TARANAKI.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 376, 7 January 1864, Page 3

TARANAKI.

An abortive attempt had been made to lake Ivaitake, so that there was some slight foundation for the native rumour which reached here last Thursday, that it had been takeu by the troops and retaken by the maoris, with great slaughter of course of the Pakehas. We have received no Taranaki papers by the Steamer, but the following account of the affair is from the correspondent of the Southern Cross. December 27.

The monotony of our life was a little broken by an attempt on Wednesday last to carry Kaitake by a coup de main, which, however, failed. After a good many praiseworthy efforts, Lieutenant Clarke, 57th Regt,., had discovered and explored a line leading up from the Hmford road to the cultivations on the ridge over Kaitake. Seeing the advantages which this gave him, for it enabled him to turn the enemy’s position, and there being but few Maoris to be seen, Colonel Warre determined to try whether the place could not be carried by an attack from behind, the attention of the enemy being at the same time drawn off by the force in front. A picked body, therefore, of 70 men of the 57th, under the command of Capt. Siiortt, with Lieutenant Clarke as guide, started at 3 o’clock on Wednesday morning, but for some reason that I cannot yet understand did not reach their destination, In the meantime, a force of 300 men, composed of 57th, 70th, and Captain Atkinson’s and Captain Webster’s Bushrangers, crossed to Oakura—one party uuder Major Butler going down to Hauranga to prevent the arrival of reinforcements, and the other under Colonel Warre going up the Wairau road to within a few hundred yards of Kaitake itself. Lieutenant Larcom, with the howitzers, made excellent practice at the Maori defences, which, upon close inspection, proved to be of a very flimsy nature. It has always been said that there were bad swamps about the place, but this proves to be a fiction. There were very few natives in the place ; certainly, there were not more than ti n or twelve that fired during the four hours that we were before if. The way in was easy, and the temptation to a climb was great, but Colonel Warre thought it would not do to take it in the absence of Captain Shortt’s party. The men were therefore drawn off, and, as the Herald says, “ when our forces retired, two natives, who had been previously garrisoning the little pa above, came down and manned our rifle pits, but their fire was without precision, and took no effect,” which was only probable, seeing that they were six hundred yards off. Another one pursued us a little way down the road, but did not come near enough to make it worth while to shoot. The commissariat dray taken bv the natives on the 4th of May was plainly visible on the top of the hill, and a pair of bullocks, ready yoked, had been driven up, to be out of our way. Major Butler’s party captured a large canoe at the mouth of the Timaru (the northern boundary of Tataraimaka), and brought it away. This will make fish scarce at Kaitake. Some time after our forces had retired a large body of natives arrived from the South, and 170 more next day—so that ihe place is not empty now.

AUCKLAND. The W onga Wonga which arrived on Monday morning brought Auckland news to the 29th ult, from which it appears that the Native report brought in last week was uttei'ly without foundation. The news fiom Ngaruawaliia extends to the 24-th ult, to which date no forward movement had been made, though from the quantity of stores brought up an advance was expected after Christmas. A very large redoubt had been constructed enclosing the flagstaff. Ensign Ducrow and i e Wharepu had died of wounds received at Rangiriri. A grand daughter of the latter had been brought to the General by I e Wheoro, (in token it was said of submission) but afterwards taken

away again. Te Wharepu’s brother had also had on interview with the Geueral, but with what object did not transpire ; though as a letter from the wounded chief, which was laid befoi-e the Assembly a day or two before it closed, indicated a disposition to submit unconditionally, the conversation possibly referred to the terms of peace. No armed natives had been seen - ; in/ Waikato subsequently to the engagement at Rangiriri, but as the visit of the Governor and his Ministers to Ngaruawahia seemed indefinitely postponed, it would seem that the negociations respecting peace were not in any very forward state.

'1 he Ngalimaniapotos were said to have deserted the Waikatos during the fight at Rangiriri ; and to have plundered Ngaruawahia, aud carried away old Potatau’s bones.

'1 he principal item of intelligence however is the murder of a Mrs. Thomson and her daughter by a native at Kaipara. On the 21st ult. about 2 p.m. a Ngatiwhatua named Ruarangi, well known to the family, went to Thomson’s house to buy sugar, and while it was being weighed by Mrs. Thomson he struck her on the back of the neck with an axe, killing her on the spot. Her eldest daughter who stood by with the baby ■in her arms screamed out, and two younger daughters who were in the stockyard milking, ran off to give the alarm. Ruarangi pursued them and overtook one of them, whose head he nearly severed from her body. The other escaped and gave the alarm, as did also the girl with the baby, though the latter was chased and had great difficulty in getting away, having to cai*ry the baby with her teeth so as to leave both hands free to clear her way through the bush. Hews was at once sent to Auck-. land, and Mr. Fox, General Galloway, and the .superintendent, started with a considerable armed force for Kaipara next morning, communicated with the leading chiefs, and obtained their promise that the murderer should be given up if Miss Thomson could identify him, and that with this yiew the whole tribe should. assemble at a Mr. McLeod’s on the 2fith. Mr. Thomson however positively refused to allow his daughter to go, and a police force had to be fetched from Auckland to compel him to bring her. The whole of the men of the tribe were seated on. the ground, and Paorathe chief of Orakei led Miss Thomson, and the Rev. Mr. Gi tos her sister, along the line, when Miss Thomson identified Ruarangi in spite of his having cut off his beard, and dressed himself in a soldier’s grey great coat, as well as held down his head as she came near. Mr. Fox then called on the chiefs to give him up, explaining how he would be tried, and in answer to a question from a native, that Maoris might be present at the trial. The chiefs and the whole tribe unanimously expressed their approval, and willingness, to give up Ruarangi in proof of their respect for the law, and took leave of him in.a suc : cession of speeches. The women also many of them came- to say farewell to him, but his wife and mother refused to see him, and it was feared the former would seriously injure her cljild as she seemed quite, distracted. Ruarangi was then led off and taken to Auckland, where he was brought before Mr. Beckham, R.M. on the 28th. A fatal accident occurred on the evening of the day oh which Mrs. Thomson and her daughter were murdered. As soon as the alarm was given, the neigh hours mustered with arms in their hands to render assistance, and among those who thus assembled were a number of sawyers working in the bushes' around. A party of these were returning home in the evening, when a gun, which one of them named Collins was carrying at the trail, went off,and the ball passed through the body of a man named Smith, (formerly of the 70tli Regt.) who was just in front, killing him on the spot. An inquest was held next morning, and a verdict of “ Accidental Death” returned. Another important item of intelligence is that the Steamers on the Waikato are using very excellent coal, got from a seam about 500 yards from the river, and 150 feet above its level, a few miles below Ngaruawahia. It is described as a kind of anthracite, or between that and cannel coal, and far superior in heating power to either Newcastle or Nelson coal, but as requiring a strong draught.

DRURY. (''From the Southern Cross Correspondent .) Thursday December 24. The intelligence of the death of Ensign Ducrow was received here last evening, and as he had been gradually sinking for the past few days, his death was not altogether. The body will be brought down to-day, and will doubtless be interred in the same spot and with the same honors, as his brother officers who fought at Rangiriri and lost their lives. A private of the 43rd, named John Carroll, died on Tuesday last at Papakura. The previous day, while on the march with his company from Otahuhu, he was seized with convulsions, brought on, it is said, through being heavily laden and the day being oppressive. He was eonygygd to the hotel at Papakura, wlioic shortly afterwards he died. An inquest was held on the body yesterday before C. Mellsop, Fsq., the coroner of the district, and the following jury :—Messrs. Willis, Maddigan, Hailoran, Wallis, Clode, Marsh) Anderson, Gillmer, Grove, Ash, Brown and Black. After hearing the evidence in the case, the following verdict was brought in : —“ That the deceased John Carroll came to his death on Tuesday, the 22nd instant, at the hotel, Papakura, and we find that his death arose from tetanus, or convulsions of a tetanic character, caused by over-exertion on the march between Otahuhu and Papakura: and the jury desire lo state

that in their opinion the-troops should not have been so heavily burtliened on their line of march.” The road party are busily employed on the load between Drury and Shepherd’s Bush. Before the road is put in proper repair all the way to the Maungatawhiri, the men have some months’ work before them. O’Neill, who was con fined to the guardroom in the camp of the Ist Waikato Regiment, the other evening succeeded in effecting his escape. I expect no trouble will be taken to bunt him up, as it is said such a character is far better out of the regiment. WAIROA. (From the Southern Cross Correspondent.) December 22.

The murderous and cowardly crime of; shooting at unarmed and generally speaking, unoffending individuals, which has been so much on the increasee of late has spread to this district ; two instances of this offeuce having occun*ed here within the last few days. The first took place last Friday, at the upper Wairoa, where a private of the 70th regiment, fired at a man belonging to the same camp. The shot fortunately missed, though the distance between the parties was only nine yards. lu this ease, I understand, there is the aggravation of having previously threatened to have the man’s life. The second took place on Monday afternoon, the offending party being a corporal of the name of Trot, in the 2nd company, 3rd Waikato regiment. It appears that on the day in question, Mr. Robert McCullogh was engaged mowing on Lieutenant Steele’s lai.d, when Trot approached him and asked tor a drink. McCullogh told him there was no vessel in which to get a drink, hut directed him to the creek, where he had to go himself. He used threatening language, and told him he would compel him to fetch him a drink. McCullogh went quietly on with his work, when suddenly he heard the report of the rifle, and the whistle of the bullet as it passed close to bis ear. Trot made off into the bush ; and in a few minutes two officers came to the place, to whom McCullogh reported the occurrence. They followed the man and called on him to surrender, to which he responded by insulting language and presenting his piece at them. A mounted 'orderly happened to pass, a I message was sent for the picquet by whom he was apprehended. While waiting for the guard two settlers came along the road, when he presented his piece at them also, and snapped a cap, the fellow having fortunately forgotten to reload. A preliminary enquiry in his ease was held yesterday at the Galloway redoubt ) and I believe he is to be tried by court-martial. A pecuilar feature in this case is that Trot is a man of sober steady habits, and bears a good character. He had been away for a few hours on leave and am fortunately got some, drink which seems to have caused a temporary insanity, with this most melancholy result.

INQUEST ON THE BODIES OF MRS. THOMSON AND DAUGHTER. (From the Southern Cross Correspondent.) December 23. An inquest was held this aiteruoon on the bodies of Mrs. Matilda Ann Thomson, at the house of Mr. Thomson, Kaukapakapa, the scene of the murders. The march from Lambs Mill to Mr. Thomson’s farm was a fatiguing tramp of about 14 miles following the road, but reduced to about 8 miles wheu traversing the flats, creeping round the edges of swamps, and following cattle-tracks through the fern and ti tree. The country along the whole line of route is of a highly .diversified character —ridge, spit, and ranges alternating with dale, deli and valleys : the whole, however, scarcely suggestive, from its colour, of being good land. Small patches of bush were occasionally met with ; but in some places where the fern had been burned off their blackened trunks and leafless branches called vividly to remembrance startling tales of horrid deeds committed on the blasted heath. There was a really painful absence the agricultural elements in the shape of farm stock of"the bovine or ovine kind—about one cow or bullock to every mile traversed being as much or more than were seen.

On the way to Thomson’s the General and party stopped at Smith’s, where an inquest was held on the unfortunate man accidently shot whilst returning from visiting Thomson’s house. fhey then proceeded to the farm of Mr. Thomson, situated about two miles and a halt from Tamati Davis’s native settlement. Mr. Thomson’s houso is a small two roomed cottage, with lean to kitchen and outhouses. A small portion ot the laud is under cultivation in cereal crop, potatoes and ordinary garden produce. The crops appeared in every respect flourishing and luxurious. The. bodies of the deceased had been buried in the garden previous to the arrival of the General and party, but were disinterred for the purpose of a coroner’s inquest being held thereon. The following persons were empanelled on the jury : —Charles Stephenson, foreman ; Charles Williamson, Joseph F. Naugliton, Charles William Stocken, Walter Deans, John Steward, William Ackland, Alexander Unthank, George de Thierry, William Long, William Jones, Robert Gale. The bodies having been inspected as tliev lay side by side on a sheet in the garden, near the graves whence they had so recently been taken, the jury then returned to the house and the following particulars were given in evidence.

Florinda Thomson was the first witness called. She said : I am the daughter of John Reed Thomson, and am 20 years of age. My mother’s name was Matilda Ann Thomson, and my sister’s name

Olivia Thomson My fathers farm is called Violet Hill, iu Kaukapakapa. On Monday last, about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, a Maori, named Ruaranga, came fco this house. I have known him since we came to this place,—for two or three years. He has his name tatooed on his arm. He lives with Tamafci Davis at a place called the Kauau. He has a tattooed bracelet also on his arm. I should know him again. When he came here, he sat by the fire to warm and drv himself. He had as much bread and beef as he could eat. My sister, Olivia, asked him in Maori what he came here for ? and he answered in broken English, Tui hoa—by and bye, I will say.” There were no men about the house at this time. Having to get some cows in we wanted to get the,Maori away. We told him to leave the house as we wanted to go for the cows. This might be two hours after he came. He went, away past the stockyard. My mother, my sister and myself left the house to go for the cows, p and the native went away some distance past the stockyard. Having found the cows, we returned to the house and Ruaranga met us at the stockyard. He came into the house, and asked for 20 lbs. of sugar. My mother gave him the sugar, and he took out the money to pay for it ; but afterwards drew it back and said he would pay my father at the mill. He pulled out a £ 1 note to pay for the sugar. He left the sugar on the table, and went away from the place for about lialf-an-bour. On his return he asked how much would be the price of half the quantity of sugar which- bad been weighed. Afterwards lie said, “ Never mind what half the weight of sugar _wi¥i he, but give me 3s. fid. worth more.” This conversation took place in the back kitchen of the house, and I was standing near to my mother in the same room. The native on coming iu for the 3s. fidl worth of sugar, had brought an axe iiv with him from outside the door. He had placed it on a stool near the table. My mother turned round to get the sugar out of the box which stood on the table, whenthe native raised the axe and struck her a blow across tlie head or back of the neck ; I cannot say which. My mother fell down dead. I believe she was dead before she fell down to the ground. I was standing in the corner of the room with the baby, a little sister, in my arms. Ruaranga advanced towards jne and shook the axe over my head. He did not take hold of me. He said he would kill all the pakeha wahin \s at M’Leod’s —meaning all the white women. There were four white women at M’Leod’s I understood him to say, and they would kill them all at Christmas—all the whitepeople. He also said M’Leod was (Jkapai for rum. Ruaranga did not appear under the influence of liquor. lie did not. appear deranged, and had always before been a quiet and peaceable man. His conduct that day up to this occurrence, wasqwaceable. No words or altercation had arisen between my mother and thenative. He was not angry when told to go away. W hen the native was shaking the axe over my head I called to mv sisters to run for Mr. Penney, a neighbour. My sisters were milking outside when he struck my mother. I called out, “Oh ! for Cod’s sake why did you not kill me and let my mother live.” He ran out with the axe to see if my little sisters had gone from the stockyard to give an alarm. I shut the |back door and ran the bar across. I then looked about for some weapon of defence—a butcher’s knife to defend myself with, but could not find any. He came back and struck the axe into the door. I was close to the door (inside) when he struck it. 1 Ruaranga then ran after my two sisters. I saw him on the top of the hill, running after Hanuah Matilda. I saw this out 1 of the window. He had the axe over his head,and appeared to be endeavouring to catch her before she got.'to Penney’®. My sister Hannah Matilda is between eleven and twelve years of age. I saw him pursuing my sister Olivia. She van off the pathway, and appeared making back for the house. I did not see her alive after that. 1 have not seen her since. My sister Olivia was fourteen years of age. I barred the middle door 1 and closed the (niter door, and then ran towards Mr. Penney’s. I saw the native returning towards the house, and as I made my way towards a creek in the direction of Mr. Penney’s house he pursued me. I had the baby with me. I succeeded in reaching Mr. Penney’s but he was not at home. I stayed .there fur a time, and then came back towards the house to look for my sisters. I saw the Maori at the house, and then I ran towai'ds the bush, and heard the crashing of twigs, as if several persons were pursuing me. One person could not have made the noise they did. I did not however, see more than one. I got in the gullies, and had great difficulty in making nvy way, carrying the child by my teeth, and made past the Peak to Tom Smith’s bush, about five miles off. It would be a great deal more going through the hush. I gave the alarm, and Tom Smith and j Andrew Brown came to me. I believe, the Maoris pursued Mr. Penney at the same time they were pursuing me. There were several other sawyers at Tom i Smith’s than those I have named.

By the jury : Natives are in the habit of coining to this house to purchase goods, but I have not observed any change in their manner towards us recently. My own idea of the cause of Rimranga doing this—judging from what he said—was to raise a war here. He is a Maori who always does what he says. He did not make any demur about the price of the sugar. When the native came in the house at 2 o’clock, 1 saw four other Maorics going towards Tamati Davis's. They went away but l cannot say wlmro they went to. I watched to see where they went to, but did not succeed.

Ruaranga had the figure of Britannia tabooed on hiu arm. Since Ruaranga left several, axes have been missing—including the axe with which lie murdered my mother.

Hannah Matilda Thomson deposed : I am between-11 and 12 years of age, and am the daughter of Mr. John Thomson. I understand the nature of an oath. On Monday last, about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, a Maori called Ruaranga called at our house and asked to buy some sugar. Whilst Ruaranga was at the house, Mr. Penney called and told its he had seen lour Maories coming down Tumati’s hill. Ruaranga on hearing MR Penney make this statement, said, “ Oh, are there—there will be mpjre.” I heard him tell iny sister that plenty of Maories had also gone Mr Bouar’s for sugar." Ruaranga had some pork, some salt meat and bread with us : my mother gave it to him. When we went off to the cows, he went out quite pleasantly. We got the cows together and were .milking them in the stockyard—about CO yards off—when I heard screams proceeding from the direction of the house. I heard the screams, and then they ceased—so that I believed the Maori had killed some one. I ran towards No. 5 bridge, Olivia folio vying me. The Maori appeared to be running after Olivia. Y\ hen I got to the top of the hill I called her, and saw the Maori after her. He had something in his hand like a stick. Olivia was running down the path and the Maori coming towards her. She would be nearer to me than to the Maori. She put her hands over her head and screamed out. When he came near to her, she turned into the fern with the Maori after-her, and I saw her fall down. I cannot say whether he had struck her or not. The last time 1 saw her alive she was lying on the path. She did not speak when, she fell down. The Maori stepped across the body of my sister and approached me. I ray and called out as ii Mr. Penney was near. I ran to the top of the lull Presently Mr. Penney’s dogs came up, and I called out to Mr. Penney to take his dogs away. The Maori had then ceased to pursue me. I went to. Mr. Penney’s, and he proposed to come down and shoot the native. He asked, if there were any more, and I said I had heard there were to be plenty more coming down. My father was away all this time.. Mr. Penney said his revolver had been lying out in the wet, and he was afraid it would not go off. We looked out and then saw several Maories, they appeared to be stooping down. I cannot tell whether they were men or women; it was getting dark. Mr. Penney and myself then went by the back of the hill and got away. No high words had passed between my mother, or any of us, and Ruaranga. I would know Ruaranga again if I saw him. He had his name tatooed, and the symbol of “ Britaiuim. ’ ’ Tanuiti Ha vis’s settlement is about two and a-half miles from here. Ruaranga said lie come from Waikahikatea.

John Thomson said :—I am a farmer, laving at Kaukapakapa. The deceased, .Matilda Ann Thomson, was my wife; and Olivia Thomson was my daughter - On Monday last I was in Auckland, and returned on Tuesday night. I found the bodies of my wife and daughter. There were severe wounds on the back of the neck of each. I have missed an axe. I don’t know Ruaranga. The natives used to come here frequently ; but not much of late. I have missed from the house since I returned, a piece of cloth for a pair of trousers, XT 7 in sovereigns, and X. 9in notes. We have never had any quarrel with the natives except once, about two years ago, when I had an altercation with a gum digger, of the Ngatiawhakawa tribe about a pig. That tribe has Jong since left. Mr. Heaphy said in the absence of auy professional medical man, he might inform the jury that he had studied anatomy and surgery, and would thereloire state that the wound in the neck of the mother Mrs. Matilda Ann '! homson, was such as would be caused by the blow of an axe that the fourth vertebras of the neck was cut through from- behind, straight into the neck, and that from such a wound death would be instantaneous, lu the case of the daughter Olivia Thomson, the wound was of such a nature as wouid be caused by the blow from an axe; that it was front behind and downward, severing the spine aboxit the fourth aud fifth vei'tebrse,— -the head being only at tached to tlie body by the skin and integuments in the forepart of the throat. This blow would also cause instant death.

’i he jury, after a few minutes consideration, returned the following verdict;'i hat the said Matilda Ann '1 hompson and Olivia '! homson came to their deaths by blows dealt by an axe at the hands of one Ruaranga, an aboriginal native of New Zealand, on Monday the 21st day of December, 1563 ; and further find and record a verdict of wilful and deliberate murder against the said Ruaranga, and other aboriginal natives whose names are unknown. The burial service was performed by the Rev. S. Blackburn, the General and others being present at the interment. 'The General and escort then returned to Lamb’s mill, arriving there shortly before nine o’clock. '1 he coffins brought by the police were not used, owing to their not arriving in 'j hey came only as far as Lamb’s mill.

The following remarks on the warlike capabilities of the races are from the blew Zealander of the 2nd inst. : That iti all the munitions, the modern appliances of war, the white man has an immeasurable superiority over his opponent cannot be doubted. With arms of the most improved construction, well fed,

well clothed, with a large and well appointed transport corps, it would have appeared that a nation of badly armed, half-fed warriors would not have withstood our forces longer than the mere time that was required to overrun their country. But the natural features of that country have been at once the main hindrance to our troops, and the principal safeguard of the Maories. In a region broken into steep hills and gullies, intersected by numerous creeks, and in many parts covered by many miles of swamp, the operations of a transport corps, however well organised, must be much cramped and impeded. In a country where no sustenance whatever can be obtained for an advancing army, every step that army takes must be retarded by the necessity of waiting till the commissariat can come up with it. Roads must be formed, bridges built, the bush cleared, that the requisite drayloads of provisions may follow up the consumers. An army ill fed would soon be disorganised, and fit for little in the field. But with the Maori all is different. He can fight though his diet be suoli as barely keeps him from starvation. He can find roots and berries in the bush, which varied by the flesh of an occasional wild boar, will serve his turn in the absence of better provender. In this he has an advantage which we, with all our superiority, cannot emulate. The bush, our most serious obstacle, is to the Maori at once his provision ground and his fortress. As a provision ground it does not feed him exactly, perhaps, to his taste, still he can subsist on its products. As a fortress it is—with his intimate knowledge of its secret recesses, with the shelter he derives from it, with the lurking places it affords—for his purposes unrivalled. So great are the advantages the Maori thus possesses that they have hitherto well nigh placed him on a footing of equality with our own troops, and have, at all events, precluded us from gaining, previously to the battle of Rangiriri, any very decided advantage.

One conviction the late engagement forces upon us, that is, that we have long had, living in perfect amity with us, a race who, when their blood was roused by real or imagined injuries, would prove no despicable enemies. We have already learnt that when friendly we can depend on their friendliness, and we have also learnt that when inclined to be hostile it is no slight task to subdue that hostility We would not go the length of saying that we have been living so long on sufferance ; but we do say that had the ■Maories been treacherous friends, they might have inflicted irreparable injury upon us, without committing any overt; aot of rebellion or warfare. We have seen in New South Wales the terror that a few bushrangers can occasion. What would have been the progress of our colony, what would have been at this moment its population, had the Maories long ago taken to a desultory and guerilla warfare ?