TARANAKI.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 90, 15 September 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

TARANAKI.

The Taranaki News of August 27-, states that an escort' Had been" li fed' on at~Omala, and three soldiers wounded,, in ihe busli clearing dn the banks of tlie -Tapuac. A number of sheep having strayed; a party went out to recover them, with an escort of some fifty men of, the 57th llegiment, under Captain Russel. The road fiom the Redoubt to tbe Tapuac winds through a number of clearings down to Harford's section, which is the boundary line of the Omata 'block, and all 'beyond 'this line which crosses the river at this spot is dense scrub. Here the sheep had been collected, and were about being driven across,, the river, when a heavy fire was opened upon the party from the adjacent bush. Tbo position was well chosen by the assailants, aad it is only a matter of surprise that numerous casualties had riot occurred. The only thing to be done was to bring thpmeh out of theperilous position, wliich 'Captain Russell effected wjth great coolness and judgment.' The fire was returned witb vigour, and had the effect of driving the enemy back into the bush, wlien the party crossed the river and was extricated froro | the broken ground near tWford; "Ensign Pecott, who camejo .the spct hada very narrow escape, having received a scalp wound from a well aiiiied'shot The only other casuality is Priyate Maurice Hylanu, a bail through the hand. At the first fire, the enemy was not more than .O.yirds away, but not to be got at from the high ground and bush. The sheep were abandoned. The natives were clearly using them for food, as the skins_ and heads of a great many were foiind in various places on tbe south side of the river.