GREAT VICTORY ON THE EAST COAST.

West Coast Times, Issue 1004, 10 December 1868, Page 3

GREAT VICTORY ON THE EAST COAST.

FIFTY OF THE ENKMY KILLED

W-eixtngton, Dec 6, 1,17 p.m

East Coast. — Government have received a telegram from Mr M'Lean. The following is published in the Independent Extra :— " The rebel position was attacked yesterday. ;\fer a short hard ."-truggle the rebils were driven in, leaving thirty dead and 6000 rounds of ammunition. Te Kooti, lome on a litter, together with 250 men, 1 ft some days before. The Ngnfttii orou who followed, are reported to have

overtaken Te Kooti. (This is doubtful.) Whitmore was off the East Coast last night, and was instructed by Richmond to land at the Wairoa. The Blanche was in sight." The Hon. Mr Hall has received the following telegram from the Government, which he has courteously placed at our 1 disposal : — " The following telegram was received from Mr Richmond, dated Turawgaiiui, Dec. 4.:— Two'-tllii'ds of the enemy, under Waru, have decampeds taking Te Kooti and the other wounded with them. Eighty men left behind were attacked by the Ngpatiporou and twelve Europeans, and were dispersed. Thirty-seven dead bodies were found on the field, besides others burned (or buried). The ground had not been thoroughly examined when the news left. The loss of the enemy was supposed to be fifty dead in all. llama (tlie man who led the murderers at Turariga) was aiiionsst them. Six thousand 'rounds of ammunition were recovered. Our casualties in the last fight were two Europeans wounded, one dangerously ; one native wounded. Total of j casualties in all iheir operations — six killed, j twenty-three wounded. The Ngatiporou and Herctaunga men have disagreed and abandoned the pursuit. I- am trying to stop Whitmore and direct his force to Wairoa. A south-easter has come on before our Rob Roy men arc landed. I hope to retain all the Ngatiporou and a few of the Ileretaiuiga, lptting the main bod}' return hoirie. Mrs Wilson is out of danger." The Goverement and the newspaper telegrams disagree in details; all concur that the enemy has been beaten with great loss, and that one friendly and two Europeans have been wounded. The volunteers ex Lord Ashlej', sailed for Wanganui, last night. They seem a capital lot, only one was intoxicated after the day 4 s liberty. The. memorial to tlie Governor which is cirdulaiing says, — " Never since the foundation of the colony has this Island been in such danger, never has there been a, greater sacrifice of life and property than have taken place during the last few weeks, and never existed such a general sense of insecurity or such a state of unpreparedncss to meet au insurrection, daily assuming larger dimensions ; that colonial troops, consisting almost entirely ot new levies, are necessarily inadequate at once to cdpe with so wide Spread an insurrection. Memorialists 1 , therefore pray the Governor to make an earnest appeal to Australia for Imperial forces." Much dissatisfaction is expressed at Herrick's appointment to the command of the West Coast. Two months ago he was only a gentleman volunteer in the East Coast campaign. Tahanaki. — One hundred and fifty Chatham Island natives have arrived at Taranakii A large meeting of natives was held there, and expressed friendly sentiments.

Waieapara. — In Wairarapa, at a meeting of natives, the King's circular was read, and the ultimate resolution positively come to was that Wairarapa should not be disturbed.

Timaru, Dec. 7, 4.3 p.m. A tremendous fire is raging in the centre of the town. It broke out in Munro's store, arid tlie entire block will be consumed as there is no water*. Fears are entertained for the opposite side of the street. [We are unable to furnish any further details, owing to communication being interrupted.]

Wellington, Dec. 7, 9.48 a.m

East Coast. — The following telegram has been received from the Hon Mr J. C. Richmond, dated Tnranganui, December 5 : — The Ngatipora have fixed the enemy in a mass about five miles above the former field of .battle, and have began to fighf, talcing the outer fence with the loss of one killed and five wounded. Major trailer's iEcn are off, and will be on the ground to-morrow. [By Frazer's inc-n are meant the detachment of the constabulary under his command.] All goes well. There is no grumbling amongst the Maoris, so far, at Whitmore Igo up with him. The following is from Mr M'Lean, dated Napier, December 6, 950 a.m. : — Fiftyfive more of the enemy were killed by the friendly natives six miles from the place of the last engagement. One friendly native was killed and five wounded.

West Coast. — On Friday two of Titokowaru's men with a flag of truce came to Woodall's redoubt, and warned the militia and the constabulary, who held the place to clear out, ,as they were about to attack it that night. Lieutenant-Colonel Herrick detained them and sent them to Watiganui. They were searched at the police station, and a watch found on one. It was ascertained to have belonged to one of the [men killed at Ngutu-o-te Mami: They were brought- before the Resident Magistrate on Saturday. The investigation is not concluded.

Wellington. — The schooner Tyne, from Wanganui, missed her stays at the Heads yesterday, and went ashore on the rocks. It is feared that she is a total wreck, but no lives were lost. About seventy blue jackets with rockets are to be laniled from the Blanche on the East Coast. The Blanche and the Phtebe nearly had a collision the other night. The Phcebe had to stern to avoid it. Propositions have been made by some of the dissentients to refer the Manawatu claims to a commission. The difficulty is to make anything binding on the whole body. The Cliarybdis is probably to leave in a day or two for the Ea<it Coast The Rakaia is signalled. The Matanra is advertised to leave Sydney for England. She is said to have been taken possession of by Mr Marshall, as the agent of the R.M. Company. Auckland. — Later news from the Waikato state there is every appearance of things "remaining quiet. The Cross says "It will have the effect of allaying the apprehension which has existed for some time past."