The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1868. TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 220, 16 September 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1868. TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

THE LATE ENGAGEMENT AT TE RUARURU. FARTHER PARTICULARS. Wellington, September 16. 12.30 p.m. An eyewitness to the late engagement at Te Ruaruru writes in the Wanganui Herald, stating that it was a most fearful fight, attended with great slaughter on our side, the men being brought into a regular ambuscade, and then left to do the best they could. Forty-six were missing. Some of the dead and also some of the wounded being left on the field. We ■were entirely without commanders, and may thank the loyal natives for bringing us out of the bush. If they had not been there not one of as would ever have got home alive. When we got within 500 yards of the pa Te Ruaruru, the loyal natives attacked the outlying pickets of the rebels, and the bugle sounded for us to come up. We did so, and within 30 yards of the pa received a most murderous fire. We then took cover alonsside the creek, the rebels firing into us. Here Voo Tempsky, Buck, und Hunter were killed, aud Farmer and Rowan wounded, — Farmer dying on his way home. Some 10 or 12 men were killed and wounded. Major Hunter manifested the most gallant behavior in the affair. He 2 or 3 times asked Col. M'Donnell to let him charge the pa, but the Colonel refused ; huff we done so, a good many : ifv'es might have beou saved.

After their officers had fallen, the men were quite panic-stricken. Col. McDonnell left 80 men with Lieut. Hastings, Hirtzel, and Sub-Inspector Roberts to cover the retreat. The carnage then commenced; at one tree 18 fell with Hastings. You may imagine how we were situated, surrounded on every side by natives, with no commander, and, worse still, our commander making his way home and leaving us to do the best we could for ourselves. Here the men gave themselves up for lost. Sergeant Llewellyn thus expressed himself to me,' We shall all be killed, let us fight to the last, for we shall never reach home.' .Night came on, and we retired into the dense bush, having no knowledge of where we were. There we stopped until the moon rose, when two or three Maoris, who were with us, took it for a guide, aud brought us out of it about 6 o'clock in the morning, the Colonel having arrived safely at home the night before, and thus ended one of the most disgraceful affairs ever known. The fact that a few old soldiers were amongst our party, gave the men some little confidence by explaining the nature of our situation, and the best way to get out of it. Roberts and Hirtzel behaved most courageously, and kept the men's courage up. Colonel M'Donneli left us behind to do the best we could for ourselves, and made his own way home. Poor Hastings' last words were " Retire, men; never mind me, lam dying." Captain Buck, Major Von Tempsky, and Hunter never spoke again; and so ended one of the most disgraceful affairs which have ever taken place in JN"ew Zealand. Brave Father Roland accompanied the men into the thick of the %ht, assisting to carry away and attend the wounded and dying. His hat was shot through, and be had several very narrow escapes. Major Hunter behaved nobly. He declared it madness on the part of Colonel M'Donnell to take his men into the dense bush, where surprise by a rebel picket was so easy and retreat so difficult and disastrous. The debate on Mr Fox's resolutions was again adjourned last night.