THE WAR IN AUCKLAND.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 15, 5 July 1864, Page 3

THE WAR IN AUCKLAND.

"A,a H 1-. --'TA^A^aA. ■ ■:■•'■.; GREAT •B»rb- ( it&il3JfcESrT BEYOND THE ■■' '•■ ' . " QATE PA.' ■SPLENDID 'VKXEORT %Y OUR TR©'OPS. ] THEE PA CAPHTRED, -jAJSTDi'THE ENEMY COMPLETELY ROUTED. \ (BNE HUNDRED AND TWENTY OF TEE ' ! REBELS KILLED— 3O WOUNDED ;AIfD l PRISONERS. ....»: "' i (Fk-om the Correspondent of the Southern Cross, j •■;'.• ;' JT&ne 21.J < j Having just learnt, that H.M. .-s.s. ' Esk ' is to i leavt for Auckland in a few minutes, I am enabled J to send you a few scraps o£ . information respecting j the spirited engagement between our troops and the rebels, whieh'took place to-day, .about noon-, at a position about four mites beyond the Gate Pa.' The rebels had commenced the erection of a new pa, on a narrow neck of land ; having deep gulh'cs ontlu-ee .sides, and. on.the. fourth side intercepting the' road so frequently' traversed of late by tho. Defence Force on expeditions. A force of 400 infantry- and cavalry, with ■ one 6^pounder gim, started "this morning, at eight o'clock, under Colonel Greeiy for the purpose of dislodging them ; and nobly kave they- effected their object. The rebels were fihe first to assume, the .offensive — - their out : sent?jes, firing, upon the .column as; it advanced along thfc level plain. Skirmishers were thrown out, and the™6-pounder placed in position on ft slight eminence, about 500 yards from the ride pits. The skirmishers and rebels in the pits I exchanged shots for some time, but -without much injury ■on our side, ike only two soldiers ■wounded being Private Patrick Crowley, GStli, shot in the eye; "and Nathaniel , Corey; 43rd, in tho left leg. Lieutenant Palmer,. A.D.O. to Colonel Greer, was hit in the neck by a spent ball, and knocked o!f his .horse; but the injury ia fortunately reported to be slight, and later in the day he was enabled to resume. his duties. Reinforcements was sent for to Te Papa, 'both infantry, guns, and mortars ; but before they arrived it.had been determined to charge the position, the gallant Colonel having been induced to give ordei's to 1 that effect from the impatient demands of the 43rd and 68th Regts. to be permitted to storm the works. The bugles then sounded the advance, and with a tremendous cheer, 'making the hills re-echo again, the <!3t\l, 6Si:h, and Waikato Militia, made a rush forward in admirable order, and with precision, to the several points of assault. The rebels in the pits then poured out a tremendous volley at the troops advancing, and from the dense mass of beings rushing forward it was impossible for any spectator not to believe the whole would have been swept to the earth. Suspense, however, as to the fate of the assault was of but a few minutes' duration ; and as the smoke was carried away by the slight > breeze then prevailing the soldiers were observed to'have passed to the ri-^ht corner of the posit urn, and behind the ride pils and parapets. Those advancing in front of the position were quickly in possession of the rille-pits, and again the cheers went up to the heavens from those hi the occupation of the pa as well as the supports ami reserves who had watched from a distance the spirited encounter. The whole affair, from ihc bugles souudiug the advance, to tho pa being in our pessession, only seemed to occupy a few sevouds ot time ; and then the cry arose to follow the retreating enemy. The Defence Corps, which had been within a hundred yards of the pa awaiting their time to arrive, then dashed forward and quickly came up with the poor wretches (lying to tho •jrullies, knowing that in crossing them they would be more than a match for horsemen. The breachloading carbine, however, told with elllvt upon the fugitives, and soldiers also coming forward in the pursuit, great slaughter must have taken place. The Colonial Defence Force followed tho rebels for a distance of about t<>n miles, and arc said to have rendered a good account of those they met by the way. The pa being in our possession, those soldiers not following in the pursuit of the Maoris were directed to search for the bodies of those killed, wounded, or hiding in the gullies and swamps on the line of retreat, and a large number were picked \ip in this manner, who would otherwise have escaped during the night, or, if dead, remained there without a proper burial. The dead rebels found were placed in three long lines near the pa, and by a friend who counted 1 them lam informed there were 120. The wounded and prisoners will number near upon thirty. Amongst the dead, the body of Rawiri is said to have been discovered. It will be remembered this chief had the direction of-affau-s ad Gate pa ;' and another leading chief of this district said to be killed is Timoti. A very great number of arms thrown away by the rebels have been recovered ; but how many of the enemy were present on tho first appearance of the troops cannot be said.. A great number of the rebels left the pa as the troops firstcame in sight, and it was thought the pa was generally deserted, xuitil the discharge of a. heavy volley at a body of skirmishers. It is impossible to state our loss correctly or even approximately. The dead and wounded are bjing carried in : but until to-morrow a list cannot be obtained. Captains Trent and Casement, GBth, arc wounded ; and also Captains Smith and Bernards, 43rd. The privates killed are said to number about ten ; number of wounded not known, though said to be few, comparatively to Maori loss. . ; ■ . Whilst the engagement, was going on, word was brought to. the- Colonel that it was intended to make" an attack upon Te Papa, whilst a feint attack was made at the pa which had fallen into our hands.' The feint, however, was turned into, a reality, and to be prepared for all comers at Te. Papa the Naval Brigade came on shore, and all the troops remaining in camp were placed under arms ready for an attack. The Maoris, however,; never came. . The last news brought in front' is that the number of Maori bodies collected, killed and wounded, has been counted at 204. I much; resret that the short ..notice I have had of the' departure of the ' Esk' will not permit me giving any other than a hurried account of such a", victory.. .... , ... , ; ' ;; The' 'following is' a list; as complete as we' can, make it at present, of killed and wounded :— | Killed.— 9Bth Regiment: 3 privates. 43rdl rcQrporarand' 4' privates. Wotjndtbd.; — 6Sth Regiment: 24 officers and privates.. 43rd Regiment : 13 officers and private's.- ; -,<! The name of -the. place where the- engagement' took place, as given by our correspondent, is Te Taumata-i-a Hui, on the road leading to Kahakaharoa. ....,-. . • ■<, ■•_■■■ . '.' ; Amongst the Maoris killed are: Rawm luaia, chief (before mentioned) chief of Wbakatohea'; Kaingarara, ofNgatimataku, Rotorua. Many of. the killed; , were -strangers.j Among the wounded was Te Tera ;' nnd amongst the prisoners, Ihaio; Motuiti ; who are meti -k>f rank. '< Henare Tamjkoa, iho ; M,aou ; who r ruxo.tp the challenge" to Colonel Greer; 'is aaaongst' the Timed. Neither Thomson; or ; Rewi were present,"-MSO fai as can be_ ascertained by , questioning the priso. ners. .■••; .^ '.■■'•-■" • , '" ! !J J: ■•.•-'•■■-■• •••■'"-

'iLoNGKTCTY.-^-From the Scotsman', of j l6t^ April last, there ,ave s in its.usual- obituary for the weet, eleven deaths recorded .between the^ ages o\ 72 and 4 W? c 'The "united "sum of these ages amounts tp" Bß ,t. years, or an ,a,v.erage, ,of 80, yeap for^yin'diviauai; f-Iff the obituary it? -is' vex probable that there i.arp : more; instances of a pro tractedage^but^lie above dev,en,are, the only es amples having the^'ages atiache'd. ; ' xtyi±.\&%iy*i .■■JlirrJii' .0 :(,