THE MAORI WAR.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 341, 25 January 1861, Page 2

THE MAORI WAR.

BATTLE OF THE « PEACH GROVE."

{From the TaranaM News.)

Operations at Waitaba, Monday, 14th. I was at Kairau on Sunday and found all busy preparing for a move at 4 in the morning. Colonel Wyatt read a little advice to the force on parade inculcating caution, coolness, and strict observance in the line of skirmishers in advance to insure supports in case of attack. The Maori woman who gave herself up yesterday informed us that one of our men lay wounded for two days on the field of Puketakauere and that the Maoris would have spared him, but that exasperated by bis repeated vows of hate and future vengeance, they tomahawked him. , The force that started from Waitara on Monday I morning consisted of 354 rank and file under Colonel Leslie and Major Nelson, 100 of the i 14th under Major Douglass, 120 of the Naval Brigade and 12-pounder howitzer, under Commodore Seymour and Lieut. Battiscombe; and General Staff, making in all 594. The march commenced at 4 o'clock a.m. Skirmishing parties were thrown out as usual at Puketakauere. A party of the 65th formed the advance followed by the 40tb, 12th, Naval Brigade and great gun, the 14th bringing up the rear. This was as far as I could observe of the order of march, and all arrived without interruption about s^. The Maoris opened fire as soon as our force had arrived at the position intended to be taken possession of, but without eftect—the range was too long. This was from right and left of the Peach Grove. Gabions were at once pitched, and working parties thrown out. The redoubt thrown up is about 30 yards square. Opened fire about half-past 6 a.m. The skirmishers under Major Nelson were spread along the ridge of two gullies, the right resting on Kairau, the left opposite the right flank of the Peach Grove—the road to the forest pah of Haparone which crowDs the hill top, nearly three-quarters of a mile from the opening. The position adopted by Major Nelson seemed a very good defensive position. Lieut. M'Naughten was making first-rate practice; the rocket also opened fire, but this Tipo of the Maori seems a somewhat irregular devil. The 8-inch gun soon after opened, and made good firing on the whole, and although scarce a native was to be seen, it cannot but be believed that such an incessant fire has done considerable damage to the enemy, who must have been in considerable numbers near where it was directed. Their fire, however, was very slack—they must have been aware that we were out of range. One gigantic fellow stalked from his lair to look at the effect of the missives discharged with the greatest coolness. The Maoris ceased firing about half-past 11 am. A double ring of skirmishers, at an average of perhaps 900 yards from the skirts of the forest, protected the working parties. Things went on after this very dull—the weather was wet and gloomy. A derisive shot was now and then fired by the hidden Maoris—who hoisted their red ensign for an hour or so, but the shells playing very close it was hauled down. The guns shelled at intervals and the rockets roared, and big Jim bounded now and then while the working parties pushed forward the completion of the redoubt—a very strong, very compact and pretty piece of expeditious fortification. It was completed about half-past five p.m., when the skirmishers were called in and the force returned to camp, leaving about 120 men of the 4th company of the 40th and some of the 65th in possession of the new work. There were no casualties during the whole day on our side.

After the firing of the Maoris had ceased, a little exciting episode occurred on the right and about the centre of Major Nelson's line of skirmishers. In making a short reconnaissance towards the bush on the right of the centre, I believe with the intention of taking possession of a furze hedge which might have formed a cover for attack or defence, the Major with several mounted men went into the paddock it enclosed, when 10, two Maoris were seen hastening through the paddock to the hedge. Had the party been two or three minutes later these would have been under cover of the hedge, and might have cost us something. Three or four rifles were discharged at tbem, with what effect is not known: they were within 50 yards. The party then rode along the end of the paddock towards the edge of a gully skirting the bush—here the whole line was a puff of rifles, although not a maori was to be seen, and turning homewards the party bade our ambushed neighbors good morning. One of the mounted men adjutant Johnson had a narrow escape, his horse startled at the second volley and he lost his seat —bis cap falling off. They dared not but at great risk dismount, and they bad to return within the lines without the cap. The Major laughed heartily at the joke.