FROM THE FRONT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 215, 10 September 1868, Page 2

FROM THE FRONT.

We have been permitted to peruse a letter, dated Turo-turo-makai, the 24th uit., written by one of the Nelson Contingent, much of the contents of which can hardly fail to be interesting to many of our readers who have relatives and, friends — may we add lovers, too ? amongst the gallant little band who left us for Patea some sis weeks ago, and of whom it brings us pleasant assurance of their wellbeing and good treatment, very contradictory in this regard of much which had previously reached us. These we place before them in the youthful writer's own simple but descriptive guage:—I assure you there is no need to give way to any anxiety about me, as we are posted at a redoubt which 20 men could hold against 100 Maoris. There has been fighting for the last two days about 12 miles from us, and we could hear the report of the guns quite plainly. Our men have taken and burned to the ground two large pahs, one of which was the great Pongarero. They showed great bravery, and they drove the Maoris from the pahs without losing a man, until they- were coming back, when tire Maoris got ahead of them through the bush, and laid an ambuscade for them, killing five and wounding six. It has not been ascertained what the Maoris lost, as they carried their dead and wounded into the bush, but ten Maoris were seen quite dead* We are now at the place where poor Captain Ross was murdered. It Is no wonder that the Maoris attacked this place before, as the same night that the Maoris came here, the men were drinking with them, and the sentries were placed at their posts in a state of intoxication. The walls of the redoubt were so low that they could stand outside and fire right into tbe tents, but it is very different now, as I can only just look over the top. There are concealed portholes ail around the walls, which cannot be seen from the outside, and we are surrounded by a deep treuch, the bottom of which is plentifully sprinkled with broken glass bottles. No natives are allowed to come within 200 yards of us. lam very comfortable here,, for we have plenty to eat, and' hardly anything to do. We are not allowed outside the redoubt after sundown, when the drawbridge is pulled up, and ife is not let down again until 7 o'clock in the morning. There are ten besides myself in one tent, all, decent, well-behaved young fellows, and I have not heard an angry word amongst them sin<Je we -;have been here. We have first-rate times We> when it is fine we go out on a large green flat, and play at rounders and cricket, and at night we sit in the tent, telling stories and singing songs until 9 o'clock, when all lights must be put out. The men have to be careful how they speak in camp, as any one heard swearing by the captain or any of the officers is likely to be put in the guard-room. Captain Spiller arrived here a few days ago and brought me your message. We had a very heavy earthquake here last week, about 10 o'clock on Monday morning. The ground heaved under our feet, and the walls of the redoubt . shook so much that we expected to see;, them fall. It lasted about 75 seconds. We had good clothes given to us at Patea ; a pair of trousers made of the best serge, which are very thick and warmy a blue serge

coat, a strong pair of boots, and a large overcoat, reaching down to our feet, with a foraging cap and a heavy pair of blankets. It has been raining hard for the last three days, which still continues. We expect to stop here for a month or two, or perhaps longer, to keep the road open to the Waihi redoubt, which is the head quarters and about three miles distant. We went out for rifle practice a few days ago, and the people at Waihi, hearing the shots, thought we were attacked, and, having caught their horses, 50 mounted troopers made their way here within a quarter of an hour after hearing the first few shots, so you may be sure that the Maoris would find it [pretty hot if they paid us a visit. * * * * You must not be afraid of my getting too much grog, for although there is a canteen there, I heve only tasted it once since I left Nelson, and that was for a cold, for I and my friend Bob W. have given each other our word that we would not drink, and we have kept it. We have 40 men here, and we are to be reinforced by 50 Taranaki men in a few days. Tell Mr B. that his words were quite true, for we live like fighting cocks, and are as happy as kings. We are to have a supply of hand grenades in a day or two, not that we fear an attack, hut to be ready in case of emergency. The Maoris know too well when they are well off to come here again. We have not received our pay yet, but we do not require it, as we want for nothing.