, for volunteers to proceed to the Hutt, The men supposing that if they volunteered, they would be sent without their officers, at first refused, but subsequently all agreed to go over in case of any disturbance rendering additional force necessary. — Ibid.

For some days past, considerable excitement has existed in the neighbourhood of the Stock and Royal Exchanges, by a report that several aldermen engaged in railway speculations had been served with writs for their liabilities. One alderman, it is said, has received 175 of the epistles of "John Doe and Richard Roe;" another has had sixty-five ; and a third thirty-three. The rumour goes that several civic worthies have winged their way to more warm and more sunny climes, and that there are others ready for an early flight. More, however, will be known when the judges of the Central Criminal Court require the attendance of the City authorities.— /oAn Bull.