HAWKE'S BAY.

West Coast Times, Issue 337, 22 October 1866, Page 2 (Supplement)

HAWKE'S BAY.

, INCUR?IObr BY THE REBELS.

TWO BATTLES FOUGHT. The Haukc's Bay papers of the 9tli inst. relate the arrival of a body of Hauliaus, at a pa cnllod Omaranui situate on the Tn^K'kuvi river, almost opposite PuketJMHi. The '-Times" of the loth inst., thus relates the account of their di«loc!gi:vHit, and the capture of the

Friday, the 12lh day of October, 1866, is one that will long be remembered by the people of Napier. About eleven o'clock on the night of Thursday, 11th Oct., the shrill notes of the bugle sounded forth the alarm, and in a corn-

paracively short space of time about 150 Militia and Volunteers mustered on the

parade ground in front of the Militia Office — eaph man being provided with a day's provisions, and a blanket, in accordanoe with general orders issued that evening The Napier Rifle Volun-

tcers, numbering about 50, and headed by Capt. Buchanan, marched off for Puketapu at half-past eleven. Nos 1 and '2 .Companies of Napier Militia, hcided respectively by Captains Fitzgerald and Kennedy started at midnight. A few minutes later the friendly natives, under Kopu and Ilnki Waangn, took their depar-

ture. As each body left' our quiet little town, three hearty cheers were given by the spectators, which were

responded to by the men — who, we may state, marched off in high spirits, and with the determination that they shoidd not have their walk for nothing. The militia companies arrived at Redcliffe at 4 a.m., where they camped at daylight. The Volua-cci's took up their station at Pukeiapux near Mr Bennett's house. At daylight Mr ILimlin was despatched to the rebel Pa with a flag of truce, and a letter from Lieut.-Col. Whitmore — the purport of which was a demand for their surrender and their arms within an hoar, or failing this threatening an attack.- However, they refused to answer Mr Hamlin, although he waited perhaps for half-an-liour, further than to clc:nand more time. Lieut.-Col. Wlutmoie generously allowed them another hour in which to make up their minds, but it was of no use ; they secr.r. ] bout ca remaining where they were, r-iid could he seen going through their abominable practices. Seeing it was of no use wait any longer, the order to advance was given, and was executed, in die most cooland determined mf. nner— t!io Napier Militia and Rifle Volunteeis. forded the river. After the ei\)s->in^ was effected, Nos. 1 and 2 Companies of Militia were formed iuto column, and the bugle sounded " from the ccn'ire extend— double ; " the " advance " fo l lowing, in double time. Presently, the men were all astonished to hear a bugle souudiug from the rebel pa; what the call was, no one knew, hue a heavy volley just after came whittling over their heads, so we presume the -call was " commence

firing." The Militia were not slow in returning- the compliment ; and continued ci-I' -ineing towards the pa. Arrived tuere the party .halted — the. Militia companies taking up a position to the k-L of the pa, and the Volunteers to the right. The work of slaughter then commenced in real earnest on both sides . a steady fire being kept up for about an hour and a half. The bugle sounded - es^e firing " several times on our side, but the bugler had his labor for his pains : our brave fellows being- c\ ideu:iy bent on giving the Hauhau.s .. vpo 1 do-e while they were about v The fight commenced about

1 a.m., ;vkl half-past 8 the enemy hoisted a v.-hite flag and surrendered. Again, cease living "" was heard ; and this tini* the order was obeyed, ! but evidently with great ' reluctance. The men, "however, made a rush towards the pa with fixed bayonets-, in order to prevent any «f the rebel* escaping, and to make prisoners of all who had not been killed in the engagement. Notwithstanding all the noble eiib-ts that were made, however, iibout ufven of the wretches man.T- "1 to c cape ; whereupon the Meauco momitvitl volunteers, and Capt. Gordon's cc\ any, set off in pursuit of the iu^it.ve-, and succeeded in bringing eleven of th< n> Inek, includiug that notorWy • col.kV.'l, Nikora, of Tarawera. The in->id." o. the pa presented a horrible picture, liie dead and wounded lying about in all 'Inactions. The surviving rebels (of whq-.n there were about sixty, incluriinr- the wounded) then laid down theix iii-ins and were forthwith marched out of the pa at the point of the bayonet, lo^kj <j; uncommonly sheepish at their defeat. Our o.vn los,o s, was one killed and ten woiindc 1. One of the latter (a friendly native named Karamoa, and uncle of the chief Ivaiaitiana) has since died from the effect-: of the wound." The loss on the rebel side was twenty one hilled, and about twenty five' woiuvlccl as fur as can be ascertained Among the former was Parnapa, the prophet; p-vl among the prisoners, Nikora. of Tur.nvcra.

About' ten 0.1.1. the troops— hot, tiredand luuicrry— prepared to return to Napier. They all seemed highly elated with their success, though many expressions of sympathy might have been heard for the gallant fellows who had suffered in the fray. The prisoners weiv marched in tinder a guard of Napier Tlifk Volunteers, under Capt. Buchanan.

Yesterduy (Sunday), the mortal remain.-, of William Young, who was killed on Friday, were brought into town. an/I conveyed to their last sad resting pica. Deceased was interred with

militaiy honors, the .firing party, consisting- uf m.'n who belong to the same company us that in which their de-

parted comrade had the honor of serving. The Napier papers refer to " a dangerous conspiracy, originating in Wai-

kato." in connection with the presence of the iibnye body of fanatics, and state that Hawko's Ray was to be theWly-

ing-point of the disaffected masses of Waikato and adjacent districts. " There is little room to doubt but that the scenes of the last few hours will have to be repeated in other places, if not soon again in our own province. A widespread plot, having its origin in the North, and whose ramifications spread wider, further, and deeper than the majority of the public imagiue, has not been allowed to lay its snares without our Superintendent, whose knowledge of Maori affairs is -keener -than any man's in New Zealand, having some inkling of its progress. We may thank his forethought and foreknowledge that things have terminated as they have."

THE PETA"N\E EXPEDITION.

Almost simultaneously with the surrender of the Hau-haus.at Onru-anui, Major Fraser and party, on the Petane side, encountered those arch rebels Rangihiroa, Anaru Matcte, and Paora Toki, with twenty-two armed men, coming down the valley. The only answer of the Hau-haus to the demand for them to surrender was to present their pieces. An engagement ensued, Avhich lasted only a few minutes, but \vhich resulted in twelve of their number, including Rangihiroa, being killed, and one or two wounded. The remainder, including Paori Toki and Anara Matete, managed to escape, but were hotly pursued by Lieutenant St. George and Captain' Can*. Nothing as yet, however has been heard of their capture.

ANOTHER EXPEDITION"

Early this morning, another expedition started — its destination understood to be Titiokura by way of Petane. The number is about seventy — all volunteers and mounted. The Government caUed for volunteers, but the applications equalled the number wanted before the " Gazette " came out — the only difficulty being, not want of men, but a scarcity of arms and horses. This force will co-operate with Major Fraser's party, and under command of Lieu. -Col. Whitmore, will, it is believed, range the country up to Rangihiroa's place.