THE MAUKU FIGHT IN 1863.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 54, 3 July 1873, Page 4

THE MAUKU FIGHT IN 1863.

We recently gave a well-written narrative of a prospective Waikato war, taken from an Auckland paper, and which we now supplement by au account of an actual engagement in Wnikafco, which took place in 1803. The account was furnished to the Herald by oue "who took part in the eugagement : — 1 Allow mo n (qw words about tho Titi (Mauku) fight on Friday, tho 2nd of October, 18G3, for all who havo hitherto approached the subject appear to be in a fog: — The Mauku church, barricaded, was occupied by Bonio twenty-fivo of Pitt's militia (Ist Waikatos), undor Lieutenant Norman, who on that morning was absent at J)rury fetching the men's pay. The stockade, at Lower Mauku (two and a-half miles distant), was garrisoned by tho Forest ItiUes and some of Pitt's militia, undor tho command of Lieutenant Lusk, until a few days before the 23rd instant, when Lieutenant Porcival was sent up, tho force at botli places numbering sixty men. On the morning of that Friday, hearing from tho stockpile firing in the direction of tho church, and thinking it was attacked, Lioutoniiiit Lusk started with his men ibr its relief, leaving Pcrcival and about twelve men at tho stockado. When ncaring the church, they ascertained tho firing proceed from Titi (Wheeler's farm), and Mr. John Wheeler and another volunteered to go and 800 whether they were Maoris or theWaiuku Volunteers. He crept through scrub and bush, near enough to hear their Maori tongues, and returned to the church and reported the same to Lusk ; ho despatched a messenger to Pcrcival to como ivBtantly to the church with every man that could be spared, which were only ten, all told. On the way up, hearing shots in tho direction of the Bald Hills (theso hills being situated just above the Titi llill), Percival diverged into the bush and came upon tho Maoris, whom ho attacked ut once with his ten men, but soon found himself fearfully outnumbered, and was making his way to the church, when Lieutenant Lusk with somo forty men (calculating how matters stood) joined Porcival, and they went at it pell-mell. During this engagement poor Tom Norman arrived at the church from Prury with tho men's pay, and hearing what was going on dashed oil' to the sceno of action, which was two chains wiclo of felled, but not burnt bush, on tho tramway. Crossing a largo clearing of Wheeler's, thero was opon fern land to tho church, and standing bush on each side. Thero were 800 Maoris and fifty-five of our men, who fought like tigers, until Porcival, who was in command, fell, when it was easy for all to sco ovorpowering numbers would speedily render their retreat impossiblo; so they each made for the church or stockado as best thoy could, straggling in until nightfall. The next morning eight were found missing ; amongst the slain, Lieutenants Percival and Norman, a sergoant, a corporal, und four privates. Tho monument over their honourod remains in Drury churchyard boars testimony to their dash and valour Govornor Sir Q-eorgo Grey expressed theso sentiments to a relative of mino a day or two after :—": — " It is the nioit effectivo action that has yet taken place, for it will unmistakably show tho Maoris they can find thoir match with settlers unaided by Imperial troops." From authentio accounts tho Maoris engaged wore tho Ngatimaniapotos, and their loss was thirty slain ; on their return to Waikato (sovon miles from Mauku), trammelled by their wounded and killed, they were met by a number of their tribe, who upon hoaringvwhat had transpired inquired whether they had claimed the victory by firing a volloy over tho field. They pointed to their dead and dying comrades. Tho reply was, "It is your battle, but wo will go," ami thoy did, and fired a volley over tho naked bodies of their eight victims, and decamped, crossing tho Waikato at Purapura, just as part of tho Flying Column (who had been kept undor arms for hours at Mercer awaiting orders) reached Purapura, via Cameron Town. I believe this account to bo true, as I had it at tho timo from one of tho Volunteers, who, in tho fight, stood beBido tho intropid Percival, when a Maori bullet in tho neck paralysed his trigger-hand and brave heart for ever. I am, &c, A Mauku Sbtti.uk previous to ISG3.

Is Diptiiebia Catching ?—lt? — It would appear that it is, if tho following extract from the Ballarat Star is correct. That papor writes :— Whatovor may bo tho nature of tho virus which produces diptheria, it appears to be communicable by inoculation. In the recent outbreak of tho disease at Alfred ton, two perBons woro seriously affected by handling clothes upon which some of the diseased children had expectorated. One, tho oldest daughter, washed somo of tho clothes used by r diseased child, and whilst doing so the virus was communicated to her blood through a wound in tho hand. In a short timo a pustule arose, and a red mark spread up her arm, and afterwards Bymptons of dipthoria developed themselves, lluppily she was not virulently attacked, and lias recovered. A neighbour who visited the sick family was attacked in a similar manner, although tho dipthoria symplons were not fully developed. Theso facts may, possibly, havo somo useful bearing upon tho nature and treatment of thia mysterious uud fatal disoafio."