DESPATCHES

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 13, 30 August 1845, Page 3

DESPATCHES

From Colonel Despard to Governor Fitzroy. Camp before Here's Pah, lltli July, 1845. Sir, — In my letter of this morning, i o'clock, a.m., I had the honor to acquaint joh that the pah was in our possession, and that the enemy had retreated to fastnesses among the hills, about 10 miles distant, where it is, 1 believe, impossible to attempt to follow ihem. The enemy was uutble to carry off his guns, and we have taken thiee iron ones on ship carriages, and ouo more was found disabled in the fortress. There is no doubt that it was the fear of another assault being made after the renewal of offensive opeiations yesterday, that caused thib retreat. . In consequence of the alteration of the state of affairs here, since my letter by the Velocity, I have taken upon myself to suspend the sailing of that vessel, until jour further instructions are received. The quantity of provisions stored in the captured fortress, (potatoes), exceeds any thing I could have formed an idea of. One report in camp is', that the principal part of the enemy have dispersed in different directions j but I have so little opportunity of gaining correct information, that I scarcely give credit to any. 1 shall proceed as rapidly as -possible to pull dovi n and burn every part of the pah. I have, &.c, (Signed) H. DESPARD. Colonel commanding the Troops. His Excellency Governor Fitzio), Auckland.

Camp at Hone Hekes Pah, 12lh July, IHS. Sir, — I have the honor to acquaint }ou that the lotal des>tiuelion of lleke's fortress, was commenced Aesterday, and will be completed this evening, lire having been applied to every pai t of the stockading, and all the wood work binned down. The stiengtli of this place has struck me with astonishment, and 1 feel convinced that some European has had the direction of it. Independent of the double stockade many of the timbers of which were twelve inches broad, by four and six indies thick, and sunk three feet in thegiound, there was a ditch wiUun the innei stockade, about five feet deep, and the same broad, which was. crossed by traverscrs every h've or six feet, with a narrow communication between each, that would admit of only one man passing at a tune. Deep holes wuie sunk in various parts of the interior of the place, and thick embankments of earth were thrown up round them, and some of them \\ eie strongl) blockaded besidd with heavy timber, winch enabled the ganison to remain in them, without being endangeied from om shot, and it was ©nh

after the guns were raised to a considerable elevation on a hill, about 350 yards distant, that we were enabled to seriously molest them by a, plunging iiie which enteied those underground habitations. I cannot venture to attempt 'following the enemy into the interioi, as the season of the year is so vet y unfavourable, and there would scarcely be a possibility of my obtaining supplies. I shall therefore break up from this camp on Monday next, the 14th instant, and return to Waimate. The guns taken consisted of 2 iron 9-pounders, 1 iron 4-pounder, and I iron 2-poundei swivel. 1 have, &c, (Signed) H. DESPARD. Colonel commanding the Troops His Excellency Governor Fitzioy, Auckland. P.S. — As I had no means of carrying the caplured guns with me, I have given oideis that they should be blown up.

Waimate, July 16, 1543. Sir, — I have the honor to acquaint ) our Excellency that the pah belonging to llaratooe, about six miles froiri this place, was totally destroyed by the tioops under my command this morning, 1 marched from hence before da\ light with 200 rank and file, two guns, and a proportion of the volunteer pioneeis, and aitillery men ; and on our arriving near llie pah, the enemy evacuated it, and letired thtongli a very thick viood, where pursuit nas out of the question. The enemy had set fire to a biidge over a difficult river within half a mile of the place, which we found burning. I have, &c, (Signed; 11. DESPARD. His Excellency Govemoi Fitzroy, A uckland.