The New York herald., 1869-04-14
NEW ZEALAND.

Dccisivc tictOry OF tuc COtOufRi Forces on NV
West Coast--A Hundred and TWENTY Rebei
Killed and n Hundred Taken Prisoners
Te Kood TuxitIvc-rhc Sitnntion on the
East Coast-Tits Kowarn ssim Sfenaciai
Wanaanni-Depnrturc Of voiuntcers Tor Tim
Front-(:eneral News of the Coiony-lIaor
Witchcraft.
wELLrNqroN, Fcb. Q, 1859.
The darkest hour ~ night preccdcs the dawn, il
New Zealand wen as In other parts OF the world
The horrors OF the Poverty Bay massacre, the desc
lation OF the interior settlements the periIous con
dition OF Wanganu and the gathering power of th,
rebels-menacing as they did the very existence o
the whites the North Islaadhad least the goot
effect OF rousing the government to vigorous ant
energetic action, which has already produced ii
natural result in deatholow 10 the reballion the
East coast.
AT last accounts IL viii be remembered, tho
friendly natives, after an unsuccessful attempt tt
capture Te Kooti's stronghold OF Ngatipa were re
turning home and had refused TO take any active
part in the campaign until they hal enjoyed few
weeks rest and amusement with their families. They
were, however luckily mes in time by 'Coone
whitmore with mixed force Of whites and friendly
natives and the persuasions and promises OF that
gentleman induced them TO join with him IN making
another attack upon Ngatipa. Altogether the colo
nal forces now numbered between o thousand and
fifteen hundred men.
Colonel whilmore reached Ngatipa before TIE Rooti
had lett it, and at proceeded to invest this well
nigh impregnable pa Ngarpa is one OF the strong
est pas the North Island. 1t Is formed at the
nit OF conical NIL. Which constitutes the termina-
ton OF a small ridge some seven miles IN length II
is inaccessible except in front and rear; two OF Its
sides are simply walls OF perpendicular rock. Even
the sides, available FOR ascent, the vegetation Is
so dense and the ground SO broken that none but
natives OF experienced bushmen can make their way
to the top. For supplies OF food the Haunaus were
OF course dependent entirely on Their stores, and
these, fortunately, were TOO scanty to last them
through even q months siege. They had also to
descend about forty feet below the works OF :he pa
to procure water, and this OF course, was another
weak point in the defensive strengtl OF the rebels
To guard however, against their supplies of water
being cut of the HauhaUs constructed zlgzag and
other rifle pits with underground covered galleries.
leading from and into the pa.
Having disposed his forces In such manner that
the escape OF the Hauhaus was apparently mpossl
bic. Colonel Whltmore proceeded 10 gradually work
his way to the pa, cutting and burning the under,
lively sSirmishes with the Troops but more evidently
for the sake of reconnoifring the strength oi the
colonial forces than from any intention OF
forcing q general engagement. Even In
the most serious OF these affairs only about fifteen
OF the assaiants were Killed with an equal loss 70
gressIng and, after nearly three weeks woik, the
Arawa division prIendy natlves) carried the outer
trenches and approached 10 within flty yards OF
the main works. Alter all this trouble, however.
the chagrin OF the colonial forces may welt be
imagined when they discovered that, spite OF all
their Efforts. large numDer or rebels had left the
fortress, descending the clirfs atnsht BY means OF
fax ropes and making good their escape under
cover OF the darkness TO the plaius. From some
prisoners whom they succeeded In capturing they
learned that only some 300mcn were lett remaining IN
the stronghold but Ic kOou felt confident that this
quite large enough number to deIend the place,
and was determined to make Stubborn light. The
defenders, however. were suffering greatly for want
OF foods their supplies had been exhausted and they
were reduced 10 sustain lie OH fern roots and
caves. They had great difficulty also in getting
AT length, on the 9Th OF January. affairs grew SO
desperate inside the pa that Kooti determined 10
make an effort to escape. He therefore shot the
few prisoners he had taken in his occasional sallies
and at midnight the women and children were low
cred down the Cliff and the men fohowedrIe koou.
still lame from the wound he received at Ruaka-
ture. beng reported so have descended last.
couple Of hours, and effected with 50 little noise
that the entire body OF the auhau5 mad broken into
the bush, separating themselves INTO smaii parties
excited slight noise having been heard, how
ever. voley was fired towards the spot IRON
whence 1t came, and storming party was sent up
to see whether the pa still deiended. They met
win resistance, OF course, and the pa was iound
AS soon as It was clear that the Hauhaus had,
after all the precautions OF tic colonial forces, given
them the slip. the friendly natives were ordered to
chase was continued all through the day, until
dark. and owing to the enieeDied condition or the
rebels very few OF them succeeded In getting clear
away. No quarter was given In the earner stages
OF the pursuit, and about 120 Maors were killed.
Laier IN the day Offers OF surrender were accepted
and 100 prisoners were brought into camp. Te hoot,
however succeeded IN escaping, and he Is reported
to be accompanied by q band Of some nfsy men.
Many OF the prisoners. especially the women and
children, were droadiuliy emaclated-mere sam aud
bone.
..ipro of iuul al
immense ADVANTAGE.
THIS glorious victory practically winds up the war
on the west coast. Even If te koOtl should succeed
in escaping and parties are out following him up i0
the present tIme) and ral.ying once more the men
whom he ha,i previously sem away from Ngatipa.
he mas now lost ali his supplies OF ammunition and
he has no means OF procuring more. Besides, the
Maori mind is by no means equal TO disaster; 30
long as victory crowns their arms they are brave
and reliable FOLLOW rs, but single reverse encctu-
ally dlshelrtens and cows them. No fears are any
longer enterai ained Of the progress OF the rebellion
ton OF the government and the troops may now be
turned TO ;hat other arcn-rebc Tito Kowdru, aud
the insurgents on the east coast.
THE WAR on THE EAST COAST.
Ibe situation on the east coast practically remains
the same asiast month, but there is vast impToye
ment In tie prospects Of -, colonial forces. Tito
Rowaru Is still menacing wanganni, but. II our
spies uiay be believed great maDy OF the Kings
tfawhia9l subjects who are temporarily serving
under his banner are unwilling To cooperate with
nam In anything bat the desultogy warfare which has
hitherto marked the contest on ti,ls side
Ing homcsteais and barassIng settlers, but todrive
out tue whites. though possible, is In their opinion
neither q profitable nor hopeful project. VINO
would they rob " there were no Europeans on the
slandY wherein onld they get Their powder and shotf
Besides, 1t rs now csfsan thlt tiey acting SIM
pig as the instruments OF the King pOicy, aDd that
althou0n they ars now noninaiy io5eying nis or.
ders In AIDING Lto Kowaru IN his i1sIrrscl1n they
ale supply fulfilling hls secret DISTINCTIONS. Ihe
ing tIawhiaol desires 70 impres5 upon the Eng.
lis mind the iact that: however inslgnidcant
ma, be his present power, yet sui he has minence
enough TO turn the scae IN war such az tne pres
en-. Hs aim IS TO have has aim to absolute
ereignty In the interior formally recognized by the
government, and IL only that he granted lie will
punisn any OF bi3 subjects who take M arms with
the rebels. simultaneously two large native meet
mrs OF the Kings subjects have been held. TO one
the King sent a circular embracing the follow
inR points, srnat the sword was to bc sheatnod;
that leases were 10 be granted 10 Enropeans that
all purchases and sales bctween the two races were