A.—No. 8,

50

PAPERS RELATIVE TO NATIVE

No. 94. Copy of a Letter from Colonel McDonnell to the Undee Seceetaey for Colonial Defence. (No. 18.) Sib — Camp Waihi, 9th September, 1868. I have the honor to state, for the information of the Hon. the Minister for Colonial Defence,, that I left hero at 4 a.m. on the 7th instant, with a force as per margin, * intending to reach Te Bua-aruru through the bush, attack that village and return by Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. On reaching Mawhitiwhiti -we struck inland to the main track to Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, and to seaward of the track that is supposed to exist, and marked out on the map, to Te Bua-aruru ; after proceeding some distance on a very old trail it ceased altogether. We then headed in the supposed direction of the place named. We got into a very rough country, intersected with gullies and streams, and' a perfect network of supple-jacks. About 1 p.m. we ascended a bush ridge, and on the advice of Honi Fapara, our guide, struck for the sea to try and hit a track. After struggling in the bush for another hour we heard voices ahead, and I sent a Native up a tree to reconnoitre :he could only see smoke. Pushing on in the direction of the voices, wo came upon three or four bark huts, which were rushed by tho Kupapas, who fired into them, the inmates rushing away, leaving two killed, and throe children, who were taken. I then left the Kupapas to bring up the rear, and directed Major Yon Tempsky to lead on with the men under his immediate command, sending Honi Papara and a few friendly Natives in front. We soon got into a fair track, and after proceeding about 400 or 500 yards we saw some more huts and a tent, to the right of the path, and afterwards, to our surprise, found it was Titokowaru's sleeping place. Of course there was no one inside, the shots that had been fired having warned them. Following sharp on tho track we crossed a creek, and on rising tho opposite bank we received a sharp fire. As fast as possible I got tho men formed up and returned it; in a very few minutes we were fired upon from front, right and rear, but except within the palisading in the clearing in our front, we could see no enemy. On examining the place more closeh', I found we were at the rear of Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, and not at Bua-aruru, and that a new stockade had been erected and the old one rebuilt. As I could see that it would be impossible to rush, and even if successful hold the place, as the enemy were not only occupying but round three sides of it, and up in the Bata trees, some of which were hollow at the butt and loop-holed, I determined to collect the wounded, now seven in number, and endeavour to push to my left, the only point that appeared open. There was no track, and the few Natives who were with us not knowing of one, I directed Inspector Hunter to accompany the wounded with Captain Newland, instructing the latter to keep Honi Papara in viewr, who had promised to strike a way out. I was obliged to trust to his knowledge of the locality, he having lived there for some time. I then returned to Major Yon Tempsky, and sent Kemp to collect as many of his men as he could, and send them to join Captain Newland in front. I then desired Major Yon Tempsky to collect the rest of the men to form a rear-guard and come on at once ; 1 told Captain Canning to come on with me. During the whole of this time the enemy were firing heavily at us in every direction. Our way had to be cut through supple-jacks and undergrowth which with the eight stretchers we now had was a work of toil and difficulty, We at length reached the creek that runs through Timaru, but still no track ; presently the news was brought to me that Major Yon Tempsky, Captain Buck, Captain McDonnell, N.C,and Lieutenant Hunter, were shot dead ; but just then Captain McDonnell came up and stated that Major Yon Tempsky, Captain Buck, and Lieutenant Hunter were killed, and that he had told Lieutenant Hastings that the only chance was to carry out the orders that had been given to Major Yon Tempsky at once. His reply was," Captain Buck is senior, and that he would consult him." Captain McDonnell then went to see Captain Buck, but found he was killed, and the enemy by this time in possession of the place where the bodies of him, Major Yon Tempsky, and two men lay ; he returned then and pointed out to Mr. Hastings the necessity of retiring. The fire at this time was very heavy from the front, rear, and right, and from the tops of the Bata trees. He then followed on my trail with eight Natives and ten. Europeans, and reported as above. I had now with me about eighty men including Natives, hardly sufficient to carry our wounded, now increased in numbers, and to keep down the fire from our right. Knowing that a large proportion of the force was in roar with several good officers, I moved on, feeling sure they were covering our retreat; but I presently found the enemy had got between us, and it appears, from what Sub-Inspector Boberts tells me, that soon, after Captain McDonnell had left the Hauhaus suceeded in completely surrounding the rear-guard, and it was only with the greatest difficulty they cut their way through them, the Hauhau's then left him (as he struck to the left further into the bush), and came after us, overtaking us just before we struck the main track leading into Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu (as in map). Captain McDonnell meanwhile had taken up a position at Te Maru to keep our front open; our wounded had by this time increased to twelve who had to be carried, besides several slightly hit, but could walk. The men with our party worked hard, but were so done up as to require every persuasion and advice I and my officers could think of to keep the majority from abandoning the wounded. One man killed dead I had to leave, and Dr. Best was badly hit in going to ascertain his state ; the doctor had to be carried off on rifles, having no more stretchers with my party. The Natives now swarmed in our rear and kept up a heavy fire, which I was obliged to return only occasionally, as my ammunition

* UNDER COMMAND OF LIEUT.-COLONEL McDONNELL.

Under Major Von Tenvpsky. Men. S To. 2 Division A.C. ... 16) —,, „ , . ,, , Patea Rifle Volunteers ... 14 ] 1V lth Ca I>tam PnlmerN To. 5 Division A.O. ... 39 [ SUR 0^( ! 1 P t e s CtOr3 Br°TO ™d ntr it _l t» a" CWifch Lieuts. Hastings and Wellington Eangera ... 46 \ H untel . Caranaki Volunteers ... 2G AVitli Lieutenant Eowan. Folunteers, Waihi ... 2 Under Inspector Himler. Men. No. 3 Division, A.C. 32 ( With, Sub-Inspectors Newland (. and Goring. Wellington Eifles ... 65 ( W"h Captain Buck, Lieutenant ( -bookes, and Ensign Hirtzell. Patea Y. Cavalry ... 11 With Captain O'lIalloran. 108 Dr. Best. Chiefs and Men, Kupapas, 110, with Captain McDonnell. Dr. Walker 142