CAMP PUKERIMU.

New Zealand Herald, Issue I, 1 April 1864, Page 4

CAMP PUKERIMU.

[prom a correspondent.] March 20. We have been in a dreadful bustle for the last two days getting the seige ordinance and material landed from the steamers and brought up to Camp. We have quite n park of Artillery here at present, and I onlv trust they will perform the work expected from then when the time conies. The General evidently means to give the rebels a good taste of heavy metal this time, as I understand that each piece of ordnance is to be provided with 200 rounds of shell and a reserve of another 200 to be ready at Xgurunwithia. So it will be some days yet before we are in a position to move forward to the attack, as we have not got up more than 100 rounds per piece, and no small anil ammunition except the tiO rounds per man which is carried in the pouches. X hope the rebels will make a stand this time which is confidently expected they will do, from the preparations they are making in strengthing and extending their position. I believeit is possible, or rather was, when we came here to get round their position and cut their retreat otl', but now they seem to have found this out, as they can bo seen quite plain with the glass working all hours of the day, and if I mistake not making riflo pits on the very ground that we intended to have opened fire from. lam afraid this part of the field force will be late in commencing to build their winter quarters, it appeared in general orders the other night, that a remuneration would be given to the men as an inducement to them to get the huts finished before the winter set in. It will be rather a novel sight to see each regiment's town of its own design and construction, of course it will be, what regiment will be able to turn out the best looking city, lam afraid they will all have to give the palm to our old friends the 65th, as they are regular professionals in Whare Architecture.

lii future all horses ea]>tur<'<l on enemies land arc to be brought before :i board of officers who will decide whether they are fit for the transport service or 110 ; the value of the horses captured will be fixed by the board, and those fit for the Transport are to be handed over to the Transport Corps, those considered unfit will be sold by public auction, and in both cases the captors are to receive ten per cent of the value of the aniinal; nothing is said about the remaining ninty per cent., but it is supposed that it will be divided equally amongst the field force. The old rules still hold good, as regards the capture of cattle namely £2 per head to be paid by the Commissariat department to the captor's. Why not do the same as with the horses, give the full value andafter allowing the captor a fair per centage, divide the remainder equally among the force ? Wo are to go up to the Maori position by a sap the gabions are being made at To Awainutuand Ngaruawiihia, we will break ground about GOO yards from their works and will take five or six days to get into thein, there are to be two working parties on through the night, and the others during the day, sharp shooters from the difFeicnt corps are picked out to cover the working parties, the guns and mortars will be placed in position about SlO and 600 yards round.