MAJOR MCDONNELL'S EXPEDITION.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2432, 25 October 1866, Page 5

MAJOR MCDONNELL'S EXPEDITION.

ENGAGEMENT AT KETEMARAI

MAJOR MCDONNELL'S BROTHER DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED.

We take the following from a Wanganui Times Extra : — Camp Ketemarai, | October 17, 18GG. j At 5 p.m. a native came in with a white j flag and intimated that the rebels were I coming in to surrender. This was dis- j covered to be a mere sham and intended | to entrap us. At 6.30 p.m. Major j McDonnell started to capture the rebel pa at Ketemarai. After a hard night's march we arrived at and captured the pa. ! There were seven killed and some; prisoners taken. I October 18. Seven men, eight women, and ten children brought in prisoners. The orderly is mounted and ready to start. j We go to make another attack to-night, j I will send you full particulars. We ex- j pect sharp work of it. Captain. M'Domiell is dangerously wounded. The following are some particulars, already published by a contemporary, of the unsuccessful movement of the Colonial troops, which took place on the 18th instant : —

A force consisting of 200 men of the Colonial Forces under the command of Captain Newland, and accompanied by Captain McDonnell (brother to the gallant Major of the same name) proceeded to attack a rebel stronghold near Ketemarai. Before they reached the pa, and while it was yet very dark, the force came upon two native sentries, who at once fired their pieces, one of them hitting Captain McDonnell, and sending a ball through his hip. The two sentrios were immediately slain, and the force returned to camp under command of Captain Newland.

Captain McDonnell's wound is a very dangerous one, the shot having been fired at a distanco of three yards. The bullet shattered the socket of the thigh, and the fire was so close that the flame actually ignited the coat of the gallant fellow who was wounded. When the troops returned to camp medical attendance was at once obtained, and McDonnell will be brought to Wanganui as soon as it is deemed advisable to move him. The feeling in connection with the matter is one of general regret for McDonnell, and disappointment that the troops did not proceed to the attack after the shots were fired by the sentinels. We shall anxiously await further intelligence. We doubt not Major McDonnell willamply avenge hisbrother's wound.