KETEMARAI.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 236, 2 April 1866, Page 3

KETEMARAI.

March 8, 1866. This afternoon, a party of the 57th, with Capt. Sir E. Douglas, and Ensign Matthews, went out in the direction of Ketemaraia to reeonnoitre and destroy crops, when they reached the bush they extended, and were immediately fired upon hy the enemy, who were, according to the most authentic calculation, 150 or upwards in number, and were " waiting " for the soldiers ; the struggle was sharp, though short, the unerring guns of the soldiers soon told with good effect on the enemy, four of them in one place were seen to fall, and were carried off into the dense bush, several others were individually popped off, and owing to the short distance, I may safely tell you that their loss is great, though s circumstances would not permit of ascertaining it; our loss was three wounded, viz. : — Private Michael M'Carthy, gunshot, wound through right chest — feared to be mortal. Private Dennis O'Connor, chest, severe contusion. Private Dani-1 Ford, left shoulder, slight. As soon as the firing was heard in camp fifty men of a reinforcement doubled to the scene of action, but all was over ere they reached half-way, the enemy, though twice the number to the party opposed to them, having fled. It is worthy of remark that the Maories instead of being in a state of half nudity as was usual on other occasions, were all, or nearly all, comfortably, if not respectably dressed, several were seen to sport Crimean shirts of various colors, and others had shawls tied round their loins, reaching to the ixees, in every respect resembling our late (?) Native Contingent,