LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 355, 19 September 1868, Page 2

LATEST FROM THE FRONT.

[FROM THE CORRESPONDENT OF THE WASHJAKTJI CRONICLE.] Patea, 11th Sept. I am still unable to furnish further particulars in reference to the late disaster at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, owing to the contradictory nature of the accounts of those who were engaged there, and it will probably be some time before the whole truth will be known. There are two very strong and distinct accounts given, the one throwing the whole blame on Colonel M'Donnell, and the other entirely exonerating him from blame. The truth probably is between the two. The number of the enemy killed, is, I fear, under the number reported, from the best information obtainable. There were not more than five of the rebels killed, namely, three men, and two children. The Ketionetea (Ahitana's people) were present at the fight; it had been hoped that they would remain neutral. Titokowaru thus gains an accession of some (50 or ,70 men to his force. Last night at about 10 p.m., the rebels advanced to within about 400 yards of the Waihi Camp, and fired a verv heavy volley into it, and again this morning, at 2 a.m. They were no doubt of a party who had been searching the bush for the poor fellows eft there. Patea, Sept. 13, IS6B. I find on enquiry here that the Hospital is well supplied with medicines, but that my remarks in my last letter were generally correct. 1 lake great .pains to send you correct news, but it

is a very difficult process, and occasionally I may, notwitliHtandiug all iny care, be in error. I find now that a portion of the force did not behave so well as I first heard. There was a ■want of obedience to orders, and a great deal of random firing, but I do not attribute'their conduct to a general want of courage, but to their being raw levies, very partially disciplined, and totally unacquainted with bush fighting. Col. Whitmore's observations on this subject are very pertinent. I have heard from a gentleman, just in from Waihi, that Mr. Rowan is gettiutj on well, and that the doctor has hopes of his recovery, also that the firing at the camp, alluded to in my last special, was not correct. The natives fired about thirty rounds on the other side of the AVaingongoro, some two or three miles from camp. Mr. Booth's arrangements- in re the public houses, have had a good effect, to-day and to-night have been the quietest that we have had for a long time.

The natives (neutral) still remain quet several have joined the enemy it is true, and they may possibly gradually drift away in this manner, but j hope for the best. This morning one of the men left in the bush named Dore came into camp at Waihi, he was very much exhausted, having been without food all the time he was in the bush, one of his arms, I do not know which, was broken, and his feet were much bruised and swollen. He says that after he was wounded he tried to keep up with the retreating force, but found he could not as he was getting faint from loss of blood and pain. Mr Livingston saw him and gave him some brandy, but could not help him further. Soon after, hearing the natives coming, he lay down behind a tree and feigned death. There, after the natives came and stripped him with the exception of hs shirt, and though they twisted his broken arm, he had sufficient nerve not to call out, they did not stop long, being in a hurry to follow the force. He then got up and went further into the bush and remained there a day and a night, close to the pa. He then searched about and found the track and eventually reached Waihi. He says when he was crossing the Waingo goro that he was seen by the enemy and fired at, and hid himself in some scrub near to the river for a time. Whilst he was hiding in the bush he heard the natives dragging two wounded men into the pa, one he recognised by his voice to be Corporal Russell, of the Taranaki volunteers, he heard him say, " Why don't you kill me at once you wretches." The other was calling out in broken Maori, and he could not understand what he said. When, as he supposes, they had reached the pa, there was a great shouting and yelling and soon after he saw a great deal of smoke, as if large fires were being made and then he heard the most dreadful screams. There is too much reason to fear these poor men were roasted. Corporal Russell leaves a wife and large family in New Plymouth. Wo left about 44 stand of arms in the bush The Wellington Rangers are stationed in Patea, their time of service expires on the 16th. I hear most of them will claim their discharge, this, with our casualties, which up to the present are over 80, will make a reduction of about 150 men. [We have been favoured with a slip from the " Wanganui Cronicle " office and other files, courteusly furnished us by Captain Daniels and officers of theWallibi. We extract the above latest prrticulars.]