LATEST NEWS FROM WANGANUI.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1011, 6 January 1869, Page 3

LATEST NEWS FROM W ANGANUI.

The Evening Herald of the 28th reports as follows : — The Wanganui and Kai Iwi Volunteer Cavalry attacked the enemy's stronghold at Nukumaru this morning at six o'clock. The cavalry were reconnoitering the Hau Hau position, when they were fired upon. The fire was at once returned, and some of our men galloped straight to the palisading and poured in a volley. We regret to state that Sergeant Maxwell, who was distinguishing himself with freak gallantry, was here shot through the reast, and lived but a few seconds. Five Hauhaus climbed the palisading from inside, and in attempting td'^regain ; a rifle pit outside, were all shot. An accurate knowledgo of the caemy's position has been obtained. The men of ', both troops behaved with unsurpassed ■ coolness and determination. • The body of Sergeant Maxwell has been ; sent to town. ; The loss of the enemy must havebeen , considerable, as he exposed himself in re- ( treating from the pa. The Evening Herald of the 29th in- | stant, gives the following additional parti- ; culars j — An attack of the most daring character ( was made yesterday morning on the , enemy's stronghold at Nukumaru. From a previous arrangement Lieut. Bryce marched his troop over to tho Mission Station camp on Sunday evening, and the Wanganui and Kai Iwi corps commenced the march for Nukumaru the samo evening'at 11 o'clock. Capt. Finnimore commanded the Wanganui Cavalry, and Lieut. Bryce the Kai Iwi. The men of all ranks numbered 100. At half-past 2 o'clock yesterday morning the force had arrived opposite the enemy's camp. Our men were kept behind the ridge out of sight, expecting to find some stragglers foraging ; the enemy, however, was too cautious. It was noticed that a pa with palisading, had been erected since the cavalry last visted that place, and a sentry was observed doing his " weary rounds" on the outside. After waiting for some time, some Maoris were supposed to be seen about a mile distant on the sand-hills, and a portion of the Kai Iwi Cavalry, under Lieut. Bryce, went in pursuit. Failing to find them, the cavalry came down in skirmishing order on the left of the pa, and, at a distance of 600 yards, opened fire. Capt. Finnimore moved off with. No 1 division Wangauui Cavalry, and immediately after Cornet Ballance, with Nos. 2 and 3 divisions, and the remainder of the Kai Iwi troop followed. When Captain Finnimore arrived, a heavy firing was opened at 200 yards range of the pa, our men being partially protected by a slight rising in the ground. All at once there was a desperate rush at the pa, and about twelve men got to the trench around the palisading. Up to this | time the Hauhaus had only kept up a slow and desultory fire, and there was an impression among some of the men that there were but few natives in the pa ; but as soon as the men charged, a regular and rapid fire was opened upon them from behind the palisading and rifle pits. Sergeant Maxwell was here shot. Ho had just discharged his carbine into the pa, and wheeled his horse to reload, and was in the act of putting in the cartridge, when he was struck in the breast, the bullet coming out at the shoulder. By a sudden impulse the horse galloped back for a hundred yards before his rider fell off. Maxwell was immediately carried off by Trooper Small and two or three others, and expired in a few minutes. Trooper Wright, of the Wanganui corps, had his horse shot in the trench, and lay entangled for two or three minutes ; fortunately, got clear of his horse, and found a rebel's horse ready for him to mount. One of the Kai Iwi men seeing that Wright's horse was dead, and noticing a white horse tied to one of the palisades, went forward, untied the rope, and offered Wright a fresh horse. Another horse was shot dead, and one wounded. The rebels in a few seconds after this were observed to leave the pa in a long line extending to the right. Their object was apparent — to occupy the patches of bush, and command the line of retreat. The second and third divisions were immediately thrown out in skirmishing order on the right, and kept a galling fire on the rebels as they emerged from the pa. When the horse and rider fell in the trench alongside the pallisades, a rebel climbed the palisades from the inside and was shot while coming over. Several attempts were afterwards made to get the saddle, and four Hau Haus, more daring than the rest paid the price of their temerity. The retreat was sounded, and was conducted at a walk, in as perfect order as if the men had been on parade. There were a great many women and children in the pa, and about 100 men. The country behind is tolerably open, with, patches of bush. It would be impossible the pa could stand a siege against 300 infantry and 50 cavalry, the latter to prevent flanking movements and cut off the rebels iv their retreat. Captain Finnimore and Lieut. Bryce cordially cooperated in every movement, and showed that their respective corps were able to preserve perfect discipline, and were capable of anything possible for cavalry. The attack on the pa was made at six o'clock, and lasted for three-quarters of an hour. The men are in high spirits, and eager for another expedition. The homeward march was commenced at 9 a.m., and the camp was reached at 1 p.m., the men having halted to breakfast on the way.