CAPT. RICHARDSON DRIVEN BACK UPON WAIROA.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 320, 10 August 1868, Page 2

CAPT. RICHARDSON DRIVEN BACK UPON WAIROA.

{From the Hawlces Bay Herald, August 1.) Yesterday afternoon an express messenger arrived in town, conveying the news that Richardson had met the exprisoners at Te Reinga, and after three hours' fighting, was repulsed, and compelled to fall back upon Wairoa. Richardson's force is understood to have'

numbered 25 Europeans andso Maories The bulk of the latter were never in action, and, after three hours' sh irp fighting, Richardson found himself left with 10 Europeans and four natives, the ivst having skedaddled. On« native was killed, and two of the enemy were se nto fall. He first encountered the advanced guard of the Hauhaus, and t'.eu the main b«Jy, He believes them to be 200 strong, all armed with rifles and able to use them. The messenger was despatched on Wednesday last ; nothing seems to have been known of the movements of the enemy in the intervening period; although of courso rumors were rife. The weather was dreadful, the country quite impassable ; but the general opinion was that the ex-prisoners would cross over into the TJriwera country, to secure their plunder —whatever their subsequent course might be. Capt. Richardson was to sl;irL on Thursday, with the view, if possible, of effecting a jnnciion with Colonel Whitmore.