AN ESCORT ATTACKED AT THE FRONT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 869, 20 March 1869, Page 3

AN ESCORT ATTACKED AT THE FRONT.

The Chronicle says—A gentleman who rode into town on Wednesday night, furnishes us with the following particulars of an attack which was made by an ambuscade of the rebels on an escort: — An escort of a mixed force of 40 mem, composed of Armed Constabulary, Patea Rifles, and Carlyle Volunteers, and twelve mounted men along with four other travellers (of whom our informant was one) started from Patea for Wairoa yesterday forenoon. Lieut. Huuter of the Patea Rifles, was the officer in command, but—if our information is correct — he neglected to take even the most ordinary precautions to prevent a surprise on the march. Neither videttes nor scouts were detailed for duty. This force acted as an escort to seven drays carrying three thousand rations which the contractors—Messrs. Beamish and Dale —wore despatching to Wairoa, to which post a forward movement of 500 troops was being made the same day, A flock of sheep has also been driven along. At half-past one o'clock the force was brought to a temporary stand on the other side of the Wheuuakura river. The infantry were standing about while the foremost files of horsemen and one of the carts were in the act of fording the river whan an unexpected volley was fired from a concealed force of Maoris variously estimated at from 100 to 150. On the first discharge one man—astockman, it is believed —was seen to fall. A second and heavier volley burst from tbo

heights, and aftei'wards a liofc fire was opened on both aides. Our informant was on this side of the river at the timo and proceeded to make the best of his way to Waitotara, where he apprised a portion of the Field Force, that was there crossing' for Wairoa, of the matter. A trooper or two who ' afterwards rode up to Waitotaru gave, but a gloomy prospect of the affray,' but it is only reasonable to suppose that panic may have influenced thoir descriptions. So far, we only know of the existence of a skirmishon the sea beach ; the result is yet unknown to us. It is to be hoped that the fin'np; may have beeQ heard at Patea or at an advanced post beyond Wairoa, or that tidings may have reached either of these posts, in which case assistance must have been rendered. It was known, for some days previously, that the enemy were in that locality, as their fires were visible at Gentle Annie, and on Monday they advanced near the mouth of the Whenuakura, and burned the house of Wright, the ferryman. A general court-martial was held at Patea, and one of the men in the above affair was tried for cowardice. He was convicted and sentenced to two years penal servitude, and to be flogged. A Warning. — On Monday last (says the Wanganui Times), a messenger from his Maori Majesty came to Wanganui, and asked permission to pass on with an important message to his Majesty's subjects. He had come down the Wanganui River from Taupo, aud was on his way to Rangitikei, Manawatu, &c. Mr. Buller had no power to detain him, although the friendly natives who know so much of what is going on, said that his object was not, as he stared, to convey a message to the King's subjects to the effect that a great meeting would be held this month, at which the question of peace or war will be decided, but that he was the actual bearer of a message fixing a particular day for a particular work for his majesty's subjects. Both Government and people have certainly had sufficient warning. The following is a liberal translation of the letter, the only words supplied being distinguished by italics :—: — A stretching forth of the hand during the year to the friends in the island which I love. 1. Oh people ! sleep ! do not turn round upon me ; the island sleeps. 1. Oh people within the paleofKingism, sleep! I will conduct you to the house of your ancestor, — of Israel, 2. The wave of the rapid will hereafter return to its state of calm. Tawhiao. There is no reasonable ground for doubting the authenticity of this letter, except one, for the errors in spelling may be due not to Tawhiao, who spells correctly, but to the provincial peculiarities of the transcriber of what is probably a circular letter. The. only doubt arises from the character of the messenger, who is commonly known in Upper Wauganui as Rihari Rupahu, Richard the humbug. Meti Kingi, from whom the Government obtained their copy, accepts the letter as genuine, and reads it as distinctly peaceful. Probably there will be little difference of opinion on the latter point, and it is altogether in the spirit and manner of Tawhiao. The messenger further stated that Rewi Maniapoto doe 3 not approve of the murders at the White Cliffs, and that in consequence of those murders the King has discouraged the meeting at Taupo.