IMPORTANT NEWS FROM VANGANUI.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 769, 7 March 1865, Page 4

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM VANGANUI.

GEEAT BATTLE,

TWENTY-FIVE REBELS KILLED AND SEVENTY-EITE TAKEN PRISONERS.

CAPTTURE OF PEHI, THE REBEL LEADER,

(From the Wellington Advertiser, Feb. 28.)

About three o'clock yesterday afternoon a special messenger arrived in Wellington from Wanganui, with despatches for the Government, containing most important intelligence in connection with an engagement which took place on Saturday last between the rebel and friendly natives, and in which the latter proved completely victorious, routing their enemies from their rifle-pits and redoubts, killing twenty-five of their number, and capturing seventy-five prisoners, amongst whom are some of the principal men. 'From what we can learn it appears that the battle took place up the river, at a place where the rebels had strongly fortified their position. The friendly natives were the attacking parties, and after a brief but terrible encounter they drove their enemies from the rifle-pits, and under a flag of truce captured seventy-five prisoners. All the rebel chiefs of any importance on the river, with the exception of Mamuku, are captured. Mamuka's eldest son is killed. Among the prisoners are Pehi, Tahana, Tapia, and Hamarama. The friendly natives were led in a most gallant manner by the chiefs Aneko and Mawai, and the rebels were commanded by Pehi. Brigadier-General Waddy was thrown from his horse on Saturday last, and besides other injuries he sustained a fracture of the collar-bone. "We have been furnished with the following correspondence ,in connection with this matter from the Colonial Secretary's Office :— " Resident Magistrate's Court, " Wanganui, 25th Feb., 1865, 9 p.m. " Sir, —I have the honor to report for the information of the Government, that an important victory has been achieved by our native allies at Jerusalem over the rebels. Enclosed is a translated copy of a despatch which I have received from the native assessors, and have furnished the commanding officer here with a copy of the same. The report states that all the pas were taken, and 29 of the enemy killed, and only two wounded on our side. The chief Mamaku escaped, the rest being taken prisoners, viz.:—Pehi, Pehi's son, Pah-ana, liara of Taupo, and Manihera. I regret to state John Williams, who I reported yesterday as being badly wounded, died this morning; he is to be buried on Tuesday next, when every attention will be paid out of respect to the deceased. I have further to state that the General has crossed the Patea with 900 men, and is likely to encounter some opposition. A detachment of the 68th, 250 strong, marched to the Front this morning under Colonel Morant. As there is no opportunity at present by steam, I send this by a mounted messenger. " I have, &c, " (Signed) D. S. Curie, E.M. " The Honorable '; The Attorney-General, " Wellington." (" To Major Burin, to Mr. Wait, to Mr. Waters, and to all the JSuropean Gentlemen) "Iruharama, 25th February, 1565. "On the 24th of this month, General Mete Kingi gave orders to the soldiers to commence the fight, and the chief's Kawana, Paipai, Xatene, Kuini, Aperaniko, Toma, and Pama, got up and consented to give battle. These were the chiefs that assaulted two pas and took them, killing three, namely, Heremia, Ileta, and another, name unknown. The chief that was slain was Te Tawhero, son of Topine Te Mamaku. The 400 all then arose to do battle in the space of one hour, and the enemy fled into the bush, the survivors remaining in the large pa "which we surrounded. Peihi's wife came out with a white flag, and the firing of the soldiers was ordered to cease, when they made over to us namely, Pehi, Topia, Tahana. Bo you write to the General and convey this intelligence to Colonel Logan. " Hojfi Ivijtgi, " Mete Kikgi, " Aperakiko, " HimoifA, and " Toma." (A true translation) E. W. Wooisr, Government Interpreter, Wanganui.

Pehi,