THE NATIVE REBELLION.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 198, 9 October 1869, Page 5

THE NATIVE REBELLION.

Napier, Sept. 28. Te Kooti’s position is about seven miles from Rotoaira. Colonel M‘Donnell would attack when the native reinforcements, under Kemp, sent from Wanganui, reached him Kemp was expected there the night Mr. Locke, the Resident Magistrate, left. The natives arc in good heart. Mr. Locke has satisfactorily concluded everything about the goldfield. October 1.

The Government Agent here, in a despatch from Col. M‘Donnell, has received information of an engagement at Taupo, between Colonel M'Donnell’s force and the rebels.

Te Kooti, with a force from 250 to 300 strong, attacked Tokano, one of the positions occupied by our force, on Saturday. Severe fighting took place, which resulted in our force (which consisted of 249 natives and two or three European officers) defeating the enemy with considerable loss, estimated at 30. Seven dead bodies fell into our hands. The enemy fled. Colonel McDonnell says the enemy has plenty of ammunition ; that he fired 2,000 rounds, and there were found 30 and 40 rounds of Enfield ammunition in some of the pouches taken. Seven of our forces (natives) were wounded, which were all our casualties. All appear to have behaved well. The Wanganuis, under Kemp, had not yet reached McDonnell’s position, and. a portion of his force at Eotoaira, including the Armed Constabulary, was not engaged. Eotoaira is 8 miles from Tokano. Ko. 2 Division of the Constabulary had not also arrived at the time of the engagement, but was close up. A general attack was to be made on the enemy to-day (Monday.)