THE NATIVE WAR.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 355, 19 September 1868, Page 2

THE NATIVE WAR.

TME ENGAGEMENT NEAR TE NGUT U-O-TE-M AN U. (From the " Wanganui Chrouicle ") September 12. The following letter from our correspondent tit Patea, published by us on Thursday, and which was eagerly sought after, gave the latest information we had then -to hand from the Front. A few additional litems have since reached us. The p.s. Woodpecker arrived from the Patea last night, bringing nine of the wounded men Irom Waihi. Sorue of the officers attribute the late disaster to the fact of the Kupapas coming across the native picquet, which led to firing and yelling on both sides, thereby giving the alarm tn the enemy, who had thus time to prepare. Buck's men also come in for a share of censure ; they are reported to have fled in disorder, after their captain fell. There is no doubt that our defeat was both crushing and complete, and but for the conduct of the Wanganui natives scarcely a man would have left the bush.

Ope of the wounded men, Kelly, is dead.' Lieut Rowan is in a very dangerous state, but may recover. The force made a long detour to the right of Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu and at 2 p.m. found themselves in rear of Ruaruru. Here they came across an outlying picquet who were fired into >by the Wanganui Natives. The force then advanced and took up a position in a small gully about 200 yds distant from the rebel position, under a heavy fire from all sides. They remained here about ten minutes without any casualty when trooper Hogan was hit in the thigh, and soon after Lieut. 'Rowan dangerously in the face. The men then began to fall rapidly, Major Von Tempskey was shot dead, then Capt. Buck, and Capt. Palmer, and Lieut. Hunter. The Colonel then ordered the forces to retire. The Wanganui Natives led the retreat, supported by about 70 Europeans; then the wounded ; the rear guard followed under the command of Lieut. Hastings and Ensigu Hirix.' 1 !. Lieut. Hastings was killed in tiic retreat.

The men and officers beba/ed woll The Wanganui natives especially so, it as reported but for them our casual ities must have been much heavier. I subjoin the list of killed and wounded, it may not however be strictly correct. All the dead were left on the field, and all the;wounded who could not walk. The first men arrived at Waihi at about 2 p.m., and they kept on arriving in small parties until 10 a.m. the nextmorning. The list of killed we have already given. The wounded (some of whom must now be daed) are: —Lieut Rowan and Surgeon Best; Privates Houston, O'Brien, O'Hogan, and Waldron of Armed Constabulary ; Privates O' Connor and Burke ; Segt. Tovey, Pri-. vates Shanigan, Harris (W.R.), Caldwell,, M'Minnis, Waldron, Griffiths, Quincey, Melvin, and Loder ; J. Wells, J. Hamblin, Holloway, Hoyland, and Flyn, (Taranaki); missing—Darlingon (A.C.), Downes.