AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 658, 9 July 1864, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

(prom the daily times correspondent.) 23rd June.

The quiet of Auckland was yesterday greatly disturbed by the arrival of the Southern Mail j with the acconnt of the wreck of the Scotia. Next the English Mail showed up in spite of the adverse weather, and in the afternoon the Bsk arrived in harbor with intelligence that caused I a feeling of gladness, mixed, however, with sorrow. A victory over the rebels had been obtained at Tauranga in a position about four miles from the Gate Pa. of so decisive a character a3 in some measure to atone for the disaster at Pukehinahina. According to the highest military authority, a victory is to be regretted only less than a defeat, and it is so in this case, from the loss and suffering inflicted upon our brave countrymen, as well as upon a brave and gallant enemy. It appears that the rebels were intent upon mischief, and had thrown rifle-pits across a nanowspit of land whioh had deep gullies on three | sides. Here it was evidently intended to erect a formidable redoubt. It will be renembered that some short time since a challenge waa given by the Henara Taratoa to Colonel Greer, in command of tho forces at Tauranga. Colonel Gre"r may or may not have been influenced by this hut on Tuesday morning, at eight o'clock, Colonel Greer determined to dislodge the rebels from the position they had assumed. The force consisted of about 500 infantry and cavalry, and a sixpounder gun. The enemy was supposed to number at least 600 thoroughly entrenched in their newly-erected rifle pits. The enemy first commenced proceedings by their out-posts filing upon the advancing troops. Skirmishers were thrown out in their front, and also on their flank, who kept up a smart fire for about two hours, the sixpounder also being placed on an eminence about sjO yards from the position. Two only of our men were wounded during this time, fnd an aide-de-camp of Colonel Greer was knocked over by a spent ball, but not seriously injured. Reinforcements were sent for from camp, but before their arrival the ardour of the fiSth an 1 43rd Regiments, could not be restrained, and the order to storm the position was given. The brave fellows dashed forward amidst a terrific shower of bullpts from the Maoris who made a gallant stand. But the British bayonet was, as it often has been, irresistible, and after a haud-to-hand encounter the rebels were utterly routed, leaving sixty-eight bodies in the rifte pit to indicate the severity of the conflict. The pursuit of those who escaped then took place, and the Defence Force, who were awaiting their turn, dashed forward and cut down the poor wretches as they were attempting to reach the gullies. The soldiers also joined in the pursuit, and a fearful sacrifice of life took place. The fight over, an investigation of the casualties took place. The following is as complete a list of the killed and wounded as has yet been furnished ; — KILLED. 68tii Regiment. Private James Taylor Private Peter Shannahan Private John Thames 43rd Regiment. Corporal J. Meeney Private W. Varrell Private Henry Williamson j Private P. Johnson Private Thomas Meagher WOUNDED. 68th Regiment. Captain Trent Captain Casement Lieutenant Stuart Ensign Palmer Sergeant Thomas Stafford, thigh Corporal Lucas Beatty. che?t Corporal Carney, right arm and left leg Private John Derricott, left groin Private Pat. Crowley, face, dangerously Private James Hallow, right hand - Private Henry Way, left thigh Private Daniel Casey, ancle Piivate James Bramble, right hand Private Johi Perry, face, dangerously • Private Isaac Sergent, right foot, slightly Private Abbott Th'ifc, right leg, severely Private John M anson, right leg, «eve y Private George Smith, severely Private Thomas Smith, spear wound in right groin. Private Lawrence Manson, left side, very severely. Private Richard Martin, abdomen, severely Private Thomas Nallee, right thigh, severely Private Daniel Caffery, right thigh, slight Private Henry March ner. chest, slight 43xd Regiment.

Oapt&in Smith Captain Bernards Private Reuben Corry, left thigh Private George Martin, right arm, severely Private John Payne, left arm, very severely Private John McOomlin, right thigh, severely. Private Robert Brown, right shoulder Private Daniel Pepper, right shoulder, very severely. Private William Warner, left leg, very severely. Private John McGu're, chest, very dangerously. ' Private Robert Langley, neck, slight. Private John Drury, left thigh very severely. Private Charles Morris, chest slight.

The loss of the enemy is estimated at one hundred and twenty, twenty-seven wounded, and eleven prisoners, in all more than 150. Amongst the slain are the following noted warriors : —

Pauri Tuaia, principal chi-f of Taunnsri, and leader of the rebels at the Gate pah encounter. Paihipi, chief of Waikato Lea. Kaingarara, of Ngatimataku. Rotorua Heware Taratoa, who wrote the challenge. Timoti, of Tauranga district. Botprua, and some others of considerable note in their tribes. Amongst the wounded are :— Te Tera, of the Ngaiterangi. Thai Motuiti, of Te Arawa.

It is believed that the greater portion of tlw leading chiefs in this district have been killed, and it is to be devoutly hoped that this glorious victory will only be the prelude of a more peaceable disposition on the part of the rebel tribes.

I beljeve I have g'ven you as precise an account ns possible of this affair, from the harried accounts which bare reached Auckland,

With regaid to the English news — which will have been placed in your hands by the timo this arrives— l would only say that it has occasioned much talk, and a large amount of spesu'ation.

On Tuesday, Alexander ML an, who murdered his wife on the 3rd June, and afterwards attempted suicide, was placed at the bar of the R< sident M aristrate's Court. He had been com mittffl under the Coroner's warrant, and was brought up for examination by a writ of habeas corpus, granted by Chief Justice Arney. A son and daughter, of the ages of 18 or i' 6, were the principal witnesses asainst the wretched man. He had shot his wife through the breast, causing death within a few minutes. He next shot away his own jaw, but is now nearly recovered from the injury he inflicted upon himself. The examination was necessarily a painful one, and terminated in his committal for trial at the supreme Court.

Another exciting examination has taken place this week in the same Court. There were placed at the bir seven men and v»omen charge 1 with burglary. For about two months past a series of depredations have been committed, which bafflxl the police authorities, who were constantly on the qiti vive untii Saturday week, -when a policeman on duty observed a light in Mr Dirby's, Thistle Hotel. arousing Mr Darby, a fe low named Thompson was captured on the pemises. He had been paying his addresses to Mr Darby's iron s fe, which he had slewed from its position, but was too heavy for one to lift. Outside were two other men with a bag. On searching the house where the men all lodged together a chi«el was found with which the entrance had been effected, and property turned up which has been identified. The most singular part of the affair is, however, the discovery of - a quantity of jewellery at the bottom of the well. A neighbor who has access to the well drew up a cold ring, which led the Police Commissioner setting two of his men to clean out the well, when the following articles were found:— ll rupees, a gilt hunting watch, a gold Maltese chain aad Albert guard, 6 gold ring 9, 3 gold pins, shirt studs and a silve? mcd il with clasps. These articles were identified as having been stolen from the Belfast Hotel. One of them has been committed on this charge, and the rest have beeu committed, with one exception, for another serious burglary From the thieves throwing articles so easy of identification info the mud, we may conclude that we have not at present any of those curses to society— '• fences," or receivers of stolen goods. The absence of pawn-shops is also a preventative to the increase of crime in Auckland. The leader of the eaDg, Thompson, is evidently a consummate Ecoundrel, whom, it has been remarked, if he put his head in at the window you would shoot first and ask him what he wanted after. His insolence in Court was remarkable, and it is to be hoped his career is checked for a time.

It is pretty ge> erally rumoured that the dissensions in the Cabinet are not settled, aud that a meeting of the General Assembly would possibly be convened. The arrival of the English Mail with Despatches will necessarily tell upon the action taken by the Governor and his Responsible Advisers.

The weather for three days last week was older than has been known in this part of New Zealand by the oldest colonists. A piercing wind blew from the South a'companied with rain The frosts have been keen at night, at other times. The great scarcity of fuel, with the price of bread and meat, makes it anything but a cheering time for our poorer heads of families.