AUCKLAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume I, Issue 5, 9 July 1864, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

GREAT FIGHT AT TAURANGA. We have news from Auckland to the 25th 'June. The natives were defeated with a very severe loss at Tauranga on the 21st. The fight was the most successful which has taken place during the war. The special correspondent to the Southern Cross gives the following particulars : — June 21. Having just learnt that H.M. s.& Esk is to leave for Auckland m a few minutes* I am enabled to send you a few scraps of information respecting the spirited engagement between our troops and the rebels, which took place to-day about noon, at a position about four miles beyond the Gate Pa. The rebels had commenced the erection of a new pa on a narrow neck of land having deep gullies on three sides, and on the fourth side intercepting the road so frequently traversed of late by the Defence Force on expeditions. A force of 400 infantry and cavalry, with one 6-pounder gun, started this morning at 8 o'clock, under Colonel Greer, for the purpose of dislodging them ; and nobly have they effected their object. The rebels were the first to assume the offensive— their out-sentries firing upon the column as it advanced along the level plain. Skirmishers were thrown out, and the 6-pounder placed m position on a slight eminence, about 500 yards from the rifle-pits. The skirmishers and rebels m the pits exchanged shots for some time, but without much injury on our side, the only two soldiers wounded being Private Patrick Crawley, 68th, shot m the eye, and Nathaniel i Corey, 43rd, m the left leg. Lieutenant Palmer, , ( A.D.C. to Colonel Greer, was hit m the neck by j a spent ball, and knocked off his horse; the wound is fortunately reported to be slight, and later m the day he was enabled to resume his duties. Reinforcements were sent for to Te Papa, both infantry, guns, and mortars; but before they arrived it hal been determined to charge the position, the gallant Colonel having been induced to give orders to that effect from the impatient demands of the 43rd and 68th Regiments, to be permitted to storm the works. The bugles then sounded tnc advance, and with a tremendous cheer, making the hills re-echo again, the 43rd, CBth, and Waikato Militia, made a rush forward ill admirable order, and with tho utmost precieion, to tlio several points of assault. The rebels m the pits then poured out a tremendous volley at the troops advancing, and from the dense mass of beings rushing forward, it was impossible for any spectator not to believe the whole would have been swept to the earth. Suspense, however, as to the fate of the assault was of but a few minutes' duration ; and aa the Binoke was carried away by the slight breeze then prevailing, the soldiers were observed to have passed to the right corner of the position, and behind the riflepits and parapets. Those advancing m front of the position were quickly m possession of the riflepits, and again the cheers went up to the heavens from those m occupation of the pa as well as the supports and reserves who had watched from a distance the spirited encounter. The whole affair, from the bugles sounding the advance, to the pa being m our possession, only seemed to occupy a few Beconds of time ; aud then the cry arose to follow the retreating enemy. The Defence Corps, which had been within a few hundred yards of the pa awaiting their time to arrive, then dashed forward, aud quickly came up with the poor wretches flying to the gullies, knowing that m crossing them they would be more than a match for horsemen. The breech-loading carbine, how" ever, told with effect upon the fugitives, and soldiers also coming forward m the pursuit, a great slaughter must taken place. The Colonial Defence Force followed the rebels for the : distance of about ten miles, and are said to have rendered a good account of those they met by the way. The pa being m our possession, those ; soldiers not following m pursuit of the Maoris were directed to search for the bodies of those killed, wounded, or hiding m the gullies and swamps on the line of retreat, and a large number were picked up m this manner, who woidd otherwise have escaped during the night, or, if dead remained there without a proper burial. *The dead rebels found were placed m three long lines near the pa, and by a friend who counted thain I am informed there were 120. The wounded aud prisoners will number near upon thirty. Amongst the dead, the body of Tawiri is said to havo been discovered. It will be remembered that this chief had the direction of affairs at the Gate pa ; and another leading chief of this district said to be killed is Mimoti. A Very great number of arms thrown awajf by the rebels have been recovered; but how -many of tho enemy were present on the first appearance of the troops cannot be said. A great number of the rebels left the pa aa the troops first came

m sight, and it was thought the pa was generally deserted, until the discharge of a heavy volley at a body of skirmishers. It is impossible to state our loss correctly or even approximately. The dead and wounded are being carried m; but until to-morrow a list cannot be obtained. Captains Trent and Casement, 68th are wounded; and also Capiains Smith and Bernards, 43rd. The privates killed are said to number about ten ; number of wounded not known* though said to be few, comparatively to Maori loss. Whilst the engagement was going on, word was brought to the Colonel that it was intended to make an attack upon To Papa, whilst a faint attack was made at the pa which had fallen into our hands. The feint, however, was turned into a reality, and to be prepared for all comers at Te Papa, the Naval Brigade came on shore, and all the trojps remaining m camp were placed under arms ready for an attack. The Maoris however, never came. The last news brought m from the Front is that the number of Maori bodies collected, killed and wounded has been counted at 204. I much regret that the short notice I have had of the departure of the Esk will not permit m e giving any other than a hurried account of such a victory. The name of the place where the engagement took place, as given by our own correspondent, is Te Taumata-ia-Hui, on the road leading to Kahakaharea. Amongst the Maoris killed are : Itawiri, Tuaia, chief (before mentioned) ; §Paihipi, chief of Whakatohea: Kaingarara, of Ngatimataku, Rotorua. Many of the killed were strangers. Among the wounded was Te Tera ; and amongst the prisoners, Iliaia Motuiti, who are men of rank. Henare Teratoa, the Maori who wrote the challenge to Colonel Greer, is amongst the killed. Neither Thompson nor Rewi were present, — sa far as can be ascertained by ques" tioning the prisoners. We have received the following information from another source. At eight o'clock on the morning of the 21st instant, Colonel Green marched from the camp at Te Papa with the following force : — 3 field officers, 9 captains, 14 subalterns, 24 sergeants, 13 buglers, and 531 rank and file. When they arrived at a position about four miles beyond Pukchiuahiua, a large force of Maoris, about 600 m number, were found entrenching themselves, and they had already formed a single line of rifle pits, across the road, and they appeared to have projected the erection of a formidable pa. Some \ Maori skirmishers were met with and were driven mby our troops, and Colonel Greer then extended the 43rd, and some of the 68th m their front, and on their flanks, and kept up a sharp fire upon them for about two hours, and during this time, a reinforcement of one gun and 220 inon were sent for, and when near enough to j form a support to the main body, Colonel Greer I ordered the advauce, when the 43rd, 68th, and Ist Waikato Regiment charged, and under a tremendons fire from the enemy, which fortunately was aimed too high, carried the rifle pits m the most gallant manner. The Maoris fought most desperately for the first few minutes, and then were utterly routed, leaving 68 of their number dead m their rifle-pits. The position which they had selected was favourable for retreat, and had it not been so very few iudeed could have escaped The retreating foe were pursued by the Defence Force for several miles, but owing to the deep ravines which occurred here and there, the enemy could not be very got at. The infantry also pursued as long as they could keep the enemy m sight, aud the whole of the forces engaged did their duty gallantls. Major Synger, who commanded the 43rd, had his horse shot under him. Major Shuttleworth commanded the 68th, and Captain Moon, the Ist Waikato Militia, and each of these gallant officers led the troops under them excellently. After this engagement the troops marched back to camp, and m the evening 107 dead bodies were found, and carried to the rifle-pits, which, as it turned out, the Natives had dug for themselves ; and 27 severely wounded prisoners, and ten not wounded, were brought into camp. The Native loss m killed, however, must have been much more severe than above stated, for many were killed m the ravines, and could not be found readily. A large number of chiefs, including Rawiri, of Gate pa celebrity, were amongst the killed, but the loss on our side was comparatively smalL The Maoris made a galland stand at their rifle-pits, did not flinch from the charge, nor retire until forced to do bo at the point of the bayonet. Te Ranga is the name of the position which the rebels occupied. The casulties of the rebels, as far as they were positively kuown, are as follows : — Killed— los; 107 reported: wounded, 27; prisoners, 10. Total, 142. The principal king chief of Tauranga, Pauri Tuaia, the leader of the rebels at the Gate pa; Paihipi, of the

Whakatohea tribe, Bay of Plenty; Henare Taratoa, a man much esteemed by tbe rebels, of considerable education, ability, and the writer of one of the challenges ; Timoti, of considerable note m the Tauranga districts ; Kaingarara, of the Ngatimataka, lictorua, of considerable influence there, are killed. Te Tera, of the Ngaiterangi, Tauranga, is wounded ; and lhaia Motuiti, of Te Aiawa, Rotorua, who describes himself as ft chief of rank, is a prisoner. It is believed that nearly the whole of the leaders of the rebels forces (the Ngaiterangi) at Tauranga have been killed, and that there few m any of that tribe who are influential or energetic enough to go on with the war. The 'Weekly News' gives the following summary of the battle : — On Wednesday evening the Esk brought news of a spirited engagement which we had had with the rebels at a place about four miles from the Gate pa, Tauranga. After receiving the intimation from the natives that they were to attack us, various reconnoitring expeditions were made from our posts, and large bodies of the enemy were observed to be on the move. No encounter, however, took place till Tuesday last, the 21st instant, when it was noticed that the Maoris were constructing a pa to command the road traversed by the Colonial Defence troopers when out reconnoitring. A force of about 400 men, with one gun, marched out to dislodge them before the defences of the pa could be completed. On coming up to the place where the rebels were already entrenched, skirmishing commenced, and reinforcements were sent for. But the soldiers on the spot, belonging to the 43rd and 68th regiments, clamoured to be allowed to make an assault. Leave was given by Colonel Greer, the men rushed forward, received one heavy volley, and carried the place m a few minutes at the point of the bayonet. The retreating rebels were pursued by the Colonial Defence Force, but the nature of the locality favoured their escape. The loss of the enemy is estimated to amount to 200 killed; on our side nine men were killed, and forty wounded. Amongst the killed was the chief Rawiri, who was m command of the Gate pa when our attack was repulsed, and made himself very conspicuous on that occasion. The details of the affair— one of the most brilliant and successful of the war — will bo found amongst our war news. No" hostilities have taken place at any other part of the island during the week, l'he rumour of the presence of a large body of Maoris m the Wairoa district has turned out untrue, but great alarm still prevails among those settlers who had somewhat prematurely gone back to their farms, and who are beginning to see that they are not yet secure from an incursion of the enemy. Tkeie are certainly no signs of a disposition to make peace amongst the Natives ; on the contrary, what indications we have of their spirit, shows them as determined as ever on war.