Taranaki.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 210, 27 September 1860, Page 3

Taranaki.

[From the Taranaki New^Se pt. 13.] J The Waitava expeilitionreached Srahoe- j tahi about 6 o’clock on Holiday, aiid encamped for the night on either-side of tlie ( road, the General and Staff occupying tlie pa. Orders were given to be in readiness to start ' at three in the morning, but it was four o’clock before they were in motion.,. The 3rd ( division struck in across',the ; Waibngana on 1 the Huirangi road.:.,; The friendiy iiativea.and 1 volunteers in advahce,>.’the“< troops following, j and halted a short distance frdm Ngatiparirua 1 pa at daybreak. The 2nd;-division crossed * the Waiongana on,the Devon line, and struck * in and took up a position with the guns on-the J Waitara side of the pa, and after a few shots 1 it was rushed and destroyed, having been de- 1 serted by the enemy. ’' The volunteers and 3rd ' division aided in the work of demolition. The 1 Ist division, consisting of 40th and blue jackets, undeFMajor Nelson, 'had" taken up a ] position inland of the KairoU paj upon which j the division'advanced, while the volunteers ‘ were thrown out'in extended order oh the opposite side. The pa was 'quickly taken, a Tew friendly Maories 1 and the blue -jackets j being the first to -enter. The pas was of * great strength and complicated construction, ( and had been very recently destroyed. • Tile 5 guns from \Vaitara had J by this tiniaarrived on 1 the ground, and the lst and-£fid>divisions and < some: friendly ' Mabries' frbfift Wait&railbheri*ad- < vanced oh the ITuirangi' pavUlfe-volunteers i being -held in roserve. The advance-guard * of The Ist division and'Some. friendly natives 1 advanced and examined the pa, and were ( proceeding inland through'-an ' opening in the bush, when a heavy fire - was opened on them 1

by the enemy concealed in the' bush, upon wfnch : the advancing party r eturned the fire aiid retired. . A sharp fire from the guns was then opened upon the and rockets thrown in with rapidity and admirable precision. The pa was then set on fire, and the volunteers were detached to destroy. another pa in the neighbourhood. While this was going on, it waß observable that the. enemy were receiving a considerable accession of numbers, and a party was seen to move as if for the purpose of cutting off'the volunteers,, upon whicli a gun was turned iii that direction, and their advance checked. A general advance was now made in skirmishing order to the bush, the enemy keeping up a heavy and sustained fire from the cover of the bush," and our fire in reply was kept up—the guliis at the same time.throwing shot and shell iritgLtheJbush wherever smoke was to be seen. The firing was kept up till noon, when the troopjs.retired to the.. and yesterday returned |to town. The number of the natives engaged is not ; kn,own, nor their casualties, but from the accounts of eye-witnesses they must have been heavy, especially from the fire ,of the large guns. Tbe loss on our side is one man missing and three slightly wounded. Time does not allow of our making any observations upon this expedition at present. JFhatever its object may have been, public ' expectation has. not been perfectly realised in what lias been done, although we have no doubt the enemy has received considerable ’ damage.

JOURNAL OF EVENTS TO SEPT. 14[From the Taranaki Herald .] Saturday., Sept. B.—Wonga /Tonga for Waitara sailed to-day. The 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; weather fine and calm. Sunday, 9th.—'Traveller’s Bride for Wanoanui. and Wonsra Woncra 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 boiles, and the arrival of the Wonga is very opportune. In consequence of a contemplated movement against the.enemy at Waitara, she is detaiued for the purpose of conveying men and stores thither. At 4 p.m. the forces manned the trendies, and were inspected by Major-General Gold; after which the two companies of vplunteer rifles were marched to the militia office, and informed by] Capt. Stapp that an expedition would start to-morrow for Waitara, and that 50 volun teers would be allowed to join, and asked those who wished to do so to step out. 2'lie call was responded to above the number, and | the men were ordered to hold themselves in j readiness for tlie march. An attack upon the] rebels in their strongholds is contemplated. 2’he force from town will act in concert with Major Nelson’s and Capt. Seymour’s forces at Waitara, and will number about 1400 men ; weather fine and roads in excellent order. Monday, lOtli.—At an early hour this morning every one wss astir <_ preparing for the expedition. Numerous carts were loading with ammunition, camp equipage, stores, &c. The forces were told off into three divisions, — namely, Major Nelson’s force at Waitara and commanded by him, consisted of 557 men of the 40th and Naval brigade, under Captains Bowdler and Richards, Lieuts. Armstrong, Dowraan, and Jackson, Ensign and Adjutant Whelan, and Assist. Surgeon Stiles; Lieut. /Farburton, R.E.; Commodore Loring, C. 8., Lieut. Aume, Sec. Parish, Lieut. Bent, R.M., Gunner Buckle, Boatswain Frogley, Midshipmen Heneage, Crohan, and Horn ; Capt. Seymour, Lieut. Battiscombe, Lieut. Kelly, Lieut. Morris, R.M.A., Assist. Surgeon Edwards, and Midshipmen Ilotham,. Wadlow, and Garnett. No. 2 division, commanded by Major Hutchins, 12th regt., consisted of 464 men of the 65th regt., royal artillery, and royal en-

gineers', under Capt. Strover, 8.A., Capt. Mould, R. E., Captain Turner (commanding 65th), Capts. Strange, Barton, Lieuts. Baillie, Urquhart, Whitbread, Wrixon, Pennefather, Chevalier, White, Talbot, Dr. White, Dr. Niven, Qr.-Master Withers, 65th regt., and 20 men of the .mounted escort under Capt. Des Voeux. No. 3 division, commanded by Lieut. Colonel Leslie, 40th regt., and royal artillery, under Capts. Hare and Shaw, Lieuts. Gibson, Hobbs, Ensigns, Clarke, Burton, Lieut, and Adjutant. Johnstone, Quartermaster Barnes, and Dr. Murray, 40th regt.; Lieut. A/cNaughten, R.A.; and 50 volunteer rifles, under Capt. and Adjutant Stapp, Capt. IVatt, Lieuts. Hirst and /Tebster: A number of friendly natives with Mr.. McLean and Mr. Parris, accompanied this division. At- 12 the 2nd division, with Mujor-GenerahPratt, C. 8., commanding the field force of the expedition, Lieut.-Colonel Carey, D.A.C., Capt. Paseley, R.E., Lieut. Forster, R.A../LD.C., and T)r. Mouat, C. 8., left town with a long train of carts and guns, followed immediately after-, wards by the 3rd division. The steamer /Tonga Wonga left at 12 o’clock with the bide jackets from Mount Eliot, who form part of NoV -1 divisson at Waitara. Weather still continues fine. Numerous spectators were assembled to see the troops 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 militi# and volunteers in town assembled at the militia office and manned the trenches, where they were visited by MajorGeneral Gold. Tuesday, 11th.- —From a person from Bell Block we hear that the forces camped at MaH-: ■ • •

hoetahi last, night, started before daylight this -morning.' and were seen at Ngataiparirua ‘and /fairau pas, which; were in flames; firing .of artillery ami small arms heard. Later in the day the niounted escort, tinder Captain Des Voeux, returned, and from them we liaVe

tjie following particulars of the proceedings of t the expedition after leaving Mahoetahi. At • 4 o’clock this morning No. 3 division proceeded by a branch road leading up to Ngatai-. parirua, No. 2 division continuing along; the. Devon road until reaching the road from King’s pas to Waitara. where it turned to the fight, when the light company of the 65th, under Lieuts, Urqphart and Whitbread, were thrown out in skirmishing order up to Ngataiparirua, ' when- the guns-were brought to the front; and. three; shells thrown into the pa, after which it was eiite; ed. and found unteuanted, and forthwith destroyed. No. 3, division now came up, and proceeded to Kairau, the next pa, described ; as . very strongly foitified, which was , also found; evacuated ;this was also burnt, and , the divisions continued their march to Huirangi, when they were joined hy ; Major. Nel-.;.; son’s divisions from Waitara, who had marched, up by a circuitous, route on the hanks of; theWaitara. On reaching Huirangi, smoke wasseen ri-ing from the pa, but on reaching; it, it., was found, like the others, evacuated, but half-cooked food ami. lighted fires were evi--. deuces that the enemy had only just left it.,. Major Nelson’s division' now sent out skirmishers, with some friendly natives, who, whileproceeding along a road near a grove of peach i; trees, were fired upon by an ambuscade of the.-, natives in a ravine, on the edge of the forest,, and a private named Ramsay killed, and three >, wounded. The natives delivered their volley . at a distance of u few yards, but fortunately.with their usual bad aim, otherwise many of. the 40th musthavefallen. On receiving the volley, the:advance party fired and retired, ami in the momentary < confusion left their killed; comrade,, and .on advancing again they found, he had been .taken , away by the rebels, no . doubt to seciire his rifle ..and ammunition,:. Ihaia, who was with the party, acted with. great coolness rrd bravery, deliberately firing,; his piece at the enemy before he retired .with, the rest. An otiicer—we believe Lieut. Dow- ~ man—had a narrow escape, as lie 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 ad heavy fire from 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 therebels failing amongst the troops, and near tothe General, who was standing with his staff* within range. After firing into the bush a , considerable time, and having destroyed Huirangi and a small pa to the right, named Ma- ‘ i nutahi, which was. effected by -a party of 40; men of the light company of the 65tb, under ■ Lieut., Urquhart, who were detached from the 2nd division, the order to retire was given, and the whole force returned to camp at Waitara, which was reached at 3p m. We hear that no more than 150 natives were engaged,> , and that they consisted of Kingi’s immediate ; followers. A large number of horses ar.d cattle were driven into camp ly the mounted t escort. At Ngataiparirua, a great number of ! sheep and lambs belonging to Bell Blocki settlers were lying about killed. The wells aud a darge ; saw-pit were filled with their car- . cases. A fuller account of the expedition will [be found in auotlier part of the paper. H.M. ’ colonial steam sloop Victoria, and schooner 5 //eron, arrived from Manukau to-day, bringing Auckland news •to the Bth insfc. An ex- • tract from ;; a private letter received from- ' Auckland states, “ that; the Governor had. , received news that a telegraphic despatch from ( the Duke of. Newcastle to the Governor Ge- ! ueral of India to hold two regiments in readi- . ness for New Zealand had been forwarded;: , and that if the following mail brought iutelli- , gence of the continuance, of hostilit : es they* ! would be sent. The general impression heia- • is that reinforcements will arrive in the course fof another month.” The Shamrock, from . Sydney, also arrived to-day. The Wonga /Tonga came up from Waitara this evening; r with the General and Staff. ' -

Wednesday l2th.—The morning, broke with heavy rain and wind from N.E.; the Tasmanian Maid arrived from and returned to IV aitara to-day. At 2 p.m. the forces reached town after a roaich from Waitara through: pouring rain. The Zord Ashley (mail steamer) arrived tor day from Nelson for Sydney; the Victoria sailed for Wellington. , , Thursday , 13th:—Weather moderate ; the Airedale from Nelson arrived to-day; the Lord Ashley, with the mails for England*, sailed at 4 p.m. Friday, 14th. —The Wonga Wonga-for Manakau sailed at noon— passengers; Commodore Loriiig, C. 8., who proceeds to England,, and D. McLean, Esq., Native Secretary.

[Journal —from Aug. 25 to Sept. 7.]

Saturday, August 25th.—A party of natives are occupying Puketotara, and have also erected d pa, we are informed, on Devenish’s land, at Mangorei. Teito and Tamihana are at their head. It was a party from Puketotara who murdered H. Crann yesterday.

Sunday, 26th.—Capt. B. Brown was buried to-day in St. Mar/s ' Churchyard. A. general desire was manifested to pay every respect to his, memory, The procession formed opposite the {deceased gentleman’s • residence at 2 pm:; tbebands played the-Dead*March-in. ‘‘ S&ul ” alternately,as the procession moved to the church j the Rev; G. Bayley, chaplain, of the Mount Egrnont Lodge, read' the burial service. >’ •

Monday, 27th.—We hear from Waireka. that Aperahama, a chief of the Taranaki..trihe*.

anil of considerable influence, %»$ shot dead on Saturday by a shot from the camp ; since which the rebels have left their trenches and rifle pits, and disappeared. Communication has been' had with the Puotoko pa, and Tajnati Wiremu and his people found hot to have bden attacked.' : Their cattle and hordes’, and other property, -were taken by the rebels before they left the 1 neighbourhood. 1 1; A great ileal Of sickness prevails ariionast tlie friendly natives, from influenza. It is believed that the enemy have not escaped the epidemic. It is now said that IJimeona was not shot on Monday last in the skirmish |on that day, but a man named Hoani, of the Pakakohe tribe (Ngatiruanui hapu) ; we cannot ascertain the name of the other killed and wounded. The Anne Longton, from England via Nelson, where she has been four months, arrived to-day. An escort of 42 militia and volunteers, under Capt. Richmond, escorted provision carts to Omata, and 50 of the 65th, under Lifeut. Urquhart, escorted stores to Bell Block. • Tuesday, 28th.—-The Victoria returned from Manukau this morning, with MajorGeneral Pratt, C. 8., Commodqre Loring, C. 8., and I>, McLean, Esq., Native Secretary. The news from Waikato is satisfactory. There is no probability of a general rising in favour of W. King. The A r gatiruanuis and Taranakis nre said to be on Capt. Burton’s farm, and preparing to erect a pa. The Tasmanian Maid came up from Waitara this morning-*— Major Nelson a passenger. We hear that not a native is to be seen in Puketakauere pa—-no fires, no colours flying—even the signal ropes are taken down; the grenadier company of the 40th went out to reconnoitre yesterday, and advanced within 400 yards of the pa, but thinking the appearance of the pa being uninhabited a ruse, they returned to camp. A great number of carts and pack-horses have been seen daily passing the Karaka grove, laden with plunder taken from tbe houses of the settlers, proceeding in the direction of Mimi. and Urenui. We conjecture that the rebels are retiring northwards for the purpose of putting in the spring crops ; weather fine. The following proclamation was issued to-day regarding the removal of all the remaining families of the settlement:

Proclamation. In communication with his Excellency the Governor and the General Government of New Zealand, and under the absolute necessity that exists for all. women and children, without distinction, being as speedily as possible removed from New Plymouth, his Honor the acting Superintendent will warn all those drawing rations to be. prepared to embark for Nelson about the Ist proximo. • The remaining families, without distinction of rank, will also be warned in alphabetical order, and must be prepared to proceed to Nelson on or about the same date The Government having made arrangements for their reception at that place, and having agreed to maintain them there. Steamers will be provided for the above purpose. By command, R, Carey, . Lieut.-Colonel, Deputy Adjutant-General, Head-Quarters,

New Plymouth, 28th August, 18.60. 1 A party of the 65th, under Capt. Barton and 1 Lieut. Bailie, escorted carts to Waiwakaiho to ' bring in produce. < Wednesday , 29th.-=—A native from the Waiwakaibo reported in town this morning that a body of the enemy were on A. King’s land at, tbe Henui. 100 of the 65th, under Capt.: Barton, Lt. White, Lt,. Chevalier, and Ensign Pagan ; 50 of the 40th under Adjt. Johnson and Lieut, //obbs ; 50 blue jackets under Lieut, /fume, R.N. ;• 50 militia and volun-. teers in charge of Capts. Stapp and Atkinson, Lients, Morrison and Hirst,'the whole .commanded by Colonel Leslie, 40th regt., marched ■ out against the rebels. The force on reaching the turning of the road leading up to the ! Colonial ifospital were thrown, out in skirmishing order, the 65th took the right and the: volunteers the left of the road, and went in extended order up to A. King*s house, when it was found that the enemy had decamped, leaving a large fire burning outside King’s house. ’ It was raining smartly, and the whole force returned to town. A report was afloat in town to-day that the Puketakauere pa at "Waitara was occupied by the troops and destroyed. This rumour was confirmed by the arrival of Capt. Richards and Mr. du Moulin overland, who had volunteered to come up with the news. The pa was occupied by the 40th on Tuesday, aud found evacuated. T be troops have carted a great quantity of the palisading to the camp for firewood, and levelled the entrenchments and rifle pits. The pa is described as being weak on three sides, and the palisading slight and indifferently put up. No natives were, seen, and nothing whatever found in the pa. The evacuation of the pa has naturally surprised every one ; we can only account for it tbai the Waikatos have returned home, and that some disagreement bas transpired betweeu them and 7T. King’s people ; and no doubt have pressed King’s bullocks and carts to remove the.plunder taken by them from us. It is reported that Jamati Jeito, the prophet, and leading man in the rebellion, and who has taken Kingi’s place at the diead of his party, has visited Tamati Wiremu, the friendly chief at Pouioko, and is . said, to expressed himselfMas' follows to him >*-“ If my war had been with Parris alone, the war would have beeft-ended long ago; but the great he (evil) has been the 'Waikato.”; We may infer from this that the Waikatos have not pleased W. King in the , part they have taken in the proceedings—-no. doubt monopolising all the plunder, and ig-

noring King’s interests and wishes altogether. This, in conjunction with the news from Auckland, that the Waikatos do not intend rising in favour of King, and will not take up arms against the Government unless their country is invaded, leads to the supposition that Kingi hks 1 lost his Waikato allies. . It is strange, too, that no houses have ; been burned since Monday week, when the Waikatos and some of W.'Kingi’s people left with the plunder for IV aitara. It is known that the Waikato party are a number of reckless young men, who have taken part in the war merely for the sake of plunder, and have consisted principally of* the Ngatihikairo tribe at Kawhia. After sacking and burning our houses,“they appear to have returned laden with spoil, and probably have refused to share it with Kingi. Finding that the Puketakauere pa would be untenable without the reinforcements from Waikato, Kingi’s people have not occupied it since they left. A few Waikatos, however, are said to remain with Teito and his party atPuketotara. Teito, we hear, wished to fight in an honorable way fat least so Tie says now ) ; to hoist a red flag when he was prepared to fight; and when it was not flying we might go where we pleased ; and that he was willing to allow us to recover our dead for burial, but that the Waikatos would not allow it. We think this is ‘ singing small * now the Waikatos have left him. * Regarding the evacuation of Puketakauere, the friendly natives advise its immediate occupation to prevent its being held by the rebels again. The following was posted in town to-day—

Proclamation. With refeience to a proclamation issued by the Colonel commanding the Forces on the 4th of March last., directing that friendly and neutral natives should be treated with civility and forbearanoe, the Major-General directs that all classes of the community shall treat, them as friendly allies, and avoid showing any symptoms of distrust. By command, R. Caret, Lieut.-Colonel, Deputy Adjutant-General. He ad Quarters, New Plymouth, 29th August, 1860.

Thursday, 30th.—An escort of military under Capt*. Barton, Lieut. White, and Ensign Muttit; and 50 militia and volunteers under Capt, King and Lieut. Morrison, escorted provision carts to Bell Block, and brought iu a quantity of produce for the Commissariat. A party of blue jackets, in charge of Zieut, Hume, R.N., and 8 artillerymen under Capt. Strover, R.A„ took out a sixpounder gun, and brought into town the threepounder from the blockhouse. A muster parade at 3 o’clock, p.m. in the trenches. From/ Ropata Ngarongomate, who has been unable : during the time the rebels occupied the country adjacent to the Puotoko to visit the town, we hear that Aperahama, the Taranaki chief, has been taken to Okawii for burial, and that the removal from Waireka has been in consequence of his death. He was shot while in the trenches, and was at a considerable distance from the camp. The fact of a stray bullet killing their chief man made a great impression upon the Taranaki rebels; he was hit fair in the forehead, the ball passing through his head. Ropata says they only know of one man killed in the skirmish on Monday-week a man named Hoani, a young chief of Manawapou, not Himeona of Warea, who has been seen since the skirmish. Hoani was brought to the Poutoko burial ground for inHis body was buried by Tamati Wiremu. Several are wounded, some badly. Minarapa is laid up with his wounds—-the ball having passed through both thighs, but without touching the bone. Karira (one of the murderers of Ford), Wi te Tata, and another, were the murderers of Hurford, the Qniata farmer,, and Gaffney, the artilleryman. It is said that Wi te Tata attacked Gaffney first, but was nearly overpowered by the brave artilleryman, who warded off the first blow of the tomahawk with a stick, and then wrenched the tomahawk out of Wi’s hand, when Karira rushed up and felled Gaffney from behind. They all three then closed upon him and cut him to pieces. Friday, August 31st.: —The Airedale from iVelson, with the English June mail, anchored in the roadstead this morning. She is preparing to receive families on board to leave to-morrow for Nelson. The Tasmanian Maid arrived from Waitara ; all quiet there; no natives seen in the vicinity. The usual monthly general muster of militia and. volunteers took place to-day. No natives have been seen near the town since Wednesday morning, and they have not fired any houses in any direction. The influenza, which has been very prevalent amongst the friendly natives may have laid them up. Notwithstanding tl.e present apparent cessation of hostilities, we cannot too strongly caution persons from f proceeding any distance from town without support, as parties of natives are about to fall : upon the unwary. We hear to-day tbat Coad and Crann were shot by some of Te Waka’s , natives, who. only a day or two before were ■ walking our streets with the friendly badge on tlieir backs. HJM. colonial steam sloop Victoria sails this evening for Manukau, and has on board several passengers from this. The , following vessels are at anchor—H.M. colonial steamer Victoria, ship Anne Longton, Aire- : dale steamer, brig Hebe,, brigantine Ariel, Tasmanian Maid steamer, schooners Sea Gull i and Kiwi. - ; :

Saturday, Sept. I.—A native-.from Waiwakaiho reported this morning that a party of friendly natives from the Hua and Katfere pas had been to Puketotara and found the pa unoccupied. 2QO of the 65th, under Capt. Barton, Lieuts. Urqubart, Whitbread, Joker, and

(Lewis, and: Knsign Pagan ; 40. of the 40th under' Zient. Hobbs; and 50 of the militia and volunteers, under Capt. and Adjutant Stapp, Lieuts. Hirst and Jonas; the whole commanded, by Lieut.-Colonel Leslie, proceeded to destroy it. They found the pa empty, and burned,the palisading and wliares, and levelled the trenches. No natives were seen. A number of horses were brought in, and a quantity of potatoes and kumaras destroyed. Simultaneously with the burning of Puketotara, Capt. W. C. King’s two-storied house, at Woodleigb, at the edge of the bush, was fired by the rebels, and totally destroyed ; and some houses in 'a bush clearing in rear of Mr. King’s were seen in the flames. As it was apprehended that the natives might burn the house of Capt. H. King, R, N, at Brooklands, a party of 80 blue-jackets and murines, in command of Lieut. Bent., It. N., and Lieut. Hume, R. N., went out in that direction, but without‘meeting the enemy. The rebels are supposed to have left Puketotara on Thursday, but must have intended to return, as there was a large quantity of potatoes, fyc., in the pa and its pits outside. A force of 150 men, under Capt. Shaw, 40th Regt,, and Lieut., Talbot, 65th Regt., and 25 Militia under Capt, Richmond, escorted supplies to the Camp at Waireka. The following proclamation was issued to-day :

PROCLAMATION. Much irregularity, delay, and inconvenience to the public service being caused by families, ordered to embark on board the steamers provided for their conveyance, disobeying the orders they receive, the Major-General directs it jto be notified that he will be compelled to employ the power with which he is invested to enforce the embarkation of such persons ; but he trusts that the good sense of the inhabitants will’ render unnecessary his having recourse" to" h'~ measure so lepugnant to his feelings. * By Command, R. CARZY, *• Lieut. Colonel. Deputy Adjutant-General. Head-. Quarters, New Plymouth, 3rd Sept. 18.60.

H.M.S.S. Fawn arrived last night; she experienced very stormy weather . after leaving this on the 19th ult., and during the gale on the 24th suffered considerable damage, and put into Part Hardy to repair. Sunday.— H.M.S.S. Fawn left to-day for Wellington. She is to return immediately with some guns from the Pelorus. The Airedale sailed to-day for Nelson with families. The White Swan, (s.s.) is expected to-morrow to carry another living freight, and the Airedale ; returns on Thursday for the same purpose, so ,that, rby the.:enfl of the week, the 1 military 1 authorities will have, cleared Taranaki of the settlers’ wives and children. Two or three families, we are told, who refused to proceed by the Airedale to-day, were informed by the Deputy Adjutant-General, that by the next opportunity they would be compelled to leave. Major-General Pratt inspected the forces, today in the trenches. The garrison will muster in the trenches for inspection by the MajorGeneral every; Thursday and Sunday at halfpast 3 p.m.' 50 men, under A/ajor Nelson and Capt. Seymour, R.N., reached the Bellblockhorise from Waitara to-day, having left 150 men at Mahoetahi, after burning the Tima, Te. Puke anil Kaipakopako pas. The Tima pa had a red flag flying, and apparently had been recently occupied the rebels. The flag was pulled down and taken away by the 40th. The Tasmanian Maid arrived from Waitara to-day.. No news. Monday , 3rd-—Weather fine. 60 men of the"6sth, under Lieut. Talbot, formed a guard, to carts sent out to Capt. H. King’s to-day, to bring ini produce and household effects. 50 of the 12th; under Lieut. Lowry and Ensign La Touche, came into to-day from Bell Block as an escort, and returned in the evening. At dusk this evening the Militia andVoluiiteers’ bugles sounded the call, and 150 merl with rifles were ordered to be in readines to fall in at ILp.HL: It is believed that an attack is to be made against the southern rebels on Burton’s Hill, near. Ratapihipihi. Tuesday, 4th.-—At all o’Clock last night the Militia,-and Volunteers assembled opposite the Militia Office, received 60 rounds of ball ammunition.per man, and at midnight started, as was anticipated, for Burton’s Hill, in conjunction with a large force of military and blue jackets, in command of Major-General Pratt, C.B. The attacking force were divided into, three- divisi<?ns,-and proceeded by different routes, bt6«meefcsßt one"point, viz., Burton’s Hill, where the rebels have been located for several days. No. 1 division of 18 men of the Royal Artillery, with 1 24-pounder howitzer, 2 3-pounder field pieces, and 3 mortars, 32 of the Royal Engineers, 105 of the 40th Regt., (from the Waireka camp) 21,6 of the 65th Regt., and 13 of the naval brigade, with .2 tubes and 30 rounds of 24 pounder rockets, in command of Lieut.-Colonel Sillery, Capts. Turner . and Barton, Zieuts. Bailie, Urquhart, Whitbread, White, and Talbot, 65th Regt.; Capt. Hare, Lieuts. Clerkand Burton, 40th regt; Gunner Buckle, in charge of rocket tubes, proceeded by Moturoa aud Sealy Road; No. 2: division of 88 men of the 40th regt, 86 of the naval brigade,, and 73 of the 65th regt., in command of Lieut.-Colonel, Leslie, Capt. Shaw, Lieuts. 1 Hobbs,-Gibson, and Adjutant Johnson, | 40th regt.;, Lieuts. Wrixon and Ensign . Hume, Medley, Parish, Conolly, Midshipmen [ Heneage,f Gambier, aud f/orne, naval i brigade, proceeded 'across ZUiott’s and. Loo* . ney’s farms. No. 3 divison of 150 men of .the Militia and Volunteers, in command of [ Major Herbert, Cagts, C. Brown,. W., C.

King, Capt. ami Adjutant Stapp, Capt. Des Vceux, (in charge of mounted escort), Lieuts. il/cKellar, Morrison, and Hirst, proceeded by the Frankley Hoad to Patterson’s;saw mills, where they halted till morning, and continued their march through a dense forest till they reached A. Brooking’s clearing, about three miles in rear of Burtons, when they came upon Burton’s road and continued the road through Messenger’s clearing towards Burton’s hill anxiousiy expecting the signal gun of attack in their front; they arrived at the hill at about 10 a.m. and found the place evacuated, though quite recently occupied by the enemy as logs were burning and- some native dogs running about. When it was found thaf.the other divisions had returned to town. No. 3 division continued their march through TJatapihipihi, (the settlement of the notorious Manahi), which' they burned, bivouacked for a short time at Honeyfield’s, and returned to town by p.m. The Medical officers accompanying the different divisons were Dr. White, No. 1; Br. Murray, No. 2, and Dr. Nivon, No. 3. The General was attended by the following staff, viz., Colonel Mould, R. E., Lieut..- Colonel Carey, D. A. G., Capt. Pasley, 8.E., Capt. Mould, j?E., Lieut. Forster, A.D.C., Capt. Strovei, It.A. The Native Secretary and Mr. Parris, with several friendly natives, in charge of Lieut. Good, accompanied No. 1 division. 3The expedition was very trying to all the force, the roads being in places knee deep in mud, and the night bitterly cold The plan of operations was perfect. Every way by which there was a chance of the enemy retreating by good generalship had been most effectually cut off. It is true that many of the natives might have escaped from the too well known deadly effects of the Enfield Rifle, but this must have been through bush paths too narrow to allow of wheeled vehicles accompanying them'Jn their retreat; consequently, all the plunder must have again passed into the hands of the English A . question for future enquiry remains to be answered—-Was it a foreknowledge, of our movements that induced the natives to forsake their naturally strong position ? Have we enemies in the camp or not? And in this case the care taken that all our movements should be governed by silence and order were such on the part of our superiors that no news could have diverged so suddenly from town. -The steamer White /Swan from Wellington, arrived to-day. Wednesday, sth —The Tasmanian Maid from Waitara at the anchorage. The Koriiii and Tikorangi pas have been destroyed, by Major Nelson. Tikorangi is a strong posi tion on the north bank of Waitara and is only accessible by one road. The pa was found without inhabitants, but half-cooked food was on the fires, and other evidences that the rebels had made a precipitate retreat. The followiug Camp Order was issued by Major iVelson— Camp Order. 3rd September, 18G0.

Major Nelson desires to thank the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, for their conduct in the operations of to-day. The correct and regular manner of the crossing of the rapid."Waitara; the disciplined order of the line of march the successful destruction of the pas Korihi and Tikorangi, the latter one of the rebels’ greatest strongholds ; reflect the highest credit upon all concerned. Thursday., 6th.—4o Militia and Volunteers ifl command of Captain Watt and Lieut. Hirst, marched to Bell Block this morning to relieve the 12th stationed there, but after arriving, the order was countermanded and the force returned to town. Th esteamers Wong&Wonga from "Wellington, and Airedale from Nelspn, anchored this morning. Barge fires, havebeen seen to-xiay from Bell Block inland of Puketakauere, and it is said that Ngataiparirua, Kirora, and Huirangi, have been burnt by .he troops. W. King and his party have now only their stronghold m ; the forest. The forces mustered in the trenches again to-day, and were inspected by MajorGeneral Gold. Major Nelson came- into town by land, to-day, and retufned to Waitara hr the evening with a mounted escort, The Southern natives are reported, to have retreated homewards. The Wailtatos have returned elated with their successes, and have reported on their way that they drove the pakehas before them, and burned, and plum dered as they liked. They were laden with plunder, and intend, so they state, to- return when their crops are in the ground. The White Swan sailed this evening for Nelson with families. We were truly concerned to see force employed by the military author! lies on the occasion. A few families under orders to embark in. the White Swan, refused to leave. The father of one of these (Mr. S. Andrews), was sent to the guard room, and an officer of Militia. (Capt. W. C.. King) placed under arrest for refusing to accompany a, file of soldiers to coerce the wife. The end was that she yielded. The pro-, reeding occasioned great agitation, and has left a painful impression.

Friday , 7th.— The .abandonment of the Waireka camp having been decided on, carts, with, an: escort of Military, left early this morning to bring in the tents and baggage of the troops stationed at Waireka. W. Leech, Esq., Collector of Customs, died suddenly this morning, after having been a, sufferer for many years from a pulmonary , complaint The Tasmanian Maid arrived, from Waitara last", night, and shortly after leaving this morning, on her.. return,, an .accident happened to her boiler, and she dropped anchor off the Henui cliffs/ * .

3 p,m.-~The troops from JFaireka have arrived in town, aud are camped in Queen street, near, the, Union Mills. The. Tasmanian Maid has got up steam' again, and left for. Waitara;