Year: 1869

Romans win the Rebel MaOris-Cenerai


Indignation of the Coionisis mt the Neglect


of the Home GOvernment-Intrigues Of
King TawLiao-Anairs ut the Front.


WELLINGTON March 2s, 1862
The hopes which last month the colonlsts gene
rally entertained that the war was finally ended and
the rebellion stamped out have been cruelty dash ed
to the ground Affairs now are in worse condi
ton than ever and the prospects OF the unfortunate
colonists OF the Middle Island are more wretched
and Hopeless than at almost any previous period IN
the history OF New Zealand.


Te Koot, the leader OF the Hauhaus. on the west
coast is not dead, reported and Is again gather
ing together his followers for vigorous renewal OF
the conflict He was certainly severely wounded at
the taking OF Ngatepa but mas since recovered COM
pletely. There Is still, however some doubt as to
whether the present leader OF the Eastern rebels is
really Te Koo, or only his successor to the chief
tainshp. But whoever he may be he seems likely to
give great deal Of trouble and anxiety TO the colo
NAL government He is reported to have already
mustered between 250 and 300 men, and is therefore
quite strong enough to do great deal OF mischief
General alarm is felt all along the coast lest there
should be repetition OF the horrors OF Poverty Bay.
The last report Is that Te Koot Is constructing
redoubt at Maralt, that he has been reinforced by
large number OF the Urveras, and that the women
and children have been sent away TO the care OF
some friendly tribes in the Interior.


On the West Coast affairs are yet more
gloomy and discouraging. Another horrible massa-
ere OF settlers has taken place. cowardy, brutal
and revolving as that which occurred few months
ago the East Coast though, fortunately, the vic
tins are fewer in number. The scene OF the present
tragedy is White Cliffs a small settlement In the
Taranaki district only some twelve or fourteen miles
from the town OF Taranaki Through the friendly
natives full particulars or the manner In which the
murders were committed have been received.
party Of the Maoris headed by a chief named Te
weteri, who has hitherto been regarded as neutral
in the war; came to the cliffs in broad
daylight. Only two Of the Europeans were at the
blockhouse and as they suspected no unfriendy
design on the part Of their visitors they were
easily induced to go down to the beach anc look at
some pigs which the Maoris stated they had brought
for sale. Both of the unfortunate men were toma-
hawked and killed. Shortly afterwards Lieutenant
Gascoigne his wife and children, who had been
working in their field OF corn and potatoes came up
to the redOubt. The Maors met the lieutenant with
great cordaty, and they all shook hands with him,
but as he was raising his hand to open his door he
was struck from behind with tomahawk and killed.
Mrs. Gascogne and her three children were de-
spatched In the same manner. The remaining VIC
tim, the Rev. j. Whiteley Wesleyan missionary,
was met he was approaching the settlement and





refusing to 10 this he was shot dead, five
bullets having been subsequently found in his Dody
The work OF murder having been accomplished
Weteri and his followers burned the bockhouse and
the redoubt and retired TO the interior. The follow
ing day settler named Mcdonald passed the scene
of the massacre and rode into TaranakI and gave
information TO the authorities. party was at
sent out to collect the bodies, the usual inquest
was held ana the usual verdict returned on tue
day Of the funeral all the banks and stores of Tara
nakt were closed and the settlers turned out en-
7aaSse as mourners. monument is to be erected,
by subscription In memory OF the unfortunate set
tiers


ance OF the rebels 70 Xii him Is easily
accounted for. This gentleman has labored as
a missionary in New Zealand ever since the
year 1888, long before the first settlement OF
whites was established His name stands out very
consplcuously in the early history OF the Maori mis-
sion, and apart from his efforts TO convert the
natives he did great deal OF good in endeavoring
to teach them the arts OF peace. lie was sixteen
years at Kawhia and while there acquired such in
one occasion to induce them iberate the Tarana-
Kis whom they mad captured In war and retained as
slaves, In the native wars ana IeudS & ne was ire ire,
!me The confidence 0f the natives u the Integrity Of
was generally believed that the natives
on the west side OF the island had dispersed
and were making their way in small parties
TO the interior. jos belle! was largely based on The
supposed capture OF Tito Kowarn. But II now turns
out that the Tito Kowaru In the hands OF the colonial
government is spuriou; Imitation OF that lnplaca-
Die rebel, who is still at the head OF q considerable
body or men, although Of course his losses at
Ngata-o-te Manu- and Nukumaru have seriously
weakened his power Tor mischief. The suppOsltion
that the enemy had at any rate gone far beyond the
Watotala river soon proved to be unfounded. A
the night OF the Maoris ventured TO cross the
TO peach orchard belonging TO refugee settler for
some fruit. They had scarcely moored their canoe
when they were fired upon by a Maori ambu5cade,
and only three OF them escaped by swimming back
TO the Karaka side Of the river.


Colonel Whitmorc, having completed HIS prepara-
t6Ds at length left Wereroa where he had encamped
after the taking OF Nukumaru and made road
through the bush TO Waroa. His advance was
necessarily extremely slow, and for some days he
was unable 70 learn the direction which the rebel
Maoris had taken. On the 10th OF March, however,
escort of nity conveying stores and ratlons
from Patea 10 Walroa, were attacked by a party OF
100 to rebels on the Patea side of the WhenuaEuru
river. The drays were crossing the river when they
were iired upon by an aInbuscade. The escort drew
up the remaining wagons aud took shelter behind
them, Here they remained IN state OF siege for q
couple OF days when they were relieved by another
force under Colonel st. John coming to the rescue.


the position Of the enemy was now OF course
known and 10 the general surprise OF the forces IL
was found that Tito Kowaru, Instead OF retreatlng
into the interior, had taken up ms position at the
and the coast. The pa was found to have been for
tided with the usual engineering skill OF the Maorls
and was as difficult 20 approach as to storm on
the 18th March, Colonel Whtmore organized his
attacking force, and while he himself moved on with
the main body he sent Colonel 81. John and
column Of men across the Patea river, so a. to in
tercept the rebels il they were driven out OF the pa
The details OF the attack have not yet come TO hand
but we have news to the effect that Colonei
Whtmore successfully surprised the rebels
under cover of o slight fog at early dawn
drove them out OF the pa into the masked fire OF
tue ambuscade force under the command OF Colonel
st. John. IL Is also known that the greater number
OF the rebels succeeded In getting away tOlcraby
good order and that their losses were not great
might have been anticipated.


Both on the east and west coast, therefore, there
IL organized army OF rebels, led by trusted and
desperate leaders. and capable Ol any atrocities.
THIS would be state OF things bad enough 70 make
us anxious ana despondent but the latest Is
or a very much worse tenor than thus In n former
letter gave an account OF the aims aud policy OF
King Tawhiao. who. although he IL pOwcrlcs3 to
stop few OF the tribes from making war could with
ease by few words raise the present
rebellion 20 the Importance OF great
struggle The terms upon which he IA willing
TO remain "a at present-ncutral-have been
already announced, and they are nothing short OF
recognition by the Pakena (Europeanl government
OF his absolute sovereignty In the INTERIOR and a
complete isolation of his subjects from the whites
III these granted he Will use his influence 10 quel
ho and will refuse nSVlum i'm hia