AUCKLAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 365, 15 October 1863, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

The Sturt brings us Auckland news to the Jtli inst. There as been no further engagements of any kind, and the only item of importance is the anival in the Manukau, on the 3rd, of the Eclipse from Sydney, with the If'aikato gunboat in tow, after a fearfully rough passage. The Officers of the Eclipse, say they never saw such weather on the coast before, and the towiug cables (chain ones) parted, or were obliged to be slipped, several times, On the 23rd the two vessels fouled each other ; the port bulwarks of the gunboat were stove', two of her boats smashed, and the dingy of the Eclipse carried away. The gunboat’s rudder was often quite out of the water as she rose over the waves. Tier crew consist of Captain G. B. Breton, Lieutenant O’Callaghan, Chief.,Engineer Mr. Jeffrey, with a crew of twenty-five subordinate officers and men. "We are informed that it is not the fact that the pipes round the vessel for projecting steam and hot water are a failure; the officers speak confidently of their success. The // a ike. to loaded as she is now draws 3ft. 3in., but with her spars and cargo out she will not draw more than 2ft. 3. She carries 4 241 b howitzers, two on deck, and one on each of the cupolas ; the latter being on revolving carriages. Every officer and man on board is armed with a breach-loading rifle, and a revolver and cutlass. The If uikato is lilted with

two sliding keels, or centre boards fore

and aft, ‘4 feet deep, which proved very useful at .sea. There are two cupolas on deck, 1 2 feet in diameter and S feet high, in each of which, as we have stated, there is a 24 pound howitzer. There are loop holes all round for rifles, and the iron is in. thick. The communication with the cupolas is from the lower dock, and the whole length of the ship is thereby open, a gangway being left fore and aft through each bulkhead. The engine room is in the stern, and it is cased in, like the cupolas, with |-in. iron. The Waikato is 140 feet long by 20 feet broad and 9 feet deep. WALK Q A On September 12th the Kev. T. Lanfear saw 15 canoes, containing about 200 men from the Thames and Biako, landing at Fonui, and ho at once gave information. As, however, the Bundfly was sent to the place two days afterwards, and could find no canoes, the statement was doubted by many. Besides this, on the lltli a friendly chief reported that a large force of Thames natives was at Urungalieuhou and that an attack was to be made on the stockade probably next day, and certainly within a week. The same night a Maori was seen by two sentries near the stocka.de, but vanished both times on being challenged. The sentries also saw matches struck in several directions. Next day a native magistrate from iVlnraetai warned Dr. Hale that the Thames natives had arrived. On the I.3th and 14th, therefore, every preparation was made to place the settlers’ wives and families in safety, and to give the natives a warm reception The following details of the subsequent events are from the letters of correspondents of the A ew Zealander.

Wednesday, Sept. 16

The game of wav lias at length opened on the Wairoa. We were yesterday attacked by the Maories in broad daylight, though as far at is at present known the battle was a bloodless one on both sides. Before giving a more detailed account of the engagement, such as it was, 1 must explain a little of the geography of the localities. The Stockade and the Galloway lledoubt are situated on opposite sides of the river, about 400 or 500 yards apart. '1 lie Stockade is in advance of the i edoubt, being on the eastern bank of the river, ln'a direction at vight angles to the direction in which the redoubt is, Mr. McNieholl’s house is situated, in which his family were living, and various settlers who bad taken up their residence in the blockhouse were boarding About ten o’clock yesterday morning some of the residents in the blockhouse were standing in front of the doors of the stockade when they were startled by the report of a double-barrelled gun, in a patch of bush about eighty yards in the rear of Mr. McNicholi’s house At first no notice was taken of this, beyond the remark that it was a very inopportune time for any one to be out shooting. Almost an instant afterwards, however, these two shots were followed by a volley fired in the rear of Mr. Me: ieholl’s house, and a man who was felling a tree at the edge of the bush came running in with the intelligence that the volley had been fired at him, but that the two first shots were fired at Mr. YcNicholPs little boy, a little fellow eight years old, who happened to be midway between the house and where the man was at work. Hero was a chamctristie beginning of the war. The first sir t-s fired in anger oi. the Wairoa by our brave and noble enemies were at a child eight years of age ! One bullet grazed liis.cap, most uarrowly missing bis head. Had the ball been a quarter of an inch lower the poor little fellow would have been the first ‘victim on the Wairoa of Maori bloodthirstiness.

The alarm having been thus effectually given, the men at the stockade rushed to

their arms and the women and children in Mr. MeNieholl's house made the best of their way to tiie stockade, followed by volley after volley from the Maories but providentially without nny one being hurt, though in their anxiety to injure the women and children the Maories showed themselves out of cover for the only time during the engagement. Of course the men at the stockade opened a brisk fire on the Maories, which soon made them give a specimen of their adroitness in seeking cover. The men at the redoubt having caught sight of the Maories, opened upon them a flanking fire, but as the distance was about 600 yards, and the number of Maories probably not more than twenty or thirty, it is very doubtful whether any execution was done. Nothing, however, could exceed the ardour of the 'Volunteers, who were for the first time firing their rifles in real war. The Mayor had the greatest difficulty in making them cease tiring when its uselessness became evident.

A spent ball struck Ensign Johnson on the elbow, and inflicted a slight bruise, which was the only casualty on our side. This desultory kind of firing between the stockade and the Maories continued for some time, when Lieut. Steele arrived with the men from Henderson’s farm, where they were building a stockade, and were joined at the bridge by Major Lyon, with a party of the 18th. They skirmished up the hill to Mr. MeNieholl’s house, but by the time they arrived Tiere the enemy had fled, evidently having lmd scouts to forewarn them of what was coming.

All was now quiet till about four o’clock in the afternoon, when some shots were again fired from the bush. These were returned from the blockhouse, and had very soon the effect of bringing over the Major ag: in, with some skirmishers. They took up a ] cation belli ml a furze

hedge, but had hardly done so when A shot was fired from a neighbouring hill, which was evident!}’ the signal for retiring to the Maories, as after this not another gun was heard. In the evening a few settlers, who were endeavouring to collect a. few household goods, saw between 300 and 400 Maories evidently making .qvrepara lions fora bivouac at the deserted Maori settlement of Otau. They had a large fire built and were slaughtering pigs, and, it was surmised from some shots heard, cattle as well, and evidently intended to bo jolly. The blow* lias thus fallen at last, and but for the timely warning of friendly native chiefs would have fallen more severely, because we should have been more unprepared. As to the loss of the Maories we have of course no account. One thing, however, is certain, that an escort party of our men, returning later in the day from Henderson’s, heard A aories holding tant/i at the settlement of Otau, their headquarters, and where scouts from tho settlers inform us some 300 natives are assembled. Ofau is about two miles from here higher up the river. Thursday, Sept. 1 7. Between two and three o’clock three settlers going on horseback up the road to fetch some necessaries which bad. been loft at Henderson’s farm saw two Maories carrying pikaus across a grass paddock. To fire at them and make them drop their pikaus was the work of a moment, and one of tho hoi-semen rude back immediately' to the stockade to report what he had seen, which plainly proved that the Maories were plundering the settlors’ houses. Twenty of the Wairoa and twenty' of the Auckland volunteers wen* at once turned out, and placing himselfat their head led them in the direction in which the firing was hoard. On arriving at Bell’s a large number of A aories were seen bearing away for Otau, carrying pikaus. Our fellows let drive at tin-seat long ranges, and several pikaus of bacon, sugar, and flour were thrown down !>y tlie enemy' to facilitate their escape Following them up, the rifles entered a licit of bush and pushing through .'or a distance of sixty or seventy' yards, came out upon a large space of cleared bush covered with logs and stumps, where they found the enemy, numbering from 200 to 300, making straight for Otau, turning and delivering their fire as they went. The .Major doubled to come up to them, and on getting closer a big fellow was seen to fall. Soon after another was -dropped but carried away' by- the enemy'. Here they- made a stand, firing on our men, wlio got frequent shots at them ; and as there were several good shots present, and as some of the men fired twenty' rounds of ammunition, it is probable that the loss of the A’aories is greater than we shall ever ascertain.

As our men proceeded the Maories gave way, retiring upon their settlement. In this way the fire was kept up till nearly dark, when the natives were driven into their wliares at Of an, into which the Volunteers fired a few volleys. 11 being now dark the retire was sounded, and the Major, collecting his men, retired in order to the camp. Mo casualties o -curred to any ot our men, although the fire lasted for nearly two hours, and was very heavy while it lasted.

This morning (Thursday) another expedition, consisting of thirty-five AuckI land Rifle Volunteers, twenty-five Wairoa Rifles, ten men of the 18th, and live Militia Volunteers, under the command of Major Lyon, left the redoubt at halfpast. three n.m , and reached the river opposite the Otau pa, and about three hundred yards distance from it, just at daybreak, but unfortunately tlie rain of the preceding day ami night had swollen the river so that they could not cross. They opened fire, however, upon the raupo wliares of the enemy, and after some little running about the Maories commenced filing, and volleys were exchanged, the enemy leaving the huts and advancing towards the river, and firing on our men from behind the stumps. After firing for some time, and having driven the Maories from the wliares back into the bush, the party retired. Coining back they found the body of a Maori shut the previous evening, and lie was decently buried and a volley fired .over him On passing the |jlace where the nikaus had been thrown away by the Maoiies the previous afternoon a good deal of “loot” was picked up, bags of flour, potatoes, two mats, do. A. cartouche box with cartridges in it was also found on the dead man (the natives had been seen to pick up his gun when lie fell), and was brought away by our fellows. The flat presented a singular aspect, bags of flour, parasols, teapots, bags of sugar, milk dishes, bundles of clothes, bedding, and all the various items of a settlor’s household goods, being scattered about in all directions.

A second expedition started from the Galloway redoubt, about 11 a.m. for Otau. One body of fifty men under Major Lyon, proceeded along the other side of the river to the settlement itself ; a smaller one, consisting of twenty-fire, men only, under Lieutenant Russell, 18th Regiment, took their way along this side of the river to the spot, where the daylight exped.tion hid attacked the uat" ves in their wliares. ‘1 he intention was, that the latter party should anive first and engage the maories, while the larger party s’ipped in and cut off all retreat. On the road the expedition fell in with the carcase of a bullock belonging to Mr. McNieholl, which the Maoris had killed and of which they had taken awav only one leg. The remainder of the beast of course, was looked upon as lawful prize by its discoverers.

On the arrival of the party at Otau, a few shots were fred by them to attract the no Lice ol the Mauiis, but as Limit, was

no answering shot from the Maoris, it was evident that the enemy had taken his departure, All that could be done, there fore, was to see what indication could be found of the execution which had been done on the enemy, abd whether any discovery could be made of the road they had taken.

As to the indications of the execution done on the enemy by the operations of the morning, these were pretty numerous and evident. The w hares were literally riddled through and through—tho men having fired low at a range of 300 yards. Pools of clotted blood were found in several places, and outside one of the wliares were human brains scattered on the stump of a tree. Some of our men found flax mats perforated with bullets and clotted with blood, all which they brought away as trophies, and a- cartoueli box was also found, through which, and probably its owner, a bullet had passed ; the cartridges in it were stained with blood. In this case some of them were made up with very coarse blasting powder, and some flue powder, Among the trophies also were a fowling piece, three tomahawks, one long wooden oue, a quantity of tobacco flax mats, a canoe head, feather robe, <te., Ac,, so we shall march into town next week covered with the spolia opima. Oue thing is very certain, their loss must have been great, as they have, although 3QO strong, fled precipitately from the place, and not o.ne of them is to be seen. They had taken a track either towards Urungalieuheu, or into the ranges. I may mention the cartridges were made up in an old copy of the Maor i Mes senger, a purpose for which that clever and respectable journal was scarcely intended.

Ou the return expedition, which took place in about two hours, some men went out to see what amount of damage the marauders had done in this district, and here it very soon became evident what the tactics of the enemy had been, and how completely they had carried them out. Their design in the attack on the stockade on the 15th had evidently been to secure the presence of the settlers in the stockade and their consequent absence from their farms. In this scheme they were materially aided by the nature of the weather on Wednesday, which was so terribly bad that no man or body of men were likely to venture out, unless with some definite object in view.

Of the opportunity thus afforded them for carrying out their depredations, the Maoris had availed themselves to the utmost. There were scarcely any settlers’ houses out of sight of the stockade and Redoubt which they had not thoroughly pillaged. In the houses of Messrs. Wallis, Munro, and Bell, they had done their worst, not only in the way of robbery, but of breakage and destruction of the articles they could uot carry away. Tlie houses of Me.-srs. Steele, Whyte, Bain, Hyde, Dow, Crawford, Matheson, had also been robbed, but the furniture, crockery, &c., in them had been but in few instances damaged, though most articles of food, aud other things which were equally portable had been carried oil'. In the bouses of the throe first mentioned settlors, Messrs. Wallis, Munro, and Bell, all or nearly all the furniture, crockery ware, etc., had been completely smashed. From Mr. Bell’s bouse the ’Maoris had carried off a Government rifle aud 40 or 50 rounds of ball cartridge, which he had received as a member, though uot a very creditable one, of the Wairoa Rifles. This man is a unique specimen of the gen s homo ; he joined the Wairoa rifles in a fit of desperation, to avoid, being drafted' into the Militia force and it seems strange that the Militia authorities are not looking after him. He avows his opinion that it is the business of the Volunteers aud Militiamen from Auckland to protect his farm and property, and that there is no necessity for him to lift his hand in their protection. This remarkably unselfish theory he has put in practice, never having been present at drill nor having asisted iu the erection of the block-house, though he was glad enough to avail himself of its shelter for a few nights some time since, when he was so unmercifully chaffed that he has not shown ills face there since. To this man of many fears wo now owe it that that maories are possessed of a fine rifle, and which is probably the one which blazed away at our men yesterday inghome of the plunder carried away by the Maories has been recovered, and it is probable that a good deal more is hidden around the neighbourhood ; but still there is great reason to fear that they have sueeeededin carrying off a large proportion of it. Saturday, Sept. 19. At 8 a.m. this morning, eighty men, consisting of fifty Auckland Hi fie Volunteers, sixteen of tlie IStii, and about ten of the Volunteer Militia together with Captain James Clark, A. it. V., the whole under the command of Major Lyon started to put the finishing stroke to the work of the last four days. On passing the settlers stockade, they were joined by 23 of the Wiroa Rifles. The object was to discover if any property taken from the settlers’ could be. recovered at IJ i uugaheuheu. Tho Major’s instructions arc definite and positive, that he is nob to attack Maories on Maori land, but to confine any offensive measures against tln-se gentry to European land. In accordance with the semi-pacific nature of his expedition, Major Lyon and Lieutenant Steele, with their party, proceeded along the foot of tlie lulls to Urungaheuheu, aud there commenced their search for European 'property. This search, however, was unsuccessful, as the Maories had doubtless conveyed their plunder to fastnesses in the hills which afforded them greater security. The only human being met with.in the settlement was an antiquated and bed-

ridden wuhena, whom it seems the chivalrous warriors did not think sufficiently important to be taken with.them. This old creature was left, to her repose, having been made supremely happy by a present of a little biscuit and tobacco.

The absence of the enemy having been ascertaind Major Lyon determined to pay a visit to Otau, hoping to meet with some stray cattle belonging to settlers, which were known to be wandering on the hills they had to cross. At the top of the hill above Urungaheuheu, the Major sent back to camp the whole of his forces except a small party belonging to the 18th, aud proceeded on his way, accompanied by them and by Lieutenant Steele’s party only. From the top of the range, which forms the road between the two settlements, and at a distance computed at about two miles, a large volume of smoke was seen to arise, evidently marking the site of an extensive Maori encampment. Later in the day, the news was brought into camp that the Maories had built a strong pa at the very spot indicated by the smoke.

As Major Lyon and his party pursued their way, shorn of their glory by the departure of the Auckland Volunteers, they observed on their left hand a very long raupo wlmre, and of course immediately bent their steps towards it. They found it to be of very recent erection and of large extent, being about four chains long, and capable of containing 300 or 400 men. It was cunningly built, on the edge of a deep and wooded gully, to "which on the least alarm its occupants could have made good their retreat. Having as far as practicable destroyed this wliare, that tlie natives if inclined for another marauding expedition might at least find their former lair untenantable the Major continued his course to O fcau.

Here the party found everything as they had left it, not a Maori was to be seen, nor had they encountered one the whole journey. A closer inspection, however of the wliares which had formed the scene of action, made it very certain that the loss sustained by the enemy must have been even greater than was at first supposed. The thorough riddling the wliares had received, the pools of clotted blood, the small articles usually dear to Maories, and remembered by them even in their greatest emergencies, left behind in their haste, proved that the galling fire must have told most severely upon them.

A bridge was also discovered which had been constructed by the Maories, and which solved the difficulty as to the means by which the Maories, in the swollen state of the river, had contrived to carry away so large a proportion of tlie pi under as they undoubtedly succeeded in doing. This bridge they had constructed by felling into the river a large Ra'.a tree standing oil Mr. Dow’s farm. As this tree was not quite long enougn, its length was eked out by bundles ot saplings tied together, and laid so as form a connection with the opposite bank. Having crossed this rustic bridge, the party found that a breastwork of logs had been thrown upin front of Mr. Dow’s house, in a position which commanded the bridge, so that it was clear that the rascals had been thoughtful and deliberate in their movements, and had evidently contemplated a much longer occupation of the district than they eventually obtained.

About an hour after the return of tlie party to their quarters the alarm was given that six or seven shots had been heard in the direction of Otau. As six of the settlers were known to have gone in that direction, though on the opposite side of the river. Lt. Steele started off at the double, with a few men, to ascertain their cause. On arriving at the scene of action, he found that a settler, Mi*. Thos. Hyde, had most incautiously ventured alone, and unarmed, to Otau, to fetch away a box from one of tlie wliares. Just as he neared the wliare iu which the box was, and though, be it remembered, not a Maori bad been seen when the Major’s party were there an hour before* three or four Maories dashed out and made for Mr. Hyde. He of course ran immediately for the Maori bridge before mentioned, followed, in this race for life or death, by bis Maori assailants, two of whom fired at him, but missed tlieir aim. Most providcntally the small party of settlers on the other side, who were on their return home, had not yet set out, and a few shots from them soon stopped the Maories, and thus saved Mr. Hyde’s life, for his pursuers were rapidly gaining on him. One of these fellows was recognized as a young man well known iu tlie distuiet, professedly friendly and who, when the government boat came down for the Maories at Oatu, took advantage to ride round the stockade diligently scanning its defensive capabilities.

A settler who was down the river gesterda.y, removing some of his household goods reports that be saw the Maori Hag flying over tlie fortified pa, before mentioned as having been erected by the Maories in' the ranges at Wungalieujieu.

The Queen’s Redoubt Correspondent of the New Zealander writes on September 24, Yesterday the Avon steamed down to Tuakau, carrying stores for the redoubt at that place. On the way down a large canoe was seen, it was intended to take her in tow on the way up again, no one supposing that the enemy was about, but when, after discharging her cargo, tlie Avon again came to the spot where it formerly lay, which was only a short way above Tuakau, anti on the same side of the river, no canoe was visible.

The steamer then went close in to the bank of the river, looking for the missing

canoe, when a double-barreled gun was fired at her, both balls passing through the wool paddings near the paddle box, and very nearly hitting Colonel Carey, who was at the time just behind them, for one ball passed close on one side, and ancl the other equally close on the other side of that distingnshed officer, but fortunately without touching him, but a deal to near too be pleasant.

The following is an affair we had not heard of till last mail :

On Sept. 2nd a patrol, consisting of 2 sergeants and 00 men, under Ensign Dawson of the 18th, left the Queen’s Redoubt at 7 a.m. for Pokeno. When within half a mile of the village they were attacked in the rear by about 200 Maories. The patrol faced about and charged them, driving them down a gully towards tlie swamp, and into a bush which lies to the south-east of Pokeno village, and following them about half a mile on the Paparoa track. Hearing yells towards Pokeno, the troops returned to where they had been attacked and were received with a volley from tlie enemy who were extended across the whole of tlie clearing between our men and the village, as well as from another body in the bush on their right. The troops remained iu skirmishing order and kept up a steady fire which appeared effectual tlie natives being seen carrying off'their wounded. The inlying picket under Capt. the Hon. F. Le Peer Trench, 4(Jth Regt. then came up, that officer taking command of the whole force which was shortly augmented by the escort under Capt. Noblett of the loth. The Maoris were then driven out of the clearing and village into the bush through which they retreated followed by our men till further pursuit seemed useless. The Maoris appeared to be in great force, but from the shelter afforded by the bush it was impossible to judge tlieir numbers with anything like accuracy, or how many of them were killed or wounded. Two flint guns and some ammunition fell into the hands of the troops, none of whom sustained any injvry. The natives were commanded by William Thompson who owned to two men killed and a few wounded, he himself having had his gun bent by a rifle ball. DRURY. The attack on the Pukekoho stockade, was, on the part of the natives, one of the most determined affairs of the war, so far as it has yet gone. The attack is said to have commenced about half-past nine a.m., tlie natives coming close to the face of the stockade ; indeed some of the maori dead lay within eight yards of the walls. It is asserted, that if the natives had made a rush for the works, instead of commencing tiring when they did, they might have run in with some of the settlers. However, tlie men defended it firmly until the arrival of the military, who are said to have got there shortly after eleven, having heard the firing from tlie posts on the Great South Road, and hastened to the support. On the military coming up, the settlers in the stockade waved to them to keep more to the right (in advancing), but it does not seem that this signal was quite understood. At all events the soldiers charged the natives and drove them down a bill in tlie clearing, and after a fight of some hours’ duration, advancing from tree to tree, or rather stump to stump, they drove them off. A good many natives were seen to throw up their arms and fall back, as if shot through the heart ; but they must have been carried away. Eight bodies have been found, but these were not of those hit whom I speak oL they were on ground the troops had advanced over. One old maori, very closely tatooed on the face and neck, was shot through the abdomen, carried into the church, and there tended with the English wounded, but lie died before morning, and either could not or would not speak a word. They were not a match for the English, either for the settlers or for the soldiers ; and the result of the fight was, after the arrival of tlie troops, never for a moment doubtful, although the natives were in large numbers. They retired in regular skirmishing order, keeping a formation, and by no means hurriedly—but they left the field to the troops. Capt. Saltmarshe, of the 70th, received a severe wound in the neck, which, however, I sincerely trust will not be serious ; and two men of the 70th, privates Burdutt and Turley j received mortal wounds, and were carried into the stockade. Private McKay, of the 65th, received a severe wound, aud was carried into the stockade alive, but shortly afterwards expired. Five men of the 70th, and one of the 05th, were also wounded, but were mostly able to walk back to the cam]) at night.

A bugler of the 70th received a nasty face wound while just in the act of sounding the bugle, the ball passing through the bugle aud cutting his lip. The bodies of three men, and the wounded, were brought into the hospital at night, and tlie troops did not reach their quarters again until eleven o’clock at night. The number of Maoris engaged is supposed to be between xOO and 300.

There was evidently many more maoris killed in tlie Pukekohe engagement than was at first supposed, for seven have now been buried by the Europeans, and several were seen to be carried off by the maoris at tlie time of tlie engagement, and the tracks of bodies dragged along the road by the enemy have been discovered iu various places. Captain Moir, with 25 of bis men, scoured tlie bush round Pukekohe ou the 16th, but did not come across any maoris ; in tlieir march, however, they came across another body, evidently that of a chief, from the nature of the tattoo The legs were tied with supple jack, left with eight or ten yards to drag the body off. This being the

mode of removing the bodies, tracks are left by whieh the number can be more readily ascertained. During the engagement at Pukekohe, a man of the 18th chased a maori a considerable distance down a hill, when he was recalled, but did not return until he had not only shot his man, .but, to make sure of his death, bayonetted him also, and having lost his own cap, coolly took the maori’s, and, with his double barrelled gun also, walked l ack to his comrades. The position of the settlers at Pukekohe is very bad, the bush being so close up to the stockade that the rebels can fire upon it from the bush, and this whole district, being c>fsuch a hazardous nature for the settlers, will in all probability have to be abandoned.

The mode of attack upon Mr. Y/atson’s family at Mr. Burtt’s house, was as follows :

Two lads, sous of Mr. Watson, were employed on the farm, and hearing shots fired were going up to the house, when they saw ten or twelve maoris, who tired several shots at them. The lads ran for the bush, and made their way to Drury, but while running away saw the Maoris tire upon a younger brother, whom they saw fall, and supposed him to be dead. The maoris then fired into the house, where Watson and his wife and young daughter were, with a couple of men. They immediately fired upon the maoris, and made off towards the Pukekohe stocktde. Tlie young lad was severely wounded, but seemed to be in good spirits, and perfectly conscious when brought in, but he died early next morning. Mrs. Watson and her daughter were brought in all .safe. An inquest was held on Sept. 16, touching the death of young Watson, when, from the evidence of the lad’s father and brother it was proved that, hearing shots fired, the boy was running towards tlie bush when about a dozen maoris fired upon him and lie fell ; but the maoris, being fired upon by two Europeans, quickly made off. The lad was carried to Drury, and died a few hours afterwards.

At night a party of natives came to the ed-e of tlie bush and ransacked Mr. Burtt’s farm.

An inquest had also been held on the body of McLean. It appears that he and young Watson had but one rifle between them, which McLean used while Watson prepared tlie ammunition. Four or five maoris followed, and continued firing upon them, when V- atsou retired, proceeding to Drury for assistance. The deceased followed him for about a mile, and was then overtaken and shot in a swamp. The body having sunk was not discovered for some da vs.

The enemy now seem spread over a wide extent of country, and are bent ou doing what mischief they can ; but before very long, if the right steps are taken, they will weary of their work, and be obliged to retire from the bush. It is satisfactory to see, notwithstanding the various murders and maraudings by the rebels iu the rear of the General’s main proceedings, that no forces are withdrawn from the front, no post is weakened, no post once occupied deserted, but that with the aid of the militia and voluuteer forces already enrolled and constantly enrolling, we cau hold our own and discomfit the enemy in every action in whieh we are engaged. Such has been the case yet in all the encounters with tlie rebels, although we have had some melancholy losses of life to deplore. There can be no doubt the rebels would like to draw the troops back from tlieir proposed onward march up tlie Waikato, and would use any stratagem or manoeuvre to effect this. But it will not do. lt is a fixed aud certain matter that the Waikato will be possessed from one end to the other by tlie Europeans, and that before long. The little raids which are constantly taking place at Pukekohe, Mauku, South Road, or elsewhere, however embarrassing at tlie time, all come to nothing in the great plan which the General has before him, and which with a determination be will carry out.

The following are tlie particulars of the murder of Air. Armitage and attack of Camerntown, as gathered from the Government Gazettes.

Mr. Armitage started from the pa adjacent to the Bluff—in a canoe with three native: —accompanied by two or three canoes full of Te Wheoru’s tribe, at about six o’clock. On reaching Tuakau, or thertaboiits, there was some delay on the part of tlnse other canoes, so that Mr. Armitage got on ahead of them, and reached Cameron Town about half-an-huiir before them, at ab> ut half-past eight o’clock, a.m. On arrival Air. Armitage got out of his canoe,

and went over to a house about two hundred yards from the bank of the river, where were tlie two Europeans I liave before named. When he reached the house one of the three natives lie left behind with the canoe, “ Efu,” above mentioned in the margin, went off in the direction of the stockade erected at Camern Town, and, occupied by friendly Natives under the Chief Tukiih. He was on his way lhither, when the enemy opened fire from the bush on the road from, and near the river.

Air. Armitage and the two Europeans, it appears, had returned from the house and were on the river bank at this time. The two latter fell ever the canoe, when he was shot, falling into tlie water through tlie canoe's overturning. The hostile Natives dragged his body out of the water, took a portion of the clot lies from tff it, together with his watch and chain, and ring. The bodies of the two other men did not rise to the surface of the water, and have not been heard of since.

4 lie Natives who witnessed this then ran into the bush, but came out to meet those Natives who were detained in their canoes and who had. by tins liuje arrived. Tli.-

enemy having retaken to the bush, tinfriendly natives fired in the direction the} were supposed to have gone ; but there does not seem to have been any loss on either side with regard to them. They report that all the stores, consisting of maize, turpaulings, &c., have been burnt, or otherwise destroyed. 'I he number ol hostile Maories they believe to have been about two hundred. The enemy returned the fire of the friendly Natives, who continued till they had exhausted all their ammunition, when they retired upon Taupari, which place they reached at about eight o'clock tbs same night. The Europeans whose names wer< William Strand, and lieitglian, blacksmith, were on guard and in charge of the stores, which consisted wholly ol horse forage to the amount of forty tons, part of the cargo of the “City of Melbourne” Twenty Maories in charge were engaged in loading canoes with the above mentioned stores, in order to convey them up tiie river, when the attack was made by about a hundred Maories chiefly of the Is'gatimaniapotu tribe. The result of this attack was that Mr. Armitage, Strand, ideughan, a hsdf-east< named Wade, and a Ngatiwhauroa liavi been killed. They were shot iu tin canoes.

Besides the five killed, one of the friendly Maories is missing. Four large canoes and the dead bodie.'in addition to the stores, were left in tin hands of the rebels.

It is reported, that Mrs. Armitage’s brother with 200 Maories were on then way down the Waikato with the intention of attacking of attacking Waiuicu, when they heaid of the murder of Mr. Armitage This immediately had the effect of altering their purpose, and they turned back determining to have nothing more to do with the business.

After the Cameron Town affair a body of the same natives crossed the river, and sent to demand the persons of the Ven. It Maunsell, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Ritchie, and Mrs. Sparg), and one or two other Europeans who are prisoners in Wafa ICukutai’s pah. Wata has declared his intention to defend them with his own life ; the rebels reply they will not touch them while on his land ; but the circumstance of their having demanded them to be given up shows the dangerous position in which they, were placed.' The Archdeacon was with Mr. Armitage very shoitly before the latter was murdered and the natives say had lie been present they would have killed him too.

TARANAKI. Our Taranaki dates are to the 3rd inst, aud contain accounts of the affair mentioned in our paper of the Ist, on authority of a private letter; and of another which occurred on the 2nd inst. On the first occasion two companies of the bushrangers left town early, aud lay in ambush till ‘J a.m. near Kaipakopako. No natives appearing, they then struck inland ; and at a place called Rorongi a saw 15 or 20 maories in a fern patch, aud some more at the edge of the bush. The maori leader (one Karauria) rushed towards the advanced guard ; but on the leading section firing, he turned and rau behind a ridge, where he fell, leaving his south-wester and blood-stained mat behind him. Another maori was shot as he entered the bush, into which they all ran, and fired thence upon the troops for some time without effect. When they retired, the gorrillas searched for Karauria in vain, aud then went on to G-reenwav’s clearing ; where they saw, on a ridge by the Mangoraka, 3 natives who were joined directly by 6 more. A charge was ordered, and the gorillas iu advancing were fired on without effect, by the nine, and by another party in the bush on the left After firing, the natives tied across the stream, dragging one of their party with them, and leaving behind them a bag of bullets, a box of caps, some food, aud sundry blood stained mats and shawls. The natives afterwards admitted their loss as follows :—Karauria shot through the body from shoulder to shoulder— Enoka, Tipene, and a Pakakoke badly aud Kereopa, Waati, and Kami, slightly wounded—They are all Ngatiruauuis.

The afta.ii - of the 2nd was at Omata, and the account as drawn from the Taranaki Herald is as follows At 3 a-.m. .Lieut. Mills with some of the 57th, went to lay an ambush at Hurford’s hill, and came upon an outlying picket of the enemy, who tired on them without effect. The natives were charged, and one or two killed by the troops ; who secured a tomahawk and some mats as trophies, and then retired, as the bush seemed full of maories. Soon after daylight the rebels appeared at three points round the Poutojko i*edoubt, and commenced tiring into it in great numbers. News was sent to Colonel Wan e, who despatched Maj or Butler with SO men to reinforce the redoubt, closely followed by Captain Short with ( J 0 men, and 2 companies of the bushrangers, as well as the Colonel and staff’. As the support drew near, Major Butler advanced from the redoubt up the road towards Touet’s, and as the advanced guard under Ensign Powys, were passing Gilbert’s garden, they received a heavy volley from behind the hedge and [among the trees, wounding Ensign Powys badly and two soldiers. About the same time Captain Sliortt was advancing up the new road, at the head of the Waireka gully, and behind the Ilev. Mr. Bayly’s place. The first volley killed the Begnneutal dog a great favourite. Alter this fighting was very sharp here for some time, the enemies being in great numbers in the bush all round, and also on A lien’shill, from which latter place, however, they were vei - y soon driven. In places the soldiers and natives were occasionally only a few yards apart and Captain Shortt’s party were very hardly pressed until the arrival of the volunteer:?, who, upon coming to the scene

of action (by the old road across the reka gully,) were immediately extended along the little ridge at right angles to the road,'and overlooking Gilbert’s garden in which a great many of the natives weie. This drew off a considerable part of the tire from Captain Shortt, and enabled him, after sending in his wounded, to join the main body. This left the volunteers on the left front; after a few minutes they got the word to retire behind the next rise, where they remained for perhaps an hour. Here they received some very heavy volleys, knocking up the ground and whistling overhead, but doingnoharm; there were also some fair single shots from rifies. After awhile Captain Atkinson’s company was withdrawn, and left Captain Webster’s alone, behind a hedge to draw the natives on, but this they seemed disinclined for, though a good many shots were exchanged. Some notion of the number of the enemy may be gained from the fact that they extended from Fort Robert (Rangiuru) right round to Touet’s place. A little howitzer practice was made upon them near the former place.

What the Maori loss has been it is impossible to. say. Several were seen down and we have no doubt they suffered heavily. Colonel Wnrre, after it was over, thanked the volunteers for the important help they had rendered him, complimenting - them oil the orderly and prompt way in which they executed the orders they received. “He was only sorry he had not men enough to.follow the enemy up.” The following is a list of the casualties on our side. They are all of the 57th Regt. Ensign P. E. Powys, severe. Sergeant Samuel Harvey, severe Corporal Edward Rea, dangerous Drummer Dudley Slagpool, slight Private William Reeves, dangerous ~ Patrick Burke, dangerous „ Thomas Finn, mortal „ Michael Foley, severe „ Henry Cain, dangerous

It is evident now, wliat has for some time been conjectured on good grounds, that the natives are in large numbers on the south as well as on the north side of the town. Speaking in round numbers we doubt whether it would be an exaggeration to say that there are 500 men on each side of us, and it is clear that if we are to hold the country, as we have been doing, we shall have to fight and fight hard. Bushranging is still the right thing, we believe, for it is in the bush we shall have to meet them, but it must be with a £ wise valour,’ as the poet says—the strength of the bush parties being greatly increased* as no doubt it will be after the timely demonstration of the force of the enemy yesterday, and some regular system of support be adopted. A letter addressed to Topia, Tamati Waka, aud Koromona, dated Kaitake, October 5, and written by Pelii, Tapana, Topini, and Ropata Korowhiti, was received on Saturday, aud contains their account of the affair of which they were eyewitnesses, though they do not seem to have been personally engaged. It agrees very closely’ - with the Herald's account* and gives a list of casualties, viz. Tongormi of Ngatihau, killed ; Hare Tipene and Poni of Ngavauru, and Rewi and Keremenata of Ngatituahuiti, severely or mortally wounded ; and 4 others slightly hurt. They say that the broken nature of the ground prevented hand to hand fighting, and enabled the troops to carry off their wounded (4 cartloads), that they saw 5 soldiers fall, that the engagement lasted from 4 a.m. till noon. A verbal account received at the same time gave the native loss, as one killed, and Hare Tipene, and twelve others wounded. A bullet broke Hare’s arm and entered his body, and he was supposed to be dying.