IMPORTANT FROM TARANAKI. OCCUPATION OF TE AREI, WITH AN EXTENSIVE LINE OF FORTS.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 37, 3 November 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

IMPORTANT FROM TARANAKI. OCCUPATION OF TE AREI, WITH AN EXTENSIVE LINE OF FORTS.

The reported wish of the natives to make peace at Mataitawa, although without foundation, has had the happy effect of arousing the energies of our commanding officer, who upon his own responsibility has carried into effect a well-arranged series of movements, which has given Taranaki a frontage that is quite safe to pass over of twenty- miles in length, that being an approximation of the distance of Te Arei from Kautaki. Another movement southwards to Tatnirarnaka will add six miles more ; with a blockhouse at Mataitawa and a ft w towards the Mangnrei district, there is nothing to prevent a peaceful reoccupation of the Whether, as the season advances, the natives will again pay a temporary visit, it is impossible to say ; but this is certain, no concentration of a native force can be carried into effect from the deficiency of food, so that our Taranaki commanders may, similar to a gteat conqueror of years gone by, weep because there are no more enemies to subdue. Late in the afternoon of the 9th Oct., Colonel Warre aud staff, accompanied by ColoDel Lepper and the Assistant Native Secretary, with 350 men of the 70th under the command of Major Rutherford, with a detachment of artillery under Captain Martin, and a body of friendly natives as scouts, marched to Mahoetai, where an encampment for the night was formed. At daylight on the following morning an advance was made in the direction of the Upper Waitara towards Te Arei, by the old road so often taken by General Pratt, crossing the Waiongana river at the higher road and continuing along the beautiful flats of the Waitara until reaching Kairau, which was passed to the right. At Number 6 Redoubt, which is situated near Huirangi, the entrance to the celebrated peach tree grove, a guard was left to pi event any of the enemy coming round by the bush to fall on the rear of the attacking force, which divided itself into two parties, taking the same routes as on the occupation of No 7 Redoubt in 1861. One portion passed to the left towards the "Wailara river, through the old graveyard, with its quaint memorials of the dead, and then continued near the brink of the precipitous cliff on to Te Arei, which can be reached by this, road by a long gradual ascent ; the other keepiug inland of the river passing near the edge of the bush straight on. No obstacle made its appearance until the skirmishers at the front from the party on the left were within a few hundred yards of the palisaiHng, when natives were seen engaged in the performance of the ceremonial portion of their lately adopted religion, who, after completing a turn or two round their pah, commenced firing. Simultaneous almost with this, the friendly natives, headed by brave old Ihaia, guided the troops on the right by the little hillock near which poor Strange, of the 6 5th fell, and where Seigeant Lucas, of the 40th, earned his Victoria Cross, across the gully, so as to reach the spur upon which the notorious fortification of Pukirangiria was standing On seeing this combined movement, the cecupants in despair fired a few hurried shots and then sought safety in a rapid retreat, the troops at once taking possession. The fortifications, similar to those of Kaitaki and the generality of the Maori strongholds in this part were so constructed as to repel only an attack from the front ; the rear and rear flank being not only unprotected, but could be commanded from the rising ground and bush, so that should the garrison at any time suffer itself to be invested, it Avould have been in the same position as the Waikatos, who in 1830 were surrounded in the same spot, by the Puketapus, who sent an insulting message to the great Waikato tribes to the effect that their leading chiefs t and people were locked up "like pigs in a sty." This brought down a large force from the North, who in their turn drove the Puketapus into the same shelter, where some few, diiven by desperation, succeeded in escaping down the steep perpendicular cliffs into the river, many losing their lives in the attempt. This proved almost the last act of the natives of this part prior to their being driven into slavery. The river here bends almost in a perfect semi-circle, the cliff rising abruptly from the water's edge to many hundreds of feet in height, the line of palisading striking inland from the lower curve. In the present instance, there were two lines of the usual fencing some ten yards apart, with a deep ditch fronting each. It .was placed immediately in the rear of the former pah ; the old Pukirangiria by its high bank, yielding

further protection. Later in the morning, after the force had refreshed itself, a portion consisting of a company of the 70th, Captain Mace's men, \vh > were dismounted for the occasion, and the friendly natives, the whole under the command of Major Saltmarsh, followed in the track of the retreating rebels for about a mile and a half to a small village — Te Pekatu — where natives were again observed busily engaged in their religions dance, which they continued until the soldiei'3 T .vere seen approaching, when, fi ing from a long distance with the usual carelessness, they further retreated to Pukemahoe, a small village 400 or 500 yards across a beautiful valley, from whence they opened fire from the /whares. From these they were soon driven, bearing with them a wounded man, judging by the tracks of bluod observed by Captain Mace's me:i. In the wbares a great many papers and books were found, with several copies of the version of thp Woman Catholic Church, nnrl a portrait of St Clotilfle with a formula of their newly adopted religion; whether the two have been combined it is difficult to learn. The village is very prettily situated on the banks of the Wanganui river, that runs nearly at right angles into the Waitara. Under the direction of Lieutenant Ferguson, of the Roj'al Engineers, a large redoubt with flanking angles, has rapidly arisen at Te than the old pah ; it is at present occupied by 200 men of the 70th, under Major Bather ford. On the 15th another party proceeded to examine thecountiy between Mataitawa and Te Aiei. The bushrangers marched up the usual road to Mataitawa by Sentry Hill to Kaiioa, a mile and a hilf beyuil, uheie was found a village with a very extensive soiies of cultivations in small patches, as if the pvopei ties of many holders. Theie might h;n o been m the aggregate some 50 acies, all of which as far as possible were destroyed. The same morning another party of the 70th, Arei, a little nearer the verge of the cliff' under Major Saltmursh, left Te Arei and proceeded by the back country towards Mutaitawn, crossing in their route the Wanganui river ; the road was through a heavy dense bush. Having effected as much destruction of native property as possible, the soldiers returned to Te Arei, and the civilian force marched to town. No. 6 Hcdoubt is now permanently garrisoned by Captain Page's company of Melbourne voluntecis. On passing once again over the rich luxuriant table land of the Waitara district, one could scarce refrain from retrospectively glancing at the sad history attached to the vaiious spots around, and to inquire for what has so much blood and treasure been expended ; and now that this new expedition has advanced, arc affairs in a more satisfuctoiy position ? Decidedly not, for doubtless the disagreement with England and her colony has long ere this become a matter of deep consideration with the natives. The amount of money foolishly and recklessly lavished on what has been called in military circles the conquest of the Waitara, in all probability will never transpire ; but the sad tale of the loss of so many valuable lives, the graveyards and hospital reports, supply a melancholy memoiial. the killed numbering no less than 49, whilst 134 wore wounded, many of whom have since taken their place with the dead. — Daily Times correspondent.