LATE NOTHEEN NEWS.

Southland Times, Issue 1128, 22 March 1869, Page 2

LATE NOTHEEN NEWS.

The following items of intelligence are taken from the Dunedin papers : — The following is a translation of the Maori King's circular : — " A stretching forth of the hand during the year to the friends in the island which I love. Ist O people, sleep ! Do not turn round upon me : the island sleeps. O people within the pale of Kingism, sleep! I will conduct yru to the house of your ancestors of Israel. 2nd. The wave of the rapid will hereafter return to its state of calm. — Tawhiao." The Wanganui ' Herald' gives the following account of the engagement at Otauto : — " Our forces have gained an unequivocal victory in the Maori stronghold — the bush. On Saturday morning at six o'clock, while a dense fog hid from view' objects more than 20 yards distant, the force under the command of Colonel Whitmore debouched from the narrow track into a clearing, where there stood a village called Otauto. Mr Maling was ■ the guide on the occasion, and as he and two others were approaching the clearing, they saw three Maori sentries eagerly straining their eyes to see what was coining, for the dogs had already be- i gun to bark. Mr Maling and his two comrades then fired., and brought down the three Maoris. A cry was immediately raised of " The Pakeha !" and 400 men in a state of nudity, and carrying nothing but their pouches and guns, rushed into the clearing. Our men then ; rushed forward and opened a tremendous fire, while the Hauhaus, both men, women, and children, as quickly as they could, dropped down into a steep, ' wooded gully. Colonel Whitmpre there- ' upon extended his men both to the right i and left, flanking the gully. A terrific << close fire was then kept up for an hour,' '' at the end of which time the mist rose. J The men then fairly took, to the bush .; and fought from tree to tree with a a valour never surpassed. For three long c hours furious fighting, was kept up inthir J way. The Hauhaus tried to climb the i trees, but were quickly brought down, the women in the meantime carrying off the dead in the midst of the heaviest fire,

their cries being terrible. There was no shrinking among our men, but, on the other hand, a fighting tone. At the end of four hours" the Uauhaus had retreated through the deuse undergrowth, leaving the bush fairly in our hands. Colonel Whitmore had sent Lieutenant- Colonel St. John up the opposite bank of the river to Q-entle Annie, which prevented the enemy from crossing there, and he was consequently forc&i back, with Kemp's Volunteers following him up closely. All behaved equally well, both Armed Constabulary, Arawas, and Kemp's men. We captured all the Maoris' clothing, which was all burned, as well as guns, tomahawks, revolvers, money, tents, axes, spades, and shovels, in fact, the whole of the enemy's baggage. Seven dead Hauhaiis were found, and two women were made prisoners. The attack was planned with consummate skill, and carried out without a single mistake, the men being thoroughly under command during the whole of the engagement."