THE WAR IN THE NORTH.

Southland Times, Issue 582, 24 October 1866, Page 3

THE WAR IN THE NORTH.

THREE BATTLES FOU&HT, AND FIFTYSIX REBELS KILLED. HAWK'S BAY. I (Condensed from the HaioJc's Bay Times, 15tli t October.) One of the most dashing battles between the Hau-Haua and the colonial forces has been fought at a pa called Omaru-nui immediately opposite Puketaper. It was known that for a considerable time the rebels had been collecting at this spot, and were daily i strengthening their position, and gaining fresh recruits. Notwithstanding |the small number of colonial forces available, it was determined to make an effort to | dislodge and scatter them, which resulted i in the colonial forces proving victorious. The following is a suminury of the attack: — Two hours having been allowed the rebels either to fight or surrender, to fight was the decision, and the colonial forces were ordered to advance. There were thirty-five rebels killed, many wounded, and others taken prisoners. The loss on the colonist's side was one European and two friendly natives killed, and thirteen wounded. The attack was made in the most cooland gallant manner — the Napier companies marching from the Puketapu side, fording the river. Captain Tuchanan's company of Tolunteers and the section of No. 4 company militia, under Mr Brown, were at first stationed about 500 yards up the river, under cover of a ditch and bank fence. The larger part of the Native Contingent, under Tareha, Hapuku, Ihaka, Kopu, Eenata, and Karaitiana, and directed by Mr Locke, occupied the i edges of the swamp, or were stationed outside the cultivations at a distance of several hundred yards ; while the smaller portion was placed on the hills in the back to prevent the enemy's escape. This part of the force was under Major Lambert, who, on the advance being sounded, moved steadily forward and gained the top of the river bank, where he found the Hau-Haus drawn up. He received their fire and returned it, the men getting within the outer fences of the pa. Unfortunately, just at this time, part of the Native Contingent, which had followed, coming unexpectedly under fire, moved insome confusion to the right, to take shelter under the river bank; and the order was given by Col. "Whitmore (who, with Major Lambert, were to be seen in the hottest of the fire) to take cover under that part of the bank which commanded all the ground taken. About this time Captain Kennedy, commanding No. 2 Company, was shot in the shoulder, the bullet passing through the fleshy part and just touching the bone ; but he very heroically refused to leave the ground until ordered to do so by the officer commanding. During the next quarter of an hour a very heavy fire was kept up on our part, and returned with great coolness and determination by the enemy, 'but the latter was gradually pushed back until he abandoned the huts and took shelter in a small gully near the further end of the pa, where he found complete shelter. At this time- Mr

Hamlin (under a perfect shower of lead) conveyed orders to the Napier Volunteers to advance on the pa by the river, which was done, and the enemy driven out of the gully. Major Lambert and force then moved up the bank and drove them, under a hot fire, into the last of the several enclosures into which the pa was divided — not more than a few square yards of ground. Many of the friendly natives — Tareha in particular — now moved up -lsc. and in a few moments the remaining position would have been taken by assault, had the enemy not displayed the Avhite flag in token of surrender — the only course he could have adopted to save himself from utter destruction.