A SHARP ENGAGEMENT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 54, 24 December 1912, Page 4

A SHARP ENGAGEMENT.

Township of Patumahoo

Attacked

A fchaip tngag tnet.t took plare at Mauky on December 18th, wh. n the Kight Wing (VVsiuku) oi the 3 :ri M.R., u.cbr Captain Octroi % Lieutenants Aldred and Htnry, made an assault on Mauku, which was teiend d by tie Lti't Wing, under C-ptmn Schofield •■■nd Lieuunaot Wilkinson, of Punekone. Captain Schofield took his men as fa: as Patumahoe Hill, where the man body were sttongly e;;treched on M-.sra W. Ke:r's and lantelin's prperiy. A.coit in ; party vas *e«t out and the Wsiuku division wets b'.atcdo.'the Titi ro<.d, proceeding towards Mtuku. Captain Schofield r.ad m outpost c-oefully hidd-n tn Mi Jao-.t..'. Fmlay's . til On arrival at West MauKU sc!) ,ol and Cuthbert's t.re the .va-.uku f;d/ance gu-rd made a thorough search of tr.e locality, b :t r.o eneniv was uncovered. Ihe advame guard tlrn proceed towards Pi.tnr.&hi e, mi wh n the leadin-; men arrived within about 20 ya<-d of Fit-lay'" hill they .-.ere n.bje t d -.o a ; ■•( fire, a. veal being sui usiy mounded an', msny hr.es k.lled. Theremaindet r.ipidli retired to Mis i. risp.''.- h sne t ad ".Si nHkc," w! ere a flaukiiu party, under Lieutenant AUrei vn-de a detour RtTciS the paddocks n ar.tse Aiauku rails, with t';e idea of cai.tunng ti.e ou i f:st, and am-th r pait-, uc,(\e< Lieut - ant Hf-nry, cross d into Mr B.iitoirs to a.tack the light fh'a;.

Both movements wm s;eti by the Pjkekuhe mtpo ts und-r Sergean! itacata, who upenei a galling f : e a d 1 en teiired u. s en in ti.e main budy ac I'atumahoe Kill. Un arrhirg at Finlay'a :il Lieutenant Al red tou d hs positio 1 vacated, and by m>ki g a ftirtiu-r flankirg movement acioss ih? back of ti r Finhy's property and through Mr J. McF;:dien's !v arrived on th: road near the Wf-leyan Church, ;: ost of the tim!> bei.g subjected to an annoyii.E tire-. .

Lieutenant Henry tork a party through Mr (anteliu's, p'stthe milking yh d, i ut did not c me in touch wi h ihe en'-roy. At the Wtsl yan Church the hot s were called up a' d (i hand gallop made fir 'i.e Kiil Dismounting .pposite ihe ciicket i'isl.l 'hey tot it hot frrn Sehotield's timers, but hy skilful manoeuvring !(i t among foma fallen pine trees and made: matters watm from their sitie, r;;pid tiisning advances t.riny - hg them Into clos:: touch v.ith the defenders At this juncture ihe whistle sounded "cease fire," and nn adjournment wr.s mads to tha ',l;.uku Hotel for lunrhe n

So;;.e splendid woik wai dm e by Aldrea'a troop, t ey having an almost impreKunble position to capture aid the spl ndid cover afrordid the defenders made matters moie i-iili-cult.

CJs-ptKin S hi-iiclj possioly inaic a mivta'ie in rot allowing the advance to p rs hij ou.posts, when he pr: babiy lould have captured the Wai'iku troop witiout a .'hot ofing fired.

After uiis.li C ptain Ikrrold addressed the mea, pointing out the mic.ake.i and complimented them on their txcellent behaviour. A turn was then taken into Mr Howard's paddock, where som? useful squadron drill v»a.; concectcJ by t e officers. Captain lie;mid, Stalt'-Seigean'-Major Jnmi ton and Kee..-Qu;;ter-master-Scrg. nit Robertson acted as v.mpire?. The tro p gecetall/ can b; j complimented <n the exc 11 nee of their n.ounts, u firsi-c!.;ss stamp of l.or e Lein;.; seen frcm one end to ihe other of thj liii. s At 5 o'. 1 ok all hatu sdecampe i for VV i mi, wutre a smoke io;:;:-:l a r id pifcse.■tatn.'-n of piizts was t; be h Id.