THE LATE ENGAGEMENT AT TAUPO.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1089, 5 October 1869, Page 3

THE LATE ENGAGEMENT AT TAUPO.

Government (as we gather from the JEven; ing Post) have received the following despatch from Colonel M'Donnell :— • Camp, Poutou, 26th Sept., 1869.: Sib — I havg the honor to report, for the information of the Defence Minister, that on the 25th inst., at 10 a.m., the enemy appeared in force on the hills above To Kano, and commenced an attack on that position. I was on my way from here to To Kano, accompanied by an escort often men, when the enemy fired into us on our left front as we neared the Hauhau track leading up the hill 5 but putting our horses to a gallop, we rode past, and reached the friendly natives, who commenced firing at the enemy. They had taken up four different positions half way down the hills, and a strong body of the enemy were also in support— a narrow fern ridge between two densely wooded gullies which ended at the edge of the bush on the summit of the hill. Our men, under their several chiefs, after some sharp skirmishing, drove the enemy from the position they held back on their supports, leaving some of their killed and wounded in our hands. The enemy rallied again, and charged down on us with loud cries, but were met by Henare's people, who again repulsed them with loss, taking a rifle pit on the top of the hill, from which a heavy fire had been maintained. This was rushed, and the enemy broke and fled, leaving three of their number behind. I called a halt here, as I did not wish to pursue the enemy through the bush on to the plains that day. Our men were tired and short of ammunition, and we could not have accomplished much of importance had we gone on, and would only have driven the enemy further than he now is, so I ordered the forces to return to camp. We learnt from a prisoner who was taken the first part of the day that Te Kooti had .led the; attack in person, and had all his available men with him— about 250 to 300 men. They fought well, and contested every inch of ground, carrying off their dead and wounded to the fern ridge above them, until forced to break. The enemy is not so short of ammunition as is supposed. In one pouch taken by us forty rounds of Enfield ammunition, and 60 caps, were found ; another had 30 rounds, and I should say they fired over 200 rounds during the day. Six of the enemy fell, and were left on the field, but there were many others who were carried away. I place their loss, killed and wounded, at over thirty. I also append a list of our casualties, which are comparatively light. I have the honour to bring to the notice of the Government the energy displayed by Capt St. George, and by Lieut. Preece, who was foremost in all that took place. The Tamamutu, and others, are specially deserving of credit for the good example shown by them to their men. The whole of the friendlies are in high spirits, and, if the weather will keep fine, I intend to attack Te Kooti on two sides, on Monday. Kemp, with the Wanganuis, has not yet made his appearance, and I am at a loss to account tor his delay, I will not wait any longer. I omitted to mention that our forces engaged yesterday numbered two hundred and forty men. Since writing the above, another body has been found, making a total of 7 killed of the enemy that I am certain of. I have &c, Thos. M'Donnell, Lieut. -Col. commanding Taupo Field Force. J. D. Ormond, Esq.