TARANAKI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1976, 29 October 1863, Page 3

TARANAKI.

[From the Taranaki Herald, October 24.]

Herald Office, Noon, October 24. We stop the press to give the following iutelligonce from Wynganui, per Wonga Wonga. We received a similar account of the engagement on the 2nd, from Mataitavva, but did not publish it till it had been confirmed. We hope the natives are concealing their loss, but we are afraid not. In the account from Mataitawa, the bravery of the pakeha is spoken of iv the high est terms.

The following is from the best authority : —

"jYou seem to have had a hard fight fur it ou the 2nd iustant, and, as far as I can judge, it was a drawn battle, and the loss on either side almost equal, for the most the Maoris admit as being hurt on their side is one killed and ten or a dozen wounded ; some accounts say only four or five wounded ; however, they may be concealing their losses. The Wanganuis appear to have fought well ; they are far braver and tougher customers than either the Nga« liawa, Taranakis, or Ngatiruanui, and show fight better. Pehi was not in the fight, but merely looked on. His brother Cawson took an active part, and was nearly being made a prisoner or shot— having been surrounded on one occasion, but the troops were not aware of it. It appears that they are very short of food, and have again scattered iv consequence. Fortythree Wanganuis have returned ; no doubt, iv a month or so, when the first potatoes come in, they will again pay you a visit. Thompson Tarapipipi has been to Ahuriri, and , has promised to send down a supply of ammu- I nition and a few guerilla bands to commence operations there, and unless his plans are frustrated by the movements of the troops at Waikato, a diversisn will be created in that district to draw off some of the Queen's forces from the Waikato. Thompson was aimed with a sword and four revolvers, one on each thigh, and one on each side. Another correspondent writes: With regard to Maori news, a lot of the Wanganuis came back shortly after the bmsh on the 2nd, when Mr Powys was wounded, to bring the sword. It was takeu up the river in great glee, ond laid before the widows of those who were killed on the 4th June ; they exulted over it and pukanad without end. The taiaka belonged to old Arama, the principal fighting chief (toa) of this river, and is a very valuable one in their estimation. They hare not lost anything like so many as you think, there was only one killed ou the 2nd, aud all the wounded are getting well. They say you lost five cart loads, and one officer. Another account says :— A Waitotara chief was mortally wounded on the 2nd. One killed and four wounded of the Wanganuis ; fourteen killed and wounJed of Taranakis and Ngatiawas. Sixteen of the Wanganuis returned to the South to their homes under Tahaua.