COL. M'DONNELL'S DESPATCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 878, 26 September 1868, Page 4

COL. M'DONNELL'S DESPATCH.

Camp, Waihi, 9th Sept. 18G8. Sir — I have the honour to state for the information of the Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence, that I left here at 4 a.m. on the 7th inst. with the force, as per margin, intending to reach Te Ruaaruru through the bush, attack that village, and return by Te Ngutuotemanu. On reaching Mawhitiwhiti, we struck inland on the main track to Te Ngutuotemanu, and to seaward of the track that is supposed to exist, and marked out on the map to Te Rua-aruru. After proceeding some distance on a very old trail,

it ceased altogether ; we ' then headed in the supposed direction of the place named. "We got into a very rough country, intersected with gullies and streams, and a perfect network of supplejacks. About 1 p.m. we ascended a bush ridge, and, on the advice of Honi Papara, our guide, struck for the sea, to try and hit a track.

THE FIBST OP THE FIGHT.

After struggling in the bush for another hour, we heard voices a-head, and I sent a native up a tree to reconnoitre. Ke could only see smoke. Pushing on in the direction of the voices, we came upon three or four bark huts, which were rushed by the Kupapas, who fired_ into them — the inmates rushing away, leaving two killed, and three children, who were taken. I then left the Kupapas to bring up the rear, and directed Major Yon Tempsky to lead on with, the men under his immediate command, sending Honi Papara, and a few friendly Natives in front. We soon got into a fair track, and after proceeding about 400 or 500 yards, we saw some more huts and a tent to the right of the path, and afterwards, to our surprise, found it was Titokowaru's sleeping place. Of course, there was no one inside, the shots that had been fired having warned them. Following sharp on the track we crossed a creek, and on rising the opposite %ank we received a sharp fire. As fast as possible, I got the men formed up, and returned it. In a very few minutes we were fired upon fromf ront, right and rear — but except within the palisading in the clearing in our front we could see no enemy. In examining the place more closely, I found we were at the rear of Te Ngutuotemanu, and not at Rua-aruru, and that a new stockade had been erected, and the old one rebuilt.

THE OFFICEBS KILLED. — THE EETKEAT.

As I could see that it would be impossible to rush, and, even if successful, to hold the place, as the enemy were not only occupying but round three sides of it, and up in the rata trees, some of which were hollow at the butt and loop-holed, I determined to collect the wounded— now seven in number — and endeavour fo push to my left — the only point that appeared open. There was no track, and the fewnatives who were with us not knowing of one, I directed Inspector Hunter to accompany the wounded with Captain !Newland, instructing the latter to keep Honi Papara in view, who had promised to strike a way out. I was obliged to trust to his knowledge of the country, he having lived there for some time. I then returned to Major Yon Ternpsky, and sent Kemp to collect as many of his men as he could, and send them to join Captain Newland in front. I then desired Major Yon Teropsky to collect the rest of the men to form, a rear guard, and come on at once. I told Captain dimming to come on with me. Duriug the whole of this time the enemy were firing heavily at us in every direction. Our way had to be cut through supplejacks and undergrowth, which, with the eight stretchers we now had, was a work of toil and difficulty. We at length reached the creek that runs through Timaru, but still no track. Presently the news was brought to me that Major Yon Tempsky, Captain Buck, Captain M'Donnell (N.C), and Lieut. Hunter were shot' dead ; but just then Captain M'Donnell came up and stated that Major Yon Tempslcy, Captain Buck, and Lieut. Hunter were killed, and that he had told Lieut. Hastings that the only chance was to carry out tha order that had been given to Major Yon Tempsky, at once. His reply was, " Captain Buck is senior," and that he would consult him. Captain M'Donnell then went to see Captain Buck, but found he was killed, and the enemy by this time in possession of the place where the bodies of him, Major Yon Tempsky, and two men lay. He returned then, and pointed out to Mr Hastings the necessity of retiring. The fire atthistime was very heavy from the front, rear, aud right, and from the tops of the rata trees. He then followed on my trail, with eight natives and ten Europeans, and reported as above. 1 had now wfth me about eighty men, including natives — hardly sufficient to carry our "wounded, now increased in number, and to keep down the fire from our right. Knowing that a large proportion of the force was in rear, with several good officers, I moved on, feeling sure they were covering our retreat ; but I presently found the enemy had got between us, and it appears from what Sub-In-spector Roberts tells me that soon after Captain M'Donnell had left, the Hauhaus succeeded in completely surrounding the rear guard, and it was only with the greatest difficulty they cut their way through them. The Hauhaus then left him (as he struck to the left further into the bush) and came after us, overtaking us just before we struck the main track leading into Te Ngutuotemanu (as in map). Capt. M'Donnell meanwhile had taken up a position at T© Muru to keep our front open j our

wounded had by this lime' increased, to twelve, Vho had to be carried, besides several slightly hit, but could walk. The men with our party worked hard, but were so done up as to require every persuasion and advice I and my officers could think of to keep- ; the majority from abandoning the wounded ; one man killed dead I had to leave, and l>r Best was badly hit in going to ascertain his state. The Doctor had to be carried off on rifles, haying no more stretchers with my party. The Natives now swarmed in our rear, and kept up a heavy fire which I was was obliged to return only occasionally, as my ammunition was very short. Captain Gumming and myself loading aud firing now and then, and I was afraid the enemy might have got round to the crossing of the Waingongoro river before I could reach it.

M'DOSnTELI/s FORCE GETS OUT OP THE

We attained the opening at Ahi Pai Pa just at dusk, and here received a parting volley from the enemy. They followed onj yelling, and commenced a war dance on the open ground out of the bush. I caused my men to cheer, and gave them a volley which 1 should think took effect, as their dance ended rather abruptly, and they did not molest us any more. I may state that for some time I had not heard any distant firing, and therefore concluded the remainder of the force had got in advance of me. v ' I pushed across on to the river and found a few of the friendly natives holding the crossing. We got the men and wounded safely across, and reached camp about 10 p.m. A mixed party of Natives and Europeans, the latrer numbering about eighty, had arrived before me, and reported that all officers were killed or wounded and left behind, myself included. On roll being called. I found that Sub-Inspector Roberts, Captain Palmer, Lieut. Hastings, and Ensign Hertzell, with about eighty men and four natives, were still absent. I caused three, rockets to be fired, and sent a party to the heights above the river, and they sounded bugles, but no response was heard : being satisfied that I could do nothing until daylight, the officers and men exhausted — even dismissed — I arranged to start the Natives to hunt up the missing men in the morning, and just as they were about to start a party was seen approaching the camp, which proved to be Sub-Inspector Roberts, Ensign Hertzell, and sixty-two men, with four Natives, who reported Captain Palmer and Lieut. Hastings as having been killed. I enclose the statement of Sub-Inspector Roberts of what took place from the time when he became senior officer of the rear-guard.

THE CONDUCT CF OFPICEES AND MEN.

Colonel M'Donnell pays the highest compliments to the courage and daring of the officers, and states his confidence, that if Major Yon Tempsky had lived a few minutes longer, much fewer men would have been lost. It appears, however, according toM'Donnell's statement, that most of the men became dispiritedwhen they found the enemy in such force on all sides of them. The conduct of the Kupapas was excellent. The despatch concludes :—: —

I beg to enclose a list of my casualties, which, I deeply deplore, are very heavy, but I am satisfied that of the enemy is much heavier. The Kupapas killed fifteen, and the known killed by the Europeans was thirteen, making a total of twenty-eight. This does not include the loss they must have suffered when we were fighting our way out. — I have, &c. Thos. M'Donkell, Lieut. -Col.