TARANAKI

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 142, 2 October 1863, Page 3

TARANAKI

Tlie following is taken from the Southern Cross of the 18th ult.

“ An event of some moment occurred at Taranaki a clay or two before the Airedale arrived there. No paper had been published since the occurrence, but we have received the following information as substantially correct. It appears that on the day in question, some of the volunteers and militiamen received information that the Maories were coming down to some part of the beach near New Plymouth, cither to obtain sand for their kumeras, or to obtain cockles. The volunteers or militiamen or both, for our information is not precise on that point, planned an ambuscade and seventy-live men in live bodies of fifteen each placed themselves under cover at different points, where the natives were expected. In the evening the Maoris came down, not cautiously, but singing and otherwise diverting tliemthemselves. Suddenly, one of them, a chief, stopped, ns if he had seen the print of a footstep, and cried out that the pakehas must be near. At this time the natives were only a few yards distant from one of the parties in ambush. Our men fired upon them and killed five, and two or three wounded were seen carried away. It is thought that even more than five were killed, but that number of bodies only was found. The firing brought down some Maoris from an adjacent hill, who en-

dearorcd to out-flank our men, but they retired in safety. This is paying the rebels in their own coin. It appears that there was a false alarm at Taranaki last Sunday, and that there was some firing, but we have not received particulars of it.".