ARRIVAL OF THE LORD ASHLEY, FROM AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 122, 8 June 1863, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE LORD ASHLEY, FROM AUCKLAND.

LATEST NEWS PROM TARANAKI. Times Office, Monday morning. The Lord Ashley arrived about half-past nine this morning from Auckland. She brings Major Whitmore and several other passengers, and news from Taranaki to the 4th, and from Auckland to the sth instant. We take the following from the second edition of the Southern Cross, kindly forwarded by a gentleman in Auckland. The Eclipse arrived in the Manukau this morning, and anchored in the harbour about half-past ten o’clock. His Excellency the Governor arrived by her, together with Mr. Seed, Private Secretary, Mr. Bates, Native Interpreter, Major Whitmore, and Mr. Skinner. The Eclipse left Taranaki at 5 p.m. yesterday. Early yesterday morning she steamed down the coast to Tataraimaka with the Governor and Staff on board, At daybreak yesterday morning, Captain Mercer opened fire on the pah, and at the same time the Eclipse commenced firing with a 68-pounder and two pivot guns. The troops were thrown out in skirmishing order, and they then attacked the pah and entered at the point of the bayonet. The Taranaki Netvs published the following extra, yesterday morning at ten o’clock : Eews Office, 10 o'ciock, a.m. June 4th, 1863. The epedition moved last night lias performed its work. A despatch lias just arrived from Poutoko with intelligence that the whole of the enemy’s positions have been carried with but little loss—-1 killed, and 30r4 of our soldiers wounded The loss of the enemy we have no account of in numerals, but it is said to be great. The attack appears to have been directed against the pahs South of Tataraimaka, and to have been entirely successful. The business of the Eclipse to leud assistance to the operations. A public notification of the correctness of the above has been posted by authority, our loss has been one killed and four wounded. A large number of the enemy destroyed. Since the above, direct communication has been had with the troops in action. The scene of the struggle was inland on the South side of Kaitako, about a mile, twenty-four dead bodies of the enemy were brought into the encampment and more are said to have fallen. The losses on our side were one dead, 4 wounded—two severely, and two mortally—all of the 57th Regiment. Twenty-four bodies of slain Maories were found. \_Froiii our own Correspondetd']June 4. A large force under General Cameron moved down last night, and attacked the enemy’s positions beyond Tataraimaka at daybreak this morning. The first lot of rifle pits attacked was abandoned without any attempt at defence ; in the second resistance was made, but I believe nearly every Maori who stood was killed. There were 24 dead bodies brought into the camp at Tatara. A settler who was present says ho knows of three others. The Eclipse also shelled some as they ran down the coast. More of the dead bodies I hear were recognized by Mr. Parris as Komere, and were therefore not Taranakis, but Ngatiruanuia or Wanganui natives. Our loss was 1 killed (private 57th,) 4 or 5 wounded, one badly. This though not a great victory considering the numbers engaged, was a decided and encouraging success.