LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 2723, 25 August 1868, Page 5

LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

SUCCESS OF COLONEL M'DONNELL. CAPTURE OF TE NGUTU O TE MANU. THREE of the COLONIAL FORCES KILLED AND EIGHT WOUNDED.— ONE SINCE DEAD. THE BODIES OF NINE MAORIES FOUND. CAPTURE OF THE MAORI STRONGHOLD. MAJOR HUNTER ACQUITTED. Me. J. Walkeh, of Aramaho, arrived in Wellington on Sunday afternoon at 5 o'clock, bringing news of an engagement having taken place at the Front, and that the strongly fortified pa, Te Kgutu-o-teManu had been captured and destroyed by the Colonial Forces. Mr Walker left Wanganui, at 8 o'clock on Saturday, and arrived here at 5 p.m. on Sunday, as before stated. He was detained by freshes in the rivers and delay in obtaining changes of horsps— one hour at Bull's, six hours at Scott's, one hour at Paikakariki, and one hour at Poriruu. DeductiHg those detentions the actual time occupied in riding 120 miles was twelve hours. It is stated that several settlers' houses in tho vicinity of Kakaramea have been burned by the natives. 4 The enquiry held into Major Hunter's conduct has resulted in that officer's acquittal. We trust the evidence may be published. The Times extra of Saturday contains the following : — Patea, August 21st, 1868. Colonel McDonnell has attacked and captured the rebels stronghold — Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. The engagement wus short, sharp and decisive. We counted nine dead bodies of the rebeta but can't say how many killed and woundsd on their side. Our loss is three killed and seven wounded ; one, I fear, mortally. Our force will now pursue the rebels through the bush and will not leave them a village where in to hide their heads — in fact all their places of refuge are already burnt down with one or two exceptions. Te Ngutu-o-te-Munu is a heap of ruins. Tho Evening Herald of Saturday last gives the following full particulars : — The strongly fortified pa, Te Ngutu o te Manuwas captured yesterday morning, and burnt to the ground. Two hundred and seventy men, under the command of Colonel McDonnell, started yesterday morning at hulf-past seven o'clock, in two divisions, to attack the rebel capit. 1. Major Von Tempsky led tho Armed Constabulary ; and the , Taranuki Volunteers, Buck's and Page's com- j panics composed the attacking force. The pa ' waß reached a little after ten o'clock, thus taking ) three hours to thread their wuy through the bush, a distance of twelve miles from Waihi, the base of operations. Tho Maori scouts were on the alert, and preparations had been made to give ow y forces a warm reception. Orders had been given to reserve fire until within pistol shot of tho enemy, who kept up a smart fire upon our men from the moment they uppeared in Bight. When within twenty paces of the parapet, the troops poured in a galling fire, at d rushed helter-skelter on, escalading the breaßt-work and gaining afoot- | ing inside. The first man to enter was Wallace, who was shot through the head, und fell dead on ' the spot. The men rushed boldly forward, and in a few minutes one-half of our force had fairly established themselves within the defences. The Maones fought bravely, but they could not stand against our men, who, armed with tomahawks, revolvers, and long knives, made short work of them. The whole attack lasted about twenty minutes, and at the end of one hour from the time when we opened fire, not a vestige of the pa ■was to be seen. The Maoris effected a good retreat, after nine of their number had fallen. It would appear that the natives were able to carry , off their wounded. Three of our men were killed, and 8 wounded, one of whom, H. Geary, is since dead. The names of the killed are — R. Wallace, Eerr, Mackay. The wounded were attended to by Dr Walker on the field. At hull- past 11 o'clock Colonel McDonnell commenced the march back, when he soon found that the enemy had concentrated upon hie rear, and were keeping up a desultory fire upon the rear guard. The fire •was returned, and ultimately the Maoris retired and allowed the troops to effect their retreat without further molesting them. Colonel McDonnell arrived at Patea at midnight. The behaviour of both officers and men was excellent.