THE PUKEKOHE CAMPAIGN. GALLANT ACTION.

West Coast Times, Issue 34, 22 August 1865, Page 3

THE PUKEKOHE CAMPAIGN. GALLANT ACTION.

A party of six stalwart Europeans, Yrorking for Mr Lowry, a contract surveyer, were engaged in the work of surveying the Pukekohe, when, to their horror, they distinctly heard voices of Maoris coming through the bush, towards the piece of clear ground on which they were standing. Huddled up together, they awaited the denouement, but scarcely had the foremost of the advancing party emerged from the bush with what appeared to their excited imagination three spears under his aim, than, with a yell of despair, the whole party of Europeans threw down their instruments and tools, tock to their heels, and scrambling over one another in their flight, found refuge in a waterhole. The waterhole was cold, as well it might.be in July* but bare life is sweet, and they remained in the waterhole up to their armpits in water until dusk, v;hen one more venturesome than the rest having reconnoitered the ground immediately about, the party beat a cautious but precipitate retreat to their hut. Here they remained all night under arms. Next morning three volunteered to proceed with loaded guns to the scene of their disaster, to ascertain if the instruments and tools were still there. They found them gone, and the party at once beat a retreat, part to Drury, and part to the Mauku, where they narrated the thrilling adventures of the attack, and the narrow escape which' they had experienced. Now for the tale of the assailant. Mr Ch\irton, it appears, who is^supervising the survey work going on in the Pukekohe block, sent the native cadet Mita, a Maori, who underutands and speaks English thoroughly, and who lias long been employed as draughtsman, &c, in the survey office, with two other • Maoris, to chain a line, the traversing of which led them to the spot where Mr Lowry's party was at work. Mita it .was who first came out of the bush, and it was the three legs of his theodolite-stand that the fugitives first took for spears. He called after them, in good English, to remain, and not to be afraid, but tho more he called, the faster he says they ran. Calculating that they were too frightened ever to return for their tools, he gathered them up and delivered them into Mr Churton's charge. They consisted of the instrument, its case and legs, a chain, three arrows, a broken axe-handle, and a hook. Our cotemporary's Mauku correspondent, when it charges Mita's party with stealing these tools, is in error. They have been returned to their owners, and we even think that Mita and his companions might almost, with justice, have claimed them as "spolia opima."— N. Z. Herald (Auckland.)

Browning's Pass.— We have beeu favored by Mr Willmer, who has returned to Christchurch from Browning's Pass, with the following particulars relative to the proceedings of Mr Park's party, and the condition of the pass. Mr Willmer rode up the Pass, and found the whole country so covered with snow that at first he could not discover tho tents of Mr Park's party. Within a mile of the Pass Mr Willmer •was stopped by the snow being up to his horse's bwast. On his return be found the spot where Messrs Park and Browning had pitched their tents, the latter gentleman having been unable, as yet, to proceed over the Pass to Hokitika. Up to the previous Sunday, Mr Park had proceeded with tho work of cutting a benching halfway up tho face of the Pass j but on that and the following days heavy snow fell, and totally obliterated all signs of their labour. We learn that it is Mr Park's impression that tho enow will not melt completely for the next two months, but that after that a dray track is capablo of being constructed over the Pass.— " Lyttelton Times."

[Advertisbment.]— The following Subsoiiption List of the Funds for tho benefit of Henry Abbott, ■whoso arm was lately broken by the fall of a tree at the Kanien :— Godwin and party, L 5 ; Williams and party, hi ; Spurling and Mitchell, LI ; Park, and party, LI : Geo Haynesand party, LI ; Michael Kirby, LI ; Harkm and party, LI ; Mr Clarke, 10s ; M'Gregor, 10s ; John Leece, 10s ; Michael Hickcy, C 8 ; MrsTwiß, Cs ; SamuolJonkins, 2»6d ; L. Itowo, 2s; Cop'and and M'Lonanan, 10s; Mr Banks, ss; James Hawkins, 6s ; R. Johnson, 6s ; E. Overall and party, 10s ; James Hamilton, 10s ; M. M'Coy, 10s ;R. Nidd, 10s ; William Ring, 7s ;H. Daily, 5s ; George Vincent, 10s ; Androw M'Lean, 6a ; Goorgo Glover, 10s ; Mr Renton, 2s 6d ; Lord Raglan. 10s ; Wilhum Weare, 10s ; William Harper, 3s ; William M'Guire, 3s ; D. Beatty, 10s ; Walker and Co., 6s ; Thomas Ching, 10s ; L. and R., !0n ; Denis Dolany, 68 ; Gordon Burns, 10a; Pater M'Grath, 2s 6d ; Fred Harding, 10s ; W. Kortegast, 6s ; a Fr|end, 2s »d ; Do., 2s 6d j K. Canltil, ss: Mrs Mitcholl, 10s ; John M'Loan, 10s ; F. L., 2s 0d ; K. Z., la 6d ; a Friend, 2s 6d ; Tea and Sugar 6s ; Mr Brown, 2s ««1 j James Oalahan, 10s ; J. O. M'Aaliffe, 8s ; H.

Pratt, 10s ; L. Martin, ss ; Cfeorgo Gibson, 10s ; W. T. Morgan, 6s ; Robert Bovell, 2s 6d ; Nield and Party, 6s; Jaß. Freeman, 2s 6d ;Willson&Party, 2s 6d; Isaao Brier, 7s 0d ; A Friend, 2s Od ; Do, 2s Cd ; Do, 2s «d ; Do, 2s 6d ; Thos. M'Call and party, 7s 6d ; Thos. Harrison, 10s ; James and Brown, 10s ; Davy, 10s ; A Friend, 2s 6d ; Andrew Inglis, 5s j G. B. O. and Co, 5s ; Geo. Hunter, 2s 6d ; A Friend, lls Gd ; Inglis, 2s 6d ; Hans Alson, ss ; Alex. Davidson, 5 ; D. Williams, Ps; J.Ferguson, 6s ; F. Oobanof, 2s 6d ; F. D. Hunter, 2s 6d ; Geo. Wood, 2s 6d ; J. Smith, 6s ; J, M 'Donald, 6s ; M'Lucklin and party, 8s ; John M'Gulland, 3s 6d ; Mr M'Bride, 2a 6d ; Daniel M 'Bride, 2s 6d ; A Friend, 2s 6d ; James M'Lean, 2s Gd ; Alex. E. Leeds, 2s 6<l ; Alex. Munro, 5s ; Mr Rankin, 2s Gd ; P. Turner, 2s 6d ; Mr Nicholson, 2s 6d ; Mr Tennent, 10s ; Irwin and party, 9s 6d ; A Friend, 4s 0d j Two Friends, 12s 6d ; Mr Cohen, 2s 6d ; Butcher, 2s 6d ; Mrs Lightfoot, 5s ; Thos. Collins, 2s 6d ; Thos. Collerick, 5s ; G. F. T., 10s ; MrProcter, 10s ; Mis 3 Fitzroy, 10s 6d.