Page 2 Advertisements Column 2

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 328, 19 August 1868, Page 2

Latest from: Patea.—A late Wanf;mui paper says :—" Oa Monday : s.t the Patea Field Force numbered 720 men and thirty-four officers, with reinforcements still going forward. That is the largest colonial force that as ever yet taken the field, but when we deduct from that the number of men required to be left to defend Patea and the outlying posts, it would not leave Colonel M'Donnell more than 300 effective fighting men for an attack. We say effective-fighting men, because many of the men sent to the Front did not know how to load a rifle. Others were so physically unfit for service that Dr. Brewster rejected a number of them. All things considered, it is necessary to patiently await the current of events. Of one thing we feel certain, and that is, that the moment Colonel M'Donnell feels confident that his arrangements are complete, he will make a dash forward, but not before. A few days heuce we may hear more upon the subject. Correspondence from the front continues to reach us :—Colonel M'Donnell and Major Hunter are spoken of in anything but complimentary terms. Major Von Tempsky and Captain Buck are very popular ; the latter officer's men are styled " Buck's Bruisers ?' Numbers of men went to join the Bruisers."