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On this Page 6
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HAUHAUS.
[FItOM THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD, MARCH 19.]
By the arrival of the cutter Whitby oarly
yesterday morning wo have received intelli
gence from Opotiki. Tho Whitby sailed from
that place on the 11th instant for To Kaha.
The report which was circulated to tho effec^
that the militia had been struck off pay is in
correct. Every available man is under arms,
and expeditions are daily on foot. Tho intelli
gence from Opotiki is of a most startling cha
racter, and all the horrors and barbarities of
cannibalism appear to be revived in a form that
could have been little anticipated. We have
had many instances of the extent to which
this fanaticism has awakened all the
sovageness and brutality latent in tho
Maori natnre, and of the degree to which
it has excited feelings of tho taost cruel
animosity against tho white settlers ; but we
were little prepared for such a phaso as Hau
hauism has now again assumed. Wo learn
that a party of friendly natives have been for
some time past located in a pah situate on an
island on tho Ohiwha river, between Whnka
tane and Opotiki. The majority of the occu
pants of the pah were temporarily absont, leav
ing only two of their number in charge. In the
meantime, however, a strong band of Hauhaus
attacked the place and killed tho two friendly
natives. They then mutilated tho bodies in a
most barbarous manner and ate them ! The
Hauhaus havo avowed thoir intention of killing
and eating everything that comes within then?
reach.
Tauranga, March 22. — We learn from Opotiki
that the campaign is broken up for tho season.
The sufferings of the militia and others
engaged in tho lato expedition aro described
as being frightful. Starving, their clothes
torn off them, their bodies bleeding, they
wero in a poor condition to cope with tho
hardy Uriweras, who were, however, defeated
with the loss of their chief, who is described
aB wearing two feathers, as two pahs were
taken, the loss on our side being ono Arawa .
killed. A redoubt is, being built, which is to
be occupied by Arawas.
The following is from an extra published by
the Tauranga Record: — 'After a passage of
much hardship for many miles, during which
the commissariat was at a very low ebb, as
rations could not be sent after them o^ing to^tho
impracticable nature of the country, tho party
were obliged to slaughter two horses, which
they found excellent food. It was in this con
dition that the force catne in sight of a for
midable pah at ono of tbo bends of tho river.
The Arawas ruthed on without orders and took
the pah by stem, tho European force remaining
behind. The desertions from tho Europeans
numbered about thirty. The mounted con
stabulary wero veiy intractable, as many as
twelve out of the eighty being in the guard
room at oho timo through intoxicatien.'
A spectator of the skirmish Bays :— ? ' About
one o'clock on tho morning of the 10th March
wo held a council of war, and the- Arawas told
Major St. John that thoy would take the lead
next time. About three o'clock we started, and
two miles from the first pah we came uponPon
gakareau, another pah. They, began to fiio
from the top of the hill upon us, a very heavy
fire. When we got half-way, one of our people,
named Hohapa, was wounded. When the
Arawas flaw this man wounded, they were
very angry, and charged up the pah, which
they found to be deserted. They went .about
a quarter of a mile beyond, firing into the
bush, without seeing any more of the
Hauhaus. The Major then came up
and wanted us to go right on to Maunga
pohatu, the principal pah of the Unwera, said
to contain about four hundred men. me
Arawas did not like this, so tho chief ordered
them to come back. Just after we left tno
Hauhaus came on and fired at. tho militia, who
were about seventy or eighty, the Unweroa

;,„;„„ - war dance. After stopping there a
S^pnt twenty of na went down to hrm and
colled to him to come on. Ho said, I am jone
of Kereopa's men, and Kereopa is bringing
„„ the forces. Ho said he was frightened to
advance because we had got the war paint.
wl'u. 'Don't bo frightened, we belong to
the Uriwera.' But he knew wo belonged
o Arawa, fired at us, threw his gan
aWay and bolted. Wo followed him;
tHumpcd tho cliff clown to the river,
then we firea at him in the river and killed
him, brought him to tho camp, and our guide,
belonging to the Uriwera, told us he was
HoanT Koratanga, a great chief of the Uri
wera, belonging to Ruatahunga. So then we
hadawardanee in consequent of this man
that we had shot A'«ont five minutes after
Mai or St. John and tho constabulary camo np.
If the Arawas had their own way they would
soon clear out tho Uriwora. Let tho Europeans
lake one road, and us tako auothor, because
the Arawas cannot do anything with the
Europeans, for they have too much order, and
the Arawas do not liko that. And then tho
Arawas get vary little pay. The price ought
to be raised.'

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