(FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.) Ohinemutu, March 23.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3026, 8 April 1867, Page 5

(FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.) Ohinemutu, March 23.

A force of nearly 700 men, natives and Europeans, under Major St. John, inarched from this place againsb a Hauhau pa, garrisoned by about 60 Hauhaas. As this was done in broad daylight the Hauhaus at once ran into the bush, 3,000 rounds of ammunition being sent *fter them. After this brilliant feat of arms the army returned here in the evening. Three days after that, Major St. John returned to head-quarters and left Major McDonnell in command of 30 Europeans and the Arawss. On the27bh, a force of 180 Arawas and 30 Europeans marched from this place at 7 p.m. for the edge of the bush that surrounds Rotorua lake. After marching for ten or twelve miles, a village was surprised, but only one prisoner taken, and two Hauhaus severely wounded. The prisoner, however, gave valuable information to Major McDonnell, though perhaps not from a feel- j ing of loyalty. Upon that information the Major divided his force into three parts — the first, under Fox, to go round through the bush to the right; the second to form the centre ; the third, under the Major's own command, on his extreme leffc. The whole of this disposition proved a complete success ; thia' time the Hauhaus were really surprised. The centre advancing on the Hauhaus was mistaken by them for reinforcements expected from the Waikato j they allowed that force to come within 60 yards of them, when some volleys taught them, too late, their mistake ; they rushed to the left flank, and fell into Major McDonnells trap j thence desperately they rushed to the right, where Fox was in waiting for them. Strange to say, they only left nine dead on the field, but the roughness of the country perhaps prevented all the bodies being found j 14 guns and lot« of cartridge-boxes, full of ammunition, were picked up on the field. Major McDonnells force sustained no loss whatever. The whole affair occurred in a locality over which Major St. John had previously marched his force without seeing anything. The Arawas behaved with their usual bravery, and the Europeans did their work as behoves men of the Anglo-Saxon race. Thia affair only proveß how much better a small force can act in this country than unwieldy bodies of men. Of course, commanders like Major MoDonnell are required as the sine qua non of success.