their outworks. Our parties had scarcely gained the inside when they were noticed by the enemy, and a heavy fire of musketry instantly poured in upon them. The stockades, however, now became our protection; and, strong reinforcements being immediately brought up from camp, possession of the place was secured, in spite of all the efforts of the enemy to drive us back, being obliged to retreat and shelter himself in a wood opposite the east face of the pah; where, the trees being extremely large and forming complete breastworks, many of them having been cut down previously, and evidently purposely placed in a defensive position, he was enabled to maintain a heavy fire against us for a considerable time, until, a doorway in that face having been broken open, the seamen and troops rushed out and dislodged him from his position. He, however, still continued to keep up a fire from the woods, but more with a view to cover his retreat, and enable him to carry away his wounded men, than with any expectation of renewing the contest. The attack commenced about ten o'clock A.M., and all firing had ceased about two o'clock P.M. The extraordinary strength of this place, particularly in its interior defences, far exceeded any idea I could have formed of it. Every hut was a complete fortress in itself, being strongly stockaded all round with heavy timbers sunk deep in the ground, and placed close to each other, few of them being less than one foot in dia

meter, and many considerably more, besides having a strong embankment thrown up behind them. Each hut had also a deep excavation close to it, making it completely bomb-proof, and sufficiently large to contain several people, where at night they were completely sheltered from both shot and shell. The enemy's loss has been severe, and several chiefs on their side have fallen: the numbers I have not been able to ascertain, as they invariably carry off both killed and wounded when possible. Several of the former were, however, left behind; and it has been decidedly ascertained, from a wounded prisoner, that the chief Heki had joined Kawiti in the pah on the afternoon preceding the attack."

Our loss on this occasion amounted to twelve men killed and thirty wounded. The result of our success was the immediate submission of the hostile chiefs, which was publicly notified by a proclamation of the Governor, dated the 23rd of January. A free pardon was thereby granted in the following terms:-"The Governor has thought proper to give effect to Her Majesty's earnest desire for the happiness and welfare of her native subjects in New Zealand, by granting a free pardon to all concerned in the late rebellion, who may now return in peace and safety to their houses; where, so long as they conduct themselves properly, they shall remain unmolested in their persons and properties."

MATEUR THEATRICALS.

3. -The distinguished literati whose admirable performance of Johnson's Every Man in his Humour, is recorded in our Chronicle for 1845, p. 145, this night represented Fletcher's comedy, The Elder Brother, at the St. James's Theatre, for the benefit of the much esteemed actress, Miss Kelly. The comedy went off exceedingly well. Mr. Forster as Charles, the Elder Brother, Mr. Charles Dickens as Eustace, the younger, Mr. Mark Lemon as the uncle, and Mr. Douglas Jerrold as the servant Andrew, deserved and obtained much applause. The amateurs played, as an afterpiece, the farce of Comfortable Lodgings, in which Mr. C. Dickens, as Sir Hip. pington Miff, proved himself a first rate fargeur. The other characters were capitally sustained by Messrs. Mark Lemon, Forster, Stone, Leech, George Cruikshank, and Wells. In emulation of the Authors, the Artists got up a representation on behalf of the Artists' Benevolent Fund, which, unlike most imitations, met with great success. The play chosen was Morton's comedy, The School of Reform. As might be anticipated, VOL. LXXXVIII.

the characters costumed. The principal and most difficult part, Tyke, was played with a degree of power and pathos that would have established the reputation of an actor by profession, and with an air of naturalness that only spontaneous feeling and histrionic skill combined can produce.

The audience were

taken quite by surprise; and, but that the person of Mr. Topham, the water-colour painter, was well known, it might have been supposed that an actor of celebrity had been engaged to fill this important part. The Yorkshire dialect, and the half-clownish, halfswaggering manner of the cunning country knave, were admirably well assumed; and the alternations of roguish cunning and remorse were expressed with homely truth. Mr. Topham has not sufficient physical power to give full effect to his conception; but what his personation wanted in force was supplied by feeling: his expression of the agonizing tortures of mind that choke the utterance of Tyke, and make him writhe with anguish, was intense without rant. The wild, frantic burst of joy, dashed with shame, with which

B

he recognises his father, was finely given this scene between the father and son being made impressive by the admirable acting of Mr. Dodgson as the old man. General Tarragon was the best supported of the other characters: Mr. Hall played the part capitally, and looked as red and as hot as a capsicum. Mr. Hammerton also made the ridiculous character of Ferment amusing. The little farce of A Day Well Spent followed; and the evening's performances were concluded by the Extravaganza Bombastes Furioso, in which George Cruikshank, as Bombastes, gave great amusement.

FLOODS IN WALES.-In consequence of the heavy rain the aspect of the country adjacent to the rivers Wye and Lugg during this week was such as has not been witnessed for 14 years; indeed the extraordinary flood is only compar

able to one that occurred half a century ago, in the year 1795, when the bridges at the Hay were carried down the torrent. The destruction of property was immense. Over the wide extent of the Lugg meadows was spread a vast sheet of water, presenting the appearance of a great sea, and the river itself being, as it were, lost in the expanse of ocean. Nothing could be more dreary than the aspect; whilst not a head of the stock usually depasturing in such numbers in that well irrigated locality was anywhere to be seen. On the banks of the Wye the destruction of property was very serious. At Horn Church 24 sheep were swept away, Lower Bullingham 34; at Pen 40 fine ewes, at Glasbury 20 sheep, at Pistil 15, at Builth 35, at the Maine 17, at Lanemynech nearly 100. Near Bewdley 2,500

at

oak, elm, and fruit trees were destroyed by the high winds. FATAL FIRE.

A fire, which was attended with disastrous consequences to both life and property, took place early this morning upon the premises occupied by Mrs. Pryor, a laundress, situate at 23, Cambridge Place, Junction Road. A police constable, on going his rounds, observed an unusual light in the first floor of the building, which induced him to raise the alarm of fire; but unfortunately it was some time before the inmates could be roused from their slumbers, and not until the flames were bursting through the front windows, as well as up the stair

case,

with the greatest impetuosity. The engines having speedily arrived, the fire was got under. For some time it was imagined that all the parties had made a safe retreat from the premises; but a discovery of a most melancholy character was made upon the ground of the back parlour. On examination it was found that two human beings, man and wife, named Wane or Ward, who rented a room, had perished in the flames, their remains being so mutilated that no likeness was discernible. ADDRESSES TO HER MA