GREAT ENGAGEMENT BEYOND THE GATE PA. SPLENDID VICTORY BY OUR TROOPS. June 21.

THE ENGAGEMENT AT TAURANGA.

Having just learnt that JOI. s.s. 'l J sk' is to leave for Auckland in a few minutes, I am enabled to send you a few scraps of information respecting the spirited engagement between our troops and the rebels, which took place today, about noon, at a position about four miles beyond the Gate Pa. The rebels had commenced the erection of a new pa, on a narrow neck of land having deep gullies on three sides, and on. the fourth side intercepting the road so frequently traversed of late by the Defence Force on expeditions. A force of 400 infantry and cavalry, with one 6-pounder gun, started this morning, at 8 o'clock, under Colonel Greer, for the purpose of dislodging them ; and nobly have they effected their object. The rebels were the first to assume the offensive — their out-sentrics firing upon the column as it advanced along the level plain. Skirmishers were thrown out, and the 6-pounder placed in position on a slight eminence, about 500 yards from the rifle-pits. The skirmishei'3 and rebels in the pits exchanged shots for some time, but without much injury on our side, the only two soldiers wounded being Private Patrick Crowlcy, 68th, shot m the eye, and Nathaniel Corey, 43rd, in the left leg. Lieutenant Palmer, A.D.C. to Colonel Greer, was hit in the neck by a spent ball, and knocked off his horse ; but the injury is fortunately reported to be slight, and later in the clay he was enabled to resume his duties. Reinforcements were sent for to To Papa, both infantry, guns, and mortars ; but before they arrived it had boon determined to charge the position, the gallant Colonel having been induced to give orders to that effect from the impatient demands of the 43rd and 68th Regts. to be permitted to storm the works. The bugles then sounded the advance, and with a tremendous cheer, making the hills re-echo again, the 43rd, 68th, and Waikato Militia, made a rush forward in admirable order, and with precision, to the several points of assault. The rebels in the pits then poured out a tremendous volley attho troops advancing, and from the dense mass of beings rushing forward it waß impossible for any spectator not to believe the whole would have been swept to the earth. Suspense, however, as to the fate of the assault was of but a few minutes' duration ; and as the smoke was carried away by the slight breeze then prevailing the soldiers were observed to have passed to the right corner of the position, and behind the rifle-pits and. parapets. Those advancing in front of the position were quickly in possession of the rifle-pits, and again the cheers went \ip to the heavens from those in occupation of the pa at} well as the supports and reserves who had watched from a distance the spirited encounter. The whole affair, from the bugles sounding the advance, to the pa being in our possession, only seemed to occupy a Tew seconds of time : and then the cry' arose to follow the retreating enemy, Tho Defenco Corps, which had been within a few hundred yards of the pa awaiting their time to arrive, then dashed forward and quickly came up with the poor wretches flying to the gullies, knowing that in crossing them they would bo more than a match for horsemen. The breech-loading carbine, however, told with effect upon the fugitives, and soldiers also coming forward in the pursuit, great slaughter must havo taken place. The Colonial Defence Force followed the rebels for a distance of about ten miles, and arc said to have rendered a good account of those they met by the way. The pa being in our possession, those soldiers not following in pursuit of the Maoris were directed to search for the bodies of those killed, wounded, or hiding in the gullies and swamps on the line of retreat, and a large number were picked up in this manner, who would otherwise have escaped during the night, or, if dead, remained thero without a proper burial. Tho dead rebels found were placed in three long lines near the pa, and by a friend who counted them I am informed there were 120. Tho. wounded and prisoners will number near upon thirty. Amongst the dead, the body of Hawiri is said to have oeen discovered. It will be remembered this chief had the direction of affairs at the Gate pa ; and another leading chief of this district said to be killed is Tiinoti. A very great number of arms thrown away by tho rebels have been recovered ; but how many of

the enomy were present on the first appearance of the troops cannot bo said. A great number of the rebels left the pa as the troops first came in sight, and it was thought the pa was generally deserted, until the discharge of a heavy volley at a body of skirmishers. It is impossible to state our loss correctly or even approximately. The dead and wounded are being carried in ; but until to-morrow a/list eannotbe obtained. Captains Trent nnd Casemont, 68th, are wounded ; and also Captains Smith and Bernards, 43rd. The privates killed are said to number about ten; number of wounded not known, though said to be few, comparatively to Maori loss. Whilst the engagement was going on, word was brought to tho Colonel that it was intended to make an attack upon To Papa, whilst a foint attack was mado at the pa which had fallen into our hands. The feint, however, was turned into a reality, and to bo prepared for all comers at To Papa the Naval Brigade came on shore, and all the troops remaining in camp wore placed under arms ready for an attack. The Maoris, however, never came. The last news brought in front is that tho number of Maori bodies collected, killed and wounded, has been counted at 204. I much regret that the short notice I have had of the departure of the ' Esk will not permit me giving any othor than a hurried account of such a victory. We have been kindly supplied by Dr. Mouatt with the following official return of killed and wounded at the engagement with the rebels at To Ranga —

43rd Regiment, Light Infantbt. kilced. Corporal J. Wheeler. Private Robert Johnston. Private "William Vialou. Private Joromiah. Maber. Private H. Wilkinson. Private T. Meagher.

■WOUNDED. Captain P. A. Smith, gunshot -wound loft thigh vory severely, and fingers left hand. Captain H. Berners, gunshot wound left thigh ; severe. Sergeant Cane, gunshot wound right chest} slight. Private Daniel Felton, gunshot wound right shoulder; severe. Private William Warner, gunshot wound loft log ; severe. Private John McGuire, gunshot wound loft chest ; dangerous. Private "Robert Longloy, gunshot wound nock ; slight. Private lleuben Long, r gunshot wound left thigh ; severe. Private George Martin, gunshot wound, right arm ; severe. Private John Payne, gunshot wound left arm ; severe. Private John M'Conliffe, gunshot wound right thigh ; severe. Privato Eobert Brown, gunshot wound, right shoulder ; severe. Privato John Drury, gunshot wound, left thigh ; very severe. Private Charles Morris, gunshot wound, left chest; slight. Privalo David Casey, gunshot, contusion right ancle ; slight.

GBth Regiment, killed, Private J. Taylor. Private P. Shanalian. Private J. Smuus.

WOUNDED. Captain IT. Trent, right arm; very severe. Captain T. Casement, chest ; severe. Lieutenant 11 . J. !R . V, Stuart, neck ; slightly . Ensign W. Palmer, neck ; shghtlj . Sergeant T. Stafford, thigh; severely. Sergeant H. Marschner, chest; slightly. Corporal J. Kearney, right arm and left leg,; slightly. Corporal L. JJeatlio, chest and right leg; dangerously. Private J. Derricott, left groin ; very severely. Private P. Crawley, face ; dangerously. Private J. Hainmill, right hand ; severely. Private IT. Wade, left thigh ; severely. Private P. McGregor, right foot, left leg; severely. Private J. Bramble, right hand ; severely. Private J . Purely, face ; dangerously. Private J. Sargent, right foot ; slightly. Private Abbott Thrift, right leg ; severely. Private J. Manion, right leg ; severely. Private G. Smith, lower jaw ; dangerously (since dead). Private J. Smith, left leg and head ; severely. Private S. Smith, spear wound, right groin; slightly. Private L. Manion, left side ; severely. Private E. Martin, abdomen; severely. Private S. Mullen, right thigh ; severely. Private D. G'uffcrey, right thigh, bayonet wound ; slightly. Amongst the Maoris killed are : Eawiri Tuaia, chief (before mentioned) ; Paihipi, chief of Whakatohea; Kaingarara, of Ngatimataku, Kotorua. Many of the killed were strangors. Among the wounded was Te Tera ; and amongst the prisoners, Ihaia Motuiti ; who are men of rank. Henare Taraton, the Maori who wrote the challenge to Colonel Greer, is amongst the killed. Neither Thompson nor Bewi were present, — so far as can be ascertained by questioning the prisoners. Our own casualties are as follows :—: — 43bd Light Infantry. Killed 4 rank and filo Wounded 2 captains „ 13 rank and file. GBth Light Infantby. Killed ... <li rank and file Wounded 2 captains „ 2 subalterns „ 2 sergeants „ 18 rank and file. Totals ... 9 killed 39 wounded. 48 The officers wounded are : — 43rd ... Captain F. A. Smith „ ... „ H. Bernards GBtli ... „ H". W. J. Trent „ ... „ T. Casement ... Liexit. H.J. I?. V.Stuart „ ... Ensign W.H.;F.Palmer. Some idea of the struggle may be formed from the fact that Private John Smith, of the GBth, drove his bayonet through a Maori, and while recovering his rifle and bayonet ho received two tomahawk wounds, one on each aide of tho head, and a gunshot wound in addition. There were two women in the fight, and they are amongst the prisoners at Tauranga.

The following despatch, with, its enclosures, from Lieutenant - General Sir Duncan A. Cameron, X.C.8., was published on Saturday, June 25, in a General Government Gazette : — Head-Quarters, Auckland, June 23, 1864 Sir, — I have great satisfaction in forwarding to your Excellency tho enclosed account of an engagement between the troops under command of Colonol Greer, 68th Kegiment, and tho rebels at Tauranga, in which the latter were defeated with great loss. Our own loss was small, considering tho number engaged, tho heavy fire to which thoy were exposed in advancing to the attack, and the resistance made by tbe enemy in their riflepits. This very successful action reflects the greatest credit, upon Colonol Greer and the troops under his command, who fought with the greatest gallantry. — I have, &c, D. A. Cambeon, Lieutenant-General. His Excellency Sir G. Grey, K.C.B.

Camp Te Papa, Tauranga,June 21, 1864. Sir, — I have the honour to report, for the information of the Lieutenant-Greneral Commanding, that I marched out of camp with a force as per margin* 1 , this morning at 8 a.m. I found a large force of Maoris (about 600) entrenching themselves about 4 miles beyond Pukohinahinn. They had made a single line of " rifle-pits of the usual form across the road, in a position exactly similar to Pukehinahina — the commencement of a formidable pa. Having driven in some skirmishers they had thrown out, I extended the 43rd and a portion of the 68th in their front and on the flanks as far as practicable, and kept up a sharp fire for about two hours, while I sent back for reinforcements as per margin.f As soon as they were sufficiently near to support, I sounded the advance, when the 4&rd, 68th, and Ist "Waikalo Militia charged, and carried tho rifle-pits in tho most dashing manner, under a tremendous fire, btit which was for the most part too high. For a few minutes the Maoris fought desperately, and thea were utterly routed. 68 were killed in the rifle-pits. The position was very favourable for their retreat, otherwise few could have escaped. The Defence • Force pursued them several miles, but could not get well at them, owing to the deep ravines with which the country is everywhere intersected. The infantry pursued as long as they could keep the Maoris in sight. All did their duty gallantly. Tho 43rd were under the command of Major Synge (whose horse was shot) ; the 68th under Major Shuttlewortk ; the Ist Waikato Militia under Captain Moore ; and they each led their men well. It is impossible for me in this hurried report to do justice. I will therefore have the pleasure, | in a supplement report, to bring those to your ' notice who more particularly distinguished themselves. I marched the men back to camp this morning. One hundred and seven Maoris were found and carried up to tho rifle pits, and we have brought in 27 wounded, all severely, and 10 prisoners. Many more must have been killed in the ravines, whom wo did not find. I enclose a return, which shows that a large number o£ chiefs have been killed, including Eawiri. J am happy to say our casualties have been comparatively small. I enclose a return of tho killed and wounded. I must not conclude Avithout remarking on the gallant stand made by the Maoris at the rifle-pits ; they stood the charge without flinching, and did not retire until forced out at the point of the bayonet. Tho name of the position which the Maoris occupied is "TcEanga." I have thought this of sufficient importance to request Captain Phillimore to take my report up in the ' Esk.' — I have, &c, 11. 11. Gbeer, Colonel Commanding Tauranga District. The Deputy Quarter-Masler-General, IleadQuarters.