New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, August 4, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 210, 4 August 1847, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, August 4, 1847.

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 Col. M'CJeverty, which are published in this day's Spectator. The engagement was severely contested ; the loss on our side is severe, but the enemy'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 also seem to have stood their ground in a very 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 Shakespeare's Cliff by six rebels within thirty yards of him, who were lying on the top of the cliff watching the troops below, a ball struck him near the jawbone joint and passed out at his mouth without even " shaking a tooth ; he ran down the hill side, closely followed by one of the rebels, and plunged into the river, when Ensign Middleton, and the master of the Edward Stanley gallantly put off to his assistance in the 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 ; they also set fare to Mr. Hulke's buildings, on the opposite side of the river which they entirely destroyed. The body of Weller of the 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 23d the rebels appeared about j ten o'clock in great numbers, and hoisted a red flag, and another skirmish was expected, as they were evidently trying to draw the troops out; about one they assembled on Harrison's hill, danced a wardance, and retired, our allies the Putiki natives also danced a war-dance ; afterwards a maori was observed coming towards the stockade with a flag of truce, and called George King, the Putiki chief, who went forward, shortly followed by Mr. Duncan the interpreter, and had a conversation with Te Oro who informed them that they (the rebels) .intended to go up the

country to cultivate their grounds, but would return again in the summer to fight, 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 white flag would be sent from them, and desired that in any similar case the troops would do the same. A grenadier of the 65th accidentally shot himself through the ankle, and 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 authority of Government, and we fear that peace will not be established in that district until some signal advantage is obtained over the rebels, who are fighting for the purpose of upholding murder and the j worst crimes. The present state of Wanganui unfortunately does not realize the anticipations of his Excellency as expressed in his despatches on the termination of the operations at Horokiwi. " The Southern district is" not " now in a very satisfactory state."

It is with feeling s of deep regret we have to record the death of Mr. R. Richards, the Commander of H. M. Colonial brig Victoria, who was drowned on Friday last, the 30th inst., in attempting to cross the bar at the mouth of the Wanganui river. On the morning in question Capt. Richards, who had been requested by Major Richmond to proceed to Wanganui to obtain imformation, 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 off from the brig, which was three miles distant, but before it arrived Capt. Richards, who had been washed three times from the boat was lifeless. The survivors were rescued by the boat which returned to the brig with them and the body of Capt. Richards, and every means were used to restore anuimation but without effect. Mr. Power of the Commissariat was very much exhausted but by the application of timely remedies he recovered. There 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. Fitzgerald and a highly respectable jury in which the facts connected with the melancholy death of the deceased were given in evidence, and a verdict was 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, Rev. J. Watkin, Mr. Hogg, Dr. Fitzgerald, Mr. S. E. Grimsfene, and the Rev. S. Ironside, and was followed by all the officers in Wellington, the crew 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 for the memory of the deceased. The service was impressively performed by the Rev. R. Cole, M. A. All the ships in the harbour had their flags half mast high, and the stores on the beach were closed during the funeral. Capt. Richards had been in the command of the Victoria for six years and was well known and generally respected throughout the settlements, and his loss will be severely felt by the numerous circle of his acquaintance.

We have received by the Hero a file of Nelson Examiners to the 1 7th ult. They contain a long report of the Committee appointed b) r the Land Purchasers and Agents to frame a plan for the satisfactory adjustment of the Nelson land question in accordance with the spirit of the New Zealand Company's despatch of the 26th Nov., together with the resolutions of the Committee, (21 in number), which were submitted to a general meeting of land owners and agents and unanimously adopted. The Examiner of the 10th contains a bitter phillipic on the rumoured appointment of Major Richmond as Superintendent of the Nelson district. A dinner was given to Mr. Dillon Bell, who is about to leave Nelson, which was numerously attended.

The Supply arrived this morning from Nelson, she put into Port Hardy from bad weather, having experienced nothing but southerly winds. The Calliope had also put into Port Hardy from Wanganui, where she remained when the Supply left on Monday ; she would return to Wanganui with the first fair wind.

It is reported that Lieut.-Col. M'Cleverty will shortly return to Wellington, and that Major Wy'att of the 65th Regt., who witti Capt. Laye of the 58th, proceeded to Wanganui in H.M.S. Calliope, will be left in command of the troops stationed there.

Last week several parties of Wairarapa natives made use of the new road for the purpose of driving their pigs to Wellington for sale. There are now upwards of one hundred and forty persons at work (one hundred and twenty of whom are Maories) on the road in the upper part of the Hutt, under A. M'Donogh, Esq., besides those who are employed under contract on that part of the road between Mr. Swainson's and the first gorge.