CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL OF EVENTS

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 304, 18 September 1860, Page 3

CONTINUATION OF JOURNAL OF EVENTS

(From the Tarandki Herald, September 14.)

Saturday, September B.—The Anne Longton for Valparaiso, Wdnga Wonga for Waitara, and the Will Watch for Manukau, sailed to-day. The Wonga Wonga returned this afternoon from Waitara, and sails to-night for Manukau. 100 men, under Lieutenants, Richardson and Lowry and Ensign La Touche—a portion of the detachment of the 12th at Bell Block—came 'into town to day, and encamped in King-street. Weather fine and calm. Sunday, September 9.—The Ariel and Jupiter' for Nelson, Traveller's Bride for. Waivganui, Parininihi for Molcau, and Wonga Wonga for Waitara, sailed to-day. The Wonga Wonga took a large quantity of ammunition for the Waitara camp. The Tasmanian Maid is repairing the injury to her boiler, and the arrival of the Wonga Wonga is very opportune. In consequence of a contemplated movement against the enemy, at Waitara, she is detained for the,purpose of conveying men and stores thither. At-4 p.m. the forces manned the trenches and were inspected by Major-General Gold; after which, the two companies of Volunteer Rifles were marched to the Militia office, and informed by Captain Stapp that an expedition would start tomorrow for Waitara, and that 50 volunteers would be allowed to join, and asked those who wished to dd so to step out. Th» call was responded to above the number, and the men were ordered to hold themselves in readiness for the march. An attack upon the rebels in their strongholds is contemplated. The force from town will act in conceit with Major Nelson's and Captain Seymour's force at Waitara, and will number about 1400 men. Weather fine, and roads in excellent order.

Monday, September 10.—At an early hour this morning every one was astir preparing for-the expedition. Numerous c »rts were loading with ammunition, camp equipage, stores, &c. The forces were told off in three divisions: viz, No 1 division, Major Nelson's force at Waitara, and commanded by him, consisting, of 557 men of the 40th and naval brigade, under Captains TBowdler and Richards, Lieutenants Armstrong, Dowmah and JicKs^ and Adjutant Whelanv Snd Assistant" Surgeon"' Styles; Lieutenant" Warburton, 8.E.; Commodore Loring, C.8.,. Lieut. Hunie, Sec. Parish, Lieutenant Bent, R.M., Gunner Buckle, Boatswain Frogley, Midshipmen Heneage, Crohan, and Horn;. .Captain Seymour, Lieutenant Battiscombe, Lieutenants Kelly, R.M.A., Assistant Surgeon Edwards, and Midshipmen Hotham, Wadlow and Garnett. N. 2 division, commanded by Major Hutchins, 12th regiment, consisted of 464 men of the 65th regiment royal artillery, and royal engineers, under Captain Strover, R. A., Captain Mould, RE., Captain Turner (commanding 65th), Captains Strange, Barton.; Lieutenants Bailie, Urquhart, Whitbread, Wrixoh,' Penuefather, Chevalier,' White, Talbot, Dr. White, Dr. Niven Qr.-master Withers, 65th regiment, and 20 men of the mounted escort under Captain Dcs Voeux. ,No 3 division commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Leslie, 40th regiment, corisistedof 333 men of the 40th regiment, and royal artillery,-under Captains Hare and .Shaw, Lieutenants Gibson, Hobbs, Ensigns Clarke,, Burton, Lieutenant and -Adjutant Johnson, ..Quarter-master Barnes, ."and Div Murray, 40th regiment;. Lieutenant McNaughten, R.A.; and 50 volunteer rifles under Captain and Adjutant Stapp, Captain Watt, 'Lieutenants Hirst and Webster. A : number Q'f"friendly■■■■natives with, Mr. McLean, and Mr., Parris, accompanied (this division; At' 12 the '2nd ■ division,' with Majoi'-Geheral Pratt, C.8., commanding, the field force of the expedition, Lieutenant Colonel Carey, D.A.G., Captain Pasley,

R.E., Lieutenant Forster, It. A., A.D.C., and Dr. Mouafc, C.8., left town, with a long train of carts and guns, followed immediately afterwards'by the 3rd division. The~steamer Wonga Wongi idVnt VI o'clock with the Blue Jacket* from Mount Eliot, who form part of No 1 division at Waitara. Weather still continues fine. Numerous spectators were assembled to see the troop 9 leave the town. The whole" numbered upwards of 1400 men, and is-the largest force that has yet been employed together in New Zealand. At 4 o'clock the remaining Militia and Volunteers, in town, assembled at the Militia office, and'tnanried the trenches, where they were visited :by Major-General Gold. - .■-../■,;•, , . ... ~.-. -£..,., ._ . : Tuesday, September ll.—From, a person .'frbim* Bell Block we hear that the forces camped v at. Mahoetahi last nighty started before daylight this morning, and were seen at Ngataiparirua Kairau pus, which wore in flames .;-. firing of, artillery and small arms heard. , Later in the day the.mounted escort, under.Captain Dcs Voaux, returned^ and from them we have the following particulars of-the expedition after leaving Mahoetahi. ..At 4 o'clock this morning No. 3 division proceeded by a branch road leading up to. Ngataiparirua, No. 2 division . continuing, along the Devon road, until reiicliirig the road from" King's pas to \Vaitara, where it turned to the right, when the Light Company of the 65th, under Lieutenants Urquhart and \Vhitbread,,were thrown out in skirmishing, order üb' to Ngataripairua^ when the guns were brought to the front, and three shells thrown into the pah, H ft.er ; which it was entered and found untenanted, and forthwith destroyed. No. 3 division now came up, and proceeded to Kairau, the next.pah, described, as very strongly fortified, which was also found evacuated ; i this was also burnt, and the divisions continued their march to Huirangi, when they were joined by Major Nelson's^divisions from Waitara, who had marched up by a circuitous route on the banks of the Waitara. On reaching JBhiirangi, smoke was seen rising from the pah; but on reaching it, it Was found, like the ;others evacuated; but half-cooked food and lighted .fires\vere: evidences that th^hemy had only just ■ left. 'jt'. Major Nelson'ei division, n'pw senfc out skirmishers, with some friendly. natives/ who, while proceeding 'along a road near a grove of peach trees, *ere fired .upon by an ambuscade of the natives, in a ravine, on the edge of the forest,-and a private named ——— Ramsay killed, and threcwounded. The natives delivered their volley at a distance of a few yards, but fortunately with their usual bad aim, otherwise many of the 40th must have fallen. On receiving the volley the advanced: party fired and retired, and in the momentary confusion left their killed comrade, and on . advancing again they found that he had been taken'away by the rebels, no'doubt to secire his rifle and ammunition. Ihaia, who was with the party, acted with great coolness and bravery, deliberately firing, his piece at the enemy, before he retired with the rest. An officer— we believe Lieut. Dowman, had a narrow .escape, he got tripped up by a supplejack and fell into a hole, and escaped.from the enemy by a miracle, after losing his sword. The rebels now kept up a heavy firefrom the bush and rifle pits on its skirt, which was answered by our forces with grape, canister, round shot, rockets and a smart musketry fire ; the bullets from the rebels fairing amongst the troops, and near to the General,.who was standing with his staff within range. After firing into the bush for a considerable time, and having destroyed Huirangi and a small pa to the right, named Manutahi, which was effected by a party of 40 men of the Light Company of the 65th, under Liqut. Urquhart, who were detached from the 2nd diyision, the order to retire was giv.en, and the whole force returned to camp at Waitara, which was reached at 3 p.m. We hear that not more than 150 natives were engaged, and that they consisted of W. Kiugi's immediate followers. A large number of horses and cattle were driven into camp by the mounted escort. At Ngataiparirua, a great number of sheep and lambs belonging to Bell Block settlers weie lying about killed. The wells and a largo saw-pit were filled with their carcasses. H.M. colonial steam sloop Victoria, and schooner Heron, arrived from Mariukau to-day, bringing Auckland news to the Bth instant. An extract from a private letter received from Auckland states " that the Governor had received news that a telegraph, despatch from the Duke of Newcastle to the Governor-General of India to hold two regiments in readiness for New Zealand had been forwarded: and that, if the following mail brought intelligence of the continuance of hostilities, they would be sent. The general impression here is that reinforcements will arrivel in the course of another month." The Shamrock, from Sydney, a.lso arrived to-day. The Wonga Wonga came up from Waitara this evening with the General and' Staff. ::-''- ' - ' ' .

Wednesday September 12.—The morning broke with heavyjrain and windjfrom N.E. |The Tasmanian Maid arrived from and returned to Waitara to-day. At 2 p.m., the forces reached town after a march from Waitara through pouring rain. The LqM Ashley (mail 6teame'r) arrived lEp^day from Nelson for Sydney. The Victoria sailed for Wellington.

Thursday, September 13.—Weather moderating. The Airedale from Nelson, arrived to-day. The Lord Ashley, with the mails for England, sailed at 4 p.m; Friday, September 14.—-The Wonga Wonga, for Manukau, sailed at noon—passengers,' Commodore Loring, C.8., Avho proceeds to England, and D. McLean, Esq., Native Secretary.