THE SEAT OF WAR.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 18, 12 July 1864, Page 3

THE SEAT OF WAR.

By the arrival of the Pliosbe," we are put in possession -of later intelligence: from the scat of war. The news, however, is unimportant. |We extract the ifpllowing from; the despatch of Col. Greer to the Deputy Quartermaster-General: — - : " I found a large- force iof Maoris (about 600) entrenching themselves about four mdes beyond ;Pukehinahina. iThby: liad made a ; iyngle line of rifle pits of the usual form across tho road, hi a position exactly similar .to ..Pukehinahina— j-the commencement of-a formidable pa. Having driven ih some skirmishers they had thrown out, I extended the 4-3 rd and a portion of tho ,68th in their front and- on the fianksaai far, as. practicable, and kept up a sharp fire for about two hours, while I sent back for reinforcements as per margin [1 gun, 220 men]. As soon as they were sufficiently near to support, I sounded the advance,jwhen the 'l3rd, 6Sth, and Ist Wiakato Militia ' charged, and earned the riffe-pits in the most dashing manner, under a tremendous fire, but which was for the most part. too high. For a, few minutes the Maoris fought desperately, and then were utterly routed. • Sixty-eight were' killad in the rifle pits. " The position^, was very favorable for their retreat ; otherwise few could have escaped. "The" Defence' Force ■' purstte'd them several mdes, but could not get well at them, owing to the, deep. rayines with which the country is every where intersected. ' ' " " "The infantry pursued , as long as they could keep the Maoris in sight. All did their duty valiantly. .'*• The 43rd 'were, under tlie comand' of Major Synge, whose horso was shot ; the GSth, under Major ;> (the Ist Waikatq Militia under Captain Moore ; and they each led their men well. " It is impossible for mc, in this hurried report, to do justice. I will therofore have the pleasure, in a supplemental report, to bring those to your notice who more particularly distinguished themselves. " I must not conclude without remarking on tho gallant stand made by the Maoris at the rifle-pits ; they sloood the charge without iliuchhig, and did not retire until forced out at the point of the bayonet. "The name of 'the -position whith dhe Maoris ocenpicd is * Te Ranga.' "It appears from this despatch that the Ist Waikato, although escaping without loss, took an active part in the engagement, l'he casualties on our side were— l-1 men killed, G oiiieers, 2 sergeants, and 31 men wounded ; in all 53. Of tho Maoris, 103 were killed, aud, 27 wounded ; in all, 132. Ten prisoners were taken. Many more miiFt, it is said, have been killed in the ravines, j but their bodies could not be found."