The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-13 00:00:00

THE NEW ZEALAND WAR.

A letter from Melbourne, dated March 25, says:
Since the last mail no affair of importance has oc-
curred at the scat of war in New Zealand. The sap
has been steadily advanced against Kingi's strong
pah called Pukerangiora, and we are in daily expec-
tation of news of its storming and capture. In ad-
vancing the works there have been several skir-
mishes with the natives, who invariably exhibit
great boldness in their attacks; but, although the
" casualties" are often severe, the Maories have on
all occasions been repulsed with loss. I shall pre-
sently give the generally scanty details of these skir-
mishes, but first it is necessary to state that the pah
called Pukerangiora was the stronghold of the
Ngati-awa when Taranaki was attacked by the
Waikatoes about 30 years ago, when the former
were beaten with great slaughter. It had been
neglected for many years until lately refortified by
Wirimu Kingi. This pah is situate on the left bank
of the Waitara River, about 12 miles from its mouth.
When taken by the Waikatoes under Te Whero-
Whero, better known as Potatau, the Maori King,
the pah, with a sort of surrounding suburb, con-
tained from 1,200 to 1,500 people—of these upwards
of 500 were killed and many eaten, and Te Whero
Where, then a man of great strength, is said to have
killed about 50 with his own hand. Most of the rest
were carried away as slaves, but some escaped to the
south. In 1845 not a single native occupied Puker-
angiora, and I believe:the present pah occupies the
site of what may be considered as the citadel of the
former pah.
The day after the last mail left Melbourne we re-
ceived intelligence of a sharp skirmish in which the
troops had been engaged whilst constructing an ad-
vanced redoubt, by which Capt. Strange of the 40th
Regiment, unfortunately lost his life. I give this
news in the words of the Taranal Herald of the
11th` February :
" General Pratt had resolved on constructing a
redoubt about a mile in advance of redoubt No. 6
in the peach-grove, and about 400 yards from the
To Arei pah, near Pukerangiora. The pah is not
now in a fortified state, but there is a village of
a few huts on the site of an old pab, half way
up the slope of a ridge. There are many rifle pits
on several eminences around; the ground is covered
with fern, in some places very high, and there is a
deep gully between the position chosen for the re-
doubt and Te Arei pah. A force, consisting of about
1,200 men of the 12th, 14th, 40th, and 65th Regi-
ments and Artillery, with the Royal Engineers,
advanced at daybreak yesterday, and was imme-
diately met by a heavy firing from the enemy en-
sconced in their pits. Our men were obliged to lie
down, and the working parties were covered chiefly
by the fire of the artillery, as the natives could only
be seen at rare intervals. The Rifles, however, were
constantly in readiness to fire into the enemy when
seen. The natives were full of determination, and
at times came within speaking distance, inviting our
men to come on, who replied by recommending them
to stand out.
" The redoubt was' constructed on a small hill,
crowded with fern trees, commanding the gully,
and within easy shelling range of the village or pah
Te Arei.
"The 40th, and Captain Strange and Captain
Turner's companies, 65th, were extended in front
across the roads from the peach grove to To Arei,
the 40th on the left, the 65th on the right. The
detachment of the 12th, and the light company
(65th), kept the road in rear of the working parties.
Almost every little eminence and the edges of the
bush were occupied by the enemy—one party, as
near as 150 to 200 yards to the men of the 65th on
the right front. Captain Strange's men had formed
themselves little rifle pits, and that gallant officer
was lying in one of these when he received a wound
in the thigh, the bullet cutting the femoral artery,
and causing death by hemorrhage. Eleven others
were wounded—three of the Royal Artillery, one
of the 12th Regiment, one of the 40th, five of the
65th, and one bullockdriver. Nine of the hullocks
were hit, but net so as to injure them seriously.
The wounds, except two, which are dangerous, are
not of a character to disable the men permanently.
" Captain Strange was universally esteemed, not
only in his regiment, but by every one who came
in contact with him in the whole force.
"At present nothing is known of the Maori loss.
It is conjectured by a good authority that they did
suffer, and a rumour reached town this morning by
a native that two or more had been killed. Little,
however, was seen of them during the day beyond
the smoke of their guns. One individual placed at
the foot of the hill is said to have caused a large
part of the loss on our side ; but, though a great deal
of attention was paid to him in consequence, he
seemed to escape. The whole of the redoubts be-
tween Kairsn and Nn 6 aro to bo destroyed to-day.
Colonel Wyatt was left in command at the new
position, with about 350 men.

- "A short time before the steamer left Waitara
intelligence was brought down to the camp from
the front that ' 17 dead natives were picked up at
daylight in the tern."

On the 20th of February there was a slight skir-
mish, in which Captain Richards was slightly
wounded, one corporal (Lawrence) killed, and two
privates wounded.

On the 23d of February a force under Major
Herbert engaged with and drove in a body of the
enemy. Five of our men were wounded. The Maori
loss was not known. Four or five men had also
been wounded while working at the redoubt.
On the night of the 26th of February a party Or
natives crept up to the advanced sap, set fire to
some gabions which filled a portion of the trench,
and retreated with a yell of defiance, firing a
volley. The operations at this pah were
steadily advancing, and it was gcaeraily thought
that it would be taken in a few days, but we have
12 days later news, and, as will be seen, it had
not been taken, though its fate cannot be long post-
poned. I now add the three last telegrams from
Sydney. The first was received on the 14th of
March by Sir Henry Blrkly. The second and third
arrived on the 20th and 21st inst.:—
" SYDNEY, WEDNESDAY, 8 A.M.
" Mail Steamer with intelligence from the seat of
war to the 27th ult. Field movements are active,
and skirmishes frequent ; deaths few. The audacity
of the rebels appears to be boundless. They now
swarm everywhere, and perpetrate deeds of atrocity
almost without name. Since the recent arrival of
troops from England they have got into their heads
that the Maori war is now to be one of total exter-
mination of the native race. They begin to see
they are playing a hopeless game. Desperation has
seized their ranks. New Zealand's dark night roll-
ing fast away, bright morning at hand. Since the
25th Captain Mercer's artillery, with six Armstrong
guns and 250 rank and file, has arrived at Auck-
land ; also 150 men from depots at home to reinforce
the 12th and 40th. Immense supply of munitions
of war in general.

"SYDNEY, TUESDAY.
"The Victory with news from Nelson to the 11th
and Taranaki to the 12th inst., arrived during the
night. There was a'continued interchange of shots
with natives, but nothing fresh had been effected
except that the British line was gradually
strengthening and advancing. On the 4th three
of the 40th and one of the 65th had been badly
wounded. Only one of these is named—private
APAlellan, of the 40th, dangerously hurt in the
breast. The next day another of the 40th was
killed, and two were wounded, names not men-

tioned. Edward Messenger, Vc:lunteer Rifleman,
was shot dead on the 3d. On the afternoon of the
12th a flag of truce was hoisted by the enemy,
and General Pratt at once sent for the native
secretary. The nature of the proposed communi-
cation from the Maories was not known when the
Victory left. Three of the rifles used by the
troops had burst, one of them depriving Private
Fern, of the 65th, of three fingers.

" SYDNEY, WEDNESDAY.
"The New Zealand papers contain further de-
tails of the operations, showing nothing, but prov-
ing that, while the resistance of the Maories was as
determined as ever, the tactics of General Pratt
were successfully driving them in, and have the
approval of the army. Fresh reinforcements of
Waikatoes were expected by and by."
This is all the news I have. It is just possible
that the Sydney mail, with the New Zealand mail
for England, will bring in more to-day, in which
case I shall add it. lam at present without any
private intelligence.

General Cameron, appointed to the command in
New Zealand, arrived here by the mail ship
Northam on the 18th. He landed, but remained
only a few hours, and proceeded in the Northam
to Sydney, on his way to New Zealand. This ap-
pointment has taken by surprise those who take an
interest in the affairs of New Zealand. At least
a fortnight before General Cameron's departure the
Government must have been in possession of de-
spatches communicating the success of General
speeting the very judicious and well' conducted
, with the mast ample details re-
Pratt at Mahoetahi
attack upon and capture ofs the three pahs on the
All military rum is these /MO approve