THE FIGHTING AT WANGANUI.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 465, 13 February 1869, Page 3

THE FIGHTING AT WANGANUI.

The following are the particulars of the skirmish at Weraroa, referred to in our last number :—A smart skirmish took place this afternoon between Weraroa and Papatupu, which resulted in the loss of one man killed, three wounded, two missing. After the Wanganui Cavalry took up Weraroa this morning, a number of the rebels came on to the ridge on the road to Papatupu, and fired several volleys at then. Shortly after Kemp's natives came up and gallantly crossed the gully, up the opposite side, and drove the rebels across the flat to the end of the ridge going down to Papatupu. Here the enemy were reinforced, and the "Wanganui natives who only numbered 30 had to retreat, leaving one man killed in their hands. Kemp's men behaved splendidly, five of them got amongst the rebels, killed two and wounded another ; two others wounded were seen carried away. Shortly after Lieut. Col. Lyons's Division came up, and Kemp fell back to Weraroa to get ammunition. Colonel Lyons advanced his Division, but the fern was so high that.it was 'impossible to get a view of the ememy. Shortly after, three of his men were •wounded and he fell back about 200 yards to get them conveyed off the field, which was a difficult matter, having a deep gully running into the Waitotara to cross. By this time several of the other Divisions were up, but the men being very much fatigued with their exertion of yesterday, all last night and this morning withouc rest, they were sent back to Weraroa, where they are at presant encamped. The casualties are as follows :—Hori (native, known as longfellow,) one of Wirihana's men, killed. [The Maoris shouted out they had go 1 : him and would eat his heart.] Henry Roach, No. 3 division, gun shot through right shoulder and arm, (severely). David Murray, No. 3 division, gun shot wound in thigh, severely. (Bullet just extracted by Dr Brown). William Timms, No. 3 division, gun shot wound through right leg, severe. The missing are —Sergeant Charles Keeford and Private Hawkesley. The body of Hori, who was killed in the skirmish, has been since found ; but it was frightfully mutilated, the hands, feet, and head having been cut off, and the heart cut out.