The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1869.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 42, 20 February 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1869.

TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

LATEST FROM THE FRONT. Wellington, Feb. 20. 10 a.m. The following was sent by Col. Whitmore to the Wanganui papers, Thursday 6 p.m. :-=- This afternoon ten men of M'Donnell _ Division, under Sergeant Menzies, formed themselves into a foraging party, crossed the Waitotara, to pack some peaches, which had been observed during the Colonel's expedition yesterday towards ' Turangarnutu*. They had scarcely reached the peach-grove, after mooring the eanoe, . when the enemy opened fire fron? au 1 ambuscade ; the men hurried back to the canoe, and none of them appear to have been hit by the first fire ; but in getting into the cauoe, Menzies left behind a man who had the paddle, aud not knowing howto manage the canoe the enemy were enabled to overtake them before they got out of reach. Constable Mc'Evoy and ahothet* man swam across, the former being wounded, and the last killed on mounting the beach. Two other men took shelter in the bush, and escaped, but Menzies and the rest were shot from ashore, or tomahawked in the river, Menzies' body alone being recovered. McDonnell turned out his men with the greatest possible despatch, and was on the ground in a very few miuutes, the enemy firing at him as be approached, but having found the canoe and gained possession of ic, he crossed and drove the enemy back, bringing off the two men who had sought shelter iu the bush.