WANGANUI.

Evening Post, Issue 176, 31 August 1865, Page 2

WANGANUI.

The Chronicle of the 26th ult. says: — On Thursday afternoon, Captain (x. L. Bryce, Lieut, and Adjutant T. Le B. Butler, and Ensign P. VV. Symonds, of the 2nd battalion, 14th Regt., went out of the Wereroa post up the river towards Perekatna, with the view of tracing some tracks of natives who seemed to have been about Wereroa during the previous night. They went aa far as Perekama, about 400 yards from Wereroa, without seeing any one; and on returning, went about 300 yards to their left round the spur of a hill. Capt. Bryce was then proceeding towards the bank of the river, when a fire was opened on them from both sides — that is from the bank on their right and from the bush on their left. About 50 shots were fired and the three officers were all wounded — Capt. Bryce, severely in the left leg ; Lieut. Butler, severely in the left foot ; Ensign Symonds, severely in the right elbow. The three officers made a retreat as fast as their wounds would allow, which was very slowly, as Lieut. Butler's wound impeded his progress much. On the firing being heard at Wereroa, a party was immediately despatched by Lieut.-Colonel Trevor to the succour of the wounded officers, and a fire

was opened from the Werero^ hill on the natives, who to the number Qf 20 or 30 were pursuing them, although Capt. Bryce with his fowling piece was doing his best with the utmost coolness to keep them back; but they were now stopped and obliged to retreat. Meanwhile Ensign Symonds, thinking that he would be aMe to gain the Wereroa post by a shorter cut on the other side of the river, swam across, but was followed by two natives. He attempted to swim back, but in consescquence of the wound in his arm would have been carried down the stream, had not two of the relieving party plunged in and rescued him. The natives in their retreat fired on the relieving party and wounded two men, namely: Lance Corporal Maurice Green, wounded slightly, by a ball grazing hia thumb, and Private John Carey, who received a severe gunshot wound on the left thigh. We learn that Ensign Symonds only joined his regiment last Monday, having arrived from England but a few weeks ago. He has very soon had a bad taste of New Zealand warfare. Whatever difficulty the Native Minister may have in understanding the Hau Hau fanaticism, such attacks cannot but open his eyes to the difficulty of dealing with the natives by any other means than force and severity of punishment. Wi Hapi, with about 110 men who were on their way to Pipiriki, has returned home to Kangitiki, to fight there, it being now proposed by the belligerents that there should be no fighting in Wellington or Hawkes Bay. They do not, however, seem to be unanimous on this point. The Lady Bird, Ahuriri, and Storm Bird are now lying here, waiting for the Colonial Troops from up the river. As the advanced party of the 57th had not reached Pipiriki yesterday, it may be a day or two before the Colonial Force can arrive here. However, no time will be lost as the Gundagai and Moutoa, now up the river, will greatly assist in the transport.