BAY OF ISLANDS. [From the New Zealander, Jan. 24,1846.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 71, 14 February 1846, Page 3

BAY OF ISLANDS. [From the New Zealander, Jan. 24, 1846.]

It appears that on the Ist of January, the British forces established themselves in a strong stockade, in the middle of a wood, distant about four hundred yards from the pah of Kawiti, and in which, subsequently, were mounted two 32-pounders, and four small 5^ inch mortars, and the wood in front of the guns being cut down, the western face of the pah was exposed to their fire. On the 2d instant, Kawiti made a sortie from his pah, for the purpose of turning the flank of this stockade, and destroying it, before it was finished ; but Nene and our allies drove them back, killing four and wounding several of the enemy. The British troops were not engaged in this affair, at the particular desire of the loyal native chiefs. After this sally from the pah, another small stockade, but more advanced — about 160 yards from the pah, was erected, mounting one 18-pounder, and one 12-pound howitzer, for the purpose of destroying the south-west angle of the pah. The main camp was distant, about half-a mile from the pah, situated on a ridge, surrounded on all sides by thick woods. In front of the camp were three guns, with an apparatus for throwing rockets. On Saturday the 10th instant, all the batteries being completed, a general fire was commenced from the whole of them, for the purpose of effecting a breach, and rockets were likewise discharged, in order to annoy the enemy within the pah. Towards evening, the outer works evinced the effect of the guns, and three breaches were made. An assault was then contemplated by the commanding officer, and two hundred of the troops were told off, to lead the attack. During the afternoon a great number of natives had been seen from the battery to enter, stealthily, the pah j in small parties ; and it was very clear that the natives within the pah were considerably reinforced, and also that they were well prepared, anticipating an assault. The chief ! Mohi Tav/ai remonstrated with the command- | ing officer, asserting that it would lie sacrificing the lives of brave men to attempt the ! Assault ou that evening ; and that by continuing the breaching, the object would be accomplished in a few days. The troops were then ordered back to the camp. On the following morning, Suuday the 11th about twelve of Nene's natives, with William Walker his brother, approached the breaches to reconnoitre, and not perceiving or hearing any natives within the outer stockades of the pah, they entered — and as soon as they found they were unopposed, conveyed signals to our forces in the batteries, when the sailors and troops rushed forward into the pah, before Kawiti's natives, who were outside the pah engaged at their karakia (worship), could reenter. As soon as they ascertained that they had thus, by negligence, lost possession of their stronghold, they commenced a heavy fire on our troops from the woods, and from the back* part of the pah ; but the numerical strength of the European forces and native allies, in addition to the protection afforded by the internal defences of the pah, rendered all attempts unavailing ; and if our troops and seamen had remained within the pah, instead of rushing out to contend with the natives in the woods, very few casualties would have occurred. After continuing the fire, in order to carry off their killed and wounded, the natives retired into the woods to a pah, about three miles distant, recently erected by Heke (who joined Kawiti on Saturday afternoon) as a place of refuge for Kawiti, in case he should be expelled from Huapekapeka. The loss of the European forces was twelve killed, of which number nine were seamen and marines — and thirty wounded, inclusive of seventeen seamen and marines. The native rebels suffered a loss of twenty-five killed, as correctly as it could be ascertained. Within the pah no ammunition or provisions were found. The former had been divided among them on the Saturday evening, anticipating the attack ; and they had been subsisting on fern-root alone, for some time previously. However fortunately these events have come to pass, we have the greatest pleasure in announcing to our readers that they have occasioned serious overtures of peace from Heke and Kawiti. On Sunday last, Heke and Kawiti went to Pomare's pah, at the head of the Karetu, but that wily chief would not admit them for fear of implicating himself and incurring the censure and punishment of the Governor, They sent to Nene requesting him to meet them, in order to coavey to the Governor their request for peace. Nene would

neither go to them, nor suffer them to com* to him, but deputed his brother William Waka, to receive their communication. Being convinced that they are really sincere in their desire for a termination of hostilities, Nenehas come to Auckland in the Victoria, with the concurrence of the other friendly chiefs in alliance with him, to acquaint his Excellency of the submission of Heke and Kawiti, and to intercede in their behalf* The two rebel chiefs throw themselves wholly on the mercy of his Excellency, resigning all their lands, and leaving it entirely to him to dictate the terms, on which peace and order are to be re-established at the northern part of the island. We understand that hit Excellency does not intend to deprive Heke and Kawiti of their lands, or to make them an appendage to the property of the Crown. We consider this to be most wise policy, and its moral effect on the minds of the natives, throughout the islands, will be great and beneficial ; as it will prove that the Queen does not take up arms and carry on wars for the purpose of depriving the natives of their lands and properties, but to enforce submission to the laws. If our loyal allies are anxious that the rebels should be spared further chastisement, and are also well assured that their present submission is sincere, and attributable to the effect and proof recently given to them that the Queen will not allow insult to her flag, or robbery and outrage to her subjects, to pass with impunity ; then we consider it would be no less consistent with justice than with mercy, at once to grant full pardon and obliterate the past. We learn, that Nene will return immediately to the Bay of Islands, and that peace will soon be permanently established in that district. The blockade will be removed, from the northern ports, on the Ist February, .and the customs re-established. Two hundred troops will remain there, with the Racehorse and Osprey men of war.