THE WAIKATO WAR.

New Zealander, Volume XX, Issue 2052, 27 February 1864, Page 6

THE WAIKATO WAR.

WAIPA. fFIIOSI OUll OWN correspondent.]! Te Rcri, Jan. 30th. Most of the tents have been brought up to-day on pack horses from Whata-VV hata. The avon has arrived, bringing a large amount of commissariat stores , , c The main camp here is pitched on the slope of a fern hill rising from the river Dank, from the summit of which the enemy’s position at Paterangi is visi rle A Redoubt is now in course of construction on this hill, and will be used, I believe, as a depot for commissariat stores. The staff-quarters are f ltaa R< ''l the garden or orchard of a former settlet, name Cowell, whose house appears to have only been burnt down a few weeks since. ■ - I omitted to mention in my last that as the force approached in sight of the enemy’s works at 1 mopiko, a wooden house which belonged to a Mr. Heather and which stood about a mile nearer to the Waipa than that position, was seen in flames, probably lighter! ly the enemy as a signal, or to raise the courage of the young men. , . , * Ihe earth-work at Paterangi appears to be ot considerable strength ; it is, of course, constructed on a hill, and is defended by a high parapet and ditch, t-iacc our arrival the natives have been noticed adding to the height of the former. I believe the plan af the General is not to attack these works, as he considers the loss of litc on our side would be too great—2oo at least, and probably many more ; ho therefore intends moving forward to Rangiawhia, and establishing a post in their real. rendering the whole of their positions, constructed with eo much labour, untenable ; they will, therefore, be obliged to abandon them, and may possibly not find their way of retreat so open as they would wish. ' - Te Kori, January 20th.

At 5 a.tn., on Wednesday, the troops marched from Tuliikaramea ; the force consisted of the following regiments :-l'2th Regt.. one hundred men under the command'of Col. Hamilton ; 40th, four hundred men under the command of Colone 1 Leslie ; -jOt; i, out hundred men under the command of Col. Waddy; 65th, two hundred-and fifty men under the command of Col. Young ; 70th, four hundred-and fifty men unde,i the command of Col Mulbck ; a small P rtr, .V o iioyal Engineers under Col. Mould and Capt. Brooke ; and Capt. Jackson’s Forest Rangers, numbering 50. The following force joined from Whatawhata; Royal Artillery.—Three guns under the command of- Major Strover and Lieut. Pickhard ; the Mounted Royal Artillery under Lieut. Rent; the Col. Defence Force under Colonel Nixon ; Capt. Von Tempskv s Bangers, 52 in number ; a detachment of the 1-ta Kcgt, 370 in number, under Capt. Cole. Alter about 12 miles march we arrived, at 1 p.m., at a spot called Mangawhia, where we encamped, ihe camp was pitched on a fern hill, about one-and-a-ha miles, in a straight line, from the rebel position at Pikopiko, which appears to be of great strength. It consists of two redoubts towards the summit of a gentle rise, and a wooden pa, lower down, all connected ly several lines of rifle pits. I omitted to mention that the guns did not arrive in camp until late in the evening, as several bridges ami cuttings had to be made to allow them to pass. On Thursday, at 5 a.m., the force again marched forward, and, after traversing a distance of only six miles, arrived at Te Kori late in the evening 11ns delay was in consequence of bridges having to be constructed over two creeks and side cuttings down to them, to allow of the passage of the guns, &c. The track from our last camping ground mads tor about four miles, namely down to where the Mangaotama creek empties itself into the Waipa, in a direction at right angles to the one by which we came on Wednesday. At Mangao’.ama the 40th and 65th parted from the main body and took up a position on the'north side of the creek of that name, and on the bank of the Waipa. At this spot we found the Awn moored, and >he naval six-pound Armstrong landed in order to accompany the main body which now took the track along the river bank for about two miles, crossing'.'the Ma .gakawau creek ; to cross over which the guns had to be taken to pieces, and arrived at our present position late in the evening. This position lies between the native works at Paterangi and the river, and is about a mile distant from the former. Whilst the main body were marching from Mangaotama, the Avon steamed up the river and anchored alongside, the camp, and a body of about 220 of the 50th, and detachments of the 65th and 70th, amountini' in all to about 300 men under the command of Colonel Ha nley, 50th regiment, marched up the other side of the river and encamped opposite this position, . , , ~, It appears we are to remain here to-day and probably to-morrow, also in order that the steamer may bring up supplies, when we shall inarch forward and take up a position in rear of the enemy. I must defer a description of the enemy’s works, &c., until my next, when I shall probably know more about them and be somewhat less f tigued. Small parties of the enemy are constantly app amig in the vicinity of the camp—firing a shot or two and retiring, whilst the report of guns can constantly be heard from their works at Paterangi ; last night a number of the n came on a hill a short distance off and gave vent to thei' overcharged feelings by loud yells which it is to be hoped did them a great deal of good and made them feel better after it. Te Rori, Jan. 31st

A redoubt having been constructed at Mangaotama, the 65th, and a detachment of the 40th under Lieut. Lucas, the whole under the command of Colonel Young, have been left to garrison it, whilst the mam body of the 40th and two companies of the 12th came forward and joined the force stationed here. The steamer arrived to-day, bringing 2 cohorns and 2 6-ineh mortars, and a large quantity of Commissariat stores. _ , - . Feb. Ist. This morning a party of the rangers, about 30 in number, went out about 2 miles down the river for the purpose of gathering peaches and potatoes. They were only armed with their revolvers and bowie-knives. Whilst thus employed, one of them caught sight of a Maori creeping up behind a wliare on the oppo-ite side Of a gully close by, and beckoning to some others in rear of him. The ranger, who had a knowledge of the native language, called out and told the Maori to Stand up and show himself like a man, and not to hide as if he were frightened ; wher*'upon the native stood upright, and said he did not intend firing at them as that was not the mode of fighting he approved of, hut if they chose to go up to Patarangi, he would fight them there. At this stuge of the proceedings a number more Maoris showed themselves, and one. who spoke good English, expressed a desire to have a talk with the spokesman of the rangers, and proposed that they two should lay aside their arms and meet down by the Stream. This arrangement was therefore carried out. The Maori said that the pakeha might come as often as he liked to gather peaches, and he would not be molested ; and the ranger, of courv*. expressed himself as very much obliged for thefavou., and so this strange conference came to an end. . , This morning a sentry of the sf> shot a native who was creeping towards him; and tie ">'ly being left as a •decoy, several more of the eneinv nptea to recover .it, when our men firing drove tn ■■( uack, wounding ■ one it is thought. Yesterday a party of the me.ice Corps dropped ■upon a pm ; v of natives running down a gully, and ■ t h»rM*.v hi-unify gave chase and attempted to fire their oaech-lo uling carbines, but not one would go oft as fho cam-id -vs had jolted up the muzzle ; in consequence of this the natives got safely off February 2nd. Yesterday afternoon the General went out with a body of cava'ry on a reconnoitering expedition towards Paterangi, when a party of the enemy being perceived approaching, they were fired at, a id one of them it is thought was killed, as he was seen to throw up his arms ami fall. Cap-nin Fhilliinore and 50 blue-jackets came up yesterday afternoon. The bullocks and drays also arrived at the camp on the opposite bank, uni this morning were crossed over to this side. 'Two redoubts have been finished here ; the one on this, and the otheV on the opposite bank of the river; and this morning another was commenced on this side, but about half a mile lower down than the two already

completed. The new redoubt is being constructed on the site of the old native pa called Te Kon. and will command the bend of the river on the north side of the creek and the low grass land on the south. Two sides of the old Maori pah, or earthwork are still standing, and will require but little labour to form them into the parapet of the redoubt. , , What all these redoubts are being made for, is not as yet quite clear, but it may bo that this is intended eo be the last post and depot on the river. The only thing that.is clear is that a large garrison will have to i)Q left in each redoubt, and that therefore the General s available (one will be much diminished, but its efficacy may be thereby increased. „ . 1 Te Rondi, Feb. 2. - Tins afternoon the General and staff proceeded towards the native position at Paterangi for the purpose of rcconnoilering; a covering party of 300 men, cavalry, and three guns were taken for the purpose of occiii'ying the native mind and keepmg the enemy qideT whilst a view was being had of their works and of the whole surrounding country. Proceeding along the road leading to the pa, the troops advanced in

skirmishing order, until they arrived at a hill about one thousand yards distant from the earth-works, \s en the guns being placed in position, opened fire, and made some excellent practice, almost every shell hitting and bursting in the native redoubt. Whilst the troops were advancing, the parapet ot the redoubt was crowded with the enemy, and large numbers could he seen making their way along the rid'-e from Pikopiko, but when the first gun fired evenbead disappeared, and the reinforcements were noticed to turn to the right about and make good their return to a place of greater safety. The earth-works at Paterangi inclose a very considerable space, not 'ess perhaps than twenty acres ; there appears to be one, or perhaps two, redoubts like tint at Kaaginri, on the highest part of the ridge, ,0 which are connected a regular net-work of rifle p.t, extending down the hill-side ; outside has been erected a two-rail fence, to check the advance ot the troops in the event of an attempt being made to carrv the place by storm. After the General had finished his reconnaissance and the guns had fired five rounds each, the whole force returned to camp. Whilst the shelling was going on, the Avon arrived and brought bad news. On her passage up, everyone on board had been under cover until she had passed the spot on th s side of the Mangao ania creek where nativ.-s had been seen, and where the Rangers had, a few days previously, met them on rather friendly terms.

After passing this spot it was thought no longer necessaiy to keep inside the iron sentry box on the bridge, therefore Mr. Mitchell, Lieut. ofH.MS. Esk, and other officers were standing on the paddle boxes and the bridge, when two volleys were fired by some hidden foe on the right bank of the river, and a hall struck Mr, Mitchell a few inches below the heart and passed through to the back. Dr. Messer, R N.. who was on board, rendered all the assistance in his power, and extracted the ball, which had lodged just underneath the skin, from the sufferer’s back. On the arrival of the steamer at this camp, Drs. Mount and McKinnon, after inspecting the wound gave very little hope of the patient's recovery. The paly of the enemy who fired at the steamer are in all likelihood the same as those with whom the Rangers had a conversation the other day, as the spot from which the volleys were fired was but a short distance on this side of the place where that coversatiou was held ; in fact the natives were then probably waiting for the steamer, but a body of the Rangers being sent after them, they were forced to retire, a circumstance which I omitted to mention at the time. Te Rori, February 3rd, Information having been received by the native orderly that a body of the enemy were on the bank ot the river lying in wait for the steamer, a force consisting of "the following regiments and corps was sent out for the purpose of intercepting them : —One hundred men of the 50th and 70th 'regiments. Eighty of the Forest Rangers, and about seventy of the Royal Artillery Cavalry, and the Colonial Defence Corps, all under the command of Colonel Nixon. The Cavalry proceeded as far as the Mangaotama creek, and being fired on from the high ground on its opposite bank, of course returned it, and it appears with good effect, as one native was seen to fall, and was carried off by his companions, and another to crawl away as if wounded. I have hitherto called the redoubts, (for there are two) where the 65th and a detachment ol the 4 )tli are stationed, under the command of Colonel Young, by the name of “ Mangaotama,” but in this I have erred, as those redoubts are situated about two miles below the creek of that name, at a place called Ngahipouri, which is between four and five miles distant from this camp. To-morrow morning a force under the command of Colonel Waddy, and consisting of the following regiments ;—All of the 12th stationed here ; all of the 40th ; and 100 of the 50th ; two guns ; and a small body of cavalry, are to proceed to thq hill on which the guns were posted yesterday ; it is said, there to form a redoubt or breast-work, and from thence to shell the earth-works at Paterangi, The wisdom of this move is not as yet apparent. As I am not in the confidence of the General, I am unable to state what his intentions may be, hut probably ulterior circumstances may prove that he has acted with his usual knowledge and discretion. The Avon did not come up to-day in consequence of having been crippled yesterday on her way up in the following manner: —Running on a snag she became stationary, but a large heavily laden canoe which she had in tow, still proceeded from th; impetus it had received, anil running against her. broke her rudderhead off I was told, but not being a nautical man, I have no idea what that means ; but one thing at least is certain, that she requires the smiths to work at her for a short time, before she will be able to come up again. Te Rori, February 4tb.

I mentioned in ray last that this morning a force under the command of Col. Waddy was to move towards Peterangi,. and throw up earth-works, from whence the guns might .fire on that pa. At an early hour the move took place, the tro >ps being marched to an elevation 120f yards from the enemy’s position, the tents were pitched on the side of the hill away Irom the pa, and an earth-work was immediately commenced on its summit, where the guns were got in position, and sent a few shells into the rifle-pits every time any number of the enemy showed themselves, merely to give them some other employment than sneaking down to attack the picket. The hill on which our new position has been established, forms part of a ridge which runs to within 800 yards of the native pa, from which it is separated by a wide deep gully. Advance pickets of cavalry were thrown out to the temination of the and therefore were within long Tange of the enemy’s works ; the consequence has been, that constant firing has been going on all the day, but the Maoris have had it almost wholly to themselves, no doubt flattering themselves that they have been causing great loss on our side. Our pickets only opened fire at long intervals, when some one bolder than his fellows dared to show his head above the parapet, only to duck it again with amazing expedition. The loud report which the Maori pieces make is astonishing, and can only be accounted for by the supposition that for the Jong range at which they have been firing to-day, they have been by no means sparin'* 1 of their powder, conceiving that the more they use the further the ball will travel. At the advance picket of the 50th, which is at least one mile and a half distant from the enemy’s works, the report of (heir guns sounded like young cannon, whilst that of our men nearly half a mile nearer could scarcely be heard. The enemy were noticed to-day in considerable numbers hard at work, about two miles, distant on the summit of a fern hill which stands directly between us and Pikopiko, and is the nearest point of the ridge on which that pa is constructed. From this hill a most murderous fire, according to native ideas, was yesterday evening poured into the Generals camp ; but the distance being, as I before stated, about two miles, the report that no casua ties occurred on our side in consequence of this fire will scarcely surprise any one. On Tuesday evening, a man of the 70th Regiment stationed here, whilst bathing in the Waipa, met with his death in the following manner The unfortunate man, who was a splendid swimmer, was out in the middle of the river floating on his back, when he was heard to utter a sudden cry, and seen to sink, and did not again rise to the surface. It is supposed that the deceased was siezed with a fit.’ His body has not as vet been recovered, as it probably has floated down the* river. The unfortunate man, whose name was Lambeth, though an old soldier, was one of the new draft lately arrived in the colony. The news arrived by the mail that Lieut. Mitchell expired early vesterdiiy morning. It appears the ball entered just below the heart, and was extracted from the back a little above the kidney on the left side. I ieut Mitchell had lately got his promotion from sublieutenant. and at the time he received his death ■ wound was on his way up on business with the Lommodore, who is at present residing in this camp. Lieut. Bretton, 57th Regiment, arrived in camp from Taranaki, by way of Raglan, this evening, with

despatches for the General. . The Avon did not come up to-day ; she is at present repairing the damages she received on her passage up on Tuesday. Any injury to this steamer is now a very serious matter, as the General is forced to rely almost wholly on her for the transport of provisions, &c to supply the troops bo hj here and at the other port’s along the Waipa. Nothing can be done by an armv without a regular supply of commissariat stores, and "the want of these will cause the most elaborate and well-devised plan to fail, especially in a country like this, where no supplies can be obtained otherwise than by the regular transport service. It is truly said that the transport service is the curse of an army, for if it had not been for this, the General could long before this have conquered the whole country, instead of which he has to wait after every short ’ move forward for the coming up of supplies. , . This transport, as the summer advances, becomes each day more difficult, the river becomes lower, snags before far below the surface of the water now endanger the passage of the steamers, and in the Waikato the water is becoming so shallow that it is feared the Pioneer will not be able to perform her work many days longer, as she now rakes up the mud as she passes up and down. , , . . , . Those who feel inclined to complain of the slowness of military movements should make themselves ac-

qnainted «ith all the details of this transport service, ■ and then I think they will wonder how it is the troops | are provisioned as they are. It is no light matter to feed 2000 or 3 too men, 150 miles from the capital from which all the provisions must he brought tor a great part of the way over a broken and hilly country'. This service has fallen very heavily on ihe crews oi both the Avon and the Pioneer. They have been worked night and day, being constantly on the move, bringing up provisions and baggage day after day, with scarcely an incident of interest to give zest to the employment, and render the really hard work less irksome. The detachment of blue jackets from the Pioneer, who are stationed here, appear to enjoy a regular holiday ; every evening a game at cricket or rounders is enrercl into with true sailor-like enjoyment, and, if we may judge from the loud bursts of laughter and uproarious mirth which these pastimes give rise to, give unbounded pleasure both to the players and the spectators. Six of the Defence Corps, whilst out to-day in search of horses which had strayed, were fired on by the enemy, and returned the fire, but without visible effect. Te Rori, February sth. The firing before Paterangi has been continuing with scarcely any intermission all the dav. Our picket is within 500 yards of the enemy's rifle-pits, in which the natives have to lie very closely under cover, for no sooner does a woolly head show above ground, than five or six well directed rifle-balls go pinging in such close proximity to ir, if indeed they do not sometimes hit it, that it becomes advisable for the owner thereof to place that important part of his body as expeditiously as possible in a place of greater security. Five or six natives are reported to have been either wounded or killed to-day by the fire of our men ; the effect caused by 'he bursting of the Armstrong shells inside the redoubt and elsewhere of course can only he surmised, but in all probability they have not been thrown away ; for the inspection of the Maori dead after the engagement at Rangiriri satisfactorily proved ihe efficacy of these projectiles when fired at an enemy behind earth-works, a great proportion of the wounds being caused by segments of the Armstrong shell. The Maories are reported to have at least one big gun al Paterangi, which is discharged three or four times a-day, making a groat noise, but nothing more. This afternoon a few ot the 50th swam across the river without arms, and contrary to orders, for the purpose of procuring peaches and potatoes from a native settlement some distance from the opposite bank ; whilst so employed, they were surprised by a party ot the enemy, who fired seve'ial volleys at them, which were distinctly heard from the camp The m n rushed to the river, swam across, and appeared in camp clothed in the garments which nature gave them ; one of them was slightly wounded in the heel, and another had been grazed on the head by a ball ; another is report-d to be still missing, but I have as yet been unable to learn whether this report is true or not. The enemy have been firing on all sides to-day, but have generally taken heed to keep well out of range of the Pukeha’s rifle ; but now and ih-n when one or two of them have advanced rather too closely to the oui lying pickets, a well directed shot has caused them to retire with laughable speed. The blue jackets, under the superintendence of Captain Pliilliinore, have been engaged in removing a snag from the lied of the river, on which the Avon struck the other day. Apropos of this subject, I may mention that the steamer is expected up to-morrow, as by that lime it is hoped she will have repaired the damages she received on her last trip up. I have just learnt that the quick firing at Paterangi at noon to-day was in consequence cf Lieut.-Coloael Sir H. Havelock and an orderly having crossed the swamp at the bottom of the gully which separates our picket from the enemy. They were attacked by a dozen natives, effecting heir escape back again with great difficulty. The orderly’s horse was shot, but he succeeded in hearing away the saddle, &c. Our picket by constant fire covered their retreat, and badly wounded one of their assailants. February 6th. The report that one of the 50th was missing turns out to he too true, and as the picket who went out to search failed to find his body, it is supposed that he must have been drowned crossing the river, which supposition appears probable, he having been but an indifferent swimmer. Several shore were exchanged between a party ol the enemy who hud crept near this camp and the out-lying picket of Forest Hangers late last night; the lonner quickly retired without having received any injury that we know of; the night was very dark, or the result would probably have been different, as they had advanced within pistol range of the sentries. At the first shot the whole of the Rangers turned out of camp, and were quickly on the ground, where they lay in skirmishing order in the fern for a considerable time, but no natives showing they returned to camp. Some firing was going on this morning between a party of cavalry, who were out getting hors- forage, and some of the enemy, but, as the hostile parties were on different sides of the river no casualties have taken place. At dawn this morning one of the large wlurcs at Paterangi was shelled. It is supposed that this was used as a sleeping place; if so a very salutary lesson was given to the natives to rise early. A party of about 50 marines, under Lieut. Cockcraft, of the CuraQoa, have just arrived overland from Whata Whata.

A great amount of shelling and firing has this morning been going on before Pateiangi; the Maories keeping up the ball with their usual spirit, but doing no injury to any of our men. Te Rori, Feb. 6.

A large party of cavalry and infantry went out this afternoon to escort the steamer and prevent die enemy from firing on her, but she did not arrive as expected. A detachment of the 65th Regiment, 100 strong, under Lieuts. Murray and Thompson, arrived herefrom Whatawhata, in company with a detachment of the 40th of an equal strength, under Lieut. Lucas, from Ngahinipouri. The body of the 70th man, who was drowned here a few days ago whilst bathing, was picked up at Ngahinipouri this morning. The enemy have been very quiet at Paterangi to-day. Sunday, February 7.

The head-quarters of the 65th arrived in camp this morning from Ngahinipouri, having been relieved by detachments ot the 14th and Waikato Militia. The Awn succeeded in making her way up to-day, hut not without striking and running on snags several times. It appears that her long delay was caused by a hole having been knocked in her bottom on her way down from here last Tuesday, she having run upon a snag in consequence of her rudder having been injured on her way up.’ Yesterday, a deserter from the 65th Regiment, named T. Purden, was brought up under charge of the Marines. This man, who deserted nine years since, and has been residing at Mokau, gave himself up at Taranaki, and requested to be conveyed to headquarters, as he was in a position to give valuable information to the General. The enemy appear to be strictly keeping the day of rest, as not a shot has been heard to day up to this time (noon). February 8. The troops move forward to-day at about two p.m., leaving their tents behind. Colonel Waddy w.ll be left in'eomrannd of a moveable force of a few hundred men of the 40th, 12th, and 50th Regiments, and of the garrisons of the five redoubts which have been constructed here. Two of these redoubts arc situated on that part of the track where it passes near to Paterangi and across to Mangapiteo creek, and will prevent the enemy from interfe ing with the convoy at that most exposed part of the road. Ot the other redoubts one is to guard the stores and the other two to com • mand the river, and from which troops can march out to escort the steamer up. and prevent her from being made a target of by the enemy. News have just been received from before Paterangi, that four of the 50th have been wounded-one of them seriously, in the head. These men formed part of a relief, and as they were proceeding to the advance picquet, a volley was fired by the enemy, with the above-mentioned effect. These are the first of our men who have been wounded before Paterangi. Te Rori, February 9. The following are the names, &c., of the unfortunate men of the 50th Regiment who were wounded before Paterangi yesterday morning^: Win. Carman - - Slightly. Win. Burridge - - Severely. Henry Fleming - - Severely. Wm. Connor - - Dangerously.

It is feared that \\ r m. Connor will not survive, as the ball p ssed through the neck, and paralysis has has met with a most unfortunate accident; in her last trip down on Sunday she run on a snag, which had not before been known to exist, and so iniured herself that she is now quietly resting her keel on the sandy bottom of the river, in 10 feet of water, and so blocking up the channel that the passage ol any other boat is rendered impossible, it is said, until her wreck shall have been removed. It is to be hoped that the injury she has received is not so severe as reported, for if" she is incapacitated for the service in which she has lately been employed, namely, the conveyance of commissariat stores up the river, it becomes a question of vital importance how the troops are to be supulied with food. Great reliance has been placed on the Avon, and if she has failed altogether the whole of the transport

from Ngaruawahia will have to be by land, and will be a most tedious and expen ive undertaking—if, in in fact, it can be done at all ; for the wise men of the Waikato predict that the Koheroa, or any otli-r vessel of like build, would not be able to pass the submerge 1 forest this summer ; and that if she did succeed in making her way to Ngaruawahia, that she would not be able to come further up the Wai >a than Whatawhata, in consequence of her length, the narrowness of th a river, and the sharp turns which it takes above that position It must be exceedingly annoying to the General to be .thus constantly prevented f |- om carrying out his long-ago matured plans by the failure of the transport service. It appears to be quite impossible m this country for any grand strategical movement to be performed with the necessary expeditio ), in consequence ot the difficulty, delay," and often the to al breaking down of the all-important transport service. Sol tiers can no more live without food than any other human being, notwithstanding that it may be very desirable at certain times that, they should do so ; and that food in the present ease must be conveyed the whole distance from Auckland by had reals, an I by a rapid and shallow river, about which scarcely anything is known, and which is, moreover, fillet with dangerous, because hidden, snugs and stumps. It is a far more serious matter to provision an army in a country like tliis, where no 4 ‘ loot” can be procured but potatoes and peaches (and unfortunately very few of them), to what it is in a civilized and cultivated country, where the army often finds food as it proceeds and where, after the capture of a fortress or town something better than stinking Indian corn or dried shark is to be procured. It has been truly remarked that it is not so much the Maoris tin* General is conquering as 'heir country. In consequence of this accident to the steamer, the order which was yesterday issued fur the move was countermanded.

11 is Excellency and suite arrived in camp yesterday evening, having ridden forward with the escort, leaving three men and four pack-horses to follow as they might; the consequence was that at a spot nearly opposite Ngatuririponri they were attacked by a party of tiie enemy, who succ reded in killing one man and taking awny two pack-horses, laden with his Excellency’s wine", &e. The other two men succeeded in making their escape with two horses. A large number of pack-horses and drays have, this morning s arted down the river to bring up provisions. Col. Gamble, D Q G., has left this for tne purpose of making arrangements for the transport of stores from Raglan. The body of the man of the 50th, who was supposed to have been shot on the stli instant, whilst gathering peaches, was found this morning in the Waipa. There were no wounds on him, therefore he must have been drowned whilst endeavouring to cross the river The name of the unfortunate man was Daniel Donovan. To Rori. Fel)., 1 rt.

It appears that the tale told by the men who were in charge of the Governor’s baggage was all a fabrication, invented to cover a robbery. A search having been made yesterday, the missing man (who was said to have been killed) turned tip, and all the baggage was found scattered along the track, the only things missing, being, the contents of the wine, and ah bottles ! It appears that the men feeling lonely at being lelt by themselves (ghe whole escort, as I mentioned in my last, having gone on with the Governor.) and knowing that there was some very good win in a box on one of the hor-es, determined to regale themselves, and at the same time to punish His Excellency for desertion of them; so firing a few shots and scattering the baggage along the track, they began to make themselves merry. The above is the stoty now going the round of the camps, and is founded on the fact that the men all turned up at Whatawhata, betraying by their looks and acions that they had not been confining themselves that day to the “ white wine of the country ” (vulgarly called water), to satisfy the thirst engendered by the hot, dusty march. His Excellency started on his return trip yesterday morning, I committed an error in stating that the four men wounded before Petarangi on Monday belonged to the 50th Regiment, they were of the 40th Regiment. Another of the 40 hj was wounded yesterday morning in the foot by a ball from the pa, but the wound it not of a serious character. The man’s name is W. Riding. Te Rori, February 12th, 1864. An engagement took place yesterday on the banks of the Mangapiko, between the detachments of the 40th and 50th encamped before Paterangi, joined by some of the Forest Rangers, and a large body of the enemy; the result of which was that six men of ours were killed, and six wounded, whilst the loss of the enemy must have been very considerable. But the nature of the ground, and late hour at which the engagement was brought to a conclusion, rendered it impossible for all the Maori bodies to be found. Thirty three dead were however counted, ten of which were carried up to Colonel Waddy’s camp ; besides which, live ar- known to have been wounded, two of which are now under treatment at the above camp, the other three were left on the ground, as it was too late to remove them that night.

Theengagement took place in the following manner; — A bathing °party of about forty men had gone from Colonel Waddy’s camp, under the command ot Lieut. Simeon, 40th, to the Mangapiko creek, distant about half a mile ; half the men were in the act of undressing, whilst the other half, acting as covering party, were being posted out on the banks of the cieek to guard against a surprise, when suddenly a volley was fired from the opposite bank, but without doing any injury. . The bathers immediate')' heat a speedy retreat, being unarmed, and ran towards the camp to fetch their rifles, &c. . The volley was heard at the camp, and in an incredibly short space of time about a hundred and fifty men had armed themselves, and rushed to the spot, where they were got together under their several officers. I must now, in order that the affair may be thoroughly understood, describe tint part of the country where the action took place. The Mangapiko creek at this spot winds in a most extraordinary manner, almost surrounding a piece of ground of about 10 acres in extent. This peninsula is for the most part low, much lower than the opposite bank of the creek, and is overgrown with high fern and scrub; at the isthmus the laud is much higher, but the fern has been burnt off, and all cover has thus been destroyed. Stretching across this isthmus is an old native earth-work, surrounded by a deep ditch, through which the track, which runs from the c imp, and across the river, passes. The enemy were concealed in the fern, on the low land L have mentioned, and in the scrub on both banks of the river, ami also in the old Maori earth-woik. The troops on arriving on the ground were immediately despatched on either hand along the high ami on the right bank of the creek, in order to surround the plot of ground in which the enemy lay hid : it will he seen that when the party sent up the bank and that sent 'town had arrived opposite to the isthmus and one another, the retreat of the foe by that way was rendered impossible. More troops in the mean time had arrived, and the space enclosed by the river was totally surrounded. All this time the firing on both sides was kept up with great rapidity, but it wi 1 be seen that our men had the advantage of position, being on higher ground, and therefore able to fire down on the enemy. Now the foe were noticed at the old earth-work, so’a party of our men crossing the creek came to a hand to hand engagement with them, in which, I hear, the bayonet was found extremely useful. There was a small patch of scrub by the bank of the creek from out of which the enemy kept up a constant fire ; two of our men having entcicd this were shot down dead, and a large party of troops immediately opened a heavy fire on this patch of scrub, and when'it was thought that all the Maorics had either sought less exposed quarters or been killed, a soldier advanced to the spot for the purpose of removing ihe two above mentioned bodies, and instantly fell pierced to die heart by a bullet. Several of the enemy, whilst attempting to escape across the creek were shot, and their bodies borne down by the swilt current of the river. Our men appeared to be thoroughly up to their work ; several times small parties crossed the creek up to their bells in water, in the face of a heavy fire from the scrub on the opposite bank, routed the enemy one of their hiding places, and shot them down in a close hand to hand struggle. The engagement commenced at 2 p.m., and was continued briskly until aboutfive, when the greater pa t of the enemy had either succeeded in making their escape in some unknown manner or were killed or wounded ; but still a heavy fire was kept up from a close scrub on the river bank. Capt. Jaekson, F.R., who had been on th« ground from the commencement of the action, saw that the work of turning the foe out of ihis scrub would be just the thing tor the Rangers, and therefore requested that they might be sent for ; an orderly was therefore despatched to bring them up. The order arrived when most of the men in camp were enjoying their evening's bathe, quite unconscious that their services were so much required. Capt. Von Tempsky was the onlv officer in the camp, as Ensigns Roberts and Westhrop, with forty mm, were out on a fern burning expedition towards Pirongia. No sooner did the fall-in whistle sound then the men rushed to arm themselves, half clothed as they were, and as each laid hold of his revolver and carbine he followed those who had started at double quick time. The appearance of the men as they trooped past was laughable in the extreme ; many had only shirt and trousers, just pulled on in the hurry ; a number of them

had not been able to wait for their boots, and had therefore come without them. This party soon arrived at the scene of conflic, and without any hesitation, when shown the spot, rushed ri, creeping and crawlin' underneath the thicket, and as they saw a native shot him and pulled him out, taking no heed of the sharp fire to which they were exposed. It is a fortunate circumstance that only one of the Rangers was touched, and that very slightly, by a slug, whilst they killed five and wounded two more, which hi't they carried to the camp. By this time it was growing dark, and therefore the recall was sounded. As it was so late it was found impossible to remove all the enemy’s dead to the camp, Imt several heaps were collected in different parts of the battle field, and there left to be probably removed during the night by the enemy. . The troops retired towards the camp, the rear being brought up by the Forest Rangers, who kept up a constant (ire on a body of the enemy who were advancing. . The names of the officers, as far as I have been able to learn them, who were engaged in this affair, are as follows: — Colonel Sir 11. Havelock, in command, 4‘>xh. Majors Bawdier and Blythe. lion. Capts. Trench, Clark, Fisher. Lieuts. Morgan, Simeon. Ensigns Gurney, King. Assist.-Surgeon Stiles. 50tii. Captain Doren. Lieut. Leach. Ensign Campbel Douglass. FOREST RANGERS.

Captains Jackson and Von Tempsky. Captain Heaphey, Auckland Volunteers, was also present and received six bullets through his clothes, three of which grazed his body. His has been a most astonishing escape, and is the wonder of the camp. The casualties on our side are as follows : Killed. 40 hi, John MoDougall. Henry Blake. Michael Cahill. George '"ooper. 50th. James Cousins. Win. Bane. Wounded. 40 xh, James Brady. James Robbins. John Spriggs. John Peaton. John Meigan. AUCKLAND VOLUNXEERS. Capt. Hcaphy. James Brady has had his arm amputated about haltway between the hand and elbow. • One of the Maori wounded is a chief from Kavvhia, named Hira la Kerei. He was shot through the knee, ami the ball passed through the flesh of the thigh of the other leg ; this morning his leg was amputated above the knee, and hopes are entertained of his recovery. The other native wounded is a mere by ; he has a wound from a pistol-ball through the back, and a knock on tite head from the butt-end of a gun. Ten Maori bodies are all that have been carried to camp, one of which was a chief named Ramera, of Mokau. It appears that the enemy were about 200 in number, and had hidden themselves in that spot in order to have, in co-operation with a force from _ the other side, attacked Col. Waddy’s camp next night, into which they would have found ready entrance, as the breastwork is only on that side looking towards Paterangi ; but seeing the bathing party advancing on them they supposed they ha I been discovered in their hiding-place, and therefore commenced the engagement which ended so unluckily for hem. fFROM ANOXHEB CORRESPONDENX.J February 12th. About three o’clock in the afternoon of the 11th, some men of Colonel Waddy’s force were bathing al a stream —the Mangapiko—.about half a mile from the camp south-west of Paterangi pa. A large party of Maoris from the opposite side opened fire upon them, when the picquet on duty, under Major Rowdier, of the 40 th, immediately left the camp at double-quick time —the chief part for the bathing-place, which was at the centre of the skirmish. Some twenty men, however, under Capt. Fisher, of the 40th, ran to the left, and made a wider skirmish between it and the main position of Paterangi. With this party were Capt. Jackson, of the Forest Rangers, and Capt. Heaphy, of the Auckland Rifle Volunteers, who had been making sketches of the position, and who bad j lined the advance as soon as firing commenced. Colonel Hancock, of the Volunteer Cavalry, supported this party with about a dozen men. Meanwhile firing was very brisk on both sides at the bathing-place, where Major Rowdier pressed back the enemy into an old Maori fortification (Ngapuhi) between two streams. Here the rebels, about 150 in number, made a gallant stand. On the sine of the parapet of the old pa they had a camping ground, and there they fought hard ; the ti-tree, 20 feet high in the gullies, favoured them, and in some places it was a hand to hand fight in the dense scrub and in the gully. The Maoris had no idea of any troops having gamed their rear, but alter an exchange of shots for about five minutes, Capt. Fisher, with nine men, and Capt. Heaphy, found a bridge formed of an old tree lying across the run, and stepping across under a fire from the wooded banks of the stream, they came full on the party retreating before the fire of the piequets. Men now fell on both sides, and a struggle took place on the parapet of the old pa, where Capt. lisher-— ■it was revolver work for the two officers—with his small party were for the time almost surrounded. A 50th man lay wounded in a gully in advance, surrounded by Maoris, and Capt. Heaphy, with Private Connor, a 40th man, ran to bring him in. *As soon as Capt. Heaphy got up to him he received a volley at about five yards and fell back stunned—six shots had struck his clothes, and three hit him, fortunately only infliction slight wounds. The 40th man stayed with Capt. Heaphy for some time, and eventually they shot two of those who had fired the volley, and to >k their guns. Capt. Fisher and Col. Havelock, who had come up with sup pot ts, now fired into the scrub, and the Maoris might be seen hiding under the overhanging banks of the” stream, whence they were picked out by the bayonet, Colonel Havelock’s party had now been about an hour and a half alone, opposed to great odds, when about 20 men of the 50th under Lieut. Lusk appeared, and bv firing across me river succeeded in keeping down the fire of the natives, who were swarming down in Captain Fisher’s rear from the Paterangi position. The ditch of the old pa was now strewn with Maori dead where the path crossed it, and the spirits of the troops rose cointnensurately, but now a difficulty arose. About 50 natives Irom the main position of Paterangi had accumulated in Captain Fisher’s rear, and it became a delicate matter to withdraw the men, and at the same time carry off the wounded and dead befote night-fall. At this moment Captain Jackson appeared with his Forest Rangers; Captain Von iempsay, with the latter, was then ordered to clear the scrub at the river margin, and he disappeared in the thick bush with a few of his men. . In a minute or two the report of fire arms—Maori pieces and revolvers —was heard, and shortly after Von Tempsky’s men appeared carrying up the bank five dead an 1 two wounded of the enemy. The woumled were carried away in blankets, and it was a singular sight to see the Forest Rangers with Maori bodies on their backs, retreating under fire towards the Camp. Six bodies of Maoris were left in the ditch of the last parapet; about twelve others in various places in the scrub, and four floated down the rivet.^ It was now almost too dark to distinguish friend from foe, and Colonel Havelock—who was always at the point of danger—retired the Forest Rangers through the broken ground. Captain Heaphy and Captain Von Tempsky running with about a dozen Rangers across the river, whilst the bodies were being carried over th ■ last ford. A large reinforcement of the enemy from Paterangi fired upon the small party of the Rangers at the crossing, and hit a man who was bearing a litter. Captain Von Tempsky was the last man over, when the affair was concluded. On Friday morning it was found that four of our men—all of the4olh and 50th regiments—were killed; one of these was mortally wounded, together with three others, namely, one severely and two slightly. Ten Maori bodies, perfectly naked, lay side hy side, in the fern near the scene of action, all fine young men; and two others who were badly wounded we.e placed in a blanket tent and attended to by the surgebns.

In this fight the Maoris certainly did not lire on to our wounded men, who lay near to them, whilst the soldiers and Rangers showed every kindness to the wounded natives. The Maorics, however, fired heavy volleys on the Forest Rangers as they were bearing off the ground the two wounded natives They also fired where they could on any of our people who went to the assistance of wounded soldiers. Te Rori, Feb. 13th. Captains Jackson and Yon Tempsky, with the Forest Hangers, have gone out this morning early to the old fortification at Yaiari—the site of the recent skirmish. It is believed that the General intends to build a redoubt within the parapets. This will be a mile further in the enemy’s rear. ~ The brunt of the fighting fell on Col. Havelock s small band. Capt. Fisher fought twice or thrice over

the same ground, with fresh bodies of the enemy, who stole out of the pa to the assistance of the beaten. Lieutenants Simeon and King, who were with Captain Fisher, were much exposed while keeping their men in good order, under a fire from an entirely concealed foe in the high scrub or the flat. The men of the 40th were in high spirits when amongst the parapets of the old pa they were]* fighting with the odds very much against them, and, for at least an hour, without sap. port. The enemy were, apparently, about 100 or 130 strong in the first instance, and during the fight i( ie « were reinforced twice from the pa by bodies of about 3.1 men each time. They had the great advantage on their side of knowing the ground, and the short cuts across the bends of the river. One Maori has since suffered amputation of the W and one of our men of the left hand p. 5.—33 of the Maori dead were counted on the field, with 5 wounded—3 brought in. Half as many more must have floated down the stream, or may lie ( concealed in the scrub: they cannot have lost fewer , than 50 men. Te R iri, February 13th. The excitement caused by the totally unexpected engagement at Mangapiko, on the Ith instant, lias now in a great measure subsided. The dead are buried the white flag has been lowered, and the usual rifle practice at the occupants of Paterangi has been resumed. There arc afewfactsin connection with the late engagement which,in the harried account l yesterday forwarded, I had omitted to mention. A great number of double and single-barrelled fowling pieces, old flint muskets, tomahawks, &c., were taken from the enemy ; dial is, from the dead and wounded during and after 1 lie fi ,ht| 3 and one Enfield rifle, which had been lost to us in ih e , former fight at Taranaki in 1860, was recovered in this t engagement. Yesterday morning a message was sent to Paterangi that the natives might take away their dead, which were left in out' possession, if they ch.*e to do so ; accordingly two old fully tattooed natives were despatched, and arrived under cover of a white flag in Colonel Waddy’s camp. They stated their loss, as far as they then knew, was twenty-four • | mt this number is far. below the veal amount, for, us I stated in my last, thirty-three were counted on the evening of the fight. They expressed a strong desire that Hint la Kerei (he whose leg was amputated) might be taken away by them, but th.s request was ' not granted. The ten bodies in our possession were removed to Paterangi. Hint la Kerei died this morning, and increases the number o, the enemy's dead to thirty-four that have b en seen and counted • but it is by no means improbable that several mure may be lying hid in the high fern and scrub, orii the creek, or may have been removed during the night, of which we may never know anything. Yesterday one body was found in the w.ter, and to-day three more have been discovered there*; these Com, I believe, are over and above the number mentioned. I have learned the names ol several more chiefs who ’ were slain in the fight, and have been recogniz d, they I are as follows:—Hmohaku, lioui Ropia, Te Maoua 1 Waitai, of Ngatihikaura, Pobihakana, of Ngatiraaiio. At five a.m. this morning the 7oth ami the two c.«m- ---’ panics of the Forest Rangers marched from here, ’ carrying their blankets and two days’ cooked provisio >B, ’ to the scene of the late action, where it is intended a . redoubt shall be erected.

[FROM a CORRESPONDISNT.] Friday night, February 12. We have had a glorious fight to-day, and thrashed them vvell. [ have counted 23 Maories killed, ami 5 wounded. Of our men 3 were killed, and about 5 wounded. Colonel Havelock, V.C., Captain hisher, Licuts. Simeon and King, and Dr. Stiles, of the 40th, were in the thick of ii. Captain Heaphy, A.ItV., with Von Tenipsky, F. It., were first in the action and last out of it. Captain Ueaphy got slightly hit in three places, and five shots passed through his clothes. He was hit by a party of natives in a bush, as he went to assist a wounded 40th man, who lav in a gully. Capt. Heaphy killed the man who hit him, and secured his gun and pouch. Von Tempsky brought in five killed, and three wounded, and he and Captain Heaphy carried the retreat after it fell dark. The skirmish took place in fern and ti-tree gullies, and we surrounded them beautifully. The 50th were in capital order ; the 4ath in the very thick of it ; and the Forest Hangers busy in covering the retreat and carrying in tbe dead and wounded natives. The natives were in great force, but owing to the cover, their numbers could not be ascertained. „, . Teßore, February 13th. The engagement of Mangapiko having resulted so favorably or our side, and its details being of a rather interesting nature; a far more lucid and particular account thereof, though perhaps rather late, may not be uninteresting. In the first place the scene of the conflict requires a few words said respecting it, or the account of the action would be perfectly unintelligible to those who arc unacquainted with this part of the country. The Mangapiko creek, along its whole coarse, flows in a most eccentric ami circuitous manner, between high abrupt banks generally clothed with a thick and almost impenetrable mass of fern and scrub, whilst, on ascending from the bed of the stream on to Hie table land above, the eye ranges over an extensive plain with only the ever present tutu scrub, o,' an occasional small grove of peach trees to relieve the monotony of the view. At a distance of about halt a mile from Col. Waddy’s camp, and about the same from the enemy’s works at Paterangi (witich two positions are situated on elevations rising from tbe general plain towards the south), the Mangapiko suddenly turns at right angles to its former course, and circling round a piece of land of about twenty acres in extent and nearly the shape of a pear arrives to within eighty yards of itself when it makes another sudden turn at right angles and flows on towards Hie Wuipa. The thin end, or as it may be called the stalk of the pear lies to the souih, and the thick end, or head, lies to the north or towards Col. Waddy’s camp. The stalk, or isthmus alone is on a level with tie surrounding, country. The peninsula, or body ot the pear, being a flat, only a lew feet raised above the level the stream, densly clothed with high fern and tutu; the banks of the creek are an improvement upon this, being a mass of scrub, fern, and brier, interwoven t e one with the other. An old native track running ioin Colonel Waddy’s camp crosses the stream at aslialww part by a ford, rendered less deep by logs having ecu laid from bank to bank, and traversing the wholeleng of the peninsula ascends to the higher ground at i isthmus. Upon this narrow neck of land, only aoO 70 yards broad, are the remains of three formidable parapets and ditches, which extend to the stream o either hand, and through which the before mentions track winds, through narrow passages in the parape and across the deep ditches, in the direction o Te Awamutu. , A track from Paterangi to the eastward or left hand side looking towards the south, crosses the stream at the first bend by a bridge formed old canoe placed from bank to bank about mb 11 fcet'long and ncorly the same height above the le of the creek, and leads up to the before incut earth-works. These earthworks, en passant, . scene of one of the most bloody battles in which old native warrior, Hongi, was engaged, and from excellent position and ingenious construction s that the Maori, at that early period, was no om engineer, and knew perfectly well how to ctl good natural position for defence, and also now prove on what nature had already done. The above description will render more mtell g t he following description ol the fight :-*• A small number of the 40th, protected by a as a covering party, were proceeding to the fo [ a purpose of bathing, and had scarcely arrived voilcy was poured upon them from the cneny « hidden in the fern and scrub in the oft men peninsula ; immediately on the firing being . the camp the picket of the 40th, under the co of Major Dowdier, started at a run for the sep action, and on arriving the greater p°rti°n e along the bank of the creek to the right, l««nuK elf ctive fire across the stream into the sent opposite side wherever the smoke of a Maori g visible, whilst Captain Fisher and a hau l ul of men, taking a circuitous course, got on the jgtance( Paterangi, and made his way, not wilho . 0 f .he canoe bridge, which he driving ihe natives from its vicinity. 1 , , art y, rather annoyed by the fire from Major Bow con . were aattempting to make good their re i siderable numbers through the earth-wor p a ptsin of land beiore mentioned ; seeing w > 4,, jug Fisher determined if possib'e, to pieve ~u a rd so, and therefore, leaving three or four nu fflen the canoe bridge, he dashed actos failing back and gained the first parapet, the one y M j st anee. behind the second with scarcely any sbo of Halting here that his small party g second .cover their breath, he Urea ‘“eS* parapet and, though exposed to a sharp n > . lem aa in gaining possession without the lots "' a “ aJ a | on g killed or wounded, whilst six Maories I’J “ arap it Ihe narrow path and 111 the ditch. 11,6 „ having was gained wi.h little trouble, the ent J fern a nd fallen back to the thick cover afforded by the scrub on the lower land on the I* 1 ””’ Co iqncl S' r At this point of the engagement 11. Havelock, Captains Heaphy and w the in the vicinity surveying,j' ad ' rrtfo f fire-arms, scene of conflict on first heating t P- t Fisher, arrived with a small reinlorcementjo ents^ M Cot. Havelock taking command. Be iat

now seen hastening along the track from Paterangi, ami therefore Captain Fisher was despatched across the canoe bridge, with a dozen men with orders to keep back these new comers as long ns possible, whilst Colonel Havelock’s party from the eanh-works opened fire on them, and alio on others who now appealed to be congregated in force in the scrub on the edge of the stream on the right, and were keeping up a coniinnous fire across the creek at Major Bowdler’s party, (who relumed with interest,) and tit the men in the earth works. Up to this time no casualties had occurred or, car side, but now one man fell mortally wounded in the ditch, and another going to his assistance was also shot, and again another received a severe wound whilst on the same errand, for the enemy had opened fire from a th cket hy the water’s edge, until now unoccupied by them. Major Bowdler’s party seeing this now poured vuliey after volley into the spot from whence the shots proceeded, and for the time silenced the enemy. It was now, as Captain lleaphy was proceeding to render assistance to a wounded Maori, who was lying near the thicket, that another vo! ey was fired from thence riddling his clothes and slightly wounding him in the side, upon which a deadly shower of bullets was returned from the opposite side of the bank, and several of the enemy were s'-en to fall dead into the river, whilst others endeavouring to make their escape by swimming down the stream were shot in the attempt. Bv this time the situation of the handful of men under the immediate command of Colonel Havelock, was becoming perilous in the extreme, as also was that of tl ie small party under Capt. Fisher, who were being hardly pressed by I lie above mentioned body of the enemy who were end avouring to regain possession of the canoe bridge, it was therefore with joyful feelings that a reinforcement under Capt. Trench, was seen hastening to their relief, wth the assistance of whom the enemy were driven back to a more rcspcctiul distance. v hortly afterwards a small reinforcement of the both, under Capt. Doren, crossing the creek at the ford, pushed their way across the peninsula and gained the earthworks.

The fil ing was now confined principally to the dense scrub on the river’s bank, beneath the earthworks, into which it would have been madness to have sent any troops armed with the long rifle. An orderly was therefore despatched post haste to call up the Forest Rangers, who, till the. arrival of the order were totally unaware that an engagement was taking pla-e. In a shorl space of time, considering the distance, which cannot lie less than four miles. Captain Yon Tenipsky appeared in command of the Rangers, and imrmdiately proceeded with them into the thicket, where for a short time, perhaps not more than a qnarter-of an-hour, the continuous discharge of Maori guns, and Ranger’s revolvers told that the work of death was being carried on. Now the firing ceases, and the Rangers again appear with five Maoris dead, and two wounded, whom they carry “ pick-a-back” up the earthworks and there deposit. The sun has long since sunk behind the picturesque mass of hills called Firongiu, darkness is fast creeping on and the troops are ordered to retire, bringing us many of the wounded anti dead of the enemy us possible along with them. This is accordingly done ; the party who have been successfully keeping the advancing’ enemy in check are withdrawn across the bridge, mid ihe whole of this portion of the force rctiie along tiie peninsula towards the fiord, whilst Major Bowdlar’s party prevent the toe from advancing until Colonel Havelock has crossed the ford, covered by the Rangers in rear. And thus terminated one of (he most successful engagements which has occurred in this country, the loss on our side being so small whilst that on the enemy’s, was heavy in the extreme, if we take into consideration the small number of men engaged on either side. The loss of the enemy in killed is known to have been 38 at least ns that number were counted, 33 on the evening of the engagement, four were afterwards found in the stream, and one since died of his wounds, but it is highly probable that many nn re fell in this fight whose bodies may have either been taken away by the enemy during the night or have been carried down by the swift stream and will perhaps never be recovered. It will not be until after the war that the true account of the enemy’s loss in each engagement wifi be obtainable. Immediately on the death ot Hira la Kerei this morning, notice thereof was sent to the enemy at Pafeiangi, with an intimation that the body might he removed by them if they chose. Accordingly a small party came over with a white flag flying and took it away. February 14. The 70ih and Forest Rangers under the command of Colonel Muloek have encamped at and in the vicinity of the old Maori earth works at Mangapiko, where they are now busily employed in throwing up breast works. 1 have omitted to mention that O’Connor of the 40th, who was wounded in the i.eek before Paterangi on the 9th instant, expired on the 11th, from the effect of the wound. To-day the weather which Ims lately been so hot anti dry, has changed, and the welcome rain is falling at last, laying the dust and making the camp a little more comfortable. February 15 th, At 9TO p.m. yesterday, the Koheroa. made her appearance at the larding place, with a large barge lashed on either side of her. She is at present only half finished, having been hurried np by Commodore Sir W. Wiseman, in consequence of the Avon having failed. As soon as the accident to ihe Avon was heard of here, Fir William proceeded to the and navigated her up to Ngaruawahia; from which place, after taking the two laden barges in tow, she started at 5 a m. yesterday, and after a difficult, and tedious passage, arrived here in safety. Great credit i* due to the Commodore (or the successful manner in which he conducted this her first trip up. The Koheroa is commanded by Lieut. Coddiugton, of the Eclipse, and worked by a Colonial crew. Flic is at present scarcely more than a shell, but the carpenicis arc hard at work constructing her necessary fittings. Npihing of importance lias occurred here since my last, and therefore there is nothing more to communicate. Te Ron, February loth. A white flag was hoisted ou the Paterangi flag-staff this afternoon, and gave rise to an immense amount of conjcctme concerning its purport. After some delay, it was answered from the camp, when a deputation of Maori i filers waited upon Colonel Waddy. Ihe members of which it consisted appeared to have wasted none of their precious time in getting up an elaborate toilc lin anticipation of the interview. No—being true “childicn of nature,” as our plnlo-Maoris delight to term them, they came dressed with very little additional clothing to that with which they had been supplied bv nature, discarding almgeth< r those, m a civilized being, indispensable articles ot clothing whieu on no account, may I e mentioned to cars polite. 1 best*, ancient warriors were, however, in the matter ot diess, one stage in advance of that delightfully innocent o.d African cine l , of whom Dr. Livingstone speaks, whose balm i‘ was to appear ou Sundays d.ressed solely in lop bouts and’‘stick-up" collar, much to the envy ot his less fortunate acquaintances, who had only been able to gain possession of a coat or shirt. But 1 am departing from my subject. The deputation arrived, and stated that their General Rewi desired to send a letter to our General, but was at present absent at Kangiawhia but on bis return to-morrow he would send the said letter. They also stated that the youth who was wounded at the battle of Mangapiko, and who was given up to them alter having hail his wound dresse , was doing very well, and it was hoped would soon tic convalescent; and they sbou.d be very much obliged if the General would send them some tobacco, as they were rather short of that indispensable at tide a present.

This modest request is in exact accordance with a well known trai: of Maori character; grant them one favor, and tiny will request another, aud it this is granted, they will expect another, and then finish with expressing their opinion that their benefactor is a great too 1: 1 hev have not the smallest amount of gratitude in their composition, the truth of which statement all old settlers know too well, and the events of the present war have only tended to confirm. The enemy appeared extremely solicitous that the above mentioned youth, whose name is Wcteri, and who is the son of a Ngatiamanmpoto chief, should be given over to them, and wnen he was so, appeared much pleased, but it may safely he affirmed, felt no gratitude for the favor, that bump being, as I before stated, altogether left out when the native head was formed. 1 lolmbly the first thing that they did, after the youth had been brought amongst them, was to hold a runanga in which it was snggesied that as the General hud been so foolish, according to their ideas, ns to give up a prisoner of such importance, he possibly might be persuaded to grant them n little tobacco ; and it this request were acceded to, they would probably inquire if he had any spare ammunition to part with, or more Hour than lie at present required, and intimate that a present o a little of one or botli of these articles would te very acceptable at Paterangi. It is not unlikely also that the Maori deputation wished it to be understood that a truce should obtain until General Rewi’s letter arrived, but the report of Armstrong guns, which have been heard at this camp, plainly tell that the hint was not taken. The new redoubt of the 70th at Mangapiko is now near y completed : it is being constructed, not on the the site where the old Maori earthworks stand, but on the opposite, or Paterangi side of the creek, directly

on the track from that position, from which it is separated only by a level plain. February 16 th. To the astonishment of all, as the day broke this morning, a new stockade or pa was noticed on the ri Igc between Paterangi and Fikopiko. t his pa has been wholly constructed during the sign of it was visible last evening. An immense amount of firing has be°n going on before Paterangi all the morning : the Koval Artdlery having been practising at the new stockade at a range of about I,GOO yards, and the enemy also practising at the Koval Artillery at the same range with their double-barrelled fowling-pieces. Te Bore, February 20.

Reinforcements arrived late yesterday evening, on the opposite bank of the Wnipa, and encamped for the night. This morning they were conveyed across the river. They consist of the following numbers I loyal Artillery, .‘5 guns : about -10 of the Colonial Defence Corps, under Col. Nixon ; 190 of the 18th Kegt., 40 of the 40th Regt., and the 65th, under the command of Capt. [ling, 18th Regt. ; 150 of the Land Transport Corps, with 200 horses, under Capt. Travers. The whole of the force here, with the exception of that under the command of Col. Waddy and the garrisons of the several redoubts, are under ord-rs to move forward at two hours notice. It is said that we march to-night. There is no other news to communicate at present. Te Awnmufu, Fob. 22. On the night of Saturday last, the 20th instant, at 1! p.m., the General and Staff marched at the head of 800 men, consisting of Royal Engineers, Artillery Mounted Cavalry, Defence Force, 65th Regt., 70th Uegt., sailors, marines, and Forest Rangers. Although ihe moon was nealry at the full the night was dark, as the whole sky was overcast and threatening. A strict order was issued against smoking or talking on the march .No pack horses or artillery were taken, but each man carried his own blanket and two days cooked provisions, which, with the rifle, accoutrements, and sixty rounds of ammunition, make a by no means light load. The Mangapiko creek was crossed hy the ford mentioned in the accounts of the late engagement at Waiari, where the water was about knee deep. The tioqis then, under the guidance of Mr. Edwards, marched through the old native earth-worksat Waiari, and along the Wharekauhoha track, towards Te Aw#mutu. The regular road from Te P.ori to Te Awamutu passes closely to, if indeed it does not pass, actually thiough the earth works at Paterangi -, but the road the troops marched, which is merely a narrow foottruck, leaving Paterangi to the left, takes a circuitous course, and eventually comes into the cart-road on the far side of Te Awamutu. When passing Paterangi we could hear the native sentinels keeping themselves awake and on the alert by singing some old Maori war song, the different parts of which were taken up and monotonously drawled out bv the sentries one after the other, and now and again a louder voice, supposed to be that of the chief, would be heard calling out, “ 110 ! Tiakina ! ho ! tiakina !—which, being interpreted, signified), “Be careful! be careful!” The troops marched in perfect silence, which is the hardest thing that British soldiers can do.

It is use’ess to endeavour to give a long description of the night’s march ; the light was so feeble that scarcely anything could be distinguished beyond the (our or five men ahead ; one swamp was crossed, and once the track whs missed, and a fresh one made through the high tern, which work tell very heavily on Capt. Yon Tempsky’a Forest Rangers, who were in the van, and had to tread down the long fern to make a fresh track, until the proper one was struck. As the day was dawning we came in sight of the church at Te Awamutu, in the main and only street of which village the troops were halted, as it was thought to encamp ; not so, however, lor no sooner had the rear come up than the whole force again started forward towards Rangaiwhia, about four miles distant, the Cavalry being ordered to the front.

On arriving at a gully just on this side of Rangiawhia, the enemy opened fire from a clump of bush by the road side, but weie quickly driven out by the Cavalry and Forest Rangers, who, from thence proceeded* to some whares in the vicinity of the two churches. From these whares the enemy open' d fire, one in particular was defended with spirit, and all our casualties, I belhve, weie Irom the fire from this whare. The Cavalry, Forest Rangers, 65th, and a few sailors were engaged, and endeavoured to erry the above-mentioned whare by a coup <le main, but in this were not successful. One Defence man, named MTiale, did, indeed, force his way inside, but was immediately shot down and 'his revolver and carbine taken and used by the enemy against the assailants. When it was found a matter of much difficulty to take the said .whare, it was set on fire when the natives fled, leaving seven of their dead and the body of Mcllale to be burned to ashes. The Cavalry now surrounded the former inmates cf the whare, as they were endeavouring to effect their retreat into sundry peach groves, gullies, whares, &c., and after a determined resistance, in which several of the enemy lost their lives, the remainder, about thirty in number, among which were several women, were taken prisoners. The enemy still appeared in considerable force in all the other whaies and in the churches, but after the burning of the above-mentioned whare, the whole force was withdrawn and marched back on To Awomutu, a picket of the Toth being left on a hill about 1000 yards nearer to Rangiawhia than our present camping ground. Our casualties in this engagement were as follows : KILLED. Colonial Defence Force.—Corporal Alexander, Private Me Hale, whose body was burnt in 'be whare and left on the field. • woenoed. Colonial Defence Force.—Colonel Nixon, dangerously ; Corporal Dunn, severely; Private Biady, severely. 65th Regiment.—Private W. b'mith, slightly ; Private Askew, mortally. Forest Rangers.—Private Bcllendcn, severely. Eleven Maori dead are accounted for, but from the extreme haste in which the troops retired on r ie Awamatu it was not possible to search over the field, or many more, probably, would have been discovered. The quick retreat of the troops before the work was half finished was at first hard to be accounted for. but I have since learnt that a large body ol the enemy were seen coming down on Te Awammu, and it was perhaps to prevent the buildings there from being destroyed that the retreat was so quickly effected. Yesterday afternoon the 50th, some of the Naval Brigade, and the Land Transport Corps, arrived from Te Rori. with four 6-poutuler Armstrongs, and a convoy of commissariat stores. They had started at daylight from the Te Rori camp, where Col. Waddv, 50th, remains in command. This morning news was received that the enemy hml evacuated Paterangi and Pikopiko and had tetired on Rangiawhia. At about 11 a.m. a large party approached the 70th picqnet ns if to attack them, upon winch the General moved the cavalry and the in-lying pieqnet on to the hill; hut finding that the attack was only a feint, the enemy being employed in digging potatoes, the force was withdrawn, but at 3 pan. was matched out again, with the Armstrong guns, and came into collision with the enemy, who, if we may judge from the smart firing they made, were in great force. Ihe cavalry took the lead, and from Te Awamutu couid he seen charging down on the foe in the face of a heavy fire. . Whilst I am writing the engagement is still going on, and we wait for particulars. Shortly after the commencement of the fight the troops left at Te Awamutu were kept in a state of suspense ns to whether they would he attacked or not, as a large body of the enemy were noticed making | round to the south ; the men were under arms, the naval gun run out, aid every preparation made tu order to secure a satisfactory result in case such an event as an attack should transpire ; but as yet the enemv have been content with firing at long range.

6 p.m. The particulars of to-day’s engagement arc as follows : The enemy were seen in great numbers on a hill on this side of the potatoc field at which they were noticed this morning. This hill is separated from Ranofawhia bv two gullies, only one of win hj. namely, thathirthest from here, would offer any serious obstacle to the passage of troops. The hill is cloth-d with hi-rh fern, and along the edge of the slope towards their camp there is an old ditch and embankment about breast high. It appears that tne enemy since yesterday had been employed in digging ride pits behind the said embankment, and in constructing a species of embankment along its crest. The force taken into the field numbered about 800 men, and consisted of the Royal Mounted Artillery and Colonial Defence Force, under the command of Captain Walmsley; the detachment jOf the 50th, under Colonel VVeare the 65th, under Captain Higgins; the 70th, under Colonel Muloch, and the uvo companies of Forest Rangers, under Captain Yon Tempsky, and two 6-lb. Armstrong guns, commanded by Colonel Williams, R.A. ' The cavalry being sent forward, charged the enemy s temporary defences on their left flank in a most galla

manner, in the fi*c* ot a most tremendous fire from behind the breastwork and stockading, cutting thenway through the latter with their swords, and the enemy fled with great precipitation down the gully to the right, and into a kahikatea grove at the bottom, some of them rolling headlong down in their haste. The 50th charged with a loud cheer through high fern in the centre of the position, and received a withering fire when only about thirty yards distant from the enemy, who. after delivering this volley, forsook their half-formed rifle pits, and retired in haste, leaving spades, picks, bundles, spears, &c.,on the ground. After gaining the ditch, the 50th were halted to reform, and then were marched after tire flying foe to Rangiawhia, in occupation of which place they have remained. The 65th followed the 50th in the charge and the subsequent advance on Kangiawhia. Heaven only knows where the 70th were ; sevetal orderlies at one lime were looking out lor them ; but some of them were I believe on the lefijcndcavouring to make their way round to cut oft the rear of the enemy, whilst some were on tire right trying to effect the same movement, but the fern being of sucli a height they were, unable to do so in time. The Forest Rangers were on the left flank, and pushed their way over the two gullies to Rangiawhia, hut unfortunately did not come into very close proximity to t.ie foe. About 20 Maoris were killed in this engagement ot which more than half were by cavalry, who with the 50th rendered themselves conspicuous for the gallant and orderly manner in which they charged up to the enemy’s position under a heavy fire from about 400 guns ; the only wonder is that they suffered no more than they did", and that every cavalry saddle was not emptied or more horses shot. VV hen the six leading horsemen charged at a full gallop at a body ot about 70 natives, the iatter were seized with a panic, turned and fled for their lives, several of which they however lost in th attempt. The total number of our casualties is two men killed, and two officers and seventeen men wounded, out of which one killed, and one officer and nine men wounded, are of the 5 th. Two prisoners were captured, one of whom, an old chief of some note, named Faora I’ipi, is severely wounded.

From this account it will be seen that the success of to-day’s engagement has not been so decided ns might have been wished,ot, in fact,as it most probably could have been made. If the cavalry, instead of being ordered to charge at the enemy behind a breastwork on the right, which bye the bye is scarcely the work cavalry are intended for, had been kept in reserve on the road on the left, and when the Maoris were put to flight by the infantry, had then charged along the said road, by which the enemy retreated almost unmolested towards Rangiawahia, a much more satisfactory result would in all probability have ensued. Again, it was not as if the ground was unknown, for it ■was all passed over yesterday. But the affair is over now. and it cannot be altered for the better or the wore, and the enemy have all retired back to Mangatautaii, and having deserted Fikopiko and Paterangi may be considered on the loose again. A large quantity of booty was taken at Rangiawahia, almost every one who returned, being the bearer of a pig or fowl, or a spear or tomahawk, if his love of the curious had prevailed over the desire after fresh meat ; but some more wise or more fortunate, or being both antiquarian and epicure, carried their pigs slung over their back, on their spears, &c. Fome rode in on eapi tired horses, and some drove in a herd of cattle, several of which the natives had only lately become possessed of, the brand C.T.C. testifying that they were the sumo which had strayed from the camp at Te Rori a short time since. p.S.—Unfortunately I have not been able to forward this letter this evening hy the orderly, the General having refused permission to the correspondents to send in their communications, because a person calling himself an “ own correspondent,” at Mercmere, sent in an absurdly incorrect telegram to one of the Auckland papers about the late affair at Mangapiko ; forgetting that, by allowing the true accounts of eye witnesses to be forwarded, the communications of the half or altogether wrongly-informed correspondent at Mercmere can thereby be dispensed with. The affair is, however, made much worse by one correspondent having succeeded in despatching his letter, notwithstanding all orders to the contrary. Februarj 23rd.

Col. Waddy, and the moveable force under his command, of about 500 men, and consisting of the 40th and 50th Regiments, marched into this camp from Te Rori last night, and will to-day proceed to the village of Kihik hi, which is situated about three miles from Te Awamutu. DRURY. [from our own correspondent.] Thursday, 4th Feb. All seems bustle and anxiety to muster every available body of regulars, miliiia, and volunteers to assist the General in his operations at the Front, Still in uncertainty as to the attack, I presume we cannot now be long before we have some tidings . f a battle. Major Dwyer, of the 14th, from Wellington, has gone up to-day to take charge of his regiment, and in the Major we have a veteran ofilter of 33 years’ standing in the army. About 200 of the 43rd, under command of Major Sing, left Drury this morning for the Front, the headquarters of the regiment still being in Drury, Col. Booth being stationed here. Forest Rangers.—As wc evidently have again Maori scouts in our midst bent on mischief, I should think another little band of 40 or 50 Forest Rangers, ever moving through the bush, would be tbs most effective means of keeping the p acc clear of the rebels, and I am sure we havn many good lead- rs for such a corps. About 100 of the Auckland Ist class militia and volunteers came up yesterday under the command of Capt. Derrom, and arc now in the 43rd camp. Maoris having been seen on the South Road, even within a few miles of Drury, which we have on undoubted authority, surely it behoves those m command to take evey precauli nary measure for the safety of the di-tnet. I do not agree with a contemporary that the defence of the Bridge End Redoubt should be restored, but 1 do think it would he wise to have a nightly guard ofa few men—three, four, or six—there to give alarm in case ot surprise. Surely, this is as much wanted as before. I think I am well borne out in speaking of the very arduous duty of our clergy, as the following will show; The Rev, Mr. Morgan leit Onehunga on Saturday for the Mauku, performed service there on Sunday morning, an I drove fo Drury for service in the camp at two, then on to service at Fapakura, and after that to return to Onehunga. Thursday, up to Drury to visit the various patients at the hospital, again up to Diury on aturday tor a funeral, and back again on Sunday. Service at St. John’s, 10 o’clock; Drury at 2 o’clock ; and Fapakuia at 4; and then to Onehunga. This is tolerably arduous work, and pretty regularly the same. The Lord Bishop, in taking the clerical superintendence at the front, has never-ending duties, which, fortunately, Ids Lordship’s strong constitution enables him to perform. Should wc not have more military chaplains ? Friday, sth February.

J have again melancholy news to rel itc. The Avon, while steaming up the Waikato on Wednesday, was fired upon by an ambuscade on the side of the river, and Lieutenant Mitchell, of the Esk. who was on deck, was unfortunately shot through the body, and died shortly afcr. Although this is all fair warfare on the part of the Maoris, it mast teach us that we arc not site in any quarter yet, and that we are wrong in being too confident. I cannot believe it right for settlers to be returning to their own arms and neighbourhoods vet. Surely caution is, if not the best, at any rate a good part of valour. One hundred more of the Auckland militia arrived here yesterday, and they are all most comfortably ensconsed in delightful and luxurious Indian tents. Thus, I almost fear, they will become so well pleased with their quarters, that, after a few weeks or months, they will with reluctance leave them. February 8. I have it from a private who left the General’s camp on Saturday afternoon that shelling had been going on at the enemy’s position since Thursday last, with no verv great results, and it seems highly probable that this may continue for some days to come, whilst some of our troops are going on to Mangatautiri, and thus securing an onward position. This week will not, I trust, pass over without something further being known Major Tighe arrived yesterday, and is now in command of the” Militia and Volunteer camp. The Major found all the officers and men in a happy and contented state, although necessarily taken for a time from their homes To see the hearty and willing way which the men go through their really heavy duty only goes to prove it. . . , , Horse-stealing in every way is going on to a fearful extent, and really must be put a stop to. We do sadly require a constable at Drury. The word is only required, and one and all are ready and willing to go forward to any work appointed for them. _ , _, , . Saturday February, 6. Yet without news. More detachments of men from various corps keep moving up the road. I believe we shall shortly have the second class militia here and that the first will move forward.

More boats have passed up, and a good body of Maoris to man them. Cattle have passed again from the Mauku District, which is a wise precaution, for if the District is again to he left unprotected all will tie unsafe. I believe ere long we are to have Cobb’s omnibusses or vans running on our roads, both h-Te and to the Front; the public will not then have to complain of want of accommodation, or of high prices. VV c want men of energy as well as capital in various undertakings, and it matters little to us where they come from, so that we have them. I do not like to hear the discontented grumbling of the Volunteer Advocates, as lately expressed by a Drury correspondent, to a certain Auckland contemporary, for Ido not believe that such are die sentiments of the main body, and thus discredit is brought upon them all by an injudicious and unfair paragraph. I sav advisedly, unfair towards the commi-sariat officer here, as I happen to know that rations were ready the very night or evening they arrived, nad they desited to take them, and they had their tot ot grog, but they preferred to have their rations the next morning. Wednesday, lOthDec.

The sentry at Pukekohe saw four <>r five lights in the bush, within about 100 yards ot the stockade, on Sunday night, and reported it to Capt. >ioir, the officer in command, who kept the men quiet, but prepared, if the lights were seen again, to fire in the direction. This they very shortly did, when the lights instate ly disappeared, and were not seen again. Captain Moir thinks that they were, in all probability, scouting, to see how the stockade was guarded, mid how the sentries. were situated, and it was found they were well on the alert. Twelve friendly Maoris stopped at Drury on Monday night, en route to the Queen’s Redoubt, to bring down Lieut Alexander on a litter, and on Tuesday afternoon they arrived back at Drury with their charge. The Lieutenant, who seemed much exhausted with the journey, stopped at Drury for the night, and proceeded on this morning, shortly to be in good quartets, and I sincerely tiust in a fairwwarj r towards recovery. The Flying Column removed their quarters from the Mauku to the South Road to-day About 100 men of the Militia have joined the camp here. All the canteens from Drury up to the road have been closed until further orders. I dare say sundry rumours will get abroad from the circumstance of the twelve Maoris being at Drury. Maoris were again seen at Razor Back last night, and fired two shots at some parties passing, when Sir C. Burdett ordered his men to fire, which they did, and one Maori was evidently wounded. The Flying Column will, for the future, keep this road clear, 1 expect. An amateur concert will be given on Friday evening at Drury, for the benefit of the widows and orphans of soldiers lost in battle, and also to give some amusement to the people. Some rational amusement, wherever from 300 to 400 men are assembled, is very desirable, and perhaps music is one of the best. I should be glad to see such concerts every week, and trust this first will be well patronized. There is considerable talent iu the camp, both vocal and instrumental.

Friday, February 12th. We yet seem doomed to longer suspense before any results can be seen from the enormous preparations up the Waipa. The disaster of the Avon has also helped to throw us back, but doubtless the Koheroa will in a day or two be readv to take her place, if she lias not done so already. . Our camp here jogs on in a very quiet way, the men going pretty cheerfully through their duty, with lew exceptions. There must be some silly noodles in every large body ot men, and one of these, corresponding with the Cross, says I never gather the feelings of the men, being too proud to speak to them, but strut about with my hands behind me, and talk with the officers. Water tor the Camp.— As there is great evil in not having good water in the camp, why do not the officers in command iiave a well sunk in each camp ? There are plenty of diggers ready to do it, and it could be done in three or four days ; forty to fifty feet will find good water, and a real benefit would be conferred on the present and future occupan's of the camp. Surely this is a measure well worth the consideration of all the high authorities. The medical officers have already testified the need of it in a sanitary point of view. J Does not this allowing militiamen to pay ±lO for a substitute for twelve months, and then almost immediately altering the regulation, look very like imbecility ? Unfortunately our Ministry do not seem to have any fixed principle to act upon or to be guided ' TfoKi-norv llltll

February 13th. We received, under this date, the following telegram from our correspondent : telegram. “ On Friday afternoon a party of soldiers at Te Rori went down to bathe, and the natives observing the move immediately ran down and fired upon them two volleys, when a covering party of the 40ih and 50th, under command of Captain Trench, fired at the natives, killing 25, whose bodies were found, and taking two prisoners. Four men ot the 40th were killed, and five wounded. Captain Trench s orderly was shot. I trust the ball is now open.” Monday, February 15th. Nothing more of a stirring nature since my telegraphic communication on Saturday. It, seems that in the affair at Te Rori the natives were completely outwitted. I wish I had some real good engagement to recount, for the mind becomes weary of this apparently tedious work. . . ■ . Both wings of the Flying Column in this district have had long marches for three days through the dense bush, but without any fresh results. The principal time of the military authorities seems taken up with Courts Martial. A Court was held here to-day before C. Mellsop, Esq., R.M., but no cases of im P or “ n " i - February ml.. Although several parties were down from the Front this morning, and from several other quarters, theie was not an incident worth recording. The tumours flyin r a bout of Maoris being seen in the Great South Rood and elsewhere, I really believe to t c perfectly delusive. Since the Flying Column, under Major Rutherford, lias been stationed on the South Road, no Maori tracks have been dis.oveml, although many bush rambles for miles have been taken. More guns are expected up to-day for the Front, w ],ich it is said will complete the arranaement. It seems almost an act of insanity to remove all protection from the Mauku church ; for after that edifice, which has cost some •hundreds of pounds to build, has been used for warlike purposes, it would be considered quite legitimate by the Maoris to destroy it. When too late the error will probably be seen. The attack at Te Rori turns out even better than was at first expected. The natives themselves now admit to having lost 40 of their people there, with very small gain The Koheroa is now regularly at her work. Friday, February 19 1 h.

Not bavins anything to communicate of a very in-teve-ning character, I send you some “ Incidents ot thlate Fight” at the front, which have since been kindly furnished me by one who was in the midst of it, and arc perfectly reliable. Another boat went past here yesterday, and several ( runs, this perhaps will complete the preparatory arrangements, and give us some results in a few days. The convoy for some days past has consisted of 72 cans, with two hmses, both np and down. The Transport Corps are for buying more horses ; thev lose an average by death of two horses and three bullocks daily. Incidents is the fight at Waiaut, c lu'Cted fuom AN eye-witness.— The natives had skilfully planted an ambush for the bathers, but had not ;dt a sufficient force to secure their own line of retreat, at a place where the river bent round and almost formed an is ami. Col. Havelock, with a rare perception of what was necessary, secured this point by a long march, unpcrceived hv the enemy until they met face to face. Capt. Fisher had gone with a few men of th 2 40 th round to the left of the fight to intercept any reinforcements that might be sent from the pah to the Maoris at the ambuscade, and perceiving that the reinforcements were lardy in making theirappcarance, he sought for and found a means of getting on to the line of the retreat of the natives engaged,-a plank (half of an old canoe) formed a bridge acres the gully through which the river ran, and one at a time he led o\ei this with about nine men. Capt. Heaphy had collected a few men of 40th and 50th Kegts., who had run out to see the fight, and followed °Capt. Fisher across this bridge under a fire from both banks, but without casualties Capt Fisher, with only four men, carried the parapet of an old pah 15 ft. high. He was supported by four other men as soon as they had completed their loading. Five dead Maoris marked the spot. Capt. Fisher had now to recross the bridge, in order to repel the reinforcements that were now coming from Paterangi. . ~ At the 3rd parapet, Col. Havelock was in the midst of the enemy, and without arms. Capt. Heaphy shot a Maori, and secured his gun and pouch, and then gave Col. Havelock his breech-loader and a few cartridges, continuing the fight himself with the Maori gun and ammunition. A man named Evans, of the Land Transport Corps, was conspicuous in finding out Maoris and using his bayonet.

Capt. Jackson, when'wading the river, shot a Maori, who had snapped both barrels at him, and then hruled the fellow to the bank, securing his gun and pouch. Cussan, of the 50th, pursued a party of Maoris into a gully, and fell mortally wounded. For an hour no one could appro ich the spot without being bit. Capt. Ileaphy got up to him, and received a volley that knocked him back. Private Coney, of the 40th, tried to render assistance, but was forced back. Cooper, of the 40th,. was shot through the heart, and another 40th man through the chest. At length the hospital sergeant of Col. Waddy’s camp got to him and carried him oft, hut he was then a corpse, poor fellow ! There were seven Maoris shot in the scrub, within three yards of this spot. It was a sort of lair, and ' cingopen behind to 'he river, they had kept it to the last. The Maori blankets. &c.. were found at this camping ground, behind the middle parapet. Baskets, unfinished cartridges, newspapers, and a few peaches lay on the ground. The piec s of newspaper were fragments of t; e Taranaki Herald. They were Southern natives, and an Enfield ride was recovered that had been lost at Puketakaure in 1860. Capt. Fisher was several times the mark for a general discharge from the natives, but was not hit. Col. Havelock and Lieutenant King were also conspicuous, and escaped most wonderfully ; but the Maoris fired badly. An officer of the Auckland Volunteer Rifles col he ted a part}' of stragglers under lire, told them off into front and rear ranks, and placing them under cover, directed the r fire on the advancing reinforcements of the Paterangi natives who were engaged with Capt. Fisher, and receiving thus a cross-fire, the reinforcements made no further headway. Capt. Greaves, D.A.Q.M.G., rode coolly along the whole length of the position, in order to confer with Colonel Havelock. He also had a remarkable escape. Some natives lay in a ditch of a parapet that he had twice passed, and a Ranger shot a Maori skulking so close to the path that he could have touched the staff officer’s horse. in the midst of the fighting the wounded natives might be seen r ceiving the gentlest treatment from the while people. One soldier got hit when carrying off a wounded Maori. The latter were very much incensed at their wounded and dead being carried off, and ; fired hotly on the bearers. Monday, February 22nd.

Colonel Nixon, with the Defence Force, was to leave Whatawhala on Saturday morning for Rangaiawhia, and it is supposed that they would be there on Sunday morning. Troops had also marched up from Te Rori on Friday ; tlicrelore by this morning we may be said to be in pos cssion of all the surrounding country, and some development must then be made. There is again much talk ot terms of peace, and certainly, if the rebels do sue for peace, Rangaiawhia is a good position for us at which to listen to their propositions. Poor Austin, a character tolerably well known at Drury, died a few days back of dysentery, and was buried on Saturday. A considerable number of the inhabitants followed his remains to the grave. Austin was foreman or store-keeper at Mrs. Middlemas’s, and was generally respected. An unfortunate accident happened on the South road, at Martyn’s Farm, on Saturday. Two men, blasting stone for the roads, were ramming down the charge of gunpowder with an iron rod instead of a coppor one, when an explosion took place and did serious damage. One man will lose several fingers, and it is much feared the eyesight of the other will he lost. They were brought down to the hospital at Drury, where they will have every attention. Another death in the Waikato Militia Hospital, on Sunday morning—Sergeant De Vincent, lately and for some tinte stationed at the Mauku.

An adjourned Court was held here on Saturday, before C. Mellsop, Esq., R.M., when a case of stabbing, arising out of a drunken brawl, came on for hearing. After much conflicting evidence hud be< j n brought forward, enough was evinced to prove that several parties made threats, witli knives or daggers, to do serious bodily harm to those who attempted to interfere with them ; thus showing the extreme danger of drunken men possessing such weapons. The case was fullv brought home to the prisoner, Robert Brown, of the 3rd Waikato regiment, when he submitted to the jurisdii tion of the Bt neh of Magistrates, and was fined three pounds and costs, and in delault of payment to be confined in the gaol ot Auckland lor two months, with hard labour. Concert at Papakuua for the benefit of the Widows and Orphans of Soldiers lost in battle. — This concert was held in Mr. McWilliams’s large room on Friday evening, and although the audience was very good, I have no doubt’it would have been much larger had the announcement of the affair been made a few days earlier ; aad much also depends upon the time of the men receiving 'heir pay. The evening programme was pretty much the same ns the concert at Drury. Mr, Howden and Mr. Beale acquitted themselves admirably on the piano and violin. Mr. Daniels was as usual first rate. His fine old song—“My ancestors were Englishmen, An Englishman am I,” . was rapturously received, and is a great favourite witli the people. His other song, “ The tight little Island,” and his comic songs, greatly pleased the audience, who seemed thoroughly satisfied witli the whole performance. A comic duett between Mr Howden and Mr. Carr was much liked, ami Mr. Chapman’s “Joe Muggins” was perfect. A very nice supper was provided by Mr. McWilliams tor the amateurs, who came quite gratuitously to aid the cause, and gave themselves much troubleAnother concert is to be held at Drury I believe on Friday next. We may therefore look upon Friday evening entertainments as an institution at Drury. It is probable that “ Box and Cox,” by three amateurs, will form part of the next performance, and thus vary the entertainment. Feb. 24. The whole camp and neighbourhood of Drury were thrown into a state of consternation last night, at about nine o’clock, upon hearing the report of two guns, which turned out to he caused by two prisoners attempting to escape from the guard-lent, when the sentry fired upon them. The men were not. hit, but secured, and all was peace and tranquility again. A great gloom was cast, over Drury upon hearing the news of Col. Nixon’s a flair, as he is a man so universally and deservedly respected and beloved ; and much anxiety is also felt respecting all engaged with him.

The anxiety is greater from the difficulty at present in gaining anything but the most meagre i' formation. Pi,udko-PiVicujioxia.—To shew the absurdity cf parties without knowledge interfering in matters which they cannot un lorstand, there win a suspicion that one of the beasts slaughtered at the Commissariat slaugh-ter-house wits infected with this disease, when a hoard of officers’ (that wonderfully constituted body, supposed to know everyth ng. but wbo.-.c real knowledge is frequently nil,) was summoned, and a ter deeply going into the mystifies of the condemned the beast. After this, Mr. C. Calvert, "Veterinary Surgeon to the Lind Transport C <rps, was calf d in to examine the annual. Mr. Calvert has a thorough knowledge of the disease, ami, after a careful examination, declared the beast to be free from the complaint, and wholesome food. There appears to be gieat sickness at the camps here, and yet a great deanh of medical officers ; thus the work presses too heavily on the few, or flic patients are not well attended to, and this latter I know is not at ail the case. There is no medical officer at all for the Auckland Militia, and the Waikato Regiments, with detachments of the Ist, 2nd, and 3rd, have but one medical officer at present in the neighbourhood. Wells. — The camp stands much in need of better water, and better water can be had by sinking two or three wells, and yet it is not done, IV ho i.s to blame ? VOLUNTEER AND MILITIA CAMP, DRURY. [from a correspondent.] Drury, Fen miry 10th.

We have amtin been snatched from onr occupations and our homes to do the dirty work of the present campaign, and at the present time find ourselves at Drury, under the command of Captains, Derrom and Howell, Lieuts. Le Hoy and Waddel. and Ensign Thompson. The weather is, it anything, too hot, especially for the work we have to perform—convoy and escort marching to Williamson’s clearing. The scenery to Pukekohe, where we have to go in charge of stores for the military settlers stationed there, is all that heart could desire, and s rves to divide the monotony and toil of the march on such an errand. Our men lament very much the absence of peaches here, and when they catch a glimpse of them, exhibit great anxiety to be at them, sometinus forgetting that they are under military law, and escaping to snatch a few as they pass along parched and wcarv. I was in conversation the other day with some of our men, when it was suggested that it wou.d be much cheaper and better for the Government —Defence Office we mean—to engage a number of labourers for the work we are now performing, who would do it much better and at considerably less expense iu the end. If they were procured to do the commissariat service at this and other places, a much less number of regulars would be required as guards in our place, and that number could be procured from other places relieved by these labourers of escort work. When will this important office of Colonial Defence be properly filled ? When will some judgment and

fo nrhought be exercised by those at its head, instead of dealing in this 'ecklcss manner with the sturdy citizens 5 interests, to the ruin of trade and individuals ? “-Every d >g must have his day,” it is said, but the sooner such a state of things as this is ended the bettcrit willhc for all parties. Men did not come sixteen thousand miles to be at the bee. and call of sueh men as these, and unless a reaction comes very soo i, the consequences will become of a serious nature We are better satisfied with the officers more iintuod a'ely over us. Major Tig be is the officer commanding, and is quite a favourite with his men. With the Militia there are likewise Captains Hrophv and Taylor, lieutenants Kirkpatrick *jnnl Russel, and Ensigns Kelly, Osborne, and Ja ksQn. Drury, February I have still nothing of note to report, unless it. jp-tne continued murmur of the men at the latest Dele;; o Office dodge : Ibis I really think will be dunned into us by one or another for ever and ever. We liave a general parade at • 5.30 in the morning, and alter oreaktiist, a; e told otf for escort or fatigue duty, work that ought to be doue by a few hired labourers, and not men of business like most of us here, "i este.t di.y we were chiefly occupied in unloadingjthe s.s. JLiuu B irhhj, her cargo consisting of commissariat su ro for the forces. This work is literally raining some-of ocr number, who are quite unused to anything ot the kind, and who will very soon be knocked up hy it. Why is it not dot c by a staff of men engaged specially for the purpose ? That would be the proper method of accomplishing such duties. There is still,no improvement in the victuals we arc provided with, nor any better provision for cooking. The season is a very hot one, and we therefore feel such slavery as we have had to perform to be.the mot c intolerant. Nirmhcis of our men are escaping from ihe Province altogether, and it is expected that before long Auckland .will become quite deserted of its staple supporters—the work.-ngclasß.es—whi st they must remain a prey to the odditfes of the Defence Office, and martyrs to military rule. Why not proclaim. Martial law and have.doae with all conniving., at-- improprieties and flagrant injustices ? It would, at any rate, be English, and a le;al proceeding, which cannot be said of the contrivances lately resorted tp. A writer in the Cross complains that yon arc fearful of some one, or would speak but on all points where you think injustice is done : now, I cannot conceive what grounds there are for such complaint, although I am aware lie refers to your recognjsed correspondent at the front, .whilst 1 ant only an auxiliary, which circumstances have brought out. He says.your correspondent does not attend to the suggestions ot subalterns, but struts about with the officers. Now, I was always impressed with the fact that the Ntw Zuai.andur spoke out more fearlessly than any paper in the colony, and was less afraid of “ the screw ’ titan any party-proprietors in Auckland. ,

Drury, Feb. 15.

The plain out-spokcnness of your columns, in such a time of need as the present, is eliciting the admiration of the camp, as it must do of all the men who have been called upon to leave their homes and employments on such an errand us this. 'lhe letter of your correspondent, Mr. Dacrc, giving an extract from his son’s note, is admired because of its truthfulness and simplicity : “ Orders of the Day—Morning Service : Attend tho slaughter-house, and .remove all the entrails and tilth from the slaughtered animals, and bury it. “ Afternoon Service : March to tne creek and haul two rafts of telegraph posts out of the water, working for three hours in mud and water up to the waist. “ Evening Service : On guard for twelve hours.” Permit me, as one of your correspondents, to testify to the accuracy of this statement. It is a plain unvarnished tale, and only a promiscuous leaf out of the I jug catalogue of obnoxious Sunday services we have had to perform whilst in the service of the Defence Office, and under the garb of necessity. A short time ago, under this pretence, we had to unload a coal barge on Sunday, although the coal remained on tho beach, where we were ordered to put it, for weeks afterwards. But instances of this Kind arc of such frequent occurrence here now that we think less of them, and shall be enabled to settle down into a Sabbath-breaking, irreligious life without any conscientious scruples when we are released from this perpetual toil to resume our respective avocations in town ; and such a consummation is devoutly to bo wished for by the occupants of this place. Work, say some, we never knew what work was until wo came here : such slavery, toil, and fatigue have we to undergo. Many of'us faint under the burning, sun and the loads we bear ; but. there is no help for us. It is work, work, work, and if any of us should succumb to the unusual hardship forced upon us, why, it would only be said — Rattle his bones over the stones, lie’s only a pauper that nobody owns. There are still no signs of release from this worse than Egyptian bondage. We are sighing for the freedom to which we have been accustomed, and hope, our Christian tasK-masters will have the heart to set us free us quickly as possible. Yesterday was ; Sr. Videutine’s festival—a day always looked forward to with interest by the class of soldiers who principally compose this camp. Yesterday, however, was more than usually interesting to us, irom the fact that th s is leap-year, on which occasion ladies have the privilege accorded to them of making proposals. The expectations of our young men were high, and it is currently rumoured that large bodies of tho fair sex have come to the rescue in this hour ol need, thus enabling many to rank for the future in that most respectable 2nd Class. Drury, February 17lh. On arriving at Drury camp, about 5 p.m., one is struck with the comparatively small number of men who go on duty to what there were in November last. Then, indeed, were the men harrased ; now they have comparative ease. Then there was a company at tho bridge end redoubt, who were employed at 3 a.rc., imini g through the scrub, and irom 90 to 100 men on guard and piequet in the camp at night. Now the bridge end redoubt is no longer garrisoned, and there arc about 40 men less on duty at night. The men were camped in a paddock, which though wall enough in fine weather, was a swamp in wet weather. The slaughter house being contiguous, all the effluvia came strongly over the small spate which intervened. The men are now encamped on the high ground overlooking the south road, in the large Indian tents, which are a great, improvement on the bell tool, as now there is no dispute about, toeing the pole. More attention is now paid to the general cleanliness of the camp and men. There is one thing, however, which should not be to c-rated, and that tne indill'crencc of tiic Government in the matter of health. 'lluce ore in this camp nearly 400 men, ‘.•citizen soldiers," and vet there is no medical officer attached to them. ,lt is true that thee is an hospital for Colonial forces, but the word Colonial Forces is held to mean Waikato Militia principally, and Auckland citizens have io ho bullied by not over-civil subalterns when sick . The hospital i'n town has been converted into an emporium for used up Volunteers. II the Government wish to keep the Mililia and Volunteers in a state of efficiency, medical attendance and comforts must not lie spared. Happily ihe health at present is good ; but there are sympt ms of diseases which, if not checked, soon may break out with i great violence, and spread consternation throughout tho camp. We were rather surprised at the comments of the Cross on the notice of a public meeting being called to consider the position in which we arc placed in this camp, and at Otahnhu. Now, without having any idea of the purp sc of this meeting, wc arc of opinion that the remarks of the Cross on the proposal are more open to grave objections than the meeting it c unmans upon Ail are aware hut while on “actual service,’’ tne Militia and Volunteers are subject to all the pains and penalties of the Mutiny Act. We arc also aware that by the “ Superest ion of Rebellion Act,” three officers may, with the consent of die Governor, deprive any man o"t life or limb, banish him to Bank’s peninsula, or do any o her thing io him which in ihtir sapient judgment they may see tit. Now, the remarks Ol such lead* rs as those in die Cross, by di awing before the eyes of suffering men the monstrous power which may be exercised, should occasion offer, sows the seed of discontent more effectually than all the rant of a demagogue at a crowded meeting could do The editor outlines some of the speeches which may be made, but one speech at least would bo spoken which would picture a man defying tho orderly sergeant and escort to go into an office to bring out lour militiamen who were'there, and whom lie r fused to let do their duty because it would interfere with his husine-s. Why is the Cross silenc as to the flagrant iniquity of bringing men from'their homes, families, and means of living to stand sentry over about 100 military prisoners at Otahuhn; who 1 might he profitably employed in unloading boats, and j doing tlie drudgery and filthy work at present done by I the citizens at Drury, and not live in laziness and have j it called punishm nt ? The convoys occupy more time now in consequence '' of having to water the horses at Martin s barm. We ' are making efforts to render the Garrison reading-room more attractive, by having more papers and period! • cals in it. Nothing is stirring in the way of news. Drury, Feb, 10th. Another day over and nothing doing j soldiers are moving forward by ones and twos. The orderly who brings round the letters is daily [surrounded, and many times is he asked, “ What news, anything doing in Auckland; where is the General, and when is he next to attack ?” Occasionally some voice is heard asking if the Kemuera volunteers are coming out, or whether

tbpy have taken the gurr son duty in town. Speaking ot the Retnuera volunteers, when will the Government abolish shams ; if they have any existence as a corps, fct it be manifested by relieving at least a portion of the 2nd class at Otahuhu. We would gladly Jweleorae our brethren of t’emuera and their gallant Cap’. S Drury. And the Government may lest satisfied at we would not feel at all jealous of the laurels which they might gain in being complimented on the excellent and soldierlike manner in which they performed the arduous task of removing offal and filth, Hffd humping coals from hur.es on Sundays The great cry in the camp is not when arc we to be relieved, but when will the £lO abomination be ended. Complaints both loud and deep arise daily when these exemptions are brought here. Eagerly was the report of the meeting read, and though the Cross may sneer at the meeting, its conveners, and its results, its decisions were ratified in the minds of those who read it, and they were not a few. It is very becoming of the Cross to sneer at the decision of the meeting and rail at the people because thtyj may not agree to swallow the dirt which ft may choose to gloss over ; but, in its anxiety to cast ridicule —has exposed the laxity of the Government in the matter of the militia service. By the Militia Act all unmarried men and widowers without childieu, between the age of 16 and 40, are supposed to be enrolled in the Ist Class Militia. The whole of the Ist Class, whom the doctors have pronounced fit for duty, are principally at Drury, together with the A. R. V., and if the Government had been one of vigour, there would have been no young men in Auckland to have amusement at a public meeting. One word more to erudite Cross. It ill becomes any member of the community to cast ridicule at the well-meant efforts of any body of men, and though the speakers may not be able to use English with, the Cross, they have at least the honesty of their conduct to commend them, an advantage of which the Cross is destitute. Hardly a day passes now that does not take from four to five men from us, exemptions are coming out so thick and fast. The convoys are as heavy now as formerly, and three short twelve pounder Armstrong guns which arrived here last night proceed up lids morning. The chief employment of the officers here appears to be courts, martial, and the Ist Waikatos seem to furnish the prisoners. Large bush fires were seen all around last night. Our amateurs give a performance in Papakura this evening. The Lady Barkly is up at the wharf, and commissariat faiigue is no sinecu r e. February 22nd.

There are little more signs of active operations being carried on in Waikato now at Drury than there were a short time ago when road-making was the only operation conducted by the military, the garrison duty -being merely the daily routine of guards, convoys, and fatigues. The authorities are going to increase our dudes and diversify our employment by tarnishing a covering party for the coal miners daily. It is a good sign lor the coal miners; but at the same time the company must not expect that we shall rest content to be on guard over their workmen without having Our force cousiderabiy augmented, or else the duty will be too heavy to be endured. If the Government are going to persist in the jEIO abomination, they had better recall the whole of the citizen forces, or if not, Drury will be the nominal station ot a mytnical force. At Saturday’s parade a circular was read explanasory of the notice which appeared in the papers ininforinintf men on stations who wished to obtain exemption to send in their names to their commanding officers. A very nice explanatory letter ! All applications for exemption must be submilt ;d for approval, aud no man is to get leave and no money 10 be taken until his application is approved of. Judging from the relaxness of the Government in other matters their conduct as regards applications lor exemptions is severe on suffering duty men We had a visit from the gallant captain of the Kemuera Volunteers on Saturday, and we naturally expected that the company would soon follow, but up to the present time they have not arrived. A sad accident occurred on the South road about half .past three on Saturday. It appears the men were engaged in blasting stones, and by some means the train fired, aud the powder exploding two men were Seriously injured, one having his hand blown aside, and the otner sustained injuries in his face, and it is •feared he will lose his sight. There have been two more escorts to Otahuhu with men for punishment. Two of the Mauku Volunteers, sent down on Saturday, are being sentenced to twenty-eight days for not putting out the lights when ordered, though it had been the habit at the Mauku to have lights at all hours. Why are the men here harassed, when there are upwards ot one hundred prisoners at Otahuhu who live in laziness ? The loss caused bv persistence can hardly be estimated. A man is sent down from the Queen’s Redoubt or elsewhere to Otahuiiu stockade, for a certain period. When his time expires he is released, and has to wait at Otahuhu until there is enough to form an escort, and it not unfrequently happens that the man goes on the sick report in the morning. The escort starts, and io detained, and sometimes it is two and three months after his imprisonment has expired before the man joins his regiment, and he has been all this time exposed to the temptations of Otahuhu. II the prison was at Drurywork would be found enough for them in commissariat and slaughter-house fatigues, and metal might be broken in the yard on wet days sufficient to keep the road in repair. If some such course as this were adopted, the General would have more men at his disposal and less prisoners, as their punishment would be real, and not as at present—nominal. When are the Government going to look after the health of those whom upon mad days it sends out to camps ? When ehall we have a doctor on whom we can call at all .hours, by day or night, and whose duty it will be to attend the sick, whether he had made his oblations to Bacchus or not ? ()n this most important matter the ■Government have been most remiss, and seem content with having a doctor at Auckland for the men at Drury. Why are the men fed on sour bread ? Better have good biscuit than ha 1 bread. The health of this camp is anything but good. In one company alone there are eight men, who, through ill health, are unfit for duty, aud no doctor, medical comforts, or change of diet to assist nature in her efforts to cure herself. 1 his is not all. If s'eps are not promptly taken, this camp will be an immense hospital. There was an escort to Pukekohe on Saturday, and another this morning. The usual Divine Service parades yesterday. _ . Drury, Feb. 24 Since I last wrote, we have had some little excitement in the way of alarms. About 20 to t«* p.m. last night the garrison was startled by two shots being fired from the camp of the WaikatoKegt. Quicker than it takes to write, all hands were out under arms in their ranks, and the men ready to march where danger was hottest, or tneir services most needed. A picket was immediately dispatched to ascertain the cause of alarm, an I alter a"out three-quarters’ of an hour, they returned ; the cause of the alarm appears to have been the escape ol a prisoner from the guard room. The sentry fired upon him as he escaped. The picket could not, however, obtain any coherent replies, or tangible information when they puestioned the sentry, and returned with the convie urn that they knew nothing or would know nothin; about it. From all the enquiries they could m'k«, it appeared that a prisoner had escaped, and the - "try hearing a noise in the wood fired, and anotlu - ' - , ,! itry fired, not to he singular. The picket having tcuu > 1 the wood without finding anything, returned to camp, and the adventure furnished food for talk. A c *<"> '■ ils it was discovered that th°'c was no c’.use lor alarm, the men weie i( , ~-i u, hi,, g-iou will result from this alarm, the v.olunel of the 43rd Regt. will now know, that in case of emergency, the citizen soldiers disregard the conveniences of caps and boots, and vie with each other as to who should be first in his place, and ready for action. This was the first time Major Tyghe had an opportunity of testing the soldierly qualities of the men under his command, and the steadiness of the guard and pickets, the majority of whom were his own men, and the alacrity with which the remainder turned out, caused him to forget the ravages of time, he was once more in the spring ot youth, panting as much for glory cs a young ensign.

Monday was a busy day here, towards dusk a line Of carts appeared on the road coming from town, and an escort marched at their sides. 11 The relief i* coming” “ Here come the troops.” “ Here is the military train ” were the cries wnich almost spontaneously rose from ’manv mouths. Blank looks, however, soon took the place’ of the joyous face, when a nearer approch revealed, not a relief, but a party of artillery with ammunition for the front. The boats brought up the new field tents, of winch so much has been said and written. They are made to accommodate four men. and each tent is supposed to be carried by the men who occupy it. A man went to Pukekohe, and on his return, reported that on arriving at the camp there, the garrison informed them that Maories had been seen in the bush Maoris are also reported to have been seen about onepneru s hush. In consequence of these reports, the escort on Tuesday was reinforced, the escort however returned without having seen anything. We had a board of officers on diseased meat, on Monday. The bullock had been killed and was nearly dressed, when it was tound that the liver was a mass of ulcers, and many other symptoms which showed that it was diseased, the meat was condemned, and another bullock slaughtered. There is so much being written now about plcaro-pneumonia that i t the very mention of diseased meat, men here ab >rt don’t relish their dinners lest they should be infected.

Tuesday was principally a day for Commissariat fatigues, the number of boats, and the arrival of the Lady Barkly, ail of which were discharged, and took their departure by the same tide. A punt arrived here from Auckland for the Water Transport service; and we had a military funeral, which though not imposing when solemnized in camp destitute of the fife and drums, and with but few fbUosvers, yet is not the less mournful. By the orderly from the Queen’s Redoubt we learn the death of one of our comrades, Captain Richard Gol is, who temporarily left us when at Drnry before, to assist in the Commissariat. He was well respected by those who knew him, and his death was caused by typhus fever, ot which he expired alter an illness of 25 davs.

I was in error in stating that the covering party which is daily detailed, was for the coal miners. It is lor the protection of a party of men who are employed near the miners in quarrying and breaking stones for the road. The miners, however, have taken advantage of this to return to their work. Another man has been sent down to Otahuhu stockade for 84 days. When will this cease? The hospital accommodation is ot the worst desciiption, the patients having to attend to their own wants, and have black looks and hard words, instead of kind and gentle treatment. Sufficient is thought to be done if the man is removed from his own tent to the hospital tent, the change of tents being thought to compensate for harsh treatment and absolute neglect. SECOND CLASS MILITIA CAMP, OTAHUHU. [from a correspondent.] Camp, Otahuhu, Feb. 10. I cannot refrain from sending you a few lines, though they will contain nothing but an expression of the disgust in which our men hold the place and those who ordered us here. We have still to complain of want of proper provision for health and comfort ; no improvement has been made ; Government will ijot learn wisdom by experience. We have the same filthy blankets ; still the bare floor for repose. Did I say repose! No, that is impossible —pestered with the vermin which swarm around us. And still the same monotonous routine of duty to perforin, which any rough unskilled labourers might perform unraurmuringly, provided they were properly paid for its performance But of course such a measure would not be entertained by the Government ; they must t .ke us from our trades, suspend business, break up contracts, ruin families, and injure our healths, rather than adopt any measure that would relieve us of such ruinous and repugnant duties. What is the use of voting and expending large sums of money for the introduction of immigrants, of agricultural settlers, whilst at the same time you are taking the most effectual means of driving away the population you already boast of ? What better method could be adopted to drive men to other provinces and to other colonies than the steps which the Defence Office periodically take in calling us away from our occupations and families ? But why are we compelled to have our stuff cooked worse than Maori-f'ashkm ? Why are we only allowed one put in which to boil soup, tea, and coffee ? To say nothing of the stuff they call boiled beef, we haie just cause to complain ol having to drink lea bailed in the same utensil ; of having to lade it out with pannikins, mixed up with burnt embers and flies ! Some of our men have been to Auckland for the purpose of availing themselves of the £lO exemption dodge, but have returned unsuccessful and chagrined. One person was told that his application would require to be in a supplicatory form, and to receive the approval of the General, the Colonial Secretary, and the Defence Minister, before he could be released on those terms ; in fact, that it was never intended for sucli as he. To this the person replied that it had, he thought, been opened some four-and-twenty hours, for the purpose of releasing the friends of the hon. Defence Minister, and then closed. Indignation at this conduct runs high here, and defensive measures are spoken of with earnestness. Otahuhu, Feb. loth. We have entered upon another week of our soldiering experience in New Zealand, though our number has been decreased by means of the exemption contrivance since we arrived. We expect some five-and-twenty more in to-day, indeed, to make up the deficiency thus caused 4n our number; and these are the substitutes provided by another’s tan pounds. By what line of argument can such a proceeding be substantiated as the acceptance by the Government of one man’s ten pounds, and-then the banishment in his stead of some other hard-'working father ot a family, who has no friends at court to plead his redemption or no funds to offer as an equivalent ? It is only by a strech of the imagination that such a procedure can been looked upon as really praciicable in the name of Her Majesty, and as tolerated by Englishmen in the present century. It is compromising that freedom and independenco which characterizes the people of this realm, and which has ever been their boast. To jeopardise such a valuable characteristic must entail the loss of all patriotism and honest feeling, and render the service detestable. The other morning two of our number fainted on parade, through the heat and the irksome duties imposed upon us, and had to be conveyed to hospital. The same day another man fell insensible at his post the prisoner’s guard—and had to be similarly treated ; whilst others have been afflicted with sonstroke and seriously injured for the remainder of their lives. These are some of the evils to which we are subjected by a generous “ Defence Office,” whose whole attention seems to be directed to the ruin of the working classes of Auckland. But such a state of things will not be tolerated long; already steps are being taken to remedy the evil, to ask for our release. To-day a memorial is being got up and signed amongst us for the purpose of being forwarded to “ Defence Minister T. Russell,” and asking for our release from this obnoxious service. The memorial is couched in courteous phraseology, but if it fails in securing the desired object, another course is spoken of, which I cannot trust myself to speak of; and with what success it will be carried out remains to be seen. The other day one of our number was brought before Col. Nation by the stockade-keeper on a charge of neglect of duty and insolence. From the facts adduced it appears the man was blamed by the sergeant in harsh terms for not being strict enough with the prisoners over whom he was placed, and was threatened, to which he very naturally replied. The gallant Colonel censured the keeper for being harsh, stating that we were soldiers only from necessity, not choice, and were there at considerable pecuniary sacrifice to ourselves. He was compelled to deprecate the conduct of the sergeant and acquit onr comrade of blame. On Wednesday, a few of our number who wish to keep up an appearance ol happiness under difficulties ntend giving an amateur theatrical performance on that evening, if sufficient time has been obtained for rehearsal previously. The play has not been definitely fixed. The proceeds are to be devoted to the fund for the relief of soldiers wives and families. We expect a good attendance on the occasion.

TAURANGA. [from a correspondent.] Tauranga, February 5. Every thing is quiet, as it has been ever since onr arrival, and the men are even asking why we are kept pent-np so long, seeing that the rebels are still doing mischief in picking off our valued officers. From these remarks it would seem that our forces at this place are anxious to display their true worth in some more tangible form than they will be able by remaining quietly at this post But we must allow the General to be the best judge of this, and are content to bow to his decision, however much we may wish for an opportunity of showing the Maori that we are not to be thns treated with impunity. The district around here commends itself to our admiration, and at the present time we have only to complain of the excessive heat. I regret to add, however, that the wheat crop belonging to several settlers is anything but cheering ; a kind ot blight appears to possess it, which renders it a total lailure in crop. We are still comfortably ensconced near the mission station here, the latter being used by Colonel Carey (commanding the forces at this post) and the officers as head-quarters. The health both of the regulars and the military settlers is good, and there are no casualties to report. Our men get a plentiful supply of peaches at the present time, and appear to enjoy them richly. We have amongst us a Roman Clergyman - rather Garavel, I believe, is his name—whose time is mainly occupied in ministering to the natives. He is well spoken of, and appears to be sincere and indefatigable in his efforts to preserve the loyalty of the .natives at this place. Two redoubts have been thrown up, and have been styled the “ Monmouth” and “ Durham” respectively. TARANAKI. [from a correspondent.] 29th January, 1864. Nothing of any interest has occurred within the Province of Taranaki since the skirmish with the Maoris at Sentry Hill, on the 19th instant, when No. 1 Company of the Volunteers behaved in a manner which elicited the warmest approbation of Colonel Warre, C.8., who has, upon all occasions, treated them in a manner which I am sure renders their troublous task of bush ranging a pleasant rather than an irksome duty. lam speaking, of course, of all the Volunteers, not anv particular portion. The march back to town of the Regular Troops must have been

anything but agreeable, as from some cause unknown ; to me they proceeded along the road in file instead of the customary and more pleasant way of marching in fours. . Fort Robert is still garrisoned by Captain Corbett and No. 5 Company of Taranaki Militia, and it affords me much pleasure in being able to remark the kind feeling that exists between that body ot men and their late drill-instructor, Corporal Dodds, 57th Regiment, to whom they presented, on the 2oth ult., a purse ot money, in token of their appreciation of his valuable and untiring zeal in bringing them to the perfection at which they have arrived ; and I cannot forbear making known the opinion which is generally entertained of his abilities as a drill ; whilst he combines a gicat acquisition of military knowledge with sound practical reasons for carrying it into effect, he endeavours to convey to those under him, in a suitable and clear manner, free of any harsh expressions, that particular portion of the drill to which he wishes to especially draw their attention. And toe result has proved that his unremitting zeal in the performance ot his duties has not been lost on the men of No. 5 Company Taranaki Militia, which are, I presume to say, second to none in New Zealand. The St. Patrick’s'Redoubt is still under the command of Captain Woodall, and is garrisoned by smad parties of the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, and 57th Regiment (two Companies) The natives seem to he keeping pretty close on the ranges, and as they have recently strengthened their position, I imagine there will be some sharp work if they are to be taken by a small force; but we presume those hills will remain for Lieutenant-General Cameron to ascend in person, ... , I am given to understand that there is every probability out-post being established on Sentry Hill, which 1 am sure would be attended with favourable results, both as regards the cutting off the Maoris f,om obtaining supplies from the friendly gentlemen of the same race, who are so numerous in this I rovince, and the means it would afford the Bell Block settlers to attend to their farms, which are now cultivated to a very limited extent and at great personal risk. . ~ ... , We have received a valuable acquisition to the small number of Regular Troops in New 1 lyiuouth, by the arrival, on the 26th ult., in the s.s. Alexandra, of Captain Lloyd, one sergeant, and 55 rank ami file, who had also an accompaniment of women and children The draft appears to be a fine healthy-looldng body of men. well fitted for New Z-aland service. I believe they are principally volunteers from various other corps, who were permitted to join the 57th under instructions from the Horse Guards. New Plymouth is continuing to progress m ns general outward appearance, notwithstanding the great drawback that exists in the greater portion of its inhabitants being regular military men, at present exposed lo all the hardships consequent to such a life ; ‘ but we earnestly trust that a watehfu Providence will soon overru e the present eruption, and that peace will soon be restored to this harrassed Province. The weather continues fine up to the present date. Ist February, 1864. Since writing my former communication the rebel Maoris have been attempting to harass our men in this province, by shewing themselves in force (about 500) at St. Andrews Redoubt, Oakura, and discharging a volley, as if in defiance of the militia at Fort Robert. However, the latier were well prepared for their visit, and, providing the rebels had deemed it advisable to form a closer acquaintance, I am sure Captain Woodall, 57th Regiment, commanding the outposts, would have rendered a good account ot ihe enemy, and given him a warmer reception than he an icipated The whole : of the troops in town were prepared io turn out in service ; order at any moment, and that indefatigable officer, 1 Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General C. M. Clarke, 1 was despatched to the outposts to ascertain the stale ot affairs. It appears the Maoris deemed discretion the 1 better part of valour, and proce ded towards Tutaraimaka, after venting their rage at a distance. The 1 duties in garrison are extremely severe at present, as all the guards have been considerably reinforced, and various ou'flying piquets have be n posted in suitable : positions as a precautionary measure against any in--1 cursion ol tne natives. There is very little probability 1 o their paying us a visit inside the chain of sentries, which extends around the outskirts of the town. A man named Purdon, a deserter from the 65th ! Regiment, has been apprehended, and is now a prisoner under surveillance of the military authorities. I presume he will be forwarded to Auckland by an early opportunity, where he will bo dealt with for the offence. I am given to understand that Purdon has been residing amongst the Maoris ever since he deserted from the 65th Regiment, and it is more than probable he can convey some valuable information to the authonties regarding the interior arrangements of our opponents How.ever. the news derived from such very questionable sources cannot be much relied upon, and an intimate acquaintance of the Maoris inimical to Her Majesty’s Government is not a person whose society can be courted or opinion asked upon any point with a certainty of obtaining a straightforward and truthful reply. As it may be thought I am speaking harshly of this man, I beg to submit I am only giving expression to, I am sure, the opinions of the greater portion of the inhabitants. Great exertions are being used to raise funds for the completion of a gallery in the St. Mary’s Church here it having been already commenced, and I understand that a bazaar is to be held at a place to Col. Warre’s quarters, for the purpose of increasing the amount in hands for forwarding so desirable a purpose. ‘ lam also glad to observe that the Governor, Sir Geo. Grey K C.8., has given a grant of land trti that portion of Marsland Hill inclining towrads the town, for the erection of a suitable memorial, in token of the esteem entertained for the officers, non commissioned officers, and men of the 57th Regiment who were murdered by the Maoris at the Wairau stream on4th May, 1863,—a day that will be ever memorable in the annals of New Zealand history. Wo earnestly trust that the dav will soon arrive when every one of those who are guilty of that brutal offence will be made amenable to

British justice. It is with great pleasure I can speak of the praiseworthy manner in which the militia and volunteers cooperate with the line troops in the performance of the arduous duties devolving upon them, and I am sure their being compelled to comply with the military rules to which they are subjected, caused those who are encumbered with wives and families to be very much inconvenienced, but they invariably perform everything with cheerfulness and good will; and the inhabitants of this province feel deeply grateful to Colonel VVaire, C.8., for his many exertions to render the military routine as easy to the civil forces as is consistent with the safety of the public, and he ever endeavours to forward the interests of all classes who come under his authority. His ability and energy has, dining the trying period this province has been left with so small a portion of troops, saved us from any incursions from great numbers of the Maoris, who are ever hovering around watching for a favourable opportunity to commence their depredations upon unoffending and unarmed settlers; but whilst the gall mt Colonel who commands and retains the authority in this province, and the brave 571h Kegiment are left to garrison it, we have little to apprehend from our neighbouring foes in the bush

The weather continues beautiful, and New Plymouth is presenting a very prosperous appearance, notwithstanding the great difficulties that its population have been and arc subjected to. New Plymouth, New Zealand, 9th February, 1864. Since my last communication, of the 2nd instant, I have little of importance to mention, in connexion with this Province. Great bustle and excitement prevailed yesterday morning on the arrival in the Hoads tend at an early hour of the s.s. Rangatiru , and as important news from the front was anticipated, every individual awaited in anxiety ft)r the first boat to return to the beach. Howeve-, as regards a battle having been fought bv the forces under the immediate command of the'gallant Gen ral, they were all rather disappointed. But the various movements made by the troops, and the manner in which from all accounts they are succeeding in encircling the fortifica ions of our enemy is a matter of great moment, and, it is quite evident that ere this appears in the columns of the NewZealander, a decisive blow will be struck by General Crtinoron upon the Maori stronghold, which I have little doubt will shatter the prospects of their ever being able to recruit their numbers, in the Waikato at least.

We are daily waiting in anxiety here to discover how the game of war may lean in reference to this long neglected and injured Province. The enemy have remained inactive since their display at Oakura, and I am given to understand that the greater portion of the Wanganui reinforcements, under Pehi, have deemed it prudent to evacuate the Kaitake ranges, having, I believe, heard a report that the pakehus at Wanganui are about to commence offensive operations, under Lieutenant-Colonel Logan, commanding that district They have, however, taken the precaution of leaving upwards of 100 of their numbers to assist the Taranaki tribes in defending the impregnable heightsoverhanging Oakura. However formidable they may consider their own position, it appears they are in no mood to venture, having a close acquaintance with the outposts. I should myself be ot opinion that no matter what numbers they bring against Poutoko, they will be unable to gain possession of it. Everything seems to be progressing around the town and suburbs, and notwithstanding the great evil which the inhabitants have to struggle against, they

invariably do everything with cheerfulness and goodwill. , New Plymouth, Feb. 10. Yesterday, the 9th instam, No. 7 company 57-h regiment, under command of Capt 1. N. Woodall, was relieved from Camp Pautoko, by a company under the command of Capt. T. W. J. Lloyd (recently arrived from England), ihe latter officer now commands the outposts beyond Omnta. Nothing of any importance has transpired beyond a rumour now afloat that Colonel Warre, C.8., has received instructions from Lieut.- eneral Cameron to occupy Sentrv Hill as a i outpost for the pio'ection of the Bell Block settlers and their farms. There can be no doubt of the ntilitv of such a proceeding as ihe rebels would thus be deprived of the opportunity they now so largely possess for obtaining delicacies from their brethren who reside in close proximity to the town of New Plymouth under the title of friendly natives. The Band of Her Majesty’s 57th Regiment gave a performance last night in tbe Masonic Hotel, as a means of obtaining funds towards the completion the amount already su scribed to that required for erecting a monument on the bnny ot Marsland Hill, in remembrance of the gallant officers (Lieut. Iragett and Staff Assistant-Surgeon Hope, M.8.). non-com-missioned officers, and me i, wh > were barbarously murdered on the 4ih of May, 1863, by rebel natives lying in ambush at the Wairau stream, between Fataraimaka and Camp Pantoko Ihe inhabitants of New Plymouth have ever displayed a heartfelt interest in giving aid to such praiseworthy undertakings as the present; and it was very gratifying to see the manner in which the call to furnish aid in this way was freely responded to. Though the crowded state ot the room selected for the entertainment was very annoying, particularly to the ladies, every person put up with the trifling inconvenience thereby arising with really good will; and lam sure the originators of the affair were highly pleased with the manner in which the proceedings terminated. It is not exceeding bounds to remark that the people of New Plymouth in general have ever endeavoured to treat the 57th regiment witli that respect their long-tried gallantry and devotion in the field so well merit. The campaigning glory' of the regiment was tested on many a hard fought field prior to their coming to New Zealand, hut all are fully convinced that when required here they are as exemplary for their bravery as ever; and we trust when Col. Warre and the corps he commands take their departure from here, they will meet with tile rewards they so web merit ; for I am sure they will cany with them the best wishes and sincere desires of every one in Taranaki. February 15th.

The long watehed-for arrival of reinforcements to this Province has proved satisfactory to all concerned, 420 able-bodied and efficient volunteers having debarked on the 13ih instant from Melbourne, to be located in Taranaki. They seem to be a select body of men wbo, with a little careful training will make thoroughly efficient soldiers. We are confidentially informed that a second party of men from the same source may be hourly lo iked for. At present those who have arrived are accommodated in tents pitched adjacent to the town, by a volunteer party of the 57th regiment, under Ensign Brodertp, who, with a hearty good will availed themselves of the opportunity of displaying their kind feelings towards their volunteer brothers-in-arms ; and it is highly gratifying to observe the unanimous good feeling existing between the regular troops and civil forces, which has ever continued without interruption, and which is ever counte uaiiced by the gallant Colonel who commands the troops in this Province. A movement ol a very important nature has been made to-day. A force, under command of Major Butler, 57th regiment, marched at five o’clock, a.m., to occupy Mihoetahi and Sentry Hill, and build a redoubt at the latter place. The following is, so far as I can learn, the numbers which proceeded this morning, viz. : Royal Artillery.—l subaltern, 2 sergeants, and 9 rank and file ; a 12-pounder howitz r. 57tii Regiment. -1 captain, 2 subalterns, 4 sergeants. and 100 rank and file. Taranaki Militia and Volunteers.—4 officers, 5 sergeants, and 150 rink and file. Capt. Short proceeded in charge of the detachment of the 57th regiment. A large quantity of entrenching tools, and a sufficient reserve of small-arm ammunition, were also forwarded from town. The force was accompanied by Lieutenant C. M. Clark, D.A., Quarter-Master-General, who is ever to be found where there is an amount of work to be performed. I have no doubt but that the occupation of Sentry Hill by the forces tinder Col. Warre, C. B , will he a check of considerable importance to the enemy in his depredations upon the Beil Block farms; and ere long we may hear of something stirring taking place between the Maoris and troops in that direction. Nothing further of consequence at the time of my writing—l2 o’clock, noon.