The Native Rebellion.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 124, 6 April 1864, Page 3

The Native Rebellion.

OR.VK.VU. rniOK orn OWN' CORRESrO>'PKNT.] -April 2. A combined force from Kibikihi, To Awaniutu, and R int'iiiM'liiii. marched at 12—midnight—on 30th March, under the command of Brigadier Crenernl Carey. Arrived lien- .-if 5 o'clock a.m. of th" .'Hst, when the enemv were discovered ill a formidable entrenched position. The (>sth formed a line of skirmishers betwveti the po-ition an 1 the bush. to out off' the enemy'* retreat. l':irt of the iHtli and part of the 40th charged tin; position. and were repulsed. Captain Ring. 2 baft. 'Nth. fell mortallv wounded ; Captain Fisher, 10th, severely \voun:!ed. 'Die action 1 I ill o'clock p. m. this day. the enemy oliariiinir out of the position and brcakine; lhroii<ili our lilies, but were nearly completely annihilated. frenci-.il Cameron, with large reinforcements, arrived from M:mn'_rutautari. The lo s of the eiiemv. as far ns we have got their bodies, is 10!) killed, mid about 110 prisoners. Our fiVuiulticß nre :— • Cuotnin TTerfonl, Wrtikito Militia, dangerously woun 'e 1. Ensign Chavter, Gs'li, dangerously. Lieut. Chevalier, f>sth, neriously.

PrjEEßlMcr.

[rnort odr own correspoxdeSt.] April 2. About 2 o clock this afternoon the &Mi\) wan suddenly startled by the appearance of about 100 oi< 160 of the rebels nomine; within 1400 yards of our camp and driving; or rather trying to drive, awav Home of tho horses holoiif;in K to the Colonial Dufencu Force, that had betm turned out to As fiodn ns thev \vero observed, tho small portion of tho Defence borce left in camp so t their horses saddled and bri llod, wlnlo tho 50th rogimout wero gottin.' under arms. " As soon as tlia foro? was ready, tlioy movod ofl'al. tho double. Only two companies or"tho 50th regt. went out. When tho rebels, who had in the mean time been joined by a strong roinforcomeiit from their pa, making their number up to about (bur hundred, saw (he smalliicss of tho force cominsr asrninst them, actually drewthemßL'lves up in line to receive us. Tho 50th let fly a volley into them which must have damaged .some of thorn, as they afterwards ma le tho best of their way towards their position. Of course it would have been foolishness tor oifr men to hayo followed thorn, as that would have been playing into their hands. I can't imagine what, tho iufatuittod mortals think we are. They had actually commenced to throw up a breastwork across tho road leading to Ihlaungutuutari, about a mile and a half in front of our camp. They are evidently bocinniuiz to get impatient, a"d if wo don't soon attack them, they will certainly alfn.-k us. I daresay this long delay 'in front of their position has made them rather inquisitive to know what, we are doing.

Another new position, a few hundred yards boforo we reach Maungatautari, was throwu up" last uight. If thev continue at litis rate, they will soon have more, positions than they will be" ablo to man. The position or earthwork of Oraknu had not been taken when the mounted orderlies arrived in camp this evening. A despatch arrived hero during the day for Lieut. Warburton, Tt. E., to proceed at once to the scene of action, taking with him ft sufficient quantity of gunpowder to charge a mine. AVe expect news every hour of the destruction of this second Pancririri. I only trust they will charge the mine properly, and teach a lesson to those who are determined to make n further sfand, that they are not ho safe behind their earthworks as they lit present imagine. April 3. Xo news from Orakau, but I should think our men aro in possession of the Maori position by this time. QUEER'S .UEDOUBT. [FROM OUli OWN COBBESrONDKNT.] April 4. Xo intimation of further movements at the front has yet reached ns, to that like " Pip," wo aro compelled to live on " groat expectations. A fine lot of horses were driven through from the front yesterday; they will be handed over to the commissariat; the majority of them have boon captured at the front, and are very likely looking animals. It was some time ago proposed to get up a concert here in aid of the funds for tho wives and children of tho nien engaged on active service; the idea was so Ijiv carried out, that a committee was formed, but the uH'air seems to be dying a natural death -. why this shou'd be the case T cannot understand, as wo have everv opportunity of getting up really a very creditable performance, as we have sterling talent to work with, for example, the band of tho 10th, though some arrangement would have to be made before their sirvicts could be obtained, a-s tho duties at this pest are very arduous, and then wo hav" first-rate vocal ability, Mr. Daniels, who created such a sensation at Drury being with us. Accom) Hiiieinent is not wanting, and we have a building capable of accomodating -00 persons. Now if a sum of money can be raised i" this manner for so noble an object, it behoves us as men to make on effort to assist the funds of the Wives' and Children Committee. 1 tiust that tho persons interested may wake up from their li thargic state, and set to work at once in right canio.-t. The wounded in tho hospitals here are nil progressing favourably.

EAXGIAVniJA.

[ttSOM A COItniiSrONPF.NT.] Sunday Evening, April 3. I send you the following particulars that have been sent in. Colom 1 or Brigadier-General Carey sapped up towards the Orakau pa yesterday, and having entirely surrounded it blew up a kind of Hanking anulc. at 11 laet night, causing, it is supposed, a considerable loss to the enemy, who. to the number of, it is statid. 210. occupied the pa. An engagement took place on I lit- outside of the pa in a sally Yr attempt, when the Maoris were driven buck with loss. Ca.pt. Herford, of the commissariat Transport corps is said to be desperately wounded, mid Lieut. Chevalier seriously in the leg. Since writing, the above intelligence has come in that the enemy, not '-'00, but -100 or 500 in number, have burst their way out and partly escaped, losing some SO or SIO, and causing us a loss in killed and wounded of -15. They were pursued for I miles, and Hcwi, the Xgatiamiiiiiapoto chief, left badly wounded in a swamp, but not yet taken. General Cumciou has arrived. Poor Major Bing is dead. Captain Fisher's wound is in the abdomen following round the muscles: not so desperate as was first supposed Poor fellow ! only the other day he was bravely charging, with 4 or 5 men, five times the number at the parapets at \A'aiari. In this war the bravest ollicers and men are sure, sooner or later, to be hit. ~~ DiiniY. [iHOM OVI'. OWN COUUEsrUNDEST.] April o. Another accident has occurred amongst the men engaged stone breaking under Mr. Murtyn at "Williamson's Clearing. Two of the mvn carelessly attending to their work, talking to one another; after lighting their fuse they continued their conversation and omitted to run under shelter. Tho blast went oil', blowing the hand nearly oil' one man, anil blinding the other, who is much cut about the face ; both were brought into hospital here, and after having their wounds dressed were sent on to Auckland in an ambulance cart. The convoy this day numbered 33 carls, in'charge of tho Military Train. The addition to the strength of that corps has been increased by tho arrival of the men and carts I mentioned in my last.

Killed. Wounded. 18th Regiment - - 8 12 -WHi „ - 3 *} (i5tH M a li 70th „ - 1 4 Militia - - 2 3 Forget - 2 A