DEFEAT OF THE COLONIAL FORCES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 40, 14 November 1868, Page 3

DEFEAT OF THE COLONIAL FORCES.

Okutuku was attacked by Colonel Whitmore on .Saturday morning, at 8.30 a.m., with/a force of 300 Euro, peana and 80^riendlies. The rebefs were strongly posted, and in strong force. An earthwork was thrown up by the reserve while the. storming party advanced on the enemy, and this in all probability saved the colonial forces from destruction. After a brief contest the Europeans got badly whipped, owing, as Colonel Whitmore says, to a strong reinforcement received by the enemy, and retreated in confusion. All the wounded "that could bs seen " were carried off the field, and the retreating Europeans were pursued by the victorious natives to within reach of the guns of the Wereroa redoubt. The following are the casualties: — Killed: Major Hunter (shot through the femoral artery), Sergeant Kirwan, Constable Charles Lees, Constable G. Salter, and three others, names not given. Wounded : G. J. Cottal, Constables D. Dolan, Monk, Eastwood, Thompson Wesley, Cookslep, Kelly, Foot, M'Kowall, Vance, Kewa, Kepa, Lynden, and five Wanganui natives. Missing; Constables A. Kennedy, E. Thompson, Poole, Norman, Savage, Nogus, J. Devon, Nicholls, Path, Uruquhart, Brown, Kennaily. The " Daily Times " publishes the followins: later intelligence : — Wellington, November 11. The Sturt has conveyed tho remains of Major Hunter and Kepa, from Patea to Wanganui, for interment. She also brought sii of the wounded to, Wanganui, the remainder being at present unable to be removed. Tho "Wanganui Times" of Tuesday says : — " Colonel Whitmore was obliged to fall back upon Patea instead of renewing tha attack as at first contemplated. " xestardaj morning Colonel Whitmore, with the main body of hia force, marched from Patea to Nukumaru, via Wairoa. The women and children from Wairoa having been taken to Patea on Sunday, cam© to Wanganui by tho Sturt last night. It ia therefore supposed that the Colonel's object in marching by Wairoa was to take the i men from that redoubt with him and abandon the plaf c. This is tho more probable as the Wairoa redoubt was attacked on Sun%y night, but tho assailants wene driven ofF. (< Major Fraser aid a few men only remain at-Pa*ea ; arid ifc is feared that it must also be abandoned,"