IMPORTANT NEWS FROM WANGANUI AND TARANAKI.

North Otago Times, 17 August 1865, Page 5 (Supplement)

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM WANGANUI AND TARANAKI.

"PIPIRIKI BESIEGED. THE ENEMY REPULSED WITH GREAT LOSS. ENGAGEMENT WITH THE REBELS AT WARE A. LIEUT. BALLY, 70th REGIMENT AND THREE SOLDIERS KILLED. THIRTY MAORIS KILLED.

The Correspondent of the " Wanganui Chronicle" furnishes the following account of the siege anil defence of Pipiriki. This is one of the few events connected with the campaign in that district which may be said to reflect credit on our countrymen : — The Military Settlers and Rangers afc this post were attacked in the three redoubts simultaneously by the enemy, -who mustered upwards of 400 strong, at eight o'clock ft.m., on the 19th July, 1865. The arch rebel Pehi, his son Topia, 8nul, and other chiefs of distinction, were recognised as leading the enemy ; our camps were besieged for twelve days, and the enemy repulsed, defeated, and obliged to sue for peace. The force in the redoubts consisted of 231 men, chiefly Hangers and Military Settlers, Ttho, during the time they kept up the defence, were short alike of arms and provisions. About eight o'clock on the morning of the 19th ult., a man named Campbell had been out getting some firewood, when he was II red at and pursued by about fifty natives, simultaneously with tin's, a heavy and apparently preconcerted fire was opened upon the three redoubts — the Gundagai. BmsdeyV, and Stuart's — by the rebels from the hills, which overlooked these positions. Brassey's redoubt sustained a terrible fire, ■which riddled the whole of the tents, and rent the furniture in the ofliecrs' and olher tents into thousands of particles. Many were the hair-breadth escapes in the redoubts, but more particularly in the Gundagai, as the enemy had position and everything in his itnor. The w hares and tents are literally rent to atoms. ] Juliet* were whizzing and flying in all directions. ; the rebels shouting, yelling, and doing everything in their power to induce their people to come on and ruoh the little Gundagai — whose people, I assure \ou, were not idle, and who dared not be, if inclined, sis (lie example set them by the officer commanding, Lieutenant Gossliug, was all that could be desired of a British soldier. Our men returned the fire with precision and coolness, and mustluue been committing fearful ha>oc, as many of the enemy's wounded were dragged from the rifle-pits and graves, even in the midst of the firing. About 11.45 a.m., Entign C'lerj , one sergeant, and 20 of the Taranaki Military f-ct tiers, were detailed as a storming party, and proceeded from the main redoubt, and in a very heaiy ciws-firo from the rebels on Cemetery Hill, and from those to the rear of the main redoubt — to dislodge (he enemy from oH v Cemetery Hill ; and irrespective of shot, or the number of the encim on the hill, which must have exceeded 150, and under the greatest disadvantages imaginable, having a high bleep hill of 400 feet to ascend, succeeded in ascending and routing the enemy from this, their it rongefct position. It w as hear Mr Glory was wounded, the half of hie ear being blown off by a bullet ; but the perpetrator of this act, who w ns almost buried up to hi* shoulders in a rifle-pit, bit the duet in return, from a welldirected shot from Private Allen, of No. 8 Company. Private Dilly, of No. 10 Company, came in contact with another, but, fortunately, the rebel's piece missing, Dilly succeeded in running him through, and disarming him. Gauior, of No. 10 Company, whirled another into the deep gorge underneath, a lifeless corpse. After the eneinj lwd been routed from Cemetery Hill, they took up other positions on our right flank, thereby pitching into the Gundagai's rear ; but were dialoged from this about six p.m., when they retreated in various directions — some to the opposite side, and some to the hill on the left of the Hangers' Redoubt. On the 20th, the rebels threw \ip a redoubt on th right Hank of the colonial force, distant about 1700 j ardp, on the other side of the rirer. The hdls wore at thN time swarming with the enemy. On the 21bt. a parh of Rangers and Military Sctt lers were- sent to dislodge the rebels from their position in the rear of 13rasso\'s redoubt, .but the latter had " bkedaddled " On the 22nd, koine firing at long range took place between the rebels and the Coloni.il forces. The latter strengthened their popition, Firing was continued to the 25th, and on that day the Gundagai redoubt was abandoned and ra/ied to to the ground. On the 29th the garrison was surrounded on all <-idei» by the enemy. The rebel « opened fire on all the redoubts at ranges of 200 and 300 yards. On the 30th June, the rebel rifle-pits were ■* ithin 100 yards of the redoubts. A frmful fire * as kept up on the gameon, but not returned, as ammunition began to run short. Numerous hair-breadth escapee look place of soldier! in the garrison. On that day and the 31st, the rebels hoisted a white flag, and proposed to come to terms, Hading they could not take the position, and that their ammunition was Tunning short. On the 1st instant, the reinforcements of 500 men, under Major Rookes, arrived, on the seventh day after leaving Wanganui. This force patrolled the bubh, and proceeded as far as Pebi's abode, but the rebels had flown in all directions. Great blame ie atUched to Major Eooket, by the Wauganui journals, for the delaj in h» expedition. Every man engaged in this defence deserves the highest praise, but the hero of the affair wan Ensign Clcry, » ho was the first, with sword and pietol in hand, to storm the Cemetery Hill. The "Taranaki Herald" of the ith, contains an account of an engagement with the rebels at Warea. Parties of 100 of the 43rd, and 1*0 of the 70th, under Colonel Colvilie and other O/Eeert, at»rt«d to route out the rebels who killed Captain Close and Corporal H»n»ghan. Major Butsell »nd bis party, who were also in the fray, reached • place called Okea, when amoke was observed from an eminence at • distance of about (00 yards in ih« dense scrub. Captain Cay %•• aent with <J0 men to reconnoitre. They coon found themselves elose upon twenty « hares. The native* being completely surprised, at first made little -resistance. Eleven jwcre bayoneted in the open, and * large number more muit have lkJlen in the den*c acrub, and in the ; Iv« were taken prisoner*. On their way to camp, the natives followed the troops for utu for their losses, in the •earch for %rhich the feature* of the country afforded great iacilitiet. Constant akinnishing »»s ■kept up. Col. Colvilie, hearing the firing, forced hit *-ajr through t> dense track, guided by AOnarapa, and having got on the same track which Vajor Rut* sell had traversed, fell in six natives en route, fchot five of them, two of -whom were recognised by Minarapa at chic£».