To his Excellency Governor Grey.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 207, 21 February 1846, Page 203

To his Excellency Governor Grey.

i Camp before the Ruapekapeka, ! Kawiti's Pa, January 9, 1846. $ir — In continuation of my despatch of the 5th 1 instant, I have the honour to acquaint your Eifcellency that the stockade and battery mentioned therein as being commenced within about 400 yards of the pa, being nearly completed, I determined on throwing up another, but much suiailer, on its right flank, and considerably in advance, 60 as effectually to put a stop to any attempt on the part of the enemy at making a salljy, such as took place on the 2d instant; as also entirely to cut off his communication with the j country on the side of our camp. This second work was completed this day, and two gun's (one 18-pounder and one 12-pound novj'itzer) placed in battery within it. The larger stockade is also now complete, and containjs two 32-pounders and four 5* inch mortars. Our present position before the pa is as follows : The main camp is placed on an open piece of ground, or rather ridge, with deepwocided valleys on either side, and thick woods both in front and rear : the distance from the pa Supposed to be about 750 yards. In our fronjt there are three guns (one 32 -pounder, one 12- round howitzer, and one light 6-pounder), with an apparatus for throwing rockets. From this j position several shells have been thrown into! the pa, as well as rockets, and much execution must have been done by them, as they w«ri well directed.

Within the larger stockade, which at the utmost cannot be more than 400 yards from the pa, there are two 32-pounders and four small 54 inch mortars ; and the wood in front of these guns has been so completely cut down that nearly the whole face of the pa is now open to their fire. ajfrtl

The small advanced stockade contains one 18-pounder and one 12-pound howitzer, and commands a range not only along the same face (the western) that is exposed to the fire of our other batteries, but will also range along the southern face, and I expect to destroy the defences on the south-west angle. Our progress up to this period may have been considered slow, but great difficulties have been encountered, as your Excellency, who has been an eye-witness to all our movements, will, I am sure, admit: and the decided advantage that will arise to the colony at large, if we succeed in carrying this place with little or no loss, has decided me in proceeding with so much caution. I have, &c, H. Despard, •Si^Acting Colonel on the Staff, commanding! the troops.