THE MAORI WAR.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 391, 31 October 1868, Page 7

THE MAORI WAR.

ABANDONMENT OF KAKAIiAMEA. ABANDONMENT OF THE AVEEAEOA REDOUBT. MORE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. WOMEN T AND CHILDREN RETURN FROM PATEA. (From the Wanganui Times, Oct. 24.) Friday, October 23rd.

Early yesterday morning the Kakaramea redoubt was abandoned by our men, and almost immediately taken possession of by the enemy. As our men retired, parties of Hau-haus set fire to the hitherto undestroyed houses around Kakaramea, right on to Patea. During the early part of yesterday twenty-four of Captain Hirtzell's men laid down their arms and refused to serve any longer. The men of other companies, whose time will expire in a few days, say that they will not serve a day longer than they are bound to to do. The small force in Patea is thoroughly disorganised and discontented at the treatment they receive from the Grovernment, especially its disbanding and dismissing the best of the officers and men, its abandoning the settlers, and giving up their property to be destroyed by ruthless cannibals, and exposing themselves to destruction. The Sturt took off from Patea, and shipped on board the s.s. Bangatira, Von Tempsky's men, bound for Auckland, they having refused to serve any longer. Consequent on this state of things, the women and children have been sent down by the p.s. Sturt, and some of the merchants and storekeepers have succeeded in bringing down a quantity of their goods, which are nowbeing stored in Wanganui. ABANDONMENT OF THE 'WEEAKOA REDOUBT. On Wednesday last, Colonel Whitmore and Mr Booth proceeded to Weraroa, and after some conversation with Hunia, Kemp, and the other chiefs, ordered the whole of the Wanganui natives stationed there to hold themselves in readiness for Patea next morning. This morning Mr Casey, of the Shamrock Hotel, Patea, arrived in Wanganui and informs us that at 11 o'clock last night, he, whilst riding through at the risk of his life from Patea, met the whole of the Native Contingent with Colonel AVhitmore at the Waitotara river. Some had crossed, and others at this side about to cross. Tims the Weraroa redoubt has been abandoned by Colonel AVhitrnore, and the whole of the Pakakohi with a contingent of Titoko Waru's men and the whole of the disaffected, are left in possession of the entire tract of country from the Patea river on to Kai Iwi.

Our friend Titoko Waru has generously given the besieged settlers at Patea, seven days notice to clear out, otherwise he will attack and exterminate them. As Colonel Whitmore, with some 150 of the Wanganui natives will reach Patea to-day, Tito may change his tactics, turn the ColnnePs flank, and send reinforcements to enable his men now at this side of the Patea, to occupy the Weraroa redoubt abandoned by Colonel Whitmore.

As we write —11 a.m. —the scene upon the G-overnment "Wharf, where the p.s. Sturt has discharged the goods and chattels of the women and children, brought down yesterday from Patea, arouses the indignation of all who witness the evidences of the ruin hurled upon those people by Colonel Haultain whilst carrying out the policy of the present Ministry. We once more call upon Dr Featherstou, as Superintendent of this Province, to wait upon His Excellency the G-overnor, and place in his hands a written protest against the manner in which the settlers, in that portion of this province which lies between the Patea river to the Kai Iwi, are being exposed to inevitable ruin by the suicidal policy of His Excellency's advisers.