THE WAR AT TARANAKI.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Issue 17, 8 November 1860, Page 1

THE WAR AT TARANAKI.

We furnish for the information of our readers correspondence published in a Government Gazette issued yesterday, containing an account of an engagement which took place on the 6th instant at Taranaki, between a party of Waikato and Ngatihaua and Her Majesty's forces The battle was fought at Mahoetahi, between New Plymouth and Waitara. It was known that armed parties had gone from Waikato for the purpose of fighting with the soldiers at Taranaki. On the Ist of Nov. a letter signed by Te Wcfcini Taiporutu and Porokoru was sent to Mr. Parris, challenging the Pakehas to come out and fight. On the sth it was reported to the officer in command of the troops that the Waikatos had crossed the Waitara "and were proceeding to Mahoetahi. The following morning a force marched from New Plymouth to meet the enemy, and another from Waitara. A battle was fought: the enemy was defeated and driven away, leaving many killed and wounded on the ground, among them three principal Chiefs. The letters here published contain all the information which has been received by the Government.

Head Quarters, New Plymouth, Taranaki, 6th November, 1860. bir,-—I have the honor to state for the in* formation of your Excellency and the members of the Government, that yesterday afternoon information reached me that the Waihad crossed the Waitara river that morning in force to join Wm. Kingi, and that they would possibly next morning be in the neighbourhood of Mahoetahi. I at once arranged that a force from this, and another from the camp at the Waitara should march so as to join early in the morning at that place; we did so, and met the Waikatos, and after an action which lasted about two hours, they were defeated and fled, with very considerable loss. I write these hurried lines, and send, them by the " Victoria," to enable you to communicate with the Home Government by the present mail, and will send full details hereafter. Amongst the killed are three very influential The first I am told was the leading chief in the Maori King movement, the | two others powerful and leading men. There are also many other chiefs killed of minor im portance. I enclose lists of those already known up to this hour. i Our loss \*as two Officers and 14 men! wounded, and 4 men killed: nothing could exceed the behaviour of the Troops of all arms, as I shall detail at length in my Despatch. The loss of the enemy is not yet ascertained but from the number killed and buried I should say they must have had between 80 and 100 killed and wounded. f^ag?ose,..^n. ...in.siulUag,- better sent by the Waiicato Chiefs a few days ago, and it is a curious fact, that the two Chiefs who signed it were both killed the very day after they crossed the Waitara. In communication with the gentlemen of the Native Department, I brought into town the bodies cf the three principal Chiefs for proper interment, the o'her Waikatos killed were interred in a pit on the field. We have taken 6 prisoners and a considerable nnmber of very fine arms, rifles and double barrelled guns. I shall obliged by the "Victoria" bein°sent back without delay, as I have discharged the " Wonga Wonga." I have the honour to be, Excellency's most obedient servant, T. S. Pratt, Major-General Commanding. To His Excellency Col. Gore Browne, C.8., Governor and Commander-in-Chief, New Zealand.