LATEST INTELLIGENCE FROM WAITARA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1507, 22 March 1861, Page 5

LATEST INTELLIGENCE FROM WAITARA.

[From the Field, Friday, 5 p.m.]

The fighting, or rather the bombardment of Te Arei is being prosecuted more vigorously than ever.

At 6 this morning, 320 men of the 57th and 65th advanced to the front and here divided iuto working parties and coverers. The sap leading to Te Arei was resumed, and a branch sap was also carried from No. 8 redoubt to sweep the rifle pits on the verge of the valley. The Maories observed this at first with apparenindifference, and continued to fly the flag of truce in the pa, About 7 a.m., however, Capt. Mercer arrived from Waitara with 60 of the Royal Artillery, three of tho celebrated Armstrong guns, and two 8-inch and two 10-inch mortars. A bastion for the Artillery was made to the left of No. 7 redoubt, and all our works went on without the slightest sign of opposition from the enemy until 11 o'clock, when the white flag was lowered from the Maori staff, ancl replaced by a blood-red war flag. In a few minutes it was lowered, and one solitary shot from the natives invited us to the combat. The troops were not yet allowed to reply, and the Maories, after hoisting and lowering their war flag three times, opened fire iv good earnest, and poured volleys from their pits. The coverers and the guard at No. 8 redoubt returned the fire warmly, and in a few minutes wore the 3-inch gun, the Armstrong guns, and the large mortars showered their destructive projectiles from No. 7 redoubt on every position of the enemy. I have barely time to say that the practice of all the guns is excellent, and becoming more and more accurate every successive shot. One ofthe Mlh has just, been wounded in the wrist. Tbe pa will be in our hands, in all probability, by Sunday evening. The firing is still going on.