ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 131, 31 October 1846, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wanganui, October 17, 1846. Sir, — Residents at Wanganui labour under serious disadvantages in now being deprived of all overland intercourse with Wellington ; for Rangihaeata is still in position between (he Manawatu and Horewenua, and of course travellers dare not attempt to pass him. The cutter Katherine Johnttonc arrived last Monday, bringing us the usual files of Port Nicholson newspapers. From the leading article of the Independent of 3d October, I make the following

extracts. a« they refer ,to the information sent from here in the cutter s previous trip :— The late commanding officer, Major Last, investigated the charges implicating our ally Puaha. The charges were found without foundation, &c- and also he adds, " We refer ourWanganui friends to the last dispatch of Major Last, showing how the enemy were followed up." With reference to the investigation conducted by Major Last, the result has, I confess, afforded me more regret than surprise ; the promptitude displayed in so ewpeditiously disposing of such venous charges, is highly praiseworthy ; for they only arrived in Wellington by our cutter on Friday, 2d October, and the very next morning the public papers declare them to have been investigated, and " without foundation :" what a pity the same alacrity was not manifested in following the rebels through the bush. It would be both courteous and politic were the principal parts of the evidence made known to us and the public, on which tbe refutation of these charges is based. My own opinion (also that of the other magistrates here) is unchanged, and I now offer some reasons in its defence. But let me previously request of your readers that my motives may not be misinterpreted, or my allusions misapplied ; my object is to elicit truth, and not to reflect on the bravery^ of British troops — to expose the subtle treachery and inefficiency of our Maori allies, and dispel the mist of credulity that still so tenaciously envelopes their admirers. Pliny exclaims, " Minus credunt qrue ad mam salutem pertinent si intelliffnnt ,•" and his remark has been only too fatally verified in this distant land. Mamuku and his men have too often ■wronged and too often deceived me, to either claim me for an advocate, or expect our relying more on the accuracy of his assertions than any other native. I attach no more importance to them than is justified by an impartial and deliberate investigation of the following reasons and facts : — That Mamuku's statements to me, and those of other rebels to different parties, at separate times and places, correspond with singular accuracy in their minutest details. That Puaha's men set up a noisy war-dance when the allies were close in pursuit of the rebels after their evacuating the pa taken by the militia near Parramatta camp, thus delaying the advance of the allies, and enabling the rebels to retreat unmolested. That the Ngatiawas fired no signal guns in the rear, which Puaha's men did, and also the Ngatiawas fell into an ambuscade, which caused them a severe loss of killed and wounded. That the Ngatiawas captured a number of the rebels at different times, whilst Pnaha's men (I think) did not take any prisoners; also, that the Ngatiawas suffered a great loss ot life during the campaign, whilst Puaha's men sustained none ; and therefore I conclude some collusion, some perfect and active system of co-operation must be admitted to exist between the rebels and Ngatitoas to account for this. j That Puaha intentionally misled Captain Stanley and others by directing their journey on the coast, passing Waikanae on to Otaki in search of the- rebels, assuring Captain Stanley that the rebels had gone on to Manawatu (vide Major Last's despatch), wliilst they were quietly bivouacked in an open country within one hour's walk of Waikanae pa, andCapt. Stanley's boats in the Waikanae river. That the allied natives at Waikanae never made known the rebel position, so near their pa, and so distinctly visible from it, until after the Calliope had sailed for Porirua, and the militia ordered back to Wainui : that the rebels' position was perfectly accessible, easily distinguished from any high sand-hill within 300 yds. of high water, and was highly favourable for our attacking them in front, flank, and rear, as also for intercepting their further retreat past Otaki: that had Mr. Strode 's enterprising plan of cutting them off been supported by the native allies, the rebels could not have escaped : that instead of this, about three hours before mid-day, August 31, they sallied out in gangs of ten and twelve, more like boys going lazily to school, than an armed force anxious to surprise an active and wary enemy. That the friendly natives have exhibited a most suspicious fidelity, or a highly censurable degree of indifference, inactivity, and inefficiency, in conducting the subsequent pursuit, if it can be dignified by such a name ; for on 23d Sept. the rebel chief Rangihaeata and his men, with their cripples, women, and large bundles of goods plundered from Europeans, were at Ohau, having thus been driven the enormous distance of eighteen miles in twenty-three days by immensely superior numbers of our well-fed, 'well-armed, well -clothed, and zealous native allies. That Puaha's fidelity has long been suspected by numbers of the oldest and most intelligent settlers; he fought by Rangihaeata's side at Wairau ; he was present also at the subsequent massacre, and I therefore assume it very improbable that this same Puaha would act with zeal and fidelity in concert with former foes, to now capture and destroy his countrymen, his old companions in victory, his darling associates in the relentless massacre of the Wairau victims. And, That the rebels have escaped, effectually and deliberately; that the murderers are with them ; and that the overland communication from here to Wellington is more impracticable and dangerous than it was previous to the opening of the late campaign. The probable result arising from the escape of the rebels may perhaps be the subject of my future remarks : they are painful to contemplate, when contrasted with the security and prosperity that must have instantly been afforded to the country by the death or capture of the rebel chiefs. The approaching autumn will not pass without a fearful struggle, and my remarks may perhaps suggest some useful cautions in conducting the campaign. My object is to inititute a rigid and impartial examination of the affair, ana thus in future to afford our troops a chance of success : give them fair play when in action, and no native force can long resist their valour. -, I remain, Sir. Your most obedient, humble Servant, John Nixon. [We have been obliged to omit a portion of Mr. Nixon's letter, to reduce it within our limits. — JSd. N.Z.S.]

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator.

Sir,—ln your paper of the 24th instant, I observe a paragraph of which the following is an extract: —" It is said that Puaha has openlyjoined Rangihaeata, and declared hi 3 intention of obtaining utu for the imprisonment of Rauparaha, and his brothers Charley and Kanae," As this statement is without the least foundation in fact lam persuaded a sense of justice will induce you to give publicity to a most unqualified contradiction of it, and thus set (his maligned but estimable individual right with the public. He has been for some time past at Pukerua planting potaoes, and even his pig-proof fence round his potato field has been magnified intoa fortified pa. I have visited him twice within the last fortnight, and am quite persuaded he is peaceably disposed. My last visit to him was on Thursday last, and on my return on Friday, he and his tribe accompanied me to Taupo pa, which, as you are aware, is in the immediate vicinity of the camp at Porirua. —l am, Sir, your's, &c, John Wade. Wellington, 26th October 1846.