THE EIGHT AT WHAKA-PU-NAKI, POVERTY BAY.

Southland Times, Issue 1017, 7 September 1868, Page 3

THE EIGHT AT WHAKA-PU-NAKI, POVERTY BAY.

Abridged from the 'Hawkes Bay Herald' Aug. 11,

As the fight at Whaka-pu-naki, between sixty-five Poverty Bay volunteers and the fugitives from "Wharekauri, differs from any action that has yet taken place in New Zealand — from the fact of the rebels having contrived to equip themselves with first-rate arms (including bayonets), and managed to procure an ample supply of ammunition — some account of that fight from an eye-witness, may not prove unacceptable to your readers. The rebels, after refusing Capt. Biggs' demand of an unconditional surrender, crossed the coast range at Whareongaonga (the scene of their debarkation), on the night of the 13th July. After plundering Forrester's hut and Johnsons's outstation, they retreated into a basin of dense bush 15 miles in diameter, and bounded inland by a mountain range, which it was necessary for them to cross at a particular point, en route to the Uriwera country, where they hoped to find allies and a safe retreat.

On the 16th we started, via the Arai river, to intercept the rebels ; reached our destination on the 17th, and camped in a gully. The track we followed led us through one of the roughest districts I have seen, during 19 years' experience in every part of New Zealand. The cost of a lengthened campaign in «mch a country, with even a small force, would be very great. On the 18th, a message arrived from Mr Skipworth — who had been left in charge of a party of " friendlies " with orders to follow the rebels — stating that his men had abandoned the pursuit, but were on their way to unite with us. Capt. Capt. Biggs started on. the 19th, to get these deserters to the front if possible, and leaving the volunteers in charge of Captain "Westrupp. Almost every night our sentinels had seen their fires in the bush, always at a great distance ; but at daybreak of the 20th, the men on guard saw the rebel fires ascending from the ravines beneath them. Soon after, several Maories emerged from the forest by a timbered spur. They were joined by others and information was forwarded to Capt "Westrupp. In five minutes we were on our way to meet the enemy, whom we found clustered in groups upon a lateral spur. Descending from the main range, just where this spur connected with it, the main range tending away in a circular direction, right and left, about half-a-mile each may. This was the rebel position. The first position taken by us was parallel to that of the enemy, but in the hollow beneath. A hill rose to the left of the rebel line 5 connected with it to a narrow ridge. It was well adapted for defence, being in fact a natural fortress of great strength. Lieut. Wilson was , directed to occupy it with about 20 men and about a dozen natives ; he succeeded at great risk. Captain "Westrupp has been blamed for holding this hill and dividing his small force ; the censure is undeserved, for no one who saw how skilfully Lieut. "Wilson used the advantage he had gained for the benefit of his comrades, will dispute Captain "Westrupp's judgment. Bitterly must the rebels have regretted our position on a hill, over which lay the coveted road to the interior and from which they suffered severely. Before the fight commenced, Te Korti the rebel leader and prophet advanced to the crest of the rebel position, joining his hands above his head. He seemed to invoke destruction upon the pakehas who dared to obstruct his escape. He was attired in a loose robe of some sort j and as the sun shore full upon him from behind, he reminded me of those pictures of Moses on Mount Sinai or Joshtfa

commanding the Sim to stand still,- Which adorn our family Bibes. A moment after he ceased praying, a storm of bullets came hurling amongst us through the fern and flax, A brisk fire was kept up on both sides for half an hour, a"nd then it became necessary to take up a new position as the rebels were trying to flank our left. Captain Westrupp contrived, by a series of judicious movements, to obtain possession of a hill to the right of the rebels ; the enemy tried hard to gain possession of the same Mil, and some of their best marksmen managed to establish j themselves one the opposite slope for the remainder of the day, in spite of repeated attempts to dislodge them. A few of our force still retained the hollow, and we we able to give and receive efficient support from Lieut. Wilson and his party. For about five hours after a heavy fire was kept up by the rebels, who appeared I to have an unlimited supply of ammuni- • tion ; but we Were obliged to be sparing of ours. By-and-bye,- a party of rebels, screened by the bush, got into our rear,and poured several volleys into our men on the slope of the hill. At 4 p.m., the rebel fire greatly overmatched ours ; one of our men was desperately wounded, and immediately afterwards another was shot through the brain ; during the next hour several more were wounded. . The rebels were being largely reinforced, and it was doubtful if we could retain our position much longer. Just before sunset a small reinforcement of " friendlies," sent by Captain Biggs* arrived, and halted at some distance. By this time we; were nearly surrounded ; had these "frieridhW done their duty we might, even then, have beaten the rebels back into the bush. Our dusky allies, however, were very " backward in coming forward." With much persuasion they advanced, as their foremost man came within range of the rebel fire he fell dead. A minute after and they had vanished. Captain Westrupp then ordered a charge upon the enemy, who had become very daring. As we were deficient in bayonets and revolvers, we made little impression upon an enemy supplied with both. The order was reluctantly given to retreat ; our retreat was made in good order j retiring from spur to spur, the rebels were foiled in every attempt to convert our retreat into a rout. Through a perfect hail of bullets we reached an ancient Maori fortification on a hill behind

our camp. Night had set in, but the signal fires of the rebels on the opposite peaks showed our late position swarming with natives hurrying on in pursuit ; some of the more advanced were shooting down our horses. Amidst the diiij was heard the sound of a bugle sounding the advance. Finding our new position untenable, we retired, leaving our camp to be looted by the

enemy. "We retreated all night under the direction of a faithful Maori guide named Henri Kakapanga ; without the invaluable assistance of this fine fellow we might have been intercepted, and our retreat cut off by the infuriated fanatics. Eurther on we met some lads of tender age, who informed us that they were the conquerors of Omeranui, and referred us to their commander, a consequential looking gentleman, all frogs and buttons, for confirmation of the same ; he introduced himseli' as Lieut. -Colonel Whitrnore. After informing us that he was invested with absolute power over our lives and property, he ordered us to return with him and the small boys, it being his intention to capture the rebels at once, and added, that if we obeyed him, the General Government, at his recommendation, would compensate us for our horses, &c, otherwise we should nofc get a stiver. "We fought and repelled a very superior force for a whole day, and for 36 hours were fighting and retreating, without food. We are obliged to sacrifice our horses and other property, but preserved our arms intact. We caused heavy loss to the enemy ; 20 at least are believed to have fallen ; amongst others, a brother of Te Korti's brother was killed. The enemy was seen dragging away their killed into the bush, by flax ropes attached to their limbs, and many must have been wounded. On our side one man was killed and seven were wounded, two, it is feared, mortally. Some of our escapes were marvellous ; when charging, a rebel came up to Captain Westrupp and fired at his head, fortunately for that gentleman he got off with the loss of his left whisker. One of the Thompsons was shot through the shirt, trousers, and hat and the stock of his carbine was shivered to splinters. One was shot through the belt, and another through the boot, A Poyeety Bat Volunteer. Turanga, July 27, 1868.