THE WAR IN AUCKLAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 375, 24 December 1863, Page 4

THE WAR IN AUCKLAND.

The following letters, though of prior date to those quoted in our leader of the 17th, are interesting as shewing the views of the natives and Government as to the terms of peace. I'ene Pukewhau to Ilis Excellency the Governor. O friend and Governor, —Salutations ! This is to say to you. The fight has been fought, and some are dead ; some live. Restore to us Waikato. Let it suffice to you, the men are dead. Restore us to those who live. Enough. From your friend Pene Pukewhaa, From all the Chiefs of the Waikato. To Governor Grey. The hon. Mr. Fox to Pene Pukewhau. Auckland Nov. 30th, 1803. Pene Pukewhau, —Your letter has arrived, and the matter has been carefully considered. Tliis is the reply to you, and also to all the people of Ngaruawahia. The Governor will hold no communication whatever with you while you continue in arms ; but give up all your guns, your powder, and all your arms to the Governor. Then only will a way of communication be open for you*; at present there is none. That is the word, From your friend, W. Fox. Pene Pukewhau to His Excellency the Governor. Ngaruawahia, Dec. 2, 1863. O Friend Governor, —Salutations ! O Fiiend weave waiting the reply of our letter. Can it have reached you or not ? These are the words of that letter. Restore' the Waikato men. Suffice for you the dead. Enough. From the Chiefs of the Waikato, From Pene Pukewhau. JViremu Te Whtoro to the Hon. Mr. Fox. Taiporiri, Dec. 4fck, 1863. Friend Mr. Fox, —Salutations. This is my communication to you that you may hear what was said when I went up to Ngai-uawahia on| the 3rd of December. I did not see any men anywhere except at Ngaruawahia. When we arrived there, they assembled and fired from both sides of the roach We were between them while they fired, as they went along. When we reached the house of Matutaeva, which has a carved verandah, he and his people stood tip [to receive us.] Ngatimaniapoto were on the Waipa side, and Waikato- on the Horotiu side.

They stood up for a while and then sat down. Paora Te Alniru stood up to make a speech. “ Welcome my child. Welcome all of you, your ancestors and your fathers. Come to see your fallen tril>e-, and your broken canoe. My fighting has ceased ; peace is made.” After him Tikaokao stood up, “ Come my child, come to see your fallen tribe and your broken canoe.” Then Patera Te Tuhi stood up, “ Welcome my brother, come to see your fallen tribe and your broken canoe.” Then I, Te Wheoro stood tip, “ Welcome me, O my father, welcome me O- my brother, I am come here to see the fallen tribe-and the broken canoe. It cannot be helped. It is right O my fathers, that peace should be made. I have- nothing to say, I did not come to speak, but the speech is in the letters. Do not let us make speches, but be quick and answer the letters. They sent to Tamehare for lamihana. They came to me andi said, ‘ If we give up the guns we shall perhaps be made prisoners. We don’t clearly see how to answer the Governor’s fetter because we are afraid of the ' steamers and soldiers which are conning this way. For this reason we came herefrom Paetai.’ I said to them, * Ijhave nothing to say to you ; I was not not sent here to deliver a message.’ In the- morning Ngatiinaniapoto came to cut down the flagstaff at Ngaruawahia. Waikato would not allow them. The quarrel was great. Both sides fired without aiming. Then Tamati Ngapora, Mobi. Te Ahiaienga, Patere Te Tuhi, Paora Te Ahuru, and W. Thompson, gave it (the flagstaff) to me with these words, 4 Wheoro, we give over the flagstaff to- you with those buried here, and Ngaruawahia, for you to give over to the General and the Governor. Especially let not the remains of the buried be illtreated by the soldiers. As for Ngaruawahia, the cultivation, leave them alone. We are going away through fear.’ Moses gave liis koeroa (a weapon made from the jaw of a whale) for the General for a pledge of peace, and the flagstaff for a pledge of peace. I returned with the letters for the Governor. These were all the chiefs then jiresent. Tamati Ngapora, *Molii Te Ahiatenga, Wi Tamihana, Tiaokao, Paora Te Ahuru, Patere Te Tuhi, Kai Ngarairu Enough, from your loving friend, Wi Te Wheoro.”

ATTACK ON MAORIES NEAR PAP AR AT A. Intelligence reached town yesterday that Captain Jackson’s company of Forest Rifles had fallen in with, and engaged, a party of Maories, within a few miles of Papaknra. On enquiry we found that the affair took place a long distance back in the bush, in the direction of Paparata. The following are the particulars, so far as we can ascertain them : Captain Jackson and Ensign Westrupp, with twenty-right men of the Forest

Rides, left on "the 11th, for the purpose of scouring the bush. On Saturday evening tracks were discovered, and these were followed up with success, About daylight on Sunday morning smoke was seen in the bush, at a distance of from four to five miles, and an advance was cautiously made with the view of taking the natives by surprise. The advance was conducted in silence, until the sound of a bell was heard, and then the voice of a man singing, as if engaged leading the devotions of the encampment. A consultation was held as to whether it would be better to divide the party and make two attacks ; and it was finally determined that the party should keep together, and attack simultaneously. The Forest Rifles thereupon crept stealthily forward, Ensign Westrupp and a few men in advance. As the Maori encampment got nearer, two coloured men, who were of the party took the lead ; and these succeeded in getting pretty close to the natives before they were discovered, and as the man on the watch did not give the alarm, it is supposed he thought these men were friends coming to them. The advance file had then got to within about thirty yards of the natives, and Ensign Westrupp, we believe, ordered them to fire. The order was obeyed, and the Maori sentry fell dead. A rush was then made on the encampment, the entire party coining up and delivering fire. The panic amongst the Maories was intense. One man stood upright, without making an effort to escape or defend himself, and was shot down. Another was wounded in. the shoulder by Private John Smith, formerly of the Wairoa Rifles ; and the native fired at Smith in return, but missed. He then clubbed his double-barrelled gun, and struck at Smith, who parried the blow with the barrel of his rifle, and closed with the native. Although t-lie Maori was wounded, he would have proved match enough for Smith in this hand-to-hand struggle, but for Ensign Westrupp, wlio came to the relief of his man, and shot the native in the head. He fell, but again rose to his legs, when another man blew opt his brains. That was the only instance of resistance shown by the natives, except a few shots, which did no harm. Four of the Maories were left dead, on the field, and several wounded men were carried away, principally by the women of the party. There was an order given not to fire at any of the women. Two chiefs were killed, judging by the tatooing. On of these returned to the whare to get his spear,-which had fallen a trophy to Captain Jackson, and was shot- down ; the other was shot in the act of carrying away a a box containing two flags, that have since been brought in. The maoris were encamped near a waterfall, close to the head of a gully, in a piece of thin bush, and the wounded or dead were carried away through this bush by their friends. There was a good number of women and children. The precise locality of the engagement is not known. It is somewhere in the Paparata district however, and is one day’s march, with the men loaded, from the second crossing of the Wairoa.

The Forest Rifleshaving driven away the Maoris, examined the encampment, which appeared to be a place used by the natives for storing plunder, and which they doubtless believed out of reach of the pakeha. There was a large accumulation of plunder—silks, dresses, ribbons, blankets, shawls, and scar’f, —in fact an infinity of things carried away out of the bouses of the Wairoa settlers. Amongst the property recognised was a scarf belonging to Mr. Macdonald, a settler ; also the English volunteer regimentals of Ensign Johnston, of the Wairoa rifles. Property belonging to Mr. Richardson, a settler, was likewise recognised. Part of ’this spoil was thrown into the creek : the most valuable was brought back by the men, who gave three cheers on leaving the place. The four dead bodies were covered with blankets, and left close by where they fell.

We should add that it is believed three more were killed, from the way the bodies were seen to be carried by the women when out of range. The Maoris appear to have prepared for an expedition, having about 2 cwt. of fern cake baked. Judging by the loot, they are supposed to be a portion of the same party who did so much damage in the Wairoa, and who are accountable for at least some of the murders. One of the natives lived a few minutes after he received bis death wound, and he communicated the fact that they belonged to the Ngatipau tribe. The spoil taken from the Maoris consist of the chief’s spear before alluded to, and of considerable value ; a double-barreled gun, tomahawks, and two flags. One of these is a red silk flag, about eight feet by five feet, with the following device :—Cross (t) and star (*) ; underneath the word “areteroa.” The smaller flag is white and red. Taking these facts into consideration, it is evident that some man of consequence has fallen. It is to be regretted that the Forest Rifles did not follow them up, and inflict greater punishment on them, which the nature of the country permitted ; but the men were tired, and at a greater distance from their support than was pleasant. On the whole, therefore, a highly successful! affair has occurred to enliven the monotony of the war ; and this time it is entirely by civilians. The attack in question proves that a party of Europeans who take proper precautions, can surprise a party of natives quite as readily as natives can steal a march upon us Capt. Jackson and party returned to Paparata yesterday, about noon. —Southern Cross, Dec. 15,

The New Zealander describes the site of the engagement as 15 or 20 miles from Papakura, and 3 or 1 miles from

Paparata, and mentions Drury as the starting point. A force of 55 0 men and officers under the command of Colonel Carey, took possession of Paparata on the sth December, without opposition. Ihe position was well chosen by the Maoris on the end of a fern open. It was a large pah, built only since the war commenced ; a row of traversing rifle-pits, looking towards the Queen’s redoubt, with a cross row at the end, and surrounded with a palisading of rough saplings, some eight feet high. A flanking row of pits was likewise outside the pah. A second pah, at the termination of a bush, was also erected within about 200 yards of the first on, and a retreat track cut into the bush, so that if defeated in the first, they retired into the second, amhfrom thence into the bush, where British troops have no power over them.—New Zealander. Dec. 12.

WAIKATO. t From the New Zealander Correspondent. Te Whare Kingi (King’s-palace), Ngaruawahia, Dec. 9. At last we have arrived in the Royal gi-ounds ; at last the sacred flag-staff is adorned with the red ensign of conquering pakeha ; Ngaruawahia has fallen, “and fallen without a blow” ; all the. royal potatoe grounds have become the property of the soldiers, and the potatoes themselves are now forming a pleasing side dish to the salt pork and biscuit in every tent in the line. Ngaruawahia, the spot we have been looking forward to for so long, the land of desire, the capital of Maori New Zealand, has at last been reached, and what is it like ? That I will endeavour to describe.

This morning, the remainder of the 40th Regiment, under Colonel Leslie, who had been left behind at Rahuipokeka, were embarked with their baggage on board the Pioneer, and at six a.m. that vessel started tip the river. The scenery as we steamed through the gorge between the hills is of the most grand and beautiful description ; the steep wooded hills or mountains, in some places arising out of the river, and in others leaving a small tract of flat land on the margin of the stream.

A person not acquainted with the river would expect at every fresh turn round, some boldly abutting head land, formed by some rough hill having rolled out from its proper standing-place, and encroached upon the rightful dimensions of the river, he would expect to catch sight of a roaring cataract or impassable rapid ; but there is nothing of the sort here; the hills just keep an even distance from each other, sufficient to allow a free passage for the river. If the enemy had made a stand at this pass they might have caused very serious loss to our side, for they could have fired down on to the very deck of the steamer from the almost perpendicular hills under which we must pass to reach our destination. i lie range of hills on the proper right bank of the river terminates suddenly in one of the highest elevations in the whole series ; it is called Taupari, and real's its picturesque wooded sides from the very banks of the Waikato River, and the Mangawhara Creek, which here empties itself into the former stream. Opposite Taupari is Kaitotehe, the former residence of the Rev. Mr. Ash well ; this is the most beautiful spot I think that I have ever seen in New Zealand. The. house, school-house, &c., stand on a tract of flat land lying between the hills and the river. Jhe house is a model of elegance and taste, and is embosomed in fruit and other tree* ; peach trees, ploughed fields, and shrubberies abound, and altogether it is almost a perfect little paradise, appearing perhaps more lovely from the fact of its being situated in the heart of Maoridom, and from the contrast between it and the wretched native wliares.

A little further on, but on the opposite bank, is another beautiful villa belonging to the same gentleman. It stands on the sheep-runs belonging to the station. Great credit is due to the natives that they have touched nothing belonging to Mr. Asliwell, not even the sheep ; they have destroyed nothing in the hotises—all have been left just as they were when their owners last saw them. On the left bank the bills still continue to keep company with the river but in places full back and leave room for a tract of flat land, at one of these spots stands the native village of Kabumataku, which must have been the residence of a considerable number of natives. On the right bank the hills have retired leaving a large expanse of good level land. About here we cauglit the first glimpse of Ngaruawahia, it presented itself to our view in the shape of a red ensign flying on an exceedingly high flag staff about two miles distant. It was not long before we were all safely landed on the before mentioned potatoe field and proceeded at once to inspect the various beauties and wonders of this long talked of place. JSgaruawahia is situated on the point of land formed by the conflux of the Waipa and Horatiu rivers the former of which runs on the west and the latter on the east side. There are not many whares in the village, but these are of very considerable dimensions ; the largest one was the residence of the King, and measures inside about twenty yards by ten. The roof, like most of the superior native dwelling-places is lined with the flower-stalks of the swamp toetoe laid closely side by side. This lining effectually keeps out the dust, and -when it is blackened with smoke it assumes a rather elegant glossy black appearance. 'I he sides of the house are supported inside by upright slabs of sawn timber of the totara, to which are connected flower stalks of swamp toe toe interwoven with flax, which

forms a very creditable side lining, combining elegance and usefulness, as the inhabitants can use the openings in the net-work as places in which to put their pipes when about to address the meeting, as it would not be according to Maori etiquette to place that—their inseparable companion—in its usual receptacle—the ear, in the presence of Majesty. The only openings for light or entrance in this whare, are the door in the centre of one end, and a small hole about two feet square in either side of it. A wooden column, carved at the lower end in the shape of a little boy of very unprepossessing appearance, who appears to be very distressed at the immense weight upon his shoulders, supports the ridge pole about the centre of the room. The door and windows look out into a species of veranda formed by the projecting of the roof at the gable end ; around this there is a great amount of carving, &c. Over the door outside was written, in English, “for the officersiof the army and steamer;” and on the boarded up door was the following, scrawled in charcoal, “we have been here on the 7th Dec, we came to see you if yon arrived here, you wlil send a messenger to let us know your terms, here you will find a letter from W. Barton, on the window of this whare. Andrew Barton.”

The letter, I believe, contained a re quest to the General that he would respect the grave of Te VVhero Wliero (Potatau I), and not let the soldiers destroy the wliares, &c.

[A. Barton is the son of our true and staunch friend, Win. Barton. 'lbis lad had been taught the English language In the Wesleyan Native Institution, at the “Three Kings,” near Auckland. '1 he whole of the members of this family have maintained unshaken loyalty to the Queen throughout this unhappy war ] The two next largest wliares are the one where the runanga met, and the other where the Maori newspaper, the Hokioi e rere atu na was printed The flagstaff is of great height, 1 should say about one'hundred and thirty feet. The tomb of good old “Potatau the First,” is quite an elegant piece of workmanship, and not at all what one would expect from the Maoris. It consists of a small square wooden building, about three yards square, and about the same height, having a door and two small glass windows in front. The main building is surrounded by a light trellis work veranda of wood. The whole structure is painted white. Inside is the coffin of Potatau and his canoe.

The plot of ground, of about ten yards square, on which the building stands, is surrounded by a ditch, and inside the enclosure a sentry has been posted to preserve the place from being molested. Just without the ditch, on one side, are the graves of several natives who were killed at Koheroa, ’on the 17th of last July. A short, distance from the tomb are the enclosed graves of two men of consequence, but who must long since have departed this life, as both the trenches and the inside embankments are overgrown with fern., On one of them a wooden cross lias been erected. Along the bank of the river, near the point, there runs a single long line of rifle pits ; and two or three hundred % r ards up the Wairoa is a species of Redoubt ; thirty yards square with a ditch about two feet wide and four deep, surrounding it. The parapet only rises to the height of about four feet above the ground. A trench also runs all round the parapet inside. I was rather disappointed in these fortifications, as I had expected they would have been on a much more sive scale.

The land here is perfectly flat, though raised about twenty or thirty feet above the level of the rivers, and seems to be a very fine description ; at least if we 'may judge from the Potatoes which grow here. Immediately on the opposite bank of the Waipa the hills rise almost from the water’s edge, and their wooded sides add considerably to the picturesque ness of the place. The Waipa is not more than fifty yards broad at its junction with the Horatiu, which is about the same width, to form the TWaikato. Both rivers are deep, and have not nearly the cui’rent of the Waikato.

Towards the South, seemingly about forty miles distant, can be seen a hill, or mountain, called Pirongia ; but all the country between appears to be flat. As the steamer was returning to day she ran her stern on shore, and bent the crank of her paddle wheel so as to render her unserviceable for the present. This is a serious matter now, as there is not one more day’s provisions in camp. It is hoped that this accident may be rectified to-morrow, or we shall be thrown entirely on the potatoes, which would shortly disappear with 600 men feeding entirely upon them. After they are gone, if by that time the steamer has not been made serviceable, the General will be under the necessity of invading the territory of some one or another, and fighting his way to Raglan, Taranaki, Welllngton, or some other place were food is to be procured. But, seriously, an accident happening to the steamer at this particular period, is a matter not to be made light of. Salt pork and biscuit is bad ; but potatoes or nothing at all, is far—nay, immeasurably worse.