THE WAR ON THE WEST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 346, 1 February 1866, Page 3

THE WAR ON THE WEST COAST.

(Wanganui Times, 19th January.) On Wednesday last the p.s. Gundagai arrived from Patea, and as reports of a great battle had gained general credence throughout the town crowds of people eagerly rushed to the wharf to hear the particulars. There were, however, neither letters nor despatches from the front, and since then only one authentic document has come to hand, but not for publication just yet. It appears that General Chute had expected to meet the enemy in great force between Waingongora and Manawapau, but the stronghold was deserted—the enemy flew before him, and pa after pa fell into his hands without resistence.* Although the Hau-baus made no regular stand, yet they suffered severely at various poiuts during their precipitate retreat. General Chute then determined upon the boldest and most hazardous enterprise ever attempted in New Zealand.

The last authentic news from the front was brought down from Patea by the p.s. Favorite, yesterday. The “ Kitamari pa had been taken; the second pa also captured and twenty-five Hauhaus killed without any loss on our side. The enemy retired towards Mount Egmont. The General has left with three days’ provisions to force the fighting; he had taken no tents or baggage of any description; every man is in fighting order.” We may add that.the General’s intention was to strike off to Taranaki, taking the hitherto unexplored track to the right of MountEgmont through dense forest, marching nearly due north until he enters the Ngatiawa country, sweeps it clear of* rebels, and then strikes off to the left for the Bell Block, and thence to New Plymouth. After a short rest there he will come round the coast along General Cameron’s old track, attacking and destroying all the pas which that cautious old Commander so prudently shunned and left unmolested.

Thus it is most likely that our next news from the front will be dated New Plymouth, which General Chute would reach about the 19th—this day. At the request of the General, Dr Featherston lias accompanied the expedition, but we believe that in any case he determined to stand by the Native Contingent during the present campaign. Apropos of this, after the Kitamari pa had been taken and the troops bad halted a short distance from the second pa, Dr Featherston had some conversation with Captain M'Donnell, and strongly recommended him to keep as quiet as possible for a few days until his wound would admit of his moving about. Just after the Superintendent had left, Captain M'Donnell, “ from information received,” jumped up, armed himself, called for volunteers, hotly pursued the retreating enemy, and killed twenty-five of them without the loss of one of his Native Contingent. With such men and such a commander as General Chute we need not fear as to the result of the campaign, He wisely determined to show what British soldiers could do when commanden, and hence the heavy loss of the gallant 57th But our Native Allies are no doubt eager to emulate their companions in arms, and thus a spirit of chivalry being infused into all ranks General Chute can boldly face with a few hundred men an enemy which General Cameron would cautiously avoid, with as many thousands dragging their weary way along, dispirited and downhearted. Viewing the whole of this contest, past and present, it appears to us that Mr Cardwell had determined to match the Maori by pitting against him, as a last resource, a wild Irishman from tho mountains of Kerry and hence, the advent of General Chute upon the scene of action.