THE LATE ENGAGEMENT AT TAUPO.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2007, 11 October 1869, Page 2

THE LATE ENGAGEMENT AT TAUPO.

The Governmenthaverecei ved the following despatch from Colonel M ‘Donnell:— Camp, Ponton, 26th Sept., 1869. Sir—l have the honor to report, for the information of the Defence Minister, that on the 2oth inst., at 10 a.m., the enemy appeared in force on the hills above To Kano, and commenced an attack on that position. I was on my way from here to To Kano, accompanied by an escort of ten men, when the enemy fired into us on our left front as we neared the Hau-han track leading up the hill : but, putting our horse' to a gallop, we rode past, and reached the friendly natives, who commenced firing at the enemy. They had taken up four different positions halfway down the hills, and a strong body of the enemy were also in support—a narrow fern ridge between two densely wooded gullies which ended at the edge of the bush on the summit of the hill. Our men, under their several chiefs, after some sharp skirmishing, drove the enemy from the position. They held hack on their supports, leaving some of their killed and wounded in our bauds. The enemy rallied again, and charged down on us with loud cries, but were met by Henare’s people, who again repulsed them with loss, taking a rifle pit the hill, from which a heavy fire had been maintained. 'ibis was rushed, and the enemy broke and fled, leaving three of their number behind. I called a halt here, as I did not wish to pursue the enemy through the bush on to the plains that day. Our men were tired and short of ammunition, and we could not have accomplished much of importance had we gone on, and would only have driven the enemy further than he now is, so I ordered the forces to return to camp. We learnt from a prisoner who was taken the first part of the day that Te Kooti had led the attack in person, and had all his available men with him—about 250 to 300 men. They fought well, and contested every inch of ground, carrying off their dead and wounded to the fern ridge above them until forced to break. The enemy is not so short of ammunition os is supposed. In one pouch taken by us forty rounds of Enfield ammunition and sixty caps were found; another had thirty rounds, and I should say they fired over 2,000 rounds during the day. Six of the enemy fell and were left on the field, but there were many others who were carried away. I place their loss, killed and wounded at over thirty. I also append a list of our casualties, which are comparatively light. I have the honor to bring to the notice of the Government the energy displayed by Captain St. George, and by Lieut. Preece, who was foremost in -all that took place. The chiefs—Henare Tomoana, Paora Hapi, Hohepa Tamamuiu, and others, are specially deserving of credit for the good example shown by them to their men. The whole of the frieudlies are in high spirits, and, if the weather will keep fine, I intend to attack Te Kooti on two sides, on Monday. Kemp, with the Wangannis, has not yet made his appearance, and I am at a loss to account for his delay. I will not wait any longer.

I omitted to mention that our forces engaged yesterday numbered two hundred and forty men.

Since writing the above, another body has been found, making a total of 7 killed of the enemy that I am certain of. I have, &c., (Signed) Thos. M'Doxxell, Lieut.-Col, commanding Taupo Field Force, J. D. Ormond, Esq.