Lieut. Lusk to Lieutenant-Colonel Chapman. Mauku Stockade, 24th October, 1863.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1965, 3 November 1863, Page 5

Lieut. Lusk to Lieutenant- Colonel Chapman. Mauku Stockade, 24th October, 1863.

g i;R) —I have the honor to report that I started yesterday morning, with a force as per margin,* to attack a body of the enemy •who were shooting cattle on Mr. "Wheeler's farm at the Ti-ti; an ad\ ance party of my force, under Lieutenant Perceival, got close up to the enemy's position under cover of the bush : when discos ercd, they were hotly pressed by the enemy, and retired Bkirmishjng in good order on the main body without loss. I then advanced, ha-\ ing been joined by Lieutenant Norman with eight men. 1 drove the enemy through a strip of fallen timber on to open ground beyond; but seeing that they wheeled round into the Btanding forest on my left flank, where they were largely reinforced, I deemed it prudent to retire. "While re-erosting tiie fallen timber, the enemy, numbering from two to three hundred, charged us from the bush on the left; and after about ten minutes very heavy firing at very short range (from ten to twenty yards), where both parties suffered severely, I being outflanked on both sides, retired into the forest on the right. The enemy did not venture to advance on us after we were under cover of the forest. J thpn re-formed my men, and retired leisurely on the Stockade. Our loss was 1 Lieutenant (Perceival), and 5 men killed; 1 man dangerously wounded; 1 Lieutenant (Norman), and 1 prhate missing. The enemy's loss I believed to be about 16 killed, and a large number wounded. Sergeant Ilill and Private John "Wheeler specially distinguished themselves by their determined gallantry under most trying circumstances I have, &c, $. 11. Lusk, Lieutenant Commanding Mauku Volunteers. N. 8.—1 omitted to nientipn that Mr. Nprman on the right, and Mr. Perceival on the centre, displayed great gallantly in endeavouring to stem the rush of the enemy, and fell fighting in front of their men. D. H. JjVbk. EIGHT nOTJBS I/ATER. "We have recovered the bodies. P. H. L. Lieutenant-Colonel Chapman, ' Commanding Drury.

* M»uku Volunteer*.—l Subaltern, 3 Sergeants, 1 Corporal, " No 0 Company, I»t Battalion, Waikato Militla.-l Subaltern, 1 Sergeant, 1 Corporal, 17 Privates. No. * Compwir Militia.-1 Subaltern, 1 Sergeant, 1 Corporal, 13 Private*,

Laughable Mistake. — A laughable incident occurred on Tuesday in BaUarat, which was promotive of a contidcrable amount of mirth m mining *nd sbarebroking circles. A few days ago a sharebroking firm in this town took up the Baylcsford Ami, and observing an ndverfasoment therein to thf following effect, -A Wombat for Pale cheap. l&ftnUed W their firm would give £65 for it. On Tuesday morning » person arrived per coach from Dayleiford, and having enquired for the office of M< J,rs. J. , wa s directed to the place. On entering the office the man laid a basket on the counter and exclaimed "I have brought you the wombat; he is-» fine large o?e.»o ?e .» The sharcbrokers were astounded, They bad imagined thaf; the adW/bisenVent had referW'ef X* «iafe for sale in the Wombat Gold-mining Cdmpany, and had telegraphed for it! purchMß .ccoSingly. An explanation en.ued but the person who brought the live wombat in■iited on the cpmpletion of the purchase, and could not be made to Mndewtnpd tbfl MBttlf J»Sf • M left IheiSffiw de6ranng"tUat'Wwdlfl(l .siiethefirtfl $oV 'h'A fare feofe Paylesford tb sal lamt, .and c|agrined'no doubt at the ludicrous mistake thath^d. W HWI«,— StW, S»pt,' S, A Labo* FJCB Wbm, Babned.— "Mr. Tliompi^, the tttrgeoh'toho recently performed an operation on the King of the Belgians, hat" tayi the Journal de BvvutfLtt, " received a fee of 100,000f. and the Crons of Commander of th« Order of Leopold."