REMINISCENCE OF OLD TAURANGA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 238, 7 October 1880, Page 4

REMINISCENCE OF OLD TAURANGA.

THE GATE PA DISASTER. Tbe following graphic account of an interesting ppipo^e in the history of Touraosa — Uie Gate Pa disaster, 1864 •—in from the pen of » eerffer.nt. of thp 43rd, who could snv of thp ■ events of thnt ptirrins: period quorum magna pars fid. It is extroctei from a letter to a gentleman in town, who was a spectator of the occurrence described, and who vouches for its ncccuraey. The narrative poseesses a deep local interest, as recalling a state of things that has long passed away : — " The following is n brief account of the attack oo the Gate Pa, whioh took place on the 29th of April, 1864. About 4 p.m- on the obove date we (the 43rd L.T.) fell in to the number of 150 to 200, of all ranks, for the purpose of advancing to attack tliß above pa, and Bfter a brief harangue by General Camaron, we advanced, closely followed by about a similar number of blue jackets. We kept under cover of a hill until we arrived within 60 yards of the pa, when Colonel Booth ordered a bait to enable the men (who bad necessarily straggled in marching through tbe fern) tc close up, when the enemy immediately opened a very hot fire upon us. As soon as the Colonel saw we were closed up he waved his sword and shouted ' Now my lade, forward 1' when with a heart-stirring cheer we dashed up to the breach headed by our gallant Colonel. Here there was a slight check, as the breach would not admit of more than two men entering abreast, and immediately inside of the breach tbere were two dykes with a very narrow path between, into which the pressure from behind forced threefourths of the men. As soon as we effected an entrance tbe enemy took to their rifle pits and kept up an incessant shower of bullets upon us. In the meantime we had penetrated to fche centre of the pa, and were busily engaged in firing into tbe pits, and at every Maori who dared to show himself. It was while here that our brave Colonel, when encouraging and directing the men, was shot down. Some of the meu immediately stooped to pick him up, but he cried out ''Never mind me, lads; do your duty.'* Immediately after his fall Captains Mure, Hamilton, Ullerton, and Glover were shot dead, also Ensign Langlands and our Sergeant-Major. About the same time the enemy's fire slocked a little, and we thought the place was ours, when of a sudden we heard a volley in rear of the pa. and immediately a rush of sailors and marines came runuing from tbat direction and shouting 'They are on us ! tbey are on us J' I stopped the leader (a corporal of marines) and asked him what they meant. He answered me hastily that the Maoris were coming in hundreds from the rear of the pa, and then ran towards tbe breach. Our adjutant, wbo heard the answer, called on the men to face in that direction (towards the rear) and to catch tbem on their bayonets as they came over a ditch which lay between us and the rear. I was assisting him when another rush come and one jumped on my neck and knocked me on my face and my arms out of my hands. Wben I recovered my feet and arms, sailors ond soldiers were all mixed together in confusion and trying to get out. It was no use tryiDg to restore order then, as they were too completely mixed up, and in endeavoring to do so I was again forced to the ground, and

with much difficulty rpgainpd my lepfi The eDemy, hiking advantage of this stato of efT.irs, recommenced a tremendous fire. Immediately outside of the breach Captain Sargent and tbe Adjutant attempted to rally the men but without Bticcepp, owing, I have no doubt, to the monoer in wbich tbey were mixed up, aud haviug heard the word given wben inside to retire, but by whom no one appears to know, although many surmise. About fifty yards from the pa, Mr Nicholl was endeavoring to form a party, although himself severely wounded in the head, the blood from which was flowing freely down his neck. I joined him and assisted as far as I could, but could not collect a sufficient number to justify a return to the pa (although I believe Mr Nicholson would have returned if he had had but a dozen men), as many of the men had thrown themselves out into ekrimishing order, and tiied to keep down the fire of the i enemy. A short time after, we were formed up at one of the batteries and awaited orders, whicb, when ■ received, wero for us to form a chain of picquet sentries in front of the pa ( daring the night. Of course you have < previously heard of the escape during ' the ni^ht. And now to account for the first alarm. It appears the Maoris commenced retreating by the rear of < the pa, where the 68th were lying in 1 wait for them, but unfortunately they ! — doubtless being too anxious to have 1 a slap at them — showed themselves too ] soon, and fired a volley into them, I when they turned to the right about 1 and returned to the pa. It waa Beeing 1 those returning that no doubt led the blue jackets to believe it was a rein- i forcement or something of tha kind i and caused them to raise the alarm, ' which — together with the order to 1 retire which was immediately after < gi yeD — caused tho disorder and retiring < of the wholej but it was moßt decidedly ] false to state — as Borne of tbe papers ! do— that the men retired leaving tbeir : officers to be killed, as I can positively : assert every casualty amongst the officers occurred immediately after 1 entering the pa, and before a single man retired. The lateness of the hour prevented another attack the same night, but when the pa was entered the next morning it was found all the ' natives had decamped.— Bay of Plenty Times. ! Man— n miii— y— ■ —___■»