Latest Telegrams.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 108, 17 September 1868, Page 3

Latest Telegrams.

«$" [by stjbmabine telegraph.] Wellingtok, Sept. 16, 12.50 p.m. Messrs Richmond, Wilson, and Haughton, spoke for the Government laat night, and Messrs Stevens and Taylor against. A Bill to amend the "Westland County Act has been introduced. The Advertiser publishes Colonel M'Donnell'B despatch received last night. It states that his force got into the bush, the enemy being posted on all sides and in hollow trees, which had been loop-holed. Instead of the force dispersing and taking cover, they could not be prevented from huddling together in small lots, affording a good target to the enemy. The efforts of the Officers to prevent this were in vain ; the men were anxious "to do their duty, but the Bhort training they bad undergone was not sufficient to teach them what to do under the i circumstances. The fact that the Native contingent killed fifteen of the enemy without one of themselves being irounded, he says, proves that for bush fighting men must be long and carefully trained. _J><,The newspapers state that Palea is abandoned to Bacchus. Mr Booth, haa closed all the grog storgiQ Some Natives, hitherto neutral, has joined Tito Kowaru. Colonel McDonnell is both blamed and praised. The accounts only agree in two particulars — our owu lopß, and the excellent behaviour of the friendlies, but tor whom our loss would have been feaiful. Some of the wouuded have been brought to Wanganui. Mr Richmond stated that there was good reanon to fear that wounded were left on the field, and that they had been tortured. Two volleys were fired into the Waihi camp on the night of the 10th mat. The Brisk has arrived from Sydney, and sails for Englaud to-morrow. The Governor's private secretary is a passenger, i