THE WEST COAST.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 85, 17 August 1868, Page 197

THE WEST COAST.

the] '(From the Oori»speadent hf the;la^^endeht.j J ; ;? v'''^‘i- T .? > Pfist''Gampi ? : ;•■ I FEAa -my secofldvletterrwiii' contdia 4s ? l elcomie';.'.^iigWß , ’;as,";my, ; ;first, but. nevertheless ;I .think’- you will agree with me, thatf; the event which I have , .to redeemed our character in theeyes of the - natives, when you >\ , It was the. drays and escort with them that were* attacked .while returning from Waihi to Patea.. They were just , founding the end Tofi the hush when one of the party caught sight of two; or three natives; arid immediately gave the; alarm, “ they are on us.” Hardly had. the words beeu said, when a. volley was fired at the party, which wounded the first horse; that belonged to tlie contractor, arid killed, a dray horse; the distance was from 250 yards to about 60 or 70, as the procession was advancing at an angle of some 15 degrees to the bush. ' The drays cleared away, and lam glad to say that the men stood their ground; and kept up a good sharp fire for over half-an-hour. One poor man was shot through the abdomen, arid is in a very precarious state, but hopes are entertained of his-recovery, and one other man was very slightly wounded in his leg, a mere scratch, as he was not in-: , convenienced by-it, but, strange,, to say;, three other bullets had passed through lm clothes. These were the only' casualties on our side. When the firing commenced at the point of the bush, Major Von Tetnpsky, who was out with a wood party, higher up in the i wood, endeavoured to cut them off, • but they were too sharp to be caught thus, and managed to effect their safe retreat. Nothing could be better than the conduct of the men, who when hard pressed, retired in good order", and did not forget their wounded men There is a paiutul arid distressing case of carelessness here; a man while cleauirig his revolver','shot himself in the knee, and yesterday (31st) the surgeon arid doctor tried to extract the] ball, which was too firmly imbedded;

they then would halve amputated his leg bad he been strong euough, but he is fast sinking, and is the worst of any in camp. To day all the wounded are to be brought into Patea, when they will be under the care of Dr Brewster. The last volunteers from Wellington ire of the right stuff, but I leave their future actions to speak for them, as there is an old saying that “ The proof of the nuddinsr is in the eating.” The

number of Maoris who composed the ambuscade amounted to about 70. This may be relied on as correct, because they came boldly out into the open and fired at the camp in their retreat, so the number was almost counted. The corner of the bush has humourously been christened “ Tattenham Corner,” and it presents much the same appearance as that small, though well-known place does on a Derby day, the troopers riding by at a considerable pace. As you can easily imagine, there is no help for - it; a swamn runs within a 150 yards of the

point of the bush, which must be i passed to get to Waihi. In my opin- ■ ion, it would be a very good thing it i those gentlemen, who fancy the war is only kept up for certain people who i haye commissions, &c., &c., were to

form £t corps and march past, it wouiu soon convince them otherwise, and would: perhaps be beneficial to certain Southern members of the House ol Assembly, who leave it to us to fee shot and wounded, while they are endeavouring keep away the very l-Kirur whioh ia moat warirod: namelV;'

money. The time is drawing close for ,a movement, .which will, I hope and trust, inspire terror and fear iutoj those who are now 1 gaining confidence through their trivial successes— a confidence which may be the cause of their; complete defeat and; dispersion. , The Wanganui -Times adds The PateeV Hght" ; HSrte d haying' been, as authorities, refuse to serve any longer, andihaveiiheen idisbapded^,l They;;conswle^ themselves' "and/ jbeiea; © va :

cuated.and thus. the whole, coast line is left)operi to the ;b'rieinyC ; Thi^, indicates j on the part of the commander an immediate which we trust he. will carry 1 out in , a mariner, that community. ? . r '