KETEMARAI.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 243, 18 April 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

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 Ketemarai to reconnoitre and destroy crops, when they reached the bush they extended, and were immediately fired upon by 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 tail, 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 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 Daniel 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 par by 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 nofc respectably dressed, several were seen to sport Crimean shirts of various colors, and others had shawls tied round their loins, reaching to the knees, in every respect resembling our late (?) Native Contingent.