The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-16 00:00:00

gaged in strengthening their defences. Major Nelson
remained with a small force in a secure position close by,
and harassed them in their operations, by firing shot and
shell into the pahs from two 8-inch guns. On the 4th
July a proclamation was issued by Colonel Gold for
the removal from the town of all persons incapable of
bearing arms; the central portion of the town had been
previously fortified by entrenchments, blockhouses, and,
otherwise, in anticipation of an attack by the rebels. They
bad advanced within ten miles of the town. On the 27th, a
large force of artillery, and detachments of the 12th and
• 40th, started early to take up a position at Omata, to check
the onward progress of the rebels, who, when last seen,
were a thousand strong, including women and children,
who had accompanied the expedition..to attack New Ply-
mouth. No less than ten pahs had been erected in their
rear, each capable of holding one hundred men, to cover
their retreat in case of non-success. The rebels had sworn
that in the event of failing in their attempt on-the town,
they would destroy everything upon European territory,
and kill whomsoever they caught in their way. Firing had
been heard for several days in succession in the direction
of their position. Some slight skirmishes had taken place
between the troops and the rebels, who were very daring
at night in their attempts to drive off live stock from the
farmers. Two 'atrocious murders are recorded. We take
the following extracts from one of the Taranaki journals :
" Tuesday, July 31.—1 n consequence of some informa-
tion received from Bell Block that the rebels were in force
there, the light company of the 65th, under Lieut.-Colonel
Murray, marched out this morning, and were followed in
the course of the day by Captain Barton's company with
two guns and six artillerymen. It was rumoured that
the rebels were in numbers in the bush, and as an at-
tack on the town was to be apprehended, the militia
and volunteers were called together, and strong out-lying
piquets told off. Before dark strong lines of sentries were
posted, and extra piquets stationed in commanding positions
ready to resist attack.
" Wednesday, Ist August.—From Wanganui, a corres-
pondent writes—' A report is in town this morning (28th)
that the rebels have now completely hemmed you all within
the town, and that they hold possession of the Waiwakaiho
bridge. The news was brought in by Aperahama of Waito-
tara, and we think it may be true, as from the last accounts
the Ngatiruanuis and Taranakis had determined upon at-
tacking your town. We have also' heard that they have
possession of the Hua stockade, and have killed many more
soldiers. A letter was received yesterday from Welfare,
which was brought down the river, gig izig the natives an
account of the fight at Puketakauere. It states that 200
soldiers were killed, and only five Maories, and that the
dead bodies of our men were left on the ground for the pigs
and sea gulls (keroro).' This evening the 65th detachment
returned to town from the Bell Block.
" Thursday, 2d.—A skirmish with the rebels took place
on Tuesday, when they came down to the beach and endea-
voured to cut off a party of marines escorting carts with
firewood. The rebels also endeavoured to shoot some of
Tiera's natives, who had been out fishing, as they were
pul ling up the river. An ambush of two hundred natives
prevented the forces from the stockade following up the
rebels, and on proceeding to support the marines, received

several volleys, and the force retired, having suc-
ceeded in bringing in the escort. No casualties on
our side. Some of the natives were seen to fall,
So close• did they follow our men that- they came within
range of the blockhouse, and their shots fell over the steamer
into the river. Two or three shells were fired into them and
they retired. A reinforcement of the 12th marched to the
Bell Block this afternoon, in command of Captain Queade.
The head-quarters of the 40th moved this evening from the
parade ground, and took possession of Fort Murray, vacated
by the 12th.
" Friday, 3d.—At an early hour this morning H.M.'s
colonial steam sloop Victoria anchored in the roadstead,
from Melbourne, after a passage of eight days. She brings
Major-General Pratt, C.B. ; Lieut.. Colonel Carey, Deputy-
Adjutant-General; Lieut. Foster, R.A., A.D.C.; Deputy-
Inspector-General of Medical Department, J. Mouat, C. 8.,
Capt. Pasley, R.E., and fifty men of the 40th Regiment.
At ten a.m. the General landed under a salute of thirteen
guns from Maraland Hill. A guard of honour of the 65th,
in command of Capt. Turner, was on the beach at eight
a.m., with the band and the colours of the regiment, but
by the General's request the compliment was dispensed with.
The men disembarked in the course of the morning, and
were played to Fort Murray by the 65th band. From in-
telligence brought into town by a courier from Ornate this
morning, we are led to fear that two more lives have been
sacrificed. Yesterday afternoon (we are informed), John
Harford, farmer, of Ornate, left the Omata stockade with
the intention of calling at the camp on Jury's Hill, for
three artillerymen, who were to accompany him as
far as his farm in the bush. Towards night one of the
latter came back by Honeyfield's Hill, through Rata-
pihipihi, and stated that several yaks were fired by
some natives upon them, when they all separated, ho run-
ning through the bush, and reaching the camp as described.
A second artilleryman also ran, and succeeded in making
the length of the camp in the middle of the night, but
nothing has been seen or heard of Harford or the other
artilleryman. This morning Capt. Burton rode up the camp,
and arranged with Major Hutchins to send a guard of ten
men with his party to search for the men. The escort had
not returned at our latest advice& A number of Pohara-
ma's natives proceeded to-day, at the request of the autho-
rities, to Ninie pah, and succeeded in recovering 70 sheep
driven off the Bell Block by the rebels. They did not meet
with any opposition. 6 p.m.—The armed expedition sent
in search of Harford and Gunner Gaffney have returned,
and confirm the worst forebodings. Gaffney was found dead
in a gully near Harford's house, much mutilated about the
head and body by tomahawks, but without any gunshot
wounds. The body has been brought into town by an
escort. No trace of Harford could be discovered, but there
is no doubt of his fate. He loaves a wife and nine children
(refugees at Nelson), to mourn his untimely end I It has
transpired that Minarapa, one of the perpetrators of the first
Ornate murders, told a woman of the Poutoko (T. Wiremu's
pah), this morning that he had killed two white men yes-
terday.

Saturday, 4th, 1 p.m.—At 10 o'clock this morning the
alarm guns from Moreland Hill and Mount Elliot
were fired, and the bugles called together the
troops and militia, a messenger having arrived in
town reporting that the natives were in force
in the rear of the Colonial Hospital in the town belt, and
that a combined movement was to be made on the town.
Intelligence also in town that the troops were engaged on
the Bell Block. The troops and militia under arms, in
readiness to move to any point. The women and children
flocked to the barracks from all points. A reconnoitering
party of friendly natives report that the rebels have fallen
back in the bash, after pillaging several houses and strip-
ping a large quantity of lead from the house of Mr. T. w.
Richardson, of Waiwakahaio."

On the 10th July, at Auckland, the meeting of loyal
ehiefe to confer with the Governor on the present position
tad prospects of native affairs, commenced. His Excellency
vas accompanied by Mr. M‘Lean, Native Secretary, the
Chief Justice, the Colonial Secretary, and the other mem-
bers of the Ministry, together with several of the most emi-
4ent colonists. Chiefs were present to the number of 127,
relresenting a majority of the most influential tribes.
Lis Excellency made a lengthy address in opening the
confetatee. After reminding the chiefs of the conditions of
and their obligations under the treaty of the Waitangi ; and
renewing the assurances of royal protection to the natives,
he asked them to state frankly their grievances, and if they
were real he promised to try to redress them. He then
continued :

" There is also a subject to which I desire to invite
your special attention, and in reference to which I wish
to receive the expression of your views. For some
time past certain persons dwelling to the south of
Auckland have been endeavouring to mature a project,
which, if carried into effect, could only bring evil upon the
heads of all concerned in it. The framers of it are said to
desire that the Maori tribes in New Zealand should com-
bine together and throw off their allegiance to the Sove-
reign whose protection they have enjoyed for more than
20 years, and that they should set up a Maori king, and
declare themselves to be an independent nation. Such
ideas could only be entertained by men completely ignorant
of the evils they would bring upon the whole native race,
if carried into effect. While the promoters of this scheme'
confined themselves to mere talking, I did not think it ne-
cessary to notice their proceedings, believing that
if al-
lowed time to consider, they, would abandon so futile and
dangerous an undertaking. This expectation has not been
fulfilled. At a recent meeting at Waikato some of the
leading who is in arms
s authority, should be supported b.- men proposed that Wiremu
. Ringi,
toT and
hes e
ewnh
aliasoactduaeslilrye
against the Queen'
re-
inforcements from the tribes who acknowledge
the Maori
king, and armed parties from
went to Taranaki for this
to assume an authority over other New Zealand tribes in
their relations with the Government, and contemplate the
forcible subjection of those tribes who refuse to recognise
their authority. Under them circumstances, I wish to
know your views and opinions distinctly, in
y, order
that I may give correct informationto our
So-
vereign. It is unnecessary for me to remind
in
that her
Majesty's engagements to her native subjects nNew Zea-
land have been faithfully observed. No foreign enemy
has visited your shares. Your lands have remained
in your possession, or have beon bought by the Government
at your own desire. Your people have availed themselves
of their privileges as British subjects, seeking and obtaining
in the courts of law that protection and redress which they
afford to all her Majesty's subjects. But it is right you
should know and understand that, in return for these ad-
vantages, you must prove yourselves to be loyal and faith-
ful subjects, and that the establishment of a Maori King
would be an act of disobedience and defiance to her Majesty
which cannot be tolerated. It is necessary for the preser-
vation of peace in every country that the inhabitants should
acknowledge one head. I may frankly tell you that New
Zealand is the only colony where the aborigines have been
treated with unvarying kindness. It is the only colony
where they have been invited to unite with the colonists,
and to become one people under one law."
It is but just to say that when the chiefs spoke, on sub-
sequent days, they were for the most part anxious to prove
their loyalty. Some, however, showed a desire to have their
own Sovereign ; and one in particular, by way of compro-
mise, expressed his favour for a Queen.
THE BATTAE OF 131,71i.UTAXAVERE.—It is important to