WELLINGTON. From the " Wellington Spectator," August 4.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 132, 4 September 1847, Page 3

WELLINGTON. From the " Wellington Spectator," August 4.

The reports to which we alluded on Saturday of an engagement between the troops stationed at Wanganui and the rebels, have been confirmed by the arrival of the Edward Stanley from that district with official despatches from Colonel M'Cleverty, which are published in this day's Spectator. The engagement was severely contested; the loss on our side is severe, but the enerm's loss is believed to have been much greater. All accounts that we have seen unite in] praise of the gallantry of the troops, both officers and men appear to have greatly exerted themselves in the action ; the rebels aLoseem to have stood their ground in a veiy determined manner, and to have fought with great daring. We have only room to add the following from private sources :— Mr. M'Gregor, who went out July 1, to look for his cattle, was fired on at Shakspeare's t CIi(F by six rebels within thirty yards of him, who were lying on the lop of the cliff watching the troops below, a ball struck him near the jawbone joint and passed out at his uiouih without cv.en shaking a tooth : he ran do,vvn the hill sjde, closely followed by one of the rebels, and plunged into the river, when En* sign Middleton, and the master of the Edward Stanley gallantly put off to his assistance in (he Stanley's boat, and brought him safely across the river. The rebels have burnt down Mr. Nixon's farm ; house and buildings, which they used as quarters j i theyfalso set fire to Mr Hi) lke's buildings, on the opposite side of the river, which they entirely destroyed. The body of Weller of tlie 58th, who was killed in the action, was taken by the rebels to their, encampment at Aramoho, and buried decently, one of their number reading the burial , service in the native language over him. On the 23rd the rebels appeared about ten o'clock in great numbers, and hoisted a red flag, and ano-| ther, skirmish was expected, as they were cvi I dently trjing to draw the troops out • about one; they assembled on Harrisons hill, danced a war, dance, and retired, our allies the Piuiki natives; also danced a war dance j afterwards a maori! was observed coming towards the stockade with j aflag of truce, and callud George King, the Pu-, tiki chief, who went forward, shortly followed, by Mr. Duncan the interpreter, and had a con vernation with Te Oro who informed them that the)' (the rebels; intended to go up the country,

to cultivate their grounds, but would return again in the summer to light, and that he (Te Oro) would never make peace as long as he lived. They also said that whenever they had anything to say a w hite flag would be sent from them, and desired that in airy similar case the troops wouid do Ihe same. A grenadier of the 05th accidentally shot himself through the ankle, ami will be obliged to lose his leg in consequence. It is greatly to be regretted that we have still to record this determined opposition to the autho rity of Government, and we fear that peace will, not be established in that district uniil some signal advantage is obtained over the rebels, w^ho aie fighting' for the purpose of upholding in,ur,der and the worst crimes- The present state of VVanganui unfoi tunately does not realize the anticipations of bis Excellency as exprassed in his despatches on the termination of t ,c operations at Horoknu. "Tne Southern district is" not ' now in a very satisfactory state."

It is with feelings of deep regret we have to record the death of Mr. 11. liichards, the Commander of H. M. Colonial brig Victoria^ who, wai drowned on Friday last, the 30th inst,, in attempting to cross the bar at the mouth of the Wanganni river. On the morning in question Captain Richard?; who had been requested by, Major Richmond to proceed (o Wanganui to ob . tain information, left the brig with Mr,. Power of the Commissariat with a crew of four men ; on crossing the bar a roller struck the boat and capsized her, they all clung to the boat, and Capt. Richards called out that they should shout out together and hail the brig for assistance. ■< They were heard and a boat immediately put oil" from the brig, which was three miles distant, but before it ai rived ,Capt. Richards, who had been washed three times from the boat was lifeless. The survit'ois were rescued by the boat which returned to the brig with them and the body of Capt. Richards, and every meaiio were used to i estore animation but without effect.— Mr. Power of the Commissariat was very much exhausted but by the application of timely remedies he recovered. The was also £180 in specie in the boat for the payment of the troops, which was lost. The Victoria having returned to Wellington an inquest was held at Barrett's Hotel on the body yesterday before Dr. Filzgetafd, and a highly respectable jury in which the facts connected with the melancholy death of the deceased were given iv, evidence, and a verdict wai returned of "Accidentally drowned." The funeral took place yesterday afternoon. Major Richmond, Mr. Justice Chapman, and Mr. Strang were chief mourners, the pall was supported by Col. Wakefield,Mr,St. Hill, R. M., Major Baker Llev. J, Watkin, Mr. Hogg, Dr. Fitzgerald, Mr, S. E. Grimstone, a' d the Rev. S. Ironside, and was followed by all the oifleers in Wellington, the ciew of the Victoria, the officers of Government, the ministers of different religious denominations, and the great body of the inhabitants, who were anxious to show their respect to the memory of the deceased. The service was impressively performed bv the Rev. R Cole, M. A. All the ships in the harbour bad their flags half mast high, and the., stores on the beach were closed during the funeral. Capt. Rtchards had been in the command of the Victoria for six years and was known and generally respected throughout the settlements, and his loss will be severely fell by the numerous circle of his acquaintance.

It is reported that Lieut.-Colonel M'Cleterty will shortly return to Wellington, and that Major Wyatt,6slh regiment, who with Capt. Laye of the 58th, proceed to Wanganui in H.M.S, Calliope, will be left in command of I lie troops stationed there. Last week|several parties of Wairarapa'n itives made use of the new loadfor the purpose of driving their pigs to Wellington for sale. There are now upwards of one hnndred and forty persons at work (one hundred and twenty of whom are Maories) on the road in the upper part of the Htitt, under A. M'Dpnougb, Esq., besides those who are employed under contract on that part of the road between Mr. Swaiusou'sand the fin; gorge.

A Dinner was gjven at the Freemasons Tavern on Wednesday evening by the non-commissioned officers of the 58th and 65th regiments to their comrades the non-commissioned officers of the 99.11) I regiment on the occasion of their leaving the settlement. The entertainment passed o/F very much Jo the satisfaction of all present, and toasts and songs added, to the enjoyments of the evening, On Wednesday evening about twenty minutes to seven, two severe shocks of an earthquake were felt in Wellington. The first shock wui the most severe and was of some seconds' duration ; the shocks occurred within the interval of a minute of each other. The wind wus from the north* west, with frequent showers of lain, and towards nine o'clock it raiiied very heavily.

Emuarkation of Troops.—Od Thnrsday tbe different companies of the 99th regt., which, were stationed in this ■ettlemeut, amounting to 230 men, under the command of Major Last, embarked on board the Thomas Lowry for Sidney. Lieut. Elliotts company inarched into Wellington fipm the Hult on Thursday afternoon in very military style, and proceeded to the place of embarkation, the band of the 65th regt. placing "Auld Lang Syne." 'J his gallant corps have been so long stationed in this settlement that both officers and men have made many acquaintances and fnends who will view their depaiture with regret ; the urbanity of manner and kindliness of disposition of their commander Major Last, in particular, rendered him a general f.vothe in the society of this settlement, and we are sure we expiess the unanimous sentiment, when we say that they bear with them the best wishes of the settlers for their health and prospeiity. Last Sulutday the new stone barracks at Po« rirua were delivered over by Mr. Wilson tho contractor to the Ordnance Department. The building is substantially constructed, and will be an important post for keeping open the communication along the coast, and securing the peace of the district. By degrees a collection of houses will soon be formed in the neighbourhood, and the commencement made ofa flourishing village.