The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-09 00:00:00

LON DON, SATURDAY EVENIN

NEW ZEALAND.
(From a Supplement to the New Zealander of Aug. 29,
1846.)
New Zealander Office, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1846.
Her Majesty's ship Castor, having on board his Ex-
cellency the Lieutenant-Governor, arrived on Sunday
evening last, bringing the important intelligence of the
successive occupation of Rangihaeta 's strongholds, the
capture of some, and the dispertion of the rest of his
followers.
The troops from Sydney arrived at Wellington early
in August, and were immediately employed in co ope-
rating with the troops already engaged. ilauparaha
has been taken into custody, on suspicion of secret con-
nivance with Rangihaeta. We are not in possession of
the particulars of his treachery, but :re understand that
he will be detained as a hostage. We shall allude to
this subject hereafter. Eight of Rangihaeta's principal
men have been taken, besides several others of less note.
One of them, while on board the Calliope, attempted to
overpower the sentry, and nearly succeeded in drawing the
bayonet (rein his side belt ; he was, however knocked
down, and since then these prisoners have been placed
in irons. Her Majesty's ship Castor arrived at Welling-
ton on the 4th of August. She had on board a new
funnel for the Driver. The troops and native allies were
scouring the bush, and it was expected that Rangihaeta
would be taken. The Driver was to leave for Auckland
on the 31st.; we may, therefore, hourly expect additional
intelligence.
Wo have ascertained from a private source that the
body of natives from Wanganui, intended to reinforce
Rangihaeta, consisted of 600 men, and that they pro-
bably were but the vanguard of a still stronger force.
They came as far as Ohau, but the Ngatiraukawa natives
would not allow them to proceed. A large body of the
Ngatiawa, from Waikanae, had proceeded to Otaki in
support of their friends and allies, who will most likely
be compromised by their opposition to the Wanganui
reinforcements. It is feared that a general war between
the Wanganui natives and Ngatiraukawa and Ngatiawa
may be the consequence.
We extract the followins, particulars from the Wel-
lington Independent, yvhich throw additional light on the
narrative contained in the annexed interesting official

account :
On Friday last the Taita Militia, under the command
of Captain A. E. M‘Donough and Mr. White, 13 of the
armed police under Sub-Inspector Strode, and a body or
150 friendly natives under 'E Puni and Captain Scott, of
that corps, accompanied by an officer of the 58th Regi-
ment, and Messrs. Ludlam and Stilling as volunteers,
started from the Hutt towards the position occupied by
the rebel chief Rangihaeta. The force took the route
traversed by the hostile natives in their marauding ex-
cursions into the Hutt Valley, and the movement was
made with such expedition and secresy, that the rebels
do not appear to have received the slightest intimation
of it. The path leads over hills and through gullies, and
the late rains had rendered the roadway, bad at all times,
difficult be.) end conception. Notwithstanding these
drawbacks, the united force pushed on with vigour, and
in the course of the day came up with and surprised
some of Rangihaeta's scouts, and succeeded in capturing
one, a chief belonging to Wanganui. So quick and
sudden was the approach of the British force, that Ran-
gihaeta, who, it appears, was in the neighbourhood, had
the greatest difficulty in avoiding their clutches.
On Saturday 'E rani captured another of the rebels,
one of their principal men. The whole party are de-
scribed as being in high spirits, and anxious to try their
strength with the enemy.
It appears that Rangihaeta has deserted Pauhautanui,
and another small pah midway between that and the
Hutt. Many think he has retreated towards Manawatu,
but some few give a totally different direction. How
ever, the men who have been despoiled of their pro-
perty, who have been driven from their homes, and who
have had their friends brutally and cruelly murdered,
are on his track, and we make no doubt that they will
ere long bring the monster and his murderous crew to a
reckoning.
A party of natives from Taranaki have come down
the coast for the purpose of joining 'E Puni against
the rebels.
Her Majesty's war-steamer Driver, Commander C. 0.
Hayes, left the harbour on Monday for Porirua, having
a large quantity of arms and ammunition on board.
On their march over to Pauhautanui, from the Hutt,
Tamati Hapimana, a native of Pipitea pah, was a little
distance in advance of the main body, in the middle of
the wood, when he was suddenly surprised by the chief
above named, who struck at Tamati from behind a tree
on the roadside with a long-handled tomahawk; but
Tamati, with the coolness and dexterity for which he is
celebrated amongst the natives, warded off the blow, re-
ceiving only a slight wound between his forefinger and
thumb. The prisoner instantly endeavoured to make
his escape by jumping into a rivulet., with a view of
being able to reach the opposite bank ; but Tamati,
fearing that he might gain an advantage over him by
doing so, followed him into the rivulet, and, after a stout
scuffle, seized him by the hair of the head, and took
him prisoner.
This native has a great reputation amongst his tribe
for taking prisoners.
Rangihaeta, after evacuating Pauhautanui, retired to
a fastness, situate on a range of mountains in the
Pukerua district, which, from its strength, has been called
" Gibraltar." The following, from the Independent,
furnishes some clue to the cause of Rauparaha being
placed under restraint, though it does not give par-
ticulars :
Our news from Poriru is important. The rebel chief
Rangihaeta has thrown himself into a strong pah situated
oslinntni
rasfetj(th)neorgeart
idtr:hao:anfdbsghtopitaTvhoi
The position
poirtouossnwittsai
ooi mountains in the Pukerua, where he has
been followed by the British forces under the command of
nf
natural
palisades,i s
a s describedlve
as
ss a
artificial
rs
toneiac
usuallyaf edx
tec
hfe.
defences.
ndeciaenssge.
the savage, but no less acute, chief, has
surrounded his position with logs laid lengthways, thus
rendering the defences still more formidable. The
nature of the country is such as almost to preclude the
conveyance of artillery. But nothing seems impossible
to British soldiers and sailors, and we feel confident that
by some means or other artillery will before long be
belching forth on this stronghold of the rebels, And
here we cannot refrain from making a few observations.
When Rangihaeta evacuated Pauhautanui it was gene
rally believed that he had no other pah to fall back upon
Indeed, up to three o'clock of Thursday afternoon, the
colonists were in ignorance of the fact. Now, some of
the natives must have been acquainted with its exist-
ence, for a pah of its strength could not have been
erect, d without many of the Maories being aware of the
circumstance. We believe that Rauparaha, who was
apprehended with the proofs of his treachery about him,
was the chief who planned and superintended its erec •
tion. Lieutenant Blackburn, who has met such an un-
timely end, was engaged during the war in the north, in
which he greatly distinguished himself. We have heard
the conduct of Major Last, the officer in command, and
that of the entire force under his command, spoken of
in the highest terms of praise.
O❑ Monday and Tuesday last the friendly natives
were thrown out from the encampment at Paramatta as
scouts. They returned and reported to his Excellency
that Rangihaeta had evacuated a position recently occu-
pied, and retreated further into the country. At his
last resting place the fires were still burning, and a quan-
tity of potatoes left cooking, tending to the supposition
that on the approach of the scouts he had made a pre-
cipitate retreat.
On Wednesday a force of more than 300 men, con-
sisting of military, blue jackets, and civilians, under the
command of Major Last, started off in pursuit, his Ex-
cellency Captain Grey accompanying the party. On
Thursday afternoon the forces came up with Rangi-
haeta's scouts, and a skirmish immediately ensued. The
firing commenced at three o'clock, and lasted till eight,
when both parties suspended operations till morning.
We regret to say that Lieut. Blackburn, of the 99th
Regiment, and three men, were killed and several
wounded.
Major Last had a narrow escape, a spent ball striking
him on the forehead, and travelling round his cap. We
are happy to say that he received no injury from it.
The native who shot Lieut. Blackburn was imme-
diately shot by one of the Artillerymen, and two of the
enemy who attempted to carry off the body were like-
wise shot.
The loss of the enemy is variously reported, one ac-
count making it five and the other eight killed, and
several wounded.
The enemy were scattered in the bush in every direc-
ion, and many of them were hidden in the branches of
.rees.

Rangihaeta has thrown himself into a pah, the exist-
ence of which up to the present time was not known.
The position is admirably chosen for defence. It is
situated in a most difficult country for military opera-
tions, being on the ranger of hills to the right of the
hiTmhiexegd owithinthd kw is
Py
ouoknegr ua pa
trees,
nteris supposed to have about 250 followers
thicklywTie o vr i
tcihheeirhedmel i
newhtiief
with
pa h; the native
n
tive policeight force
boatsgives of
a still
her larger number.
o n Thursday
Majesty's
Calliope and her Majesty's war-steamer Driver
ship
river were
employed conveying guns and ammunition from the ships
to the shore.
We are informed that Major Last, and the whole force
under his command, officers and men, behaved in the
most gallant and daring manner. The conduct of Major
Last was what we always expected, and it must be
gratifying to him to know that the great bulk of the
community appreciated hia gallant conduct, notwith-
standing the attempt made by the Spectator to injure
his reputation.
A body of men have been set to work to clear a way
to the position occupied by the rebels, which is six miles
inland from Porirua.
" GIBRALTAR."—The united forces were busily em-
p!oyed cutting roads up to Rangihaetes pah, " Gibral-
tar," and felling the bush. The only practical approach
to the pah on the front side is by a narrow ravine, along
which only one or two men can advance at a time ; and
a considerable detour will have to be made through a
very difficult country, to get at it in the rear. Two
the
howit-
zers had been conveyed, with extreme labour, to
camp, and 10 shells thrown into the pah with no per-
ceptible result. We are informed that the rebels have
dug .warres 7 feet under ground, and have otherwise pre
pared for a determined resistance.

OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.
The Lieutenant-Governor has much pleasure in di-
recting the publication of the followieg dispatches from

Major Last, 99th Regiment,
commanding the troops,
southern district, detailing the nature of the recent ope-
:ations against the rebel, by which they have been
driven from the strongholds they previously occupied
in this portion of New Zealand, and have been com-
pelled to retreat after losing some, and leaving in capti-
vity sevcral, of the disaffected chiefs. _ ' -

Tle will take care to represent, in the strong terms
which they merit, the gallantry which has been
evinced by Major La,t, and the officers and men of the
combined naval and military force which was engaged
in these operations; the privations and fatigues neces-
sarily, attuidant upon the conduct of which, in so unfa-
vourable a season of the year, were supported in a
manner which descry s the warmest expression of the
Lieutenant-Governor's gratitude and approbation.
The Lieutenant-Governor avails himself of the same
opportunity of stating his entire satisfaction st the
manner in which the tffict,rs and men of the Militia of
this district have acquitted themselves. The settlers
have shown that they can use their arms well, that they M,
are a most useful body of men in military operations in
this country, and that the y are ready cheerfully to en-
counter any dangers or difficulties. They may take an
honest pride in feeling that they have fully shown that
they possess those qualities so essential to the men who
entered upon the task cf colonising New Zealand.
When the inhabitants of a country can thus rely
upon their own efficiency and courage, no fear need be
entertained for the safety of their homes and families.
Nothing could have been more gratifying than the
kind and friendly feeling
evinced for each other by the
settlers and large force of native allies when serving side
by side, a feeling which clearly showed that they are
mutually attached to each other, that they felt they were
one people, bound together by common interests, and
were willing and able jointly to defend themselves against
any enemy who should attempt to injure either race. The
Lieutenant-Governor felt, in witnessing this most grati-
fying sight,, that it constituted in itself a complete gua-
rantee for the ultimate tranquillity, and prosperity of this
part of New 'Zealand. • - f.- • -
To the numerous native chiefs who so nobly came for-
ward on this occasion, the Lieutenant-Governor returns
his thanks for their services. The intercourse he has
had with many of them will make him take a lasting in-
terest in their welfare ; and for the future he wit watch
over and endeavour to promote the progress of them-
selves and their families in prosperity and the conveni-
ences of civilised life, not only as Governor of the colony,
but as one who is personally interested in the welfare of
men who have established such just and strong claims
upon his esteem.
By command of his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor,
M. RICHMOND, Superintendent.
Wellington, Aug. 16, 1846.

Porirua, Aug. 4, 1846.
Sir,—After frequent consultations with your Excel-
lency since your arrival from Auckland relative to the
movements of the force under my command, particularly
after the receipt of intelligence by the Government that
a number of disaffected natives had left Wanganui, and
were moving down the coast with a view of forming a
junction with Rangihaeta and the rebels at his pah of
Pauhautanui, in the northern branch of the Porirua
river ; and that this movement was being made with
the sanction and connivance of Te Rauparaba, and
some disaffected chiefs of the Ngatitoa tribe resid-
ing in the immediate neighbourhood of our posi-
tion, it was determined that an effort should be made
to destroy this party, or to induce the friendly na-
tives on the coast to prevent their progress; also,
that an attempt should be made to arrest Te
Rauparaha, and the disaffected chiefs with him,
in the event of obtaining further evidence against
them; and, should these movements be attended with
success, it would enable us to make an attack upon
Rangihaeta and his followers, without the apprehension
of Te Rauparaha, or any evil-disposed Ngatitoas aiding
him; and then the pah at Pauhautanui could be regu-
larly invested, and the rebels destroyed.
To effect these objects, a combined naval and military
force was embarked on board her Majesty's steamer
Driver, under my command. We found it, however, im-
practicable to attack the Wanganui natives as they pro-
ceeded down the coast, as gales of wind and excessive
bad weather prevented the landing of the troops; but the
rebels were precluded making a further progress than
Ohau, as the friendly natives opposed them.
The next movement, I am happy to inform your
Excellency, was completely successful, as, on the morn-
ing of the 23d ult., I disembarked before daylight in
boats of her Majesty's steamer Driver, with 1 officer
and 30 men of the 58th Regiment, 3 officers and 70
men of the 99th Regiment, 4 officers and 30 men of
her Majesty's ship Calliope, accompanied by Captain
Stanley, together with the Inspector (Captain Durie, of
the Militia), and some armed police, surrounded the
pah, and accomplished our object without any collision,
from the admirable steadiness of the whole party ,hring-
ing with us Te Rauparaha, Kanae, Hoapu, and some
others, who are now prisoners on board her Majesty's
ship Calliope, as well as disarmed the disaffected part of
the tribe.
Annexed is a list of the arms and ammunition taken at
t'ee time.
Nothing now remained but to attack Rangihaeta and
the rebels in the pah at Pauhautanui ; for this object,
after leaving 100 men to reinforce the camp at Paratnatta-
point, the Driver returned to Wellington, in order that
the portion of the Calliope's crew which had embarked
in the Driver might return on board, and that both ships,
with the detachment of the 65th Regiment, just arrived
from Sydney, might return to Porirua.
On the 29th ult. your Excellency received intelli-
gence, which you did me the honour to communicate,
that Rangihaeta, alarmed at the movements that were
going on, had evacuated his pah and fled, but where was
uncertain ; it was, however, supposed that himself and a
few of his followers were remaining in the vicinity of his
former position.
Apprehensions being entertained that the greater num-
ber of Rangihaeta's followers might have returned to
the hills in the neighbourhood of the Hutt, it was con-
sidered unsafe to detach, for any length of time, a large
body of troops from Wellington, until the country
eee
be-
tween the Hutt district and Porirua harbohr db.
thoroughly reconnoitred. To accomplish thts,a bad
mixed
force of Militia, armed police, and friendly natives, were
therefore ordered to move from the Hutt in the directon
of Pauhautanui, sweeping the country 2
along, and either investing or taking pos 30: theysion of went
sfitahle_
pah on their arrival, as opportunity offered. A
taneous movement was directed to be made by the troops
under my command, which, I regret to say, was
from
a w
del
hayed
as defeated
from her Majesty's ship Calliope being
stress of weather; but, on our arrival, on t
we found the movement of the force from theeli-I,st inst.,
Hutt had
been successful, having found the pah evacuated,n with
(aninfluentialthe exception of scouts, one of whom
aPtured in
chief) they captured, and another chief was c
edly natives.
the course of the same evening by th
On the 2d instant I proceeded to tehefr:e 1 at daylight,
in boats supplied by Captain Stanley,
of
and 7 officers
ship Calliope, with Major Arney, 58th•
"filer Majesty's
and 160 men of the 58th, 65th, and 99th, Regiments,
which, on reaching, I found occupied by the Militia,
armed police, and native allies.
On examining the pah I found it to be built in a very
strong position, having a double row of timber pali-
sades, with trenches and traverses across, about 80 paces
long, and 35 broad, in the shape of a parallelogram, with
flanking defences.
There was also a bank of earth thrown up on the
to the heavyltog ether is a
scarpside of the trenches, which, .0
rain, were full of water. The positron ina
almost impreg-
nable strong one, and would have been
without artillery; but a bill about 500 yards m
nde We completely.
dis-
tant, opposite the front face,
:led, might soon
Therefore, had the enemy ree°namo,i
have dislodged them with our guns which were in readi-
ness at Porirua, in command of Cap.taientleHdenfdreernstoinng,R.tAhe.
The pah stands on a very high gr
harbour; at the foot of it runs a deep narrow creek,
fordable at low water; the ground about it is excessively
swampy, which the troops had to pass over. On the
side the pah stands rises a very steep bank, which, even
a veryT he
e rightd
men had difficulty in mounting.
without opposition, the
eep
And on the proper left of
tthhieekpiyoswiteioendeids.
ravine, the side of which is
face is also thickly wooded, aTndhethreeagrrwoausndthegrwadeaukaellsyt
slopes away into the valley.
part as to its defence, the ground covered with thick
scrub ; but, from its locality, I do not consider a posi-
tion could have been taken up by us on that side. The
defences on the front face were of a stronger description
than any other.
On the morning of the 3d inst.
.a combined movement
was made from the pall at Pauhautanui and Porirua,
consisting of 6 officers and 120 men of the 58th, 65th,
former, and 4Roeffigcimerese,
tl,so,owmitehn
Bocif
and 99th Regiments, and 30 militia, followed by 150
native allies, from the
the Royal Artillery, 58th and 65th
native allies, under command of Major Arney, from the
latter place, for the purpose of attacking the rebel chief,
and preventing his escape from the Horolciwi valley. We
proceeded about four miles into the woods, covering our
retired, from m)
advance with the usual precautions, The
n bemuty, discovered our rpproach, and quickly
his fires being still alight, it was evident he had fled into
the bush that morning.
Night coming on, and being uncertain as to the direc-
tion of the enemy, or the route they had taken, I deenied
it then unadvisable to proceed further.
Although our efforts have only led to the dispersion and
not to the total destruction of the rebels, which was9
anxious wish to have accomplished, yet, by gaining my
pos-
session of the stronghold of the enemy, we
are enabled
to complete the line of outposts at Porirua, so as effec-
tually to prevent any return of the rebels to the district
of the Hutt.
I beg to assure your Excellency that all under my
command have well earned from their superiors every
credit and approbation for the zeal and cheerfulness
they have exhibited under the severe trials and pri-
vations to which they have been subjected to for a long
time past.
Your Excellency having been present with the troops
on this occasion, will, I trust, bear testimony to the
efforts and exertions made by the officers and men
of both services ; but I must not omit ,to offer my best
thanks for the ready assistance and co-operation ren-
dered me by Captain Stanley, of her Majesty's ship
Calliope, Commander Hayes, of her Majesty's steamer
Driver, and my second in command, Major Arney, com-
manding detachment 58th Regiment stationed in this
district. I also beg to recommend Mr. Mgiellup,