THE “AVON” FIRED UPON—DEATH OF LIEUTENANT MITCHELL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 161, 12 February 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE “AVON” FIRED UPON—DEATH OF LIEUTENANT MITCHELL.

News reached town early yesterday morning of the death of Lieutenant Mitchell, of H.M. s.s. JEsk, and senior naval officer on

board the Avon, from a gunshot wound received while engaged on board that vessel on a reconnoitring expedition. It appears that as the Avon was going up the river, a number of Maories were seen on the bank, and a volley was fired at them which they did not return. When the steamer was coming back on Tuesday morning last, four or five persons were standing on the paddlebox of the steamer, one of whom was Lieutenant Mitchell, little expecting that the enemy were in their vicinity, when'suddenly some shuts were fired from Maories in ambush along the bank. Eight shots were fired, but only one took effect, a bullet striking Lieutenant Mitchell on the shoulder, entering the body, grazing the heart and kidney, and passing out at the hack. His death was not immediate, for he lived twenty hours after, and died yesterday morning.— Southern Cross, Feb. 5.

There is no startling news from the Front yet, and, by all accounts, there is not likely to be for some little time to come ; that is, supposing the rebels do not take the initiative themselves, and attack the General, instead of waiting for the General to attack them. Guns, ammunition, and troops have yet to make their way to the Fx - ont, before active operations were commenced ; at least, such is the general report and the reasonable conclusion to be drawn from what is passing around us. Of course, the rebels may at any moment give way to a foolish impetuosity, ciud become the attacking instead of the do* fending party ; or they may endeavor to make their escape, in either of which cases our forces will be compelled to “ take the bull by the horns.” As we have said before, it is not likely that Hangiriri will be reenacted, but that the General will seek to gain the greatest possible advantage with the least possible loss. — Weekly News, Feb. 6. LATEST NEWS. A party of the Commissariat Staff corps was fired on from the bush at Razorback on Tuesday. None of the shots took effect. Owing to the opposition of the Australian Governments, recruiting for New Zealand has ceased there.