THE WEST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIV, Issue 629, 12 November 1868, Page 3

THE WEST COAST.

LATEST FROM THE FRONT. Tli 0 .A.'ttticll Oil Okotuku Fmi, FURTHER PARTICULARS. Part of the following appeared in a Hawke’s Bay Times Extra issued on Monday afternoon last. Further particulars came to hand by the ‘ Lord Ashley,’ which arrived on Tuesday. (From tlie Wanganui Times Extra.) Wanganui,

Saturday, Nov. 7,10 p.m. Orderlies have ridden in from Wairoa with the intelligence that Dkotuku pa was attacked at half-past eight o’clock this morning, with a force of 300 Europeans and SO natives, the majority of the natives not turning out when required. The enemy was in very strong force, and strongly posted. An admirable movement was made by Col. Whitmore. While the advanced forces were attacking the enemy, his reserve threw up an earthwork for the advanced to retire behind should it be required to do so. It eventually proved of essential service. After a brief contest, finding that his casualties were very heavy, and no prospect of gaining any advantage by continuing the attack, Colonel Whitmore retired, carrying atvay all the wounded that could be seen. The European forces, including the reinforcement that lauded in Wanganui on Thursday last, behaved no bly. Kemp, and GO of Irishmen, fuught well, and elicited well-merited praise Horn their European comrades. Major Hunter, mortally wounded, died whilst being carried off the field on a stretcher. Nearly all our casualties occurred whilst attacking the pa.

After a hard combat there our men were on the point of taking the pa, and made ceitaiu of doing so, when the enemy received strong reinforcements, and we were compelled to retire. Our retreat was covered by a strong parly, who did good execution on such of the enemy as joined in the pursuit. Ihe enemy followed cur men to a short distance of Meraroa redoubt, when two rounds from the Armstrong guns compelled them to retire. The wounded men were forwarded to Patea, and would a; rive there tonight. The p.s. Sturt leaves beie about 12 o’clock to-night to brino such of the wounded men to Wanganui as are fit to be removed. The reinforcement under Capt. Roberts (No. 6 Company) was fired upon about two miles from the Wairoa redoubt, whilst on their march from Wanganui to join the force. They attacked and drove off their assailants, killing one Hauhau, without any casualty on their side. The following is a list of casualties. It, is a heavy one, and will bring sorrow to many a home;—

KILLED. Major Hunter Sergeant Kirwan Constable Charles Lees Constable G. Slater And three others, names not correctly placed. WOUNDED. Constable G. J. Cole Constable D. Dolan Constable Monk Constable Eastwood Constable Thompson Constable Wesley Constable Williams Constable Cooskley Constable Kelly Constable Foot Constable MT-cw” Constable Vance Constable Keane Constable Kepa Constable Lyndon And 5 Wan ganvn JistivSS, MISSING. Constable A. Kennedy Constable 11. Thompson Constable S. Poole Constable Norman Constable Savage r< —..n, \t VA»U9UII'JC Constable J, Devon

gl'Jicholls (Paka Yeomanry Cavalry) Path (J TJrquliart , Bro'.va n ” Keunally (Patea Rifles)

(Prom the Special Correspondent of the Wanganui Chronicle.) Head-quarters, Wairoa, 7th November, 1868.

I T 1 t ; i , nave just uuic iu it-nu you a lew hurried lines, in reference to the at- | tack On Okotuku this morninfr 1.,r „

mixed force of about 350 Europ Bans aud tbe same number of Maoris.

The force did not succeed in taking the rebel position after a hard fight, which lasted from half-past 8 till half past 1. They had to retire closely pressed by the enemy. The men behaved well, and the retreat was conducted without confusion or hurry.

Major Hunter is killed. He fell at the head of the storming party. He was as brave a man as ever fell at the

post of duty. The fight was a desperate one on both sides. Nothing certainly known of the loss of the enemy. I think it 'was considerable. Our force retreated almost in a slow march. The arrangements for the expedition were good throughout. There was no confusion during the fight. The enemy followed the retreating force to within 1,500 yards of the camn.

The wounded men go to Patea tonight. Our principal loss was sustained in rushing the pa. After that unsuccessful charge there was no fighting ol consequence. It was then a series ol ambuscades on either side.

Colonel Whitmore is preparing to renew the battle to-morrow.