THAT TRUTHFUL HISTORY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1101, 1 June 1883, Page 4

THAT TRUTHFUL HISTORY.

A memner ot Kai-iwi Cavalry ■writes as follows to the Auckland Herald on the subject of Eusden’s ■attack in his ‘ History of New Zealand’ on the Native Minister ; As I was present on this occasion and also in the attack on the Tauran-iga-a-hlki pah, I can speak with the .greatest confidence of the personal bravery of Lieutenant Bryce. A ■short account of the whole aff ir may not, therefore, be out of place. We left our camp, as near as I can remember, about twelve o’clock at night, and travelled a long distance during the night beyond Titokowaru’s camp. We returned the next day, and reached ILimlley’styilace in the afternoon, all of us being much fatigued with the march. Some scouts at the top of the sandhills reported the presence of the enemy, and volunteers were called for to dismount. A number dismounted, thinking that they were immediately to engage with the Hauhaus. Coming to the top of the hill we saw the Hauhaus flying towards their camp. Biyce gave orders to those on too* to sight for 500 yards and fire. The Hauhaus were rapidly reaching their <camp, when Sergeant Maxwell, Trooper Cunnabel, and Lieutenant Bryce, with some others, rode forward and sabred about six men in the very teeth of the enemy. Great energy, determination, and pluck were required for this, as the ground was very broken. Trooper Cunnabel, in fact, was dismounted, and as Mr Gudgeon says, “few succeeded in reaching the enemy, as they were stopped by a formidtble bank and ditch.” A bugler of the Patea Light Horse was thrown, and his ankle was broken. In a few minutes the enemy came pouring from the camp, and it necessary to beat a retreat, as we were ■only a handful of men in the presence of about 500 of the enemy. Lieutenant Biyce, however, refused to retreat until he had counted the troop A man was short, and he refused to move, although the bullets began to come about us, and the enemy were gradually cutting off our retreat. After counting the troop two or three times, he found he had made a mis ■take, and we trotted off. A t the attack on the Tauranga-a-hika pah, Lieutenant Bryce’s coolness and braveiy were admirable. He rode -about as quietly as if on parade, looking after his men and directing them where to fire. Sergeant Maxwell was sbos here, and if the enemy had got possession of his body Bryce said that he would not have left the pah till he had recovered the body. Mr Rusden has, unfortunately, made an attack ■upon as brave a man as ever stepped. Lieutenant Bryce was always the first to step forward, no matter what what the danger or what the odds, to rescue any of his men. Men like these do not attack bands of women and children, and “ cut them down gleefully.” However, plenty of men who have served under Lieutenant will be ready to come forward and testify his bravery. I may mention that, after the affair at Handley’s, the whole of Colonel Whitmore’s camp turned out and gave three cheers for the Kai-iwi Cavalry as we rode through their camp on our way back,