FATAL COLLISION AT BALLAARAT.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 695, 23 December 1854, Page 2

FATAL COLLISION AT BALLAARAT.

[From the Melbourne Argus, Dec. 4.] Monday, 3, a.m. At the above hour a gentleman arrived at this office, who had ridden through express, leaving Ballaarat at half past one yesterday. He brings us the following disastrousreport : — (from our own correspondent.) At tour, a.m. ibis morning (Sunday) the troopers advanced on the right of the War rntieep Gnliev, and another division on the left of the Eureka lii c. encornpabbinK the camp of the dggers. A shout was rained, and after a sharp firing of about twenty minutes, the troopers called to the soldiers, who were advancing, that it was all over. The camp of the diggers was constructed of piles of slabs, collected from the neighbouring holes. I enclose the official return, as known at 9. a.m. To-morrow you shall have the real truth. I do not believe but that the loss of the military, to say nothing of the wounded, is considerably more than acknowledged, Ballaarat, December 3rd, 1854.— Sir.— I have the honor to inform you that the casualties on the part of the military, are one private of 12th regiment killed, two privates of 40th killed. Captain Wise, 40th, is dangerously wounded ; Lieutenant Paul, 12th, seriously wounded. Several privates of 40th ond 12th more or less wounded. No official return has yet been made, but the corres* pondent of the Argus can have it to-uiorrovv, by applying at the Cas»p. One hundred and twenty five prisoners made, but the casualties on the part of the insurgents are not known. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant Robert Rede, Resident Commissioner. In the case of Captain Wise, amputation is considered necessary, he having received two wounds in the leg. This is but the beginning of the end. The reporter of the Ballaarat Times has been taken, and his life was with difficulty saved from the hands of the infuriated soldiers. A coloured man, recognized by a soldier, would have been shot at the Camp had it not been for the officers. Nearly all the ringleaders are taken. Fifteen are lying dead in the Eureka Camp. Sixteen are dangerously wounded. A German' has received five different wounds. The Eureka Camp, as well as the stores and tents in the neighbourhood, have been burnt to the ground, and considerable loss of property has ensued thereby. A former reporter for the M. M. Herald, a Mr. Haslam, was shot in the shoulder by the troopers. The London Hotel is the chief repository for the dead and wounded. The troopers ewept the diggings, and are making several captures now at the moment of writing. The moxt harrowing and heartrendering cenes amongst the women end children I have witnessed through this dreadful morning. Many innocent persons have suffered, and many are prisoners who were there at the time of the skirmish, but took no active part. 10, i.tn. Several wagons containing wounded and confiscated property have passed on their way to. the Camp. At present every one is as if stunned, and but few ire to be seen about. The flag of the diggers. "The Southern Cross," as well aa the " Union Jack," which they had to hoist underneath, were captured by the foot police.

Had the diggers fired longer, the loss to the military would have been immense, and they, as it was, acted with a precision and regularity admired even by the officer* of the military. Report says that only a small division of the diggers were attack d this morning, merely a guard of relief enough to protect the "Eureka camp." Ol the rest, some were off duty, but the the majority were in the butsh, and guarding the roidt to Melbourne and Geelong.