The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-01 00:00:00

.~

THE LATE DISASTROUS FIGHT
IN NEW ZEALAND.
The following additional particulars of this melancholy
affair are taken from the Sydney Star of the Ist of August.
After publishing the dispatches from Colonel Despard,
which appeared in our Saturday's impression, the Star con-
tinues :
The names of the killed and wounded of the non-commis-
sioned officers as yet known are as follows :
The 58th Regiment.—Killed—Sergeants Halliday, Morrow,
and A. Wilson; Corporal William Stewart ; Privates Davis,
Claxton, Punchett, Goodrum, Fisher, Norton, Reynolds,
Payne, Sutton, Doherty, Leech, Molloy, and Anderson. Two
sergeants and 33 rank and file wounded.
The 99th Regiment.—Killed—Grenadiers Todd, Martin,
Moran, J. Hill, Watson, Pope, Macgrath, Maher, Noble,
Hughes, Eaton, Hicken, Mosely, Stocks, and Heath.
Wounded—Crane, Dowse, Edmonds, Farren, R. Hughes,
Spencer, Swan, M'Cormack, Thomas Marten, Bridges,
Crawley, Mark, Comiers, Duncan, Flynn, and Murray.
Ensign O'Reilly's wound is of a very severe nature, being
in the elbow, and if amputation is avoided, the power of
bending it is destroyed. Lieutenant Johnson had an exces-
sively narrow escape ; a ball struck the peak of his cap, the
edge of which caused it to glance off ; Major M'Pherson's
wound is in a fleshy part of the thigh, and it is rather
singular that Captain Grant had only a moment before
was shot struck off with his sword the head of a New Zea-
lander. His death occurred just as he was entering the
second palisade, and it is singular that before the action he
bad a presentiment that he would ho shot.
Now let us come to the dreadful commentaries that are to
be added to the Colonel's dispatch, which we take from an
Auckland paper.
The gallant leader of the brave grenadiers of the 58th Re-
giment, Captain Grant, was killed, and afterwards roasted and
eaten by the natives.
Another of the wounded, one of the 99th Regiment,
who fell into the natives' hands, was actually roasted alive,
his cries being distinctly heard in the camp. [This
horrible story is not confirmed in the original ac-
count, and is entirely at variance with the humane
character Heki has hitherto manifested.] Lieutenant Phil-
potts, of the Hazard, was killed in endeavouring to force the
inner works of the pah, and scalped by the natives ; his
body was, however, obtlined afterwards by Archdeacon
Williams, an eye-glass, and a small portion of his hair were
the only relics that could be found of him.
Lieutenant Beattie, who led the forlorn hope, had died of
the wounds he had received.
The chief Nopera, or Noble, of the Raranwa tribe, who
had joined the stanch ally of the British, Waka, had his
wife surprised and taken prisoner by some of Heki's party,
and then most barbarously murdered by them, and her body
cut in pieces.
By the 10th of the month, some guns and ammunition
having been got from her Majesty's ship Hazard, then, and
then only, it seems a hill was discovered which overlooked
the fortress ; and then, after so much blood had been spilt,
so many barbarities and atrocities at which the life-blood
curdles within us, was the cannon got to where it ought to
have been before a shot was fired and the pah taken. This
we gain from a private letter, dated the 10th, which states—
" On Wednesday (the day before yesterday) we found a way
of getting our large guns to the top of the hill, not far distant
from the pah, and fing down upon them into the deep holes
they had :made in the ground to shelter themselves, a num-
ber of them were olestrpyed, and in the night, which was
dark, they evacuated the place, and had gone away two hours
before we knew of it, and they were then too far off to follow
them in a country where there is nothing but continued wood,
and no roads."
The account further adds, that four pieces of cannon had
been taken, the contents, with some potatoes, of the pah, and
that Heki's colours have been secured; and a postscript,
dated the 14th, three day's before the Velocity's sailing, an-
nounces the troops having returned to Waimate, the mis-
sionary station, where they were tolerably housed and com-
fortable.
The accounts given of Heki were, that his forces had been
divided by a part proceeding to a pah twenty miles to the
southward, and which being situate on a mountain was
almost inaccessible, and was being fortified with every
possible strength. This was to be his place of retreat,
and rallying point for the disaffected natives, as well as
the traitorous Europeans who were supposed to have joined
his standard.
Since the foregoing was in type, the Herald, and other
sources, have put us in possession of other documents, and al-
though it appears that Colonel Despard did subsequently
give a description of the pah, his account was not written
until private communication had been dispatched ; and we
do not therefore see any reason to cancel the observations
we have already made respecting his remissness in commu-
nicating the particulars of this extraordinary fortification.
This tardy and late letter of the 12th is equivalent to no
communication at all, particularly when it is considered that
a full description of the pah had been given in a private letter
two days previous to the Colonel's dispatch, and suspicion
will arise that if somebody had not busied himself in the
matter what little account the Colonel commanding has
given would never have appeared in the Despard dispatchei,
documents which will be remembered when Wellington has
been forgotten, but not till then.
We give the letters in theorder they occur:—
"Camp before Heki's Pah, July 11.
" Sir,—ln my letter of this morning, four o'clock a.m., I
bad the honour to acquaint you that the pah was in our pos-
session, and that the enemy had retreated to fastnesses
amongst the hills, about ten miles distant, where it is, I be-
lieve, impossible to attempt to follow them.
"The enemy was unable to carry off his guns, and we have
taken three iron ones on ship carriages, and one more was
found disabled in the fortress.
" There is no doubt that it was the fear of another assault
being made after the renewal of offensive operations yester-
day that caused this retreat.
" In consequence of the alteration in the state of the affairs
here since my letter by the Velocity, I have taken upon my-
self to suspend the sailing of that vessel until your further
instructions are received.
" The quantity of provisions stored in the captured fortress
(potatoes) exceeds anything I could have formed an idea of.
" One report in camp is, that the principal part of the
enemy have dispersed in different directions ; but I have so
little opportunity of gaining correct information, that I
scarcely give credit to any.
" I shall proceed as rapidly as possible to pull down and
burn every part of the pah.—l have, &c.,
" H. DESPARD.

" To his Excellency Governor Fitzroy Auckland."
" Camp at Home, Heki's Pah, July 12.
" Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint you that the total
destruction of Heki's fortress was commenced yesterday,
and will be completed this evening, fire having been applied
in every part of the stockading, and all the woodwork burnt
down.
" The strength of this place has stkruc me with astonish-
ment, and I feel convinced that some European must have
had the direction of it.
" Independent of the double stockade, many of the timbers
of which were twelve inches broad, by four and six thick, and
sunk three feet in the ground, there was a ditch within the
inner stockade about five feet deep, and the same broad, which
was crossed by traversers at every five or six feet, with a
narrow communication between each that would admit
of only one man passing at a time. Deep holes were
sunk in various parts of the interior of the place,
and thick embankments of earth were thrown up around
them, and some of them were strongly stockaded besides
with heavy timber, which enabled the garrison to remain in
them, without being endangered from our shot ; and it was
only after the guns were raised to a considerable elevation,
on a hill about 350 yards distant, that we were enabled seri-
ously to molest them by a plunging fire, which entered those
underground habitations.
" I cannot venture to attempt following the enemy into
the interior, as the season of the year is so very unfavourable,
and there would scarcely be a possibility of my obtaining
supplies. I shall, therefore, break up from this camp on
Monday next, the 14th instant, and return to Waimate.
"The guns taken consisted of two iron 9-pounders, one
iron 4 •pounder, and one iron 2-pounder swivel.—l have, &c.
" H. DESPARD.

" To his Excellency Governor Fitzroy.
" P.S. As I had no means of carrying the captured guns
with me, I gave orders that they should be blown up."
Subsequently it appears a pah belonging to one of lleki's
adherents, situate at about six miles distance from the British
camp, had been evacuated on the approach of the troops.
The concluding portion of the letter shows the enemy we
have to contend with.

" Waimate, July 16.
"Sir,—l have the honour to acquaint your Excellency that
the pall belonging to Haratooe, about six miles from this
place, was totally destroyed by the troops under my corn-
maw! this morning.
" I marched hence before daylight with 200 rank and file,
two guns, and a proportion of the volunteer pioneers and ar-
tillcry men, and on our arriving near the pah the enemy
evacuated it and retired through a very thick wood, where
pursuit was out of the question. The enemy had set fire to
a bridge over a difficult river within half a mile of the place,
which we found burning.—T have, &c., "H. DESPARD.
" To his Excellency Governor Fitzroy, &c."
To this may be added, a private communication, giving
an account of two paps--

" Waimate, July 16.

" We had the opportunity afforded us of observing how
well-skilled these savages are in the science of defence; their
stronghold was a perfect warren—houses miler ground, a
triple row of stout fencing, strong enough to resist six-pound
shots, two of which were found sticking in one of them ; the
space between the fences deeply trenched, affording shelter
to the defenders, and also the means of firing low and with
correct aim.

"Another pah near this place was destroyed by the light
companies of both regiments, accompanied by forty of the
96th add the friendly natives. No lives were lost on either
aide; a house fell into our hands, and an old woman, and
abundance of potatoes."
The late accounts also give an account of the manner in
which Heki received the wound that prevented his being
present at the late battle. It seems that a few days previous
to the arrival of the troops at Koororarika, Heki made a
sudden attack on the, tribe of the friendly chief Wake, in
which be was completely vanquished; his general and some
of the troops being killed, and he narrowly escaped being
takeu_prisoner himself. It is gratifying to add, that the pre-
vious account given of the remains of Captain Grant being
burnt, is totally incorrect, as they were subsequently found,
and uninutilated.
We may expect further intelligence of the state of the war
by an early arrival, and we earnestly hope that the Execu-
tive will by this time be convinced that the day for half
measures has passed; and that a force commensurate with
the claims and exigencies of the service must be forthwith
raised and draughted into the unfortunate colony. Until an
adequate number of troops, well equipped and duly appointed
with the ministers of war, shall be brought in contact with
the insurgents, there can be no hope of effectually quelling
them. Our country can never endure the disgrace of being
foiled by rebellious barbarians; the islanders must be re-
duced into submission, and with as little delay as the neces-
sary arrangements will admit of. In this colony a force com-
petent to as-aire to us a successful termination of the cam-
paign might be raisedin anesalcietendilinitgalryyschoonrytiteitms
we
abrey afoprtrioj.
clatnati‘,li of indulgences; if
with pardoned and and draughted into the regiments, and all
pri ;offers enlisting be assured of a ticket of leave, all tickets
of leave of a conditional pardon, and all others promised the
Governor's intercession for a freee paitomindi
nianeumateerioy, usan
and
effective battalion might be raised almost
with-
out the expense of one shilling of bounty-money; and there
are now many young gentlemen of ge.od family who would
gladly volunteer their services on receiving subordinate com-
missions in the colonial service.
The only hope we have at
present is in the operation)] of
the two friendly native chiefs Waka and Nopera, the seizure
of the evacuated pah tells nothing in favour of the com-
mander of the forces, but rather evinces the military skill of
the islanders, who show a disposition to profit by experience,
which it is most desirable that the British commander would
imitate; but from him we expect nothing which would be
creditable to a veteran soldier ; his measures have shown him
to be ignorant
the common tactics of the field, deficient in
every advantigoirbith
.experience bestows, and wholly de-
stitute of the roilitary genius .-which might tend to supply
the want of these_cpadifications.
It is said that ColonelDespard. does not intend any imme-
diate-attack against Held:. The measures that have been
taken in the colony are. that-gettiof the 58th Regiment are
to proceed to New Zealand, fer:vihich purpose the detach-
ments at MoretonßAy t t l Bathurst are called into head-

quarters at Parramatta, whence, with a number of the
military stationed there, they will be forwarded at the
earliest opportunity, and a strong report prevails that his
Excellency Sir Maurice O'Connell will accompany them for
the purpose of taking command of the forces there. L'eut.-
Colonel Jackson, in command of the 99th Regiment, at
Sydney, issued an order on Monday for the officers to wear
mourning from the 25th to the 16th of August, for their
brave and gallant brother officer, Lieutenant Beattie.

THE BORNEO PIRATES.
The pirates, who have for so long found shelter on the
coast of Borneo, have for a long time done great damage
to the trade, not only of this country, but of Europe
generally. Although repeatedly attacked, they have
never been thoroughly exterminated, and it is now the
wish of the Government of this country to have posses-
sion of an island which will be a point from whence these
marauders can be kept at bay, and form at the same time
a haven for our ships frequenting that coast. In order
to secure the possession of the island ceded by the Sultan,
an attack was rendered necessary, and accomplished in
the following gallant manner :
" During his stay on the coast of Borneo the Admi-
ral has been very active. After visiting Sarawak, on his
arrival at Borneo, his Excellency and fleet proceeded to
Borneo Proper, where he anchored, and went up the
town with the steamers Pluto, Vixen, and Nemesis,
and a body of marines. The surrender of the Pan-
geran Usof was demanded from the Sultan on account
of his having detained a British subject in slavery.
The Sultan said he had no power to compel his sur-
render, though he was ready to give every assistance.
Usof refused to give himself up, and commenced
snaking defensive preparations. The steamers took up
positions, and the Vixen fired a shot over his dwelling-
house, to which he replied by firing at her. The
steamers then opened their fire, and in ten minutes his
house was completely riddled, on which he and his
followers made a precipitate retreat into the jungle,
and the house was taken possession of. About twenty
brass guns were seized, two of which were retained
by the Admiral, to be sold for the benefit of two
men who had been kept in slavery by Usof, and the
rest were presented to the Sultan. The populace then
plundered the house in a very effectual manner. After
the Admiral's departure, Usof, assisted by the Ka-
dayans, or country people, made an attempt to re-es-
blish himself in the capital, and seized upon a com-
manding position near the town ; he was, however,
met by the Pangeran Badreddeen, who defeated him
in an action, and a second time compelled him to
flight. The victors followed up their advantage by
pursuing him up the river, where they captured
his whole establishment, wives, children, slaves, and
treasure, Usof himself only escaping down the river
with five or six followers. Orders were, however, sent
by the Sultan along the coast, warning the rajas and
people from giving him shelter, and when the fleet
visited Borneo on its return, an expedition was being
fitted out by the Sultan to pursue him, so that his evil
influence may be looked upon as at an end, and his days
numbered.

" The fleet from Borneo proceeded to Labuan, where the
steamers wooded, and the Admiral with all his force then
went to Melluda Bay, where the large men-of-war an-
chored, and the brigs, steamers, and gun-boats, with the
marines, ran up the bay. On the 18th the force anchored
off Sheriff Osman's river; on the same afternoon twenty-
four boats, containing in all 550 men, seamen, and ma-
rines inclusive, under the command of Captain Talbot,
proceeded to the mouth of the river, where they an-
chored for the night. The next morning they pro-
ceeded up the river, and came on the pirate's position
about nine o'clock. It was found to consist of three
forts, of which two mounted eleven heavy ship's
guns, and was, moreover, protected by a most for-
midable boom, bound round with ships' cables, so
that, altogether, the preparations and means of
defence were of a most complete and deadly nature.
After a short parley, which produced no result, the at-
tack was commenced; but so perfect were the defences,
and determined the opposition of the enemy, that it was
fully fifty-three minutes before a passage could be
forced through the boom. As soon as the pirates saw
the British boats coming through the opening, they
fled in all directions, but with heavy punishment.
The forts and town were destroyed and the guns
brought away, and an immense quantity of property of
all sorts was burned. The loss on the side of the,
British force was six killed and fifteen wounded, two
mortally. Mr. Gibbard, mate of the Wolverine, a
young officer of great promise, was the only officer killed.
The loss of the enemy was very severe, many leading
men being killed. It was reported, from a source
worthy of credit, that Sheriff Osman had received a
severe wound, which may, perhaps, rid the coast of a
daring and too successful chief. Several Sheriffs and
Pangerans from Saluk and Llanoon were found among
the slain. These latter pirates are said to have fought
with great courage.
" Amongst the spoil which was taken possession of
was the bell of the Bremen vessel, Wilhelm Ludwig,
wrecked some years ago on the coast of Borneo, with
the cables, boats, and furniture of more than one Euro-
pean vessel.
"Too much credit cannot be awarded to the Admiral
for the vigour of his proceedings on the coast of Borneo,
which have struck terror into the hearts of the boldest
pirates ; and if the course be only persevered in of an
expedition paying a visit to Borneo every now
and then, inflicting chastisement where merited, we
may hope to see piracy effectually crushed on
that coast, and that fine island—brought into fre-
quent communion with the rest of the world by means
of the British settlements upon it, and the steamers
which will ere long pay periodical visits to her shores—
become as well known for peaceful qualities and her
thousand now almost neglected sources of commerce, as
she has heretofore been for her piratical and lawless deni-
zens, the terror and scourge of the peaceful navigator."—
Singapore Free Pass.