Wellington, 1st September, 1846.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 67, 12 September 1846, Page 4

Wellington, Ist September, 1846.

— I do myself the honor to transrai tor the information of His Excellency the Go vernor, the enclosed Despatches from Major Last, Commanding the Troops, Captain Stanley, R. N., Commanding H. M. S. Calliope, the Inspector of Armed Police, and the Interpreter to the Forces, detailing the proceedings taken against the Rebels under the Chief Rangihaeata, since the departure of His Excellency from the Southern Division ; which, I am happy to state, have terminated, after pursuing him from stronghold to stronghold, in the total dispersion of the enemy. This, however, I regret to say, has not been effected

without loss on our side; The friendly Natives having been surprised by a party of the Rebel* near to the last 1 position they took up on the ridge of hills behind Wainui, by which, and in the subsequent skirmish, three of our Allies were killed and three wounded ; but on taking possession of the stockade, (Pouaha), which the enemy shortly after abandoned, two bodies were discovered, one of which was recognised to be Epau, the murderer of Andrew Gillespie. It has since been ascertained that live of the Rebels were killed in that rencontre and two wounded, and that their loss during the war has been more severe than we were led to believe. Our Native Allies followed in the pursuit from this position to Waikanae, continuing their route along the ridge of the mountains, supported by a force consisting of Captain Stanley, R. N., with part of the crew of H.M.S. Calliope, Captain McDonogh and his company of Militia, and the Inspector (Captain Durie of the Militia), with the Armed Police, which moved along the coast. Beyond Waikanae the tracks of the enemy were lost; and it ap- f pearing from the evidence of three of their women, who were made prisoners while in search of food, that the Rebels, wretched and half-starved, were completely broken up an d divided into small parties. Further pursuit wa« abandoned, the Port Nicholson Natives considering, they had performed their duty in driving them out of their District, and Wiremu, Kingi copsidering he had fulfilled his promises to His Excellency. Captain Stanley therefore re« embarked his men, and proceeded with the Calliope to Porirua, where he will remain till : after the trial of the Prisoners ; the Militia I marched back to the Taita, where they arrived i yesterday ; and our Allies of the Ngatiawa tribe, are now on their way to Port Nicholson — leaving the Police Force for the present at Waikanae. Puaha with his followers are, however, still moving on towards the Manawatu River, where he expects to fall in with, or obtain tidings of, the enemy, it beingj supposed they were making for Rangitiki. From the Chief Martin, who arrived from, the coast this morning, I learn that the Otaki Natives also intend to proceed as far as the Manawatu, to ascertain, if possible, the direction the Rebels have taken, and to prevent any of them establishing themselves in their neighbourhood. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, M. Richmond, Superintendent. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary.