COLONEL WHITMORE'S VICTORY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 205, 8 January 1869, Page 2

COLONEL WHITMORE'S VICTORY.

[The following is the full account of the battle referred to in our yesterday's telegraphic news.] [By ELECTMC TELEG-KA.PH.] Wellington, Jan. 7, 6.40 p.m. Colonel Whicmore telegraphs further particulars to Colonel Haultain: — *U" The fortress ofNgatipa fell yesterday morning at 3 o'clock. The troops and Natives were in -full possession on the previous night of the outer wall and works, which wer,e taken by assault in the afternoon, and during the darkness an advance was pushed on by rifle pit and sap, so that when daybreak came the storm could not be resisted. Under these circumstances Te ZKooti shot the most influential of his prisoners, and escaped down a cliff, which could not be prevented owing to the cliff being so very high aud steep, and as tny force was insufficient to entirely surround the hill, I had trusted to keep the lower side safe. The women were first lowered, then followed by Te Kooti himself, wounded in the shoulder and still lame from his wound at Buaki, Ture apparently having been one of the lasj/ This was effected from 1 to 3 a.in;, during which time Major Fraser, yvho was nearest of the force, fired, and/with some effect, on tbe place from ynence the sound came. The last ba^ barely escaped when our people entered ; and however formidable the work looked outside it was still stronger to look at from within. The NgaZtiporou and Arawa division, who had behaved splendidly throughout, started at once in pursuit. Te Kooti's followers spread out into the bush in small parties. The pursuit was , carried out in the same way throughout the day and till after dark ; they returned with prisoners and plunder. The Arawa had .engaged the Uriwera contingent, and killed Rargiaho, a chief of note ; previously to that, Nikora had] been killed, and his wife brought m.xrfa all, more than 120 of the enemy *4iave been killed. These numbers are accurate, the bodies having been exhumed from the enemy's ditches, and others being found lying in or about the pah, or stripped of tbeir arms and loads by those who overtook i and shot them. I think very few women, and those only by accident, have been killed, and no children^ The cohorns appear to have frightened the garrison very much, and killed some. The number inside must have exceeded our estimate, for the escort carrying Te Kooti must be some forty men, and only eighteen out of thirty TJriweras were killed. I am dispatching fresh parties in pursuit, and hope still to catch Te Kooti. Every man of note in his band is killed except himself, and he can't be far off. I blew down a large portion of one of the walls, and fired a Royal salute last night in honour of the capture." Our Wellington correspondent adds that 80 prisoners are taken — fourteen only men, the rest women aud children. The loss on our side was ten men killed and one officer, ali ke number being wounded. Wi Tako, Mete Kingi, and Tatiiihana Rauparaha are in town waiting to go South with the Governor.