THE WEST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 645, 7 January 1869, Page 3

THE WEST COAST.

LATEST FROM THE FRONT ATTACK ON NUKUMARU PA. (From the Evening Herald, 29th December.) An attack of the most daring charac ter was made yesterday morning on the enemy's stronghold at Nukumaru, From a previous arrangement Lieut. Bryce marched his troop over to the Mission Station camp on Sunday evening, and the Wanganui and Kai Iwi corps commenced the march for Nukumaru the same evening at 11 o'clock. Captain Finnimore commanded the Wanganui Cavalry, and Lieut. Bryce the Kai Iwi. The men of all ranks numbered about 100. At half-past 2 o'clock yesterday morning the force had arrived opposite the enemy's camp. Our men were kept behind the ridge out of sight, expecting to find some stragglers foraging; the enemy, however, was too cautious. It was noticed that a pa, with palisading, had been erected since the cavalry last visited that place, and a sentry was observed doing his " weary rounds" on the outside. After waiting for some time, some Maoris were supposed to be seen about a mile distant on the sand-hills, and a portion of the Kai Iwi Cavalry, under Lieut. Bryce, went in pursuit. Failing to find them, the cavalry came down in skirmishing order on the left of the pa, and at a distance of 500 yards, opened fire. Capt. Finnimore moved off with No. 1 division Wanganui Cavalry, and immediately after Cornet Ballance, with Nos. 2 and 3 divisions, and the remainder of the Kai Iwi troop followed. When Capt. Finnimore arrived, a heavy firing was opened at 200 yards range of the pa, our men being partially protected by a slight rising in the ground. All at once there was a desperate rush at the pa, and about twelve men got to the trench around the palisading. Up to this time the Hauhaus had only kept up a slow and desultory fire, and there was an impression among some of the men that there were but few natives in the pa; but as soon as the men charged, a regular and rapid fire was opened upon them from behind the palisading and rifle pits. Sergeant Maxwell was here shot. He had just discharged his carbine into the pa, and wheeled his horse to reload, and was in the act of putting in the cartridge, when he was struck in the breast, the bullet coming out at the shoulder. By a sudden impulse the horse galloped back for a hundred yards before his rider fell off. Maxwell was immediately carried off by Trooper Small and two or three others, and expired in a few minutes. Trooper Wright, of the Wanganui corps, had his horse shot in the trench, and lay entangled for two or three minutes; fortunately be got clear of his horse, and found a rebel's horse ready for him to mount. One of the Kai Iwi men seeing that Wright's horse was dead, and noticing a white horse tied to the palisades, went forward, untied the rope, and offered Wright a fresh horse. Another horse was shot dead, and one wounded. The rebels in a few seconds after this was observed to leave the pa in a long line extending to the right. Their object was apparent —to occupy the patches of bush, and command the line of retreat. The second and third divisions were immediately thrown out in skirmishing order on the right, and kept a galling fire on the rebels as they emerged from the pa. When the horse and rider fell in the trench alongside the pallisades, a rebel climbed the pallisades from the inside and was shot while coming over. Several attempts

were afterwards made to get the saddle, and four Hauhaus, more daring : than the rest paid the price of their temerity. The retreat was sounded, and was conducted at a walk, in as perfect order as if the men had been on parade. There were a great many women and children in the pa, and about 100 men. The country behind is tolerably open, with patches of bush. It would be impossible the pa could stand a siege against 300 infantry and 50 cavalry, the latter to prevent flanking movements and cut off the rebels in their retreat. Captain Finnimore and Lieutenant Bryce cordially cooperated in every movement, and 1 showed that their respective corps ; were able to preserve in the most per- ! feet discipline, and were capable of anything possible for cavalry. The

attack on the pa was made at 6 o'clock, and lasted for three quarters of an hour. The men are in high spirits, and eagerforanotherexpedition. Thehomeward march was commenced at 9 a.m., and the camp was reached at 1 p.m., the men having halted to breakfast on the way.

CAPTAIN FINNIMORE AND LIEUT. BRTCfi UNDER ARREST.

(Prom the Wanganui Times, 30th December.)

We regret to observe that Captain Finnimore, of the Wanganui Cavalry, aud Lieutenant Bryce, of the Kai Iwi Cavalry, have been placed under arrest by order of Lieut.-Colonel Lyons, and the whole of the men struck of pay, pending, we suppose, the decision of the Government. The facts, in so far as we can ascertain, are these. After j the Wanganui Cavalry had made a sue cessful raid upon the Patea Districts, bringing off a number of horses and killing two of the enemy, Titokowaru determined upon sending 50 of his men back to protect his villages, crops, &c. Col. Lyons, having heard of this move, determined to follow up those 50 men! 'with the cavalry and 30 kupapas, men! especially selected for that purpose, to act as scouts and take to the bush when necessary. To enable them to keep up with the cavalry they were mounted, and mistaken for cavalry, although neither armed nor trained as such.

Our Patea correspondent in the first part of his letter, which we recommend to the perusal of our readers, shows how those 50 men of Titokowaru's did pass Kakaramea, and thus escape because they were not followed up as Colonel Lyons intended. Here we remark that a ltttle courtesy on the part of Colonel Lyons might have prevented the refusal of the cavalry to accompany him. Had he told Captain Finni.uore and Lieut. Bryce the real object of the expedition, they would, we believe, have gone forward, but in any case it is to be regretted that they did not do so. There being faults or at least a misunderstanding on both sides, we trust that matters will be amicably arranged, and the cavalry, under their old commanders, once more take the field. The most deadly enemy that we have now to contend against is that Spirit of Discord which threatens to be far more potent for mischief than Titokowaru.

FUNERAL OP SERGEANT MAXWELL, (Evening Herald, 30tli December.)

The remains of Sergeant Maxwell were removed from the residence of Mr James Hamilton for interment in the cemetery this clay, (Wednesday). The Veteran Volunteers formed a firing party, and as the cortege moved along the band played the Dead March in Saul. The friends and comrades of the deceased were pall-bearers. The Kai Iwi and Wanganui Volunteer Cavalry corps marched in procession on foot, followed by Colonel Lyon, Major Noake, and the Officers of Volunteers and Militia. The inhabitants of the town, men, women, and children, nearly all turned out to pay their last respects to one who had fallen while nobly fighting the savage foe. The Revs. Mr Elmslie and Mr Hogg delivered the most impressive and appropriate addresses—the coffin was lowered into the grave—three volleys were fired—the volunteers filed out off the cemetery, and marched back to town —and the people retired to their homes, after paying the tribute of respect which valor merited. We truly sympathise with his parents, who have lost an only son. His name will long live in the memories and affections of the people of Wanganui.

THE PANAMA COMPANY, (Prom the Home News, Nov. 2.)

Thb affairs of the Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail Company are passing through a crisis, and the country has been as nearly as possible losing the advantages of direct steam mail communication. For a long time the undertaking had been in a languishing condition, meeting its engagements with difficulty, yet gallantly struggling on in a spirit worthy of all commendation, in the hope of prosperous times. But creditors demanded their rights, and the impossibility of providing for them under extreme pressure induced the board to convene & meeting for the purpose of procuring the sanction of the shareholders to a voluntary liquidation. The meeting was held, but the shareholders, less desponding than the directors, took more hopeful views, and they have since practically asssumed, th» management of affairs. We have no intention to dwell upon the circumstances which led to the ultimate supercession of the old board, who have given the existing provisional management every assistance in their power. It is sufficient to say that the company, by the assistance of its shareholders and the forbearance of its creditors, has substantially passed the most important crisis in its history, and that the strongest efforts are being made to place the service, not only upon remunerative footing, but to icuprove it in point of management. While economies of no mean order are to be effected on this side, the same principle will be carried out on the other, where it is said there is much more room for them than here ; and at the same time the public will be invited to assist the energies that are being exerted on their behalf. It would be something equivalent to a national disgrace if at a moment when France is extending her steam mail services everywhere, and especially in the Pacific, the only special mail service between New Zealand and Great Britain should be permitted to die for want of support. There is the more reason for deprecating such a calamity—for it would be a calamity, seeing that the movement for a fortnightly Australian mail is not unlikely to be attended with very speedy success. Whether the New Zealand service will be absorbed in or engrafted upon the movement for this improvement we are unable to say; but we may state that many events much more improbable have come to pass in the history of colonial mail communications. At all events it is satisfactory to know that to the crisis through which the Panama, A r ew Zealand, and Australian Company has so far passed safely, we are indebted for the probable acceleration of a satisfactory settlement of the fortnightly mail service to and from our Australian depen« deneics.

Two Deaths by Dbowning- in Canterbury.—The Lyttleton limes, Dec. 28, reports the following : —Two fatal accidents are reported to have occurred at Bryan's Jterry, near the gorge of the river Selwyn. Mr Malcolm Macfarlane attempted to ford it on horseback on the evening of Christinas Day, but was carried away by the stream, and has not since been heard of. On the following morning William Dobie,, one of the ferrymen, whilst endeavouring |to cross a mob of sheep belonging to Mr Oreorge met a similar fate. No information has yet come to hand of the bodies !having been found.

SIR Geoege Uowen. —Preparations are being made in Canterbury for the reception of his Excellency Sir George Boweu in a becoming manner. The Mayor and Council of Christchurch have resolved that every endeavor should be made to welcome the Governor in a style worthy his dignity,. and have agreed on a programme to be carried out during the vice-regal visit, which will, it is said, commence on the 10th of this month, and continue for a week or ten days.—Evening Post, Jan. 2. The Evening Post, January 2, says : The Kaikoura's passengers were released from their quarantine on board the Lady Bird yesterday morning. They were landed in boats at Kaiwarra, where their baggage was inspected by a Custom-house officer. Those who were for the iN'orth are being forwarded by the Wellington to-day. The Lady Bird still remains at her anchorage witii the yellow Hag flying at the mum, waiting, we understand, until she receives a thorough fumigation. Paxea. —The few settlers remaining at. Patea, with commendable spirit, are determined not to let their dangerous position interfere with the New Year's festivities, and at a meeting held lately appointed a committee to make arrangements for sports on .New Year's Day. Au excellent blockhouse has been erected for the deence of the town.

Suez Mail. —The mail arrives at Mel-bourne—-1869—-January 21, February 18, March 18, April 15, May 13, June 8, August 5„ September 2 December 23. Leaves Melbourne—-18G9—Jan. 5, Feb. 2, March 2, March 20, April 25, May 2a, June 20, July 18, August 14, September 12, November 9, December 5.

Nelson Election.—Mr Nathaniel Edwards has been elected a member of the House of Representatives for the City of Nelson, in the place of W. Stafford. Tha result of the poll was— Edwards, 302; Shepherd, 214. I Vacant Seat. —Mr J. Salmon having, without permission of her Majesty or o£ the Governor, absented himself lor two successive sessions from the Legislative Council, his seat ia declared to ba vacant. , BEafiumNG for the Armed Constabulary in the Southern Island is suspended for the present.—N, Z. Advertiser, .Uec 3U