THE LATE ENGAGEMENT AT TAUPO.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1091, 12 October 1869, Page 2

THE LATE ENGAGEMENT AT TAUPO.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. We are iudubfeil to the courtesy of J. D. Ormond, Esq., tbe General G-oVern- >y ment agent, for the following despatch y.y from Lieut.-Colonel M'Donnellygiving^ details of the late engagement :*- - : Head quarters, Camp Poutu, October 5, 1869. Sir, — I have the honor to state ,for .the .. information of the Government, that on Saturday the Ist inst. I left this ;post, accompanied by the mounted constabulary under Captains Richardson and Handley, to join the Arawa and No. . 2 Division- A.C,, for Rotukutuku, leaving instructions with Major Kemp, Capt. M'Donhell, and the other chiefs to march from here on Sunday night, and join me at Papakai. On Mon- "\ day morning the two forces joined at Papa- . kai. The enemy were plainly visible about two miles further on, having built a redoubt *• on the edge ofthe bush in a strong com- ; manding position. At Papakai the force halted for breakfast, but only a short time was allowed for this necessary meal, <as word * was brought in from our outlying sentries , . that the enemy was moving .out to attack. On receipt of this intelligence, I ordered Lieut.-Col. Herrick, with No. 2 Division A.0., Major Kemp, with Captain M'Don- , nelPs, Wirihana's, and Hare Tauteka's nien, to advance and take possession ofthe range on the left flank, whilst I moved out with 7 theNgatikahungunu and Arawas on the right, the mounted division bringing up the rear. The whole force advanced in this order for about a mile. Kemp's party came into, contact with the enemy's skirmishers,' who were now in position about half-a-mile.in front of the redoubt, and quickly dislodged them, following tbem up wildly and driving tljem back on their, main position in confusion, aud with some loss. Ngatikahungunu- and the Arawas were also successful in forcing - the enemy to evacuate a small earth work, (used most probably as a picket station), and some broken ground on the. opposite . banks of the Wanganui, where several of the enemy fell. Our natives, stimulated with jealousy of each other, were ripe for anything, and advanced with a steadiness and determination such as I have never seen equalled. The Wanganuis set the example by charging up the face of the hill, on which stood the redoubt, closely fpUo^ecl ; , by the Ngatikahungunu and, Arawas. . : Though exposed to the galling, fire: of >the enemy, who fought well, our men had in a : short time taken the trenches in the front and right ofthe redoubt, underinihing-the para- ."- pet, jumping up and firing into it. I deeply . regret to state that Captain St. George was killed within a short distance of the redoubt, whilst charging with No. 2 .division , and the Arawas..; Shortly after this charge the redoubt waa taken by storm, in which we lost three killed and three wounded. Twenty-seven bodies of the enemy were found inside the redoubt and in the trench, and ten more bodies were found in the field 1 ,, making a total loss on their side of thirtyseven, as seen by us. Over twenty women' and children were taken prisoners, and one man belonging to Taupo/ I regret to '" , say that Te Kooti escaped, as I know for certain that he was in the pa. Some, of the ' women were severely wounded. I have much pleasure in testifying to the gallantry displayed by No. 2 Division A.C. P under the command of Sub-Inspectors Scannell and Northcroft, and also toMajor Kemp, and Captains McDonnell .and Wirihana and the Wanganui natives * under their command, who in this, as on every former occasion, behaved admirably. My thanks are also due to Renata. and Henare Tomoana, of the Ngatikahungunu* and Hohepa Tamamutu, Paora Hapi, and Kepa, of the Arawas, for the courage displayed by them id loading on their men. My thanks are more especially due to Lieutenant-Colonel Herrick, for the able assistance which he rendered to meduringthe day and an the furtherance >of my plans. The cavalry succeeded in re-, capturing a large number of the horse* ; • taken by Te Kooti from Henare Tomoana-. at Tauranga, pome time since. I sent., a force out this morning under Henare Tomoana, to try and find out the present position of the enemy; I have brought No. 2 Division here, as our rear is open, and I fear that Te Kooti may attempt to escape in that direction. I have also come down myself, for the purpose of getting more ammunition, and intend returning to Papakai to-morrow. I append a list of our filled and wounded. Te Heu Heu and Matuaha have sent in word to-day tbat they have had enough of it, and have left Te Kooti, and wili surrender themselves to-morrow.-—! have &c, Thos. M'Donnelih J. D. Ormond, Esq., Napier. The following is the. list of killed and wounded at Porere, on October 4 :— -• Ke_led. — Capt. St. George, gunshot wound through head; Ensign Winiata (Wanganui contingent,) gunshot wound through head; Ensign Komene (Wanganui contingent,) gunshot wound through chest ; Private Tape (Wanganui contingent,) gunshot wound through head. Wounded-— Lieut. Turei (Wanganui contingent), gunshot wound through chest, dangerous ; Renata (Ngatikahungunu chief), injured eye; Hori (Ngatikahungunu), gunshot wound in ear, slight; Ngatikahungunu , gunshot wound in arm, severe. Totai,— Killed, 4 ; wounded, 4. ___ : : We have since learned that Lieut. Turei subsequently died of his wounds. On all. hands we hear that this engagement was a most spirited and admirably conducted af- --■ fair. On the night of Friday last, Lieut.-Co- . ipnel M'Donnell, with five day's rations, entered the bush in quest of Te Kooti and his remaining followers. He had been somewhat delayed through the overtures made by Te Heu Heu, but, ultimately, the sincerity of that individual began- to be questioned, and the gallant Colonel started in pursuit. t 7 . .