LATEST FROM THE FRONT

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 133, 29 August 1868, Page 4

LATEST FROM THE FRONT

SUCCESS OF COLONEL M‘DONNELL. CAPTURE OF TE NGUTU 0 TE MAN IT. THREE of the COLONIAL FORCES KILLED AND EIGHT WOUNDED.-ONE SINCE DEAD. THE BODIES OF NINE MAORIS FOUND CAPTURE OF THE MAORI STRONGHOLD. MAJOR HUNTER ACQUITTED. Mr. J. Walker, of Aramaho, arrived in Wellington on Sunday afternoon last at 5 o’clock, "bringing news of an engagement having taken place at the Front, and that the strongly fortified pa, Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu had been captured and destroyed by,the Colonial Forces. Mr. Walker left Wanganui at eight o’clock on Saturday, and arrived here at five p.m. on Sunday, as before stated. He was detained by freshes in the rivers and delay in obtaining changes of horses—one hour at Bull’s, six hours at Scott’s, one hour at Paikakariki, and one hour at Porirua. Deducting those detentions the actual time occupied in riding 120 miles was twelve hours. It is stated that several settler’s houses in the vicinity of Kakaramea have been burned by the natives. _ - The enquiry held into Major Hunter’s conduct has resulted in that officer’s acquittal. We trust the evidence may be published. The Time* extra of Saturday contains the following Patea, August 21st. Colonel McDonnell has attacked and captured the rebels’-stronghold—Te Ngutu-o-te- M anu. The engagement was short, sharp, and decisive. We counted nine dead bodies of the rebels but can’t say how many killed and wounded on their side. Our loss is three killed and seven wounded ; one, I fear, mortally. Qur force will now pursue the rebels through the bush, and will not leave them a village wherein to hide their heads—in fact all their places of refuge are already burnt down with one or two exceptions. Te Ngutu-o-te-Mauu is a heap of ruins The Evening Herald, of Saturday last, gives the following full particulars

The strongly fortified pa, Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, was captured yesterday morning, and burnt to the ground. Two hundred and seventy men, under the command of Colonel McDonnell, started yesterdaymorning at half-past seven o’clock, iu two divisions, to attack the rebel capital. Major Von Tempsky led the Armed Constabulary ; and the Taranaki Volunteers, Buck’s and Cage’s companies composed the attacking force The pa was reached a little after ten o’clock, thus taking three hours to thread their way through the bush, a distance of twelve miles from Waihi, the base of operations. The Maori scouts were on the alert, and preparations had been made to give our forces a warm reception. Orders had been given to reserve fire until within pistol shot of the enemy, who kept up a smart fire upon our men from the moment they appeared iu sight. Wheu within twenty paces of the parapet, the troops poured in a galling fire, and rushed helterskelter on, escaladiug the breast-work and gaining a footing inside. The first man to enter was Wallace, who was shot through the-head, and fell dead on the spot. The men rushed boldly forward, and in a few minutes one-half of our force had fairly established themselves within the defences. The Maoris fought bravely, but they could not stand against our men, who, armed with tomahawks, revolvers, and long knives, made short work of them. The whole attack lasted about twenty minutes, and at the end of one hour from the time wheu .jve opened fire, not a vestige of the pa was to be seen. The Maoris effected a good retreat, after nine of their number had fallen. It would appear that the natives were able to carry off their wounded. Three of our men were killed, and eight wounded, one of whom, H. Geary, is since dead. The names of the killed are—R. Wallace, Kerr, and Mackay. The wounded were attended to by Dr. Walker on the field. At half-past eleven Colonel McDonnell commenced the march back, wheu he found that the enemy had concentrated upon his rear, and were keeping up a desultory fire upon the rear guard. The fire was returned, and ultimately the Maoris retired and allowed the troops to effect their retreat without further molesting them. Colonel McDonnell arrived at Patea at midnight. The behaviour of both officers and men was excellent.