§ MR. WESTERNsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any intelligence has been received of a renewed outbreak of hostilities in New Zealand?
§ MR. CARDWELLSir, the following telegram has been received by the War Department, and has been communicated to the Colonial Department:—
Hostilities commenced in the Whangaura district on the 24th of January. Lieutenant General Cameron advanced with a force of 800 men towards the Whaitolara River. On the same day a skirmish took place with the rebels in posting a picket at Nukumtrar, near which village the troops had encamped. On the 25th the rebels attacked the camp in force, and were repulsed with a loss of seventy killed; number of their wounded unknown. Our loss in the two days was Lieutenant Johnson, 40th Regiment, Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, mortally wounded (since dead); Lieutenant Wilson, 60th Regiment, severely, and Ensign Grant, 50th Regiment, dangerously wounded; fifteen men killed, and thirty 894 wounded. On the 8th of February we crossed the river and encamped on the left bank.