New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, August 8, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 107, 8 August 1846, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, August 8, 1846.

In our last number we gave a short account of the taking of Rangihaeata's pa. We have since seen Mr. Ludlam, who accompanied the expedition as a volunteer, and returned from Porirua on Tuesday night, and who has kindly furnished us with the following interesting particulars : — 'The expedition started on Friday, July 31st, at one o'clock in the afternoon, the militia under the command of Mr. M'Donogh and Mr. White, the police under Mr. A. C. Strode, and the friendly natives under Mr. D. Scott. They crossed the hills which bound the valley of the Hutt on the Western side, at the spot formerly occupied by the rebels in their incursions, and encamped about quarter to four o'clock in a valley half way between the Hutt and Porirua. .On halting six scouts were sent out to procure information. During the night it rained very heavily; the wood was so wet they were unable to kindle any fires, and they were but imperfectly protected from the inclemency of the weather. The next morning they commenced .their march at seven o'clock, and after proceeding two miles they met their scouts, who returned with information that fires were burning in Rangihaeata's pa the previous night. They proceeded onwards until they reached a lull about a mile and a half distant from the pa. A discussion ensued between the officers commanding the expedition and the chiefs on the plan of operations, when it was decided to send out the scouts again, that Mr. Scott should advance with the friendly natives, and that the militia and police should bring up the rear. At the foot of the hill two of the scouts fell in with one of the rebels, they presented their muskets but they missed fire, the rebel - then wounded one of them slightly in the hand with his tomahawk, when the other caught

him by his hair and made him prisoner. His name was Martin, and he proved to be one of the intruding natives at the Hutt. He was brother to Te Karemu of Wanganni. He admitted having been one of the leaders in the first attack on the camp, and one of the party when Rush was murdered. During his capture three Maori women at a distance gave the alarm, on which the Militia rushed onwards towards the pa. At the bottom of fhe hill they crossed a creek about a quarter of a mile from the pa, which was visible from this point. The united forces then crossed a clearing towards a small belt of bush through which it was necessary to pass before readhing the pa. Here a second halt was made previous to the attack on the pa, and the Maories threw off their blankets and prepared for the fight, the Police and Militia also threw down their blankets and made the necessary dispositions for the attack. Beyond the bush was a small strip of cleared land reaching to a creek about seven yards wide which surrounded a conical hill eighty feet high, and formed an island. On the summit of this hilI the pa was built. After the necessary preparations weie made, on the order being given to advance, they all rushed forward until they reached the creek, when the Militia and the Police advanced to the attack closely followed by the friendly natives. On entering the pa about one o'clock the Militia found it deserted. The pa was very strong, and if it had been defended great loss of life would have ensued, as it would have resisted any attempt to take it by assault without artillery. There was a hill about six hundred yards off which completely commanded the pa, and which offered a favourable position for a battery. About an hour after the capture of the pa, Mr. M'Donogh, Mr. Scott, and thirty natives went down towards the water, and on a clearing on a small point projecting into the harbour on the opposite side, about a quarter of a mile distant, they saw a number of natives collected. These proved to be Rangihaeata and some of his followers. He called out to our party "What people are in my pa?" to which they replied "The Governor's people and the Maories of Port Nicholson." He then inquired which way they came and was told " over the hills from the Hutt." He ended the korero by saying he would fight them the next morning, and after firing a volley across the harbour retired. It is believed that Rangihaeata and several of his followers were in the pa at the time the alarm was given by the maori women, and that they left very shortly before the pa was taken. About four o'clock on Saturday afternoon his Excellency accompanied by Capt. Stanley, the Hon. W. Yelverton, and Capt. Wynniatt, arrived at the pa in Capt Stanley's gig. He was accompanied by Puaha in a war canoe, who with his natives were received by our allies with a war dance. His Excellency warmly congratulated the militia and the friendly natives on their success, spoke in high terms of their gallant conduct, and seemed to be very much pleased with the result of the expedition. He promised also to send a reinforcement and provisions, of which they were greatly in need having started with only one day's rations. Next morning at daybreak the promised reinforcements arrived from the camp at Parramatta with provisions. On Monday morning a combined movement was made, including the force stationed at the camp, the reinforcement taken by the Driver, and the detachment of the 65th regiment recently arrived, who had landed from the Calliope, to these were added the Police and Militia, 200 natives under Puaha, and about 160 Port Nicholson natives under Mr. Scott. The natives had a grand-war dance after which the whole body moved on to the top of a hill overlooking the harbour, were they halted. Puaha's natives and our allies under Mr. Scott and Mr. Swainson, then advanced towards the enemy's position on the hills beyond the Horokiwi valley towards Pukerua about three miles from Pawatahanui. Here they found a collection of about sixty huts (without any fence or inclosure) which had been lately erected by the rebels, and which

they had quitted so recently that the potatoes were found cooking on the fires which were left burning. On taking possession of this spot the friendly natives discharged a few shots, on hearing which his Excellency immediately advanced a body of troops to their support under Major Last, who was accompanied by Capt. Stanley and Captain Henderson. On his arrival his Excellency praised the natives very highly and encouraged them to continue the pursuit. The natives then encamped for the night and agreed to send out scouts early the next morning to discover the enemy's position, and requested that the Militia and Police might still continue to act with them, to which his Excellency consented. On Tuesday morning Mr. Ludlam left the expedition. The greatest gallantry was shown by all the members of the expedition, and they seemed to treat lightly the inconveniences occasioned by the weather, which was very wretched and unfavourable for active operations. The friendly natives also behaved exceedingly well, and seemed delighted to act side by side with the settlers. His Excellency is justly entitled to the gratitude of the settlers for his exertions in the expedition. He was present everywhere directing and encouraging others by his example, making light of difficulties, and by I his presence stimulating the men to renewed exertions. Great praise is also due to Captain Stanley and the other naval officers for their ready and able assistance on all occasions, and the zeal they have uniformly evinced in promoting the objects of the expedition. Yesterday morning intelligence was received of a very important nature. The advance had been continued, and Rangihaeata was nearly surrounded in a pa, to the right of the road to Pukerua about three miles from Pari Pari. We are deeply concerned to state that a severe loss was sustained on our part in taking a small pa which was in the possession of the rebels. Ensign Blackburn of the 99th Regt. and three soldiers were killed in the attack ; Ensign Blackburn was shot by a native who had stationed himself in a tree where he was concealed by the thick foliage. He was discovered by an artilleryman, who immediately shot him and he tumbled out of the tree to the ground. A rush was immediately made by three of the rebels to take away the body, but they were killed on the spot. Ensign Blackburn was a very gallant young officer and was greatly esteemed by his brother officers. Other accounts state our loss to be five killed, Ensign Blackburn, and two soldiers, and a petty officer and seaman of the Calliope. Major Last and .the officers and troops under his command are said to have behaved with the greatest coolness and gallantry, and it appears hardly possible for Rangihaeata to escape. Five of the rebels are known to have been killed, and it is believed they have suffered a still greater loss. Despatches were received at an early hour yesterday morning from his Excellency the Governor, by his Honor the Superintendent, and about half past nine H.M.S. Castor sailed far Porirua to the assistance of the expedition. His Excellency is present at all the operations, shares every danger, and by his example encourages and animates the men in their labours. The two prisoners who were taken in the expedition against Pawahatariui (one by the friendly natives, and one captured subsequently) were sent on board the Calliope, where they attempted to overpower the sentinel on guard and seize his bayonet. The sentinel however was on the alert and defeated their attempt, and they have since been placed in irons.

We perceive in the New Zcalander of July 18th, a stupid attack on the Spectator because after exposing the falsehoods and perversions of fact which appeared in the former paper, in which nearly all the shipwrecks which have happened in New Zealand were stated to have occurred " at Port Nicholson and adjacent," in a subsequent number we

added that " the Cecilia which our contemporary stated was taking in spars at Kaipara, was at anchor in this harbour: and had no intention of proceeding to Kaipara." We stated this on respectable authority, but it appears we were mis-informed, the Cecilia did go to Kiapara. On this the miserable driveller seizes the opportunity to indulge in abuse of the Spectat wto divert attention from the real pointatissue. But this subterfuge will not avail him. We exposed his falsehoods and misstatements with reference to Port Nicholson and he winces under the exposure. Hence his silly abuse. We shall take an early opportunity of exposing a few more of this wretched scribbler's calumnies.

Otakotu — It is stated in the New Zealand Journal, that the name of this settlement has been changed from "New Edinburgh," to that of Otakou by the desire of the intending settlers, owing to the latter name being so generally known in connection with the spacious harbour and its surrounding district, and also to its being, for a native name sufficiently short and euphonious, and that the name of " Dunedin" is to be given to the principal town, at the extreme head of the harbour. It is also proposed to change the uame of the Molyneux river to the Clutha the ancient name of the river Clyde, and as the mouth of this river, which is connected with an extensive inland navigation, may soon become the site of an important town, it is thought desirable to provide for this town having some reference to the city of Glasgow, as Dunedin has to Edinburgh. It is therefore proposed that when the town shall be founded, the name of " Bal Clutha," which means the town of the Clyde, should be adopted.

We are informed that R. D. Hanson, Esq., formerly of Wellington, has proceeded to Adelaide, where he is about to establish himself in the practice of his profession. By his departure the office of Crown Solicitor, and that of Commissioner of the Court of Requests in this district will become vacant. Mr. Hanson arrived in Port Nicholson in the Cuba, the 4th Jan., 1840, and consequently was one of the earliest settlers.

Wellington Savings Bank. — Messrs. J. M'Beth, J. May, C. Mills, J. H. Wallace, the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposits at Mr. Ross's office, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the 8th August, and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 10th August.

It is reported that the Carysfort, 26 guns, after having conveyed Sir Charles Fitzroy to Sydney, is under orders to proceed to New Zealand and will remain on this station.