THE REPULSE AT NGUTU-O-TEMANU.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 978, 15 September 1868, Page 3

THE REPULSE AT NGUTU-O-TE-MANU.

IS" an account of the first, and successful assault upon this, stronghold, published in the Wanganui Times, we have a graphic description of the locality which was soon after to prove fatal to so many. The writer says : — The bush at the back of the pa is an impenetrable jungle, except to single and naked Hauhaus, dashing into it for their lives; and nothing but the direct interpositidn of Providence could have made it the success it has turned out ; if the Hauhaus had been aware of our coming we would have sustained an enormous ldss, even before we had reached the pa, as the approaches through a six mile forest and clearings are most defensible* I don't think that any ordinary commander who knew as well as Macdonnell did the main approaches to Ngutu-o-te-mahu, would have attacked that place with less than 1000 men t we had only 300, and of these only 100 reliable ; but we trusted in example, in the inherent bulldog tendencies of the Englishman, and were not disappointed.

The news of the repulse at ISTgutu-o-te-manu had reached Auckland on the forenoon of Saturday last, and was published by the Southern Gross as an extra. We subjoin the account given by our contemporary, although it contains nothing later than what was given at length in our telegraphic news of baturday, it supplies some further details, and gives to some of the circumstances a somewhat different complexion : —

The engagement, which has been expected for the past week, has taken place, and the result is a reverse to our troops.

Colonel Macdonnell started from Waihi on Monday morning at 4 o'clock, with how many men is not stated, "with, the object of penetrating to the supposed pa, to which we alluded in our issue a few weeks back, situated about three miles beyond Ngutu-o-te'-Manu. The forces arrived at the latter place about 2 p.m., and found the rifle-pits manned, which, on the occasion of the first attack, had only just been vacated. The track at this place is so narrow that only two men can walk abreast. The Maoris poured volley after volley into them when they had got fairly parallel with the pits, and Hauhaus perched on the tops of the surrounding trees picked off officers and men, with a precision of which the proportion of killed and wounded speaks far too surely. Major Von Tempsky fell fighting gloriously. His loss is irreparable. Captain Buck, Captain Palmer, Lieutenant Hunter, and Lieutenant Hastings, were killed whilst nobly doing their duty. Lieutenant Rowan is dangerously wounded. Fourteen men were killed and twenty-four wounded.

It was found impossible to dislodge the Maoris from their position, and the forces retired leaving the dead in the hands of the enemy. It is reported that twentyseven Hauhaus were killed. The Maoris considered Ngutu-o-te-Manu their strongest position, and occupied the place from which they were forced by a surprise, as their strongest line of defence. Colonel Maodonnell sent in a despatch last night, in which he stated that he was preparing for another attack. The loyalty of several hapus on the other side of Patea, is wavering. . The women and children have been ordered away from Patea. The attack was not on Ngutu-o-te-Manu as at first reported, but on Ikmrou, a pa about four miles on the other side of the first-mentioned place. The friendly natives spoiled the plan, and discovered the forces to the enemy. Colonel Macdonnell placed them in front, and when within about half a mile of the pa, they found the tents of the outlying Hauhau pickets, and no.sooner had they caught sight of them than they raised a wild yell, upon which the Hauhaus ran away and apprised the garrison. The friendlies caught a boy in the tent, and quickly dashed out his brains. The Hauhaus took to the trees, and when the troops appeared within range of the pa they were received with a volley, which brought Lieut. Hunter to the ground. One of Von Tempsky's men was wounded, and Von Tempsky went forward to bring him from under fire, and in removing him fell wounded. Another went to bring away the major, and he fell dead ; a second went, and was shot through both thighs, and then a third went, and was shot through the hands. It is not known whether Von Tempsky was killed at that time, but the balls were coming so thick from the tops of the trees, that scarcely anything could live near to where he was lying. The friendlies at the time were in an adjoining gully, and Colonel McDonnell went to speak to Kemp. The loyal natives were worse than useless, except in showing some men, who had lost themselves, out of the bush. Captain Buck's cap was brought to Waihi. The men got confused, and there seemed to be no one to command them; some of them ran away. It is believed that some of the friendlies betrayed our designs. In, the retreat Major Hunter behaved with great courage, and to him is due the salvation of the force. Colonel Macdonnell placed too much confidence in the friendlies, and appeared to be more at homo with them than -with the colonial troops. Only 12 of the wounded were brought to Waihi, the others were left where they fell.