LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume II, Issue 88, 29 August 1868, Page 3

LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

SUCCESS OF COLONEL M’DONNELL CAPTURE OF TE NGUTU 0 TE MANU. THREE op the COLONIAL FORCES KILLED AND EIGHT WOUNDED. —ONE DEAD. THE BODIES OF NINE MAORIES FOUND. CAPTUREOFTHEMAORI STRONGHOLD. MAJOR HUNTEi ACQUITTED. Mr. J. Walker, of Aramaho, arrived in Wellington on Sunday afternoon at five o’slock, bringing news cf an engagement having taken place at the Front, and that the strongly fortified pa, To Ngutu-o-te-Manu had been captured and destroyed by the Colonial Forces. Mr. Walker left Wanganui, at 8 o’clock on Saturday, and arrived here at 5 p.m. on Sunday, as before stated. He wss detained by freshes in the rivers and delay in obtaining changes of horses—one hour at Bull’s, six hours at Scott’s, one hour at Paikakariki, and one hour at Porirua. Deducting those detentions the actual time occupied in riding 120 miles was twelve hours. It is stated that several settlers’ houses in the vicinity ol Kakaramea have been burned by the natives. The enquiry held into Major Hunter’s conduct has resulted in that oflicer’s acquittal. We trust the evidence 1 may be published. The “ Times ” extra of Saturday contains the following:— Patea, August 21st, 1868. . Colonel McDonnell has attacked and captured the rebels stronghold—Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. The engagement was short, sharp and decisive. We counted nine dead bodies of the rebels but can’t say how many killed and wounded on their side. Our loss is three killed and seven wounded; one, I fear, mortally.

Our force will now pursue the rebels through the bush and will not leave them a village where in to hide their heads—in fact all their places of refuge are already burnt down with one or two exceptions. Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu is a heap of ruins. The “ Evening Herald ” of Saturday last gives the following full particulars:— The strongly fortified pa, Te Ngutu o te Manu was captured yesterday morning’, and burnt to the ground. Two hundred and seventy men, under the command of Colonel McDonnell, started yes’.erday morning at half-past seven o’clock, in two divisions, to attack the rebel capital. Major Yon Tempsky led the Armed Constabulary; and the Taranaki Volunteers, Buck’s and Page’s companies composed the attacking force. The pa was reached a little after ten o’clock, thus taking three hours to thread their way through the bush, a distance of twelve miles from Waihi, the base of. operations. The Maori scouts were on the alert, and preparations had been made to give our force a warm reception. Orders had been given .to reserve fire until within pistol shot of the enemy, who kept up a smart fire upon our men from the moment they appeared in sight. When within twenty paces ofthe parapet, the troops poured in a galling fire, and rushed helter-skelter on, escalading the breast-work and gaining a footing inside. The first man to enter was Wallace, who was shot through the head, and fell dead on the spot. The men rushed boldly forward, and in a few minutes one-half of our force had fairly established themselves within the defences. The Maories fought bravely, but they could not stand against our men, who, armed with tomahawks, revolvers, and long knives, made short work of them. The whole attack lasted about twenty minutes, and at the end of one hour from the time when we opened fire, not a vestage of the pa was to be seen. The Maoris effected a good retreat, after nine of their number had fallen. It would appear that the natives were able to carry off their wounded. Three ■of our men were killed, and eight wounded, one of whom, H. Geary, is since dead. The names of the killed are—R. Wallace Kerr, Mackay, The wounded were attended to by Dr. Walker on the field. At half-past eleven o’clock, Colonel McDonnell commenced the march back, when he soon found that the enemy had concentrated upon his rear, and” were keeping up a desultory fire upon the rear guard. The fire was returned, and ultimately the Maoris retired and allowed the troops to effect their retreat without further molesting them. Colonel McDonnell arrived at Patea at midnight The behaviour of both officers and men was excellent.