Untitled

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1714, 3 April 1913, Page 4

Yesterday was tho 49th anniversary of tho Battle of Orakau, the last engagement in the Waikato, where the Maoris concentrated their forces and put up a very stubborn resistance. Ono of tho regiments taking part in the encounter was tho 18tli ltoyal Irish, under tho command of Captain and, Brevet-Major J. -T. Raine, who was mortally wounded while leading his party. A train of powder wns laid on lo tho Natives' position, and they wero warned to surrender by General Cameron, but lliey took advantage of the withdrawal of some of tho troops fijom an anglo of tho redoubt to make a frantic rush for an adjacont siviimj). They were pursued by tho troops, aud about 80 of their number were shot down. The encounter resulted in 42 of the troops licing killed and wounded, while the Maoris suffered u loss of 180 killed and wounded. A short time afterwards tho whole of the troops were withdrawn to England with the exception of the 18th ltoyal Irish, who wero here until 1870. Tho 50lh anniversary of tho rally of the. survivors of those who took part in tho battle will take place 011 July i next, and those who desire to take part in tho function should communicnlo with Mr. Joseph Neylon, Green Lane.—Auckland "Star." Some interest w.is ovinced at tho local beach yesterday (writes our Otaki correspondent) when it becamo known that 11 trawler, owing, to n slight mishap, had grounded. Tho crow, consisting of three men, hud spent, tho night 011 shore, anil wero exnee.iing help from Wellington to help relfoat Iho vessel.