THE RECENT ENGAGEMENT.

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 348, 22 September 1868, Page 2

THE RECENT ENGAGEMENT.

The Wellington correspondent of the " Daily Times" telegraphs the following : — The "Advcuiser" publishes Colonel SI'Donnell'i despatch, received last night. His force got into the bush with the onemy round them on all sides, as well as in hollow trees, which were loopholed. Instead of the force dispersing and taking to cover, they could not bo prevented from huddling together m small groups, affording good targets. The officers endeavored to prevent thi3, but in vain. Tho men were anxious to obey, but their short training was not sufficient to teach them how to do so. The fact that the Native Contingent killed fifteen of the enemy, without ono of themselves being wounded, nroves, in his opinion, that for bush lighting men must be long and carefully trained. Tho nowspapers state that Patea ia abandoned to Bacchus. Uooth has clossd all the grog stores. Some hitherto neutrals have joined Tito Kowaru. Colonel M'Donnell iB both blamed and praised. The number of the onemy killed is variously reported to be from five to twenty -eight. The various accounts only agree in two particulars — our own loss and tho excellent behavior of the Friendhes, but for whom our loss would have been fearful. Some of the wounded were brought to Wangauui. Mr Kichmond stated that ho had good reason to fear that some had been left on the field and had been tortured. The camp at Waihi had two volleys fired into it on the night of tho 10th inst.

The " Wcstport Star states, on the authority of Mr Duncan, the proprietor, that at the Grove, Picton p the recent eaithquake was accompanied by a loud rumbling noise, and an eruption took place in the Creek, throwing up large boulders, earth, and trunks of trees upon the banks.