WAR IN NEW ZEALAND,

From 1845 to 1847.

The subject of the war in New Zealand is so painful that we would have avoided touching on it could we have done so with propriety. It is painful, because it was unnecessary; because our opponents are now living in amity with us, improving in civilization, and fellow-subjects of our gracious Sovereign; and also because many gallant officers and men fell during its continuance. Yet, as the naval service was employed, we cannot omit it altogether. New Zealand is divided into two large islands, with a small one to the south. The northern island is extensively populated with a warlike, intelligent, yet hitherto savage race. The country is very mountainous, thickly wooded, with many rapid rivers, and the coast is broken with deep indentations. The temperature of the air, though hot in summer, is bracing at other times of the year. A number of British subjects having settled there, whalers and others, with a few missionaries, and some having purchased land from the natives, Captain Hobson, R.N., was sent out first with the title of consul, and afterwards with that of governor, when, in 1840, the islands were taken possession of by the English Government. He concluded a treaty with 512 chiefs, natives of the Bay of Islands, and others, at Waitangi, by which the sovereignty of the islands was ceded to Queen Victoria. He, dying, was succeeded by Captain FitzRoy. The military force in the island consisted of a company or so of infantry, to keep in order a lawless white population, and some 50,000 proud, sanguinary, and suspicious natives, well armed, and conscious of their strength. The immediate causes of the war were disputes about land claims. As the value of lands rose, tribes, who had sold large tracts for a few blankets and muskets to greedy white speculators, were anxious to regain them.

In the northern part of the island existed a cunning and bold warrior, called Heki, who had once been a servant at the missionary station at Pahia; but though a Christian in name, the spirit of the gospel had never entered into his heart. Having married the daughter of a celebrated chief, called Hongi, he became a chief himself. After maltreating the settlers in his neighbourhood, he took it into his head to cut down the flag-staff at Russel, known by the native name of Kororarika. A small force, accompanied by Governor FitzRoy in person, on board H.M.S. 'Hazard,' warned the better-disposed natives not again to commit a similar outrage.

However, Heki was not to be deterred by fear from mischief; and on the 10th of March he again attacked and took Kororarika by surprise. Fortified blockhouses and entrenchments were bravely defended for some time by a small body of military stationed there, and by the officers and crew of H.M.S. 'Hazard.' She lost six men killed and eight wounded. Captain Robertson was so much hurt that his life was despaired of. The detachment of the 96th lost four men killed and five wounded. The place was then for a time abandoned.

This unexpected success of Heki emboldened him to undertake further warlike proceedings, and to threaten even Auckland itself. Just then H.M.S. 'North Star,' Captain Sir Everard Home, arrived on the station. An attack on Heki, in his own pah, was resolved on; and accordingly all the force which could be mustered was marched against him, consisting of the small-armed seamen, marines, and military, in all about 400 men. The pah was found to be of such immense strength, that it seemed impossible to capture it without guns, and those the attacking party had not. However, as Lieut. Egerton, of H.M.S. 'North Star,' had under him a rocket-party, he took up a position from whence rockets could be thrown, and fired 12 into the fort; but as the roofs of the huts were covered with flax-leaf, they did not catch fire. A sortie was then made by Kawiti, a brother chieftain of Heki's, to attack the flank of the British, and many on both sides lost their lives. The attack being repulsed, the British force was withdrawn, as the fort was found perfectly impregnable without a battering-train. Fresh troops arriving in New Zealand, a second attack was resolved on, under the command of Colonel Despard.

Owing to bad weather, the force did not begin to march till the 23rd of June. A battery of four guns (6-pounders) was then opened, but did little execution. On the 30th of June the seamen of H.M.S. 'Hazard' brought up from their ship a 32-lb. gun a distance of 15 miles, and soon had it posted on a hill near the pah. The next day it was opened with considerable effect; but yet no breach was made. The enemy on this made a sortie, but were repulsed; and then the colonel ordered an assault. The troops and seamen rushed in, led by their officers with their accustomed bravery; but it was impossible to get through the stockades, Numbers fell in the vain attempt. Of the officers, the gallant Lieut. Philpotts of H.M.S. 'Hazard,' Captain Grant of the 56th Regiment, and Lieut. Beattie were killed, and many other officers and men were wounded. Preparations were accordingly made to retire, when, on the morning of the 10th, it was found that Heki and his followers had evacuated the pah, and retired into the woods.

Directly after this old Kawiti commenced the formation of a pah of greater strength than any yet known, which he called Kua-peka-peka, or the Bat's-nest. Its site was selected with great care on the ridge of a hill, of which it occupied the whole breadth, the ground falling perpendicularly from its two sides. Originally it had been a rectangular parallelogram, 130 yards long by 100 yards wide; but under the direction of one who evidently knew his business, it soon assumed the character of a regular fortress. A large ravelin was thrown out on the east, and bastions formed on the north and south. The angles on the western face were protected by bastions of smaller size. The outer fortifications consisted of a palisade, formed of trees from 15 to 18 feet high, and from 14 inches to 3 feet in diameter, bound together with withes, a tree at intervals rising slightly above the ground, so as to form a loop-hole for those within. Across these upright timbers ran two horizontal beams, one 3 feet and the other 9 feet from the ground. They were lashed to each limb of the stockade, and gave strength and continuity to the whole. Further back, and at the distance of 3 feet, was another palisade, of the same character. Beyond this was a ditch, which answered, when the heavy guns began to play, as a covered way for the besieged. The earth had been thrown up on the inside, and, in addition to the other defences, formed a rampart 8 feet high. Within, the huts were placed irregularly, many of them being also surrounded with palisades, but nearly all were undermined. Over the pit dug below were laid two layers of trees, and these were carefully covered with earth. Upon this substratum was placed the floor of the hut, so that the inhabitants had, in case of necessity, a bomb-proof retreat. There were two guns at the pah, a 12-pounder and a 3-pounder. Several wells had been dug inside, and one within 10 yards of the outer defences. The place was scantily supplied with potatoes and fern-root. Altogether, standing on the verge of a precipitous ravine, amid forest and mountain, where nature assumed her wildest aspect, with its bastions and sallyports, and the constant coming and going of its rude soldiery, the scene presented was worthy the pencil of Salvator Rosa.

When Kawiti's proceedings were known, the commandant, with a superior force to any yet employed, advanced from Kororarika to attack the fort. He had with him detachments of the 58th and 99th Regiments, amounting to 27 officers and 750 men; of marines, 3 officers and 79 men; and of small-armed seamen, 10 officers and 211 seamen, besides artillery officers and men, and two 32-pounders and other guns.

After a long march, and considerable difficulty in getting up the guns, the place was regularly approached by trenches. While they were in progress, small parties of Maories might be seen daily going out to reconnoitre. Plunging singly into the forest, they glided from tree to tree with noiseless steps, carefully peeping round the stems before they moved forward, and listening with bent head to every sound. Skirmishes would occasionally take place, and be carried on with great vivacity for about an hour. The advanced batteries of the British being completed, notice was brought that some of the Christian natives were performing the church service at the rear of the fort. This was on the 11th of January 1846. The assault was instantly ordered; and, with comparatively small loss of life, the place was taken. The naval branch of the service lost 9 men killed and 1 midshipman, and 17 men wounded. Old Kawiti made his escape, and was received afterwards on board H.M.S. 'Driver,' when he gave in his allegiance to the Queen of England.

During the storming of the pah, one of the 'Castor's' sailors, named Sargeant, climbed to the top of the stockade, and commenced loading away and firing at every one of the enemy that he could see; and when ordered by Colonel Wynyard to come down, he coolly replied, "Oh, no, your honour; here's the place to see 'em. Come up here!" It was afterwards found that his cap had been shot off, his coat shot through in four places, and the palisade on which he sat was riddled through and through; but the man himself was never touched.

The northern part of the island being quieted, the Governor was able to turn his attention to the south, where two powerful chiefs, Te Rauperaha and Rangehaieta, were committing havoc in every direction. After some fighting, a combined naval and military force was put on board H.M.S. 'Driver,' for the purpose of attacking the rebels as she moved down the coast, and taking the veteran chief in his lair. The latter object was at length accomplished. On the 23rd July, 1846, Major Lurt, of the 29th, with Captain Stanley, of H.M.S. 'Calliope,' and a party of about 130 seamen and marines, landed before daylight, with such perfection and order, that the stockade of Taupo was surrounded and entered before the inmates caught the alarm. A party of seamen seized the chief, Te Rauperaha in his bed, and in spite of all opposition, carried him off to the 'Calliope' without any casualty.

Rangihaieta was soon afterwards attacked in his stronghold; but, driven from it, he retreated from post to post, closely followed by the British force, and watched by the 'Calliope' whenever he approached the coast. After this he remained quiet, and never again appeared in arms. Several chiefs in the Wanganui district, however, were still disposed to try the fortune of war, and several skirmishes with them took place; but as, however, the British military and naval forces were now rapidly increasing, the elder chieftains began to perceive that the war was a losing game with them. Accordingly they were glad to accept of peace, and by the consummate tact of Sir George Grey, they have all since given in their allegiance to the British Government.