LATEST FROM PATEA. RUMOURED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE REBELS. Patea, August 3.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3457, 14 August 1868, Page 3

LATEST FROM PATEA. RUMOURED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE REBELS. Patea, August 3.

Immediately on the receipt of intelligence here of the attack upon the escort, Colonel McDonnell and Mr. Booth started for Waibi. Evans, the only man who was severely wounded, is in a precarious state, so much so that Dr. Brewster has bub little hope of his recovery. Two of the men who were wounded at Turoturomokai were brought in to Pate* on Saturday last. Dr. Brewsttr accompanied them, and, as the party could only move along with the wounded men at a slow walk, they had a tedious march of it. On Tuesday night a report was circulated throughout this town to the effect that the Hauhaus had attacked VVahi, killed 50 of our men, but suffered seveie loss on their side. The facts of the case are these ; On Tuesday morning, about 8 o'clock, we left Patea, and up to thut hour Colonel McDonnell had received no intelligence of any attack upon Waihi. On reaching Sherwood's, at the Waitotara, our party had to wait nearly three hours to hit the tide. We then started, and, having gone about half a mile, one of the party said he had forgotten his revolver at Sherwood's, and returned for it. On again coming up he Baid that a Maori hud just arrived at Sherwood's with a report of our defeat at Waihi, We cautioned him to say nothing of it, as if correct intelligence must come to haud in a few hours. On reaching town, however, the report was circulated, and as two troopers were of the party the report was said to have been brought in by them. That we believe to be incorrect. The Maori seems to have reached town in a state of inebriation and circulated the report. He was taken into custody, and yesterday morning fined ss. for being drunk and disorderly. We mention this for the special purpose of exonerating the two troopers from having circulated the report. Whether true or false they had nothing to do with it, nor was it known at Patea at 8 o'clock on Tuesday morniug. — Wcmganui Times, August 6.