THE PUKEKOHE CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 539, 4 August 1865, Page 5

THE PUKEKOHE CAMPAIGN.

VrtTlirn :i;;!tisinu r nflair plaec the oilior lav on tile I'uke!.,'he block. A jiariy of six Kurc>;ieans. •vvorkin;; for ?dr. Lowry, n surveyor, n < ro in the of when, to tlfir horror, they distinctly lienrd ;he voices of Maoris comin? the hush, towards the piece of clear ground on wiiieh t'n'V were standing. Uuddled up together. tlicj".'!V"nited the ■!; ,min but scarcely the :oretnosi of the advanein<: party enieri;e'd from '.he bush with what appeared to their excited imagination three spears under It is arm. >hnn, wi:h a ot " " hole party of Euri'"e.i!'." tlirew down their instruments and tools. ;o«'k to their heels, and scrambling over one at,other in their flight, (build refuge in a wnferhoie. Ihe waterhole was cold, as well it he in duly, but bare life is sweet, and the~v reiv-in.'''- in the waterholo up to their arnirits in water until dusk, wheu one more venturesome than the rest having reconnoitred the cround immediately about, the party beat a cautious but precipitate retreat to their hut. Here tliev remained ad night under arms. ZNoxt TCiorni::- ' three to proceed with loaded cutis to the scene of their disaster, to r.seertaii; it" the instruments and tools were still •here. The} found them gone, and the party iit oiuv heat a retreat, part to TVury. and part ;!;e M.r.tku. where they narrated the thrilling n jventr.res of the attack, and the narrow escape I T-hieh th'.v had experienced. \ow ;Vr t;.e tale of ihe assailant. Mr. Cliur ion. i" "ho is supervising the survey work 0:1 111 t^l '" Ihikekohe block, sent the native eae.et Mita. a .Maori, who understands ami speaks h'nglish tlioroughly. and who lias !oag hee:: employed as draughtsman, \e.. in the jurrev otiiee. witli two other .Maoris, to chain a lir.e. the traversim: of wliieh led them to the spot -.N'liere Mr. l,ow ry's party was at work. Mita i: "ho firs: eame out of the bush, and it was til'' three legs ot his theodolite-stand thai the tV._:t : .vi'- ii'.'si took -r spears. He called after tiietn uood Knglisli to remain, and not to he ntraid. hut the m.-tv lie called, the fu-Ter lie savs :i:ey ran. Ca'.eulating that they M'ere too lncludied ever to reture for their tools, lie csthere.l them up and delivered them into Mf- Clmrton s charge. They consisted of the iiistnmient, its case and lees, a chain. three arrows. a broken axediandle. and a hook. Our eoteinporary's Manku eorrcpondoTit when it chavges M ita's rartv with, stealing these tools, is in error. !Thev have been retttrned to their owners, and we creri think that Mita and his companions mi:;!it almost, with justice, have claimed them as spfHa cj.hr-:'.