THE SCENE OF THE RECENT OPERATIONS AT TARANAKI.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 77, 31 July 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE SCENE OF THE RECENT OPERATIONS AT TARANAKI.

(Xi» the correspondent of the- Southern Cross.) : I think a short description of the country now the scene of operations in Taranaki may not be uninteresting at this time, and may enable the public to understand the narrative of the war. Our farthest boundary, is Tataraiinaka, about thirteen miles from New Plymouth, in a southerly direction, and on the direct- road to Wanganui. I The quality of the land is excellent, and the country between the sea and. the ranges is of an undulating character, well watered. But only two blocks belong to the British -- Omata and Tataraimaka, the block known as the Oakura block lying between them. On. this latter block of land the ambush was laid which resulted in the death of Ltaik Tragett, Dr. Hope, and four men of the 57th regiment. Leaving New Plymouth the south road is carried inland from the beach commencing at a distance of about a quarter of a mile from the shore until it is fully three-fourths of a mile from Sistant from the sea at the Omata Blockade, erected by the settlers during th e first campaign, and now garrisoned by militia. The stockade has strengthened lately and is now a safe position. The country to the left, between New Plymouth and the Omata stockade, is much broken and is intersected by numerous gullies and ravines, which afford admirable cover for an enemy. Care has been taken to carry the road over the high ground to give a commanding view, if possible, of theravines on either side. The distance from town to the stockade is three and s half miles. The land in the neighborhood of the stockade is charming to a lover of the picturesque, but to a military eye it has quite another appearance. There seems to be no end to the intricacies of gully and mound, and nowhere can flats of over 100 acres be found. The land is very good, the flats being exceedingly fertile. Continuing thence for about 1000 yards, we come to this road on which the murders were committed in 1860 I allude to the homicide of Ford, Passmore, and Shaw, by the natives. The road then diverges a little to avoid the Waireka hill, beyoud which' the land is greatly broken. One of the peculiar features of this country is that, on coming near the beach, the timber and scrub disappear in the gullies, the sides instead being covered with high flax, and toe too is found in the swamps. This description will apply till we get to St. Patrick's redoubt, at Potouko, winch is built on Wilkinson's farm. 1 may mention that an old pa exists at Potouko. This point is about six miles from New Plymouth, and, as may be imagined, is situated in a most difficult country for offensive operations. About 1000 yards further, and the road is carried down an incline to the 3pot where Lieut. Waller was so recently attacked, and on which occasion Hone, ■the half-caste, still a prisoner, was arrested. The leading feature of fcountry still continues — broken land, md deep and numerous gullies termilating in a dense bush at the ranges. Two miles of this country brings us 0 the Oakura or St. Andrew's redoubt, milt by General Cameron to keep open ;he communication with Tataraimaka yj land, and close to where the ambush was laid on the 4th May, which ended n such a fearful tragedy. The road lere is close to the shore. This reboubt 3 built within about one mile and three ruarters from the Kaitake pa on the ranges, to which Parenga Kingi and his nob retired after the murder, and which las since been so strongly fortified. The pa stands on an elevated spur, J7OO yards from the sea in a direct line. The land up to the base of the spur is evel, covered with heavy fern ; and on he south side there is a road. The pa s in a very strong position, and from it >bservations may be taken of all that is ;oing on in the redoubt, and small >arties can be detected coming along in ■hue to lay an ambush if determined on. ■ The road passes the redoubt on to the Beach, and about three-quarters of a Bailo further on the Wairau, a small Biver, forces its way in a deep channel, ■hrough the cliff to the sea. It was Bere the ambush was laid, and it is the Best chosen spot on the road. The load still runs along the shore : on the Bne hand high banks without any break Bi their wall except the few rivers and Breams which drain the plateau and Rie ranges, and on the other hand the sea. B The road, on coming to the Timaru Biver leaves the beach and is taken up Bo the plateau above. This is a flat of Biost beautiful grass land, laid down By our settlers— for we are now on the Bataraimaka block, on the southernmost Boundary of which, and close to the Btaitakera River, is the St. Andrew's Bedoubt. On the other side of the Biver the enemy had dug rifle pits, and Built a redoubt, which were carried at Bhe point of the bayonet on the 4 th of June. B- The Oakura and Tatara blocks are Bwel up to the base c f the ranges, well Bratered, and admirably fitted for Billage farming. The native land to »c south is level and fertile. The idea ;B)ay therefore be formed that the scene Bf military operations in Taranaki is B?hfijj^d to a narrow slip of land, jHounded on one side by high ranges Beavily timbered, aDd on the other side Memmed in by a sea without a port. She country between the ranges and the Sa is broken, and clad with that class jßf vegetation which gives the best cover jß)r guerilla warfare. The- pas are on jfirell chosen positions on the spur of the ■anges, and command the only road by ■raich an attack could be made upon jjßhem. There is always an escape proBided at the rear, in case of a successful §Bssault. Such is the country in which tjme have to join issue with the Maori sation. Could we not change the venue |»nd have a fair ial ?