Sanguinary Conflict With The Natives.

The Sydney Herald, of November 17, contains a letter from Captain Hovell, of the brig Trial, to his owners, Messrs Lord and Blaxcell, of Sydney, containing the details of an occurrence which took place at Trial Harbour on August 20 at New Zealand, at a place not before visited by Europeans. The Trial, in company with the schooner Brothers, was trading with the natives, when a number suddenly rushed on deck, when most of the crew were at dinner, and knocked down Captain Hovell, who, falling over, made the best of his way below, while the natives kept full possession of the deck. About 15 or 20 followed him down betweendecks, who (says the letter) "were soon despatched by our people, who had their arm's in readiness (a musket, bayonet, cutlass, and cartouch-box suspended over each hammock), when we again had all clear below. We had now to consider how best to prevent any fresh incursions from above; for this purpose I placed one man at each corner of the hatches, with a musket: by that means, every part of the main deck was soon cleared, the assailants having retired to the quarter-deck and forecastle, or such other parts of the vessel as were without the range of our fire. Finding them extremely numerous on the quarter-deck, I gave directions to fire through the glass skylight with a couple of muskets, each loaded with buck shot; this did considerable execution, and alarmed them so much that the quarter-deck became in an instant deserted, they having made a general rush forward to the forecastle and long boat, which was then standing on the chocks, having given us an excellent opportunity (of which we amply availed ourselves) to pick them off in their passing. It was at this time they were put to their greatest stand, and so continued till the arrival of Jacka Warra, who came soon after, page 68a native whom I had shipped at this place (Bay of Islands) some months previously, and who had deserted from me on out first arrival at Trial Harbour. This man gave directions to cut both cables and haul the ship on shore, which was immediately carried into effect. The contest had now continued upwards of four hours, when the natives, still concealing themselves in the long boat, and such parts of the vessel as were inaccessible to our shot, I desired that some musketry should be fired through the bottom of the boat; six were fired accordingly, by which the natives having been dislodged and driven overboard, we, contrary to our expectations, became possessed of the entire vessel. The schooner was by this time in full possession of the natives, who, it seemed, had, after the first onset, met with no resistance—the principal part of her little crew having been either lulled or wounded, and the remainder confined below. The natives here had also cut both cables, hauled the vessel on shore, and removed from her every article that could be converted to their use. As she lay from us only about half a cable's length, I turned upon her all our swivels (eight in number), as well as small arms, by which, she having become cleared of the enemy, Mr Burnett, with the remaining part of his crew on board, again made their appearance upon deck, and now joined us in keeping up a constant fire upon the natives, as well as those who were in the water, and endeavouring to escape from the vessel by swimming to those in the canoes and on the beach. The entire number of natives employed in this attack upon us appeared to be very considerable—perhaps, not less than one thousand. They subsequently succeeded in recovering their boats, and in sending a party on shore, who destroyed their town, canoes, fishings, provisions, fortifications, etc. The loss in both vessels during the whole of the conflict, which lasted 26 hours, amounted to five killed and five wounded.—Hobart Town Courier, December 12, 1834.

[Note.—Captain Hovell is supposed to be Captain John Howell, wellknown in Southern New Zealand, and who died there within the last twenty-five years.]