Head Quarters,

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 153, 10 May 1864, Page 3

Head Quarters,

Jlay 5, 18(il. Silt, —Tt having born decided by yonr lOxcellonex and myself, in eonse(]U 'nee of informal ion received from Colonel Greer, commanding at that reinforcements should bes-ait to that Station, detachments ivi'iv embarked wilhout delay in 11..M. ships ' Ksk' and ' Falcon,' plm-i'il at my disposal by Commodore Sir Win. Wiseman, and by the 2titii April were all lauded at 111,- .Mission Station of Taurauga, to w! 1 it-li ]tin:v I had tr.instoiavd my [lead Quarters on I ho 21st April. On tilt) liTiii April I movetl the GSth Regiment, under Colonel Greer, and a. mixed detachment of ITU men under .Major Kyan, futli Kegiment, towards the rebel entrenchments, of which 1 made a close recoil - liaissanee. It was constructed on a neck of laud nbotil 500 yards wide, the slopes of which fo'.l oil' into ti swamp on either side, Ou Uih highest point of this neck they

]]:u 1 constructed mi oblong redoubt, well palisaded ' and summnilt'tl bv u post and rail fence—a lonni- t dable <* I > m I ;i i 'lo to an iis.-inulting column, and dillicuit. 1 to destroy with Artillery. The intervals bet ween the side furrs of the redoubt und the swamps were de- « fended by tin entrenched line of ride-pits. i I encamped the Citli Kcgimont, anil Major Ryan's I detachment about 1,200 yards from the enemy's posit lion on the 27ih, and on that and the following day ' the guns and mortars intended to breach the position I were brought up to the camp, which was joined by a t large force of .seamen Und marines, landed at my i request from the ships of the srjusidron by Coinmo- i dore Sir Win. "Wiseman. The composition aiul l strength of the force, assembled in iront of the ] enemy's position on the evening ot the 2Sth, are 1 shown in the margin.* Having reeeived information tliut, by moving along i the beach of one <A t.h■- bruneh"s ot the i harbour at low water, it was possible .or u body troops to pass outside the swamp on the enemy s right., and gain the rear of his position, I ordered Col. Greer to make the attempt with the GBt!i Regiment, alter dark on the evening of the 2ttth, and ill order j ' to divert the attention of tin: enemy from that side, i. ordered a feigned attack to bo made in his trout. Colonel Giver'.-, movement succeeded pertectly, and ! on tlie morning of the 'i'.Hlihe had taken up a position in real* of the encmj', which cut oil' his supply ot water, and made his retreat in daylight impossible, but was necessarily too extended to prevent his escape by night. " I enclose Colonel Greer's report, of his proceedings. During the samu night the guns and mortals were placed in position, and opened tin; soon alter daybreak on the morning- of the 'il'tli. 1 gave directions that their tiro should be directed principally against the left tingle of the, centre work, which, from the nature of the ground, 1 considered the most iavorabie part to attack. Their practice was excellent, particularly that ot the howitzers, and reflects great credit on the otlicers in command of batteries. About 12 o'clock, the swamp on the enemy's left having been reported by Capt. Greaves, Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master-General, practicable tor the passage of a gun, a six-pounder Ainistrong gun was taken across to tho liigh ground on the opposite side, liom which its lire completely enfiladed the left of the enemy's position, which he w;ib thus compelled to abandon. The lire of the guns, howitzers, and mortars, was continued with slioit intermissions until •1 p.m., when a large portion of the fence and palisading having- been destroyed, and a practicable breach made in the parapet, 1 ordered the assault. 150 Seamen and Marines under Commander Hay, of H.M.S. ' Harrier,' and an equal number ot the •lord Regiment, under Lieut-Colonel Booth, formed the assaulting column. Major Ryan's detachment was extended as closo to the woikas possible, to keep down the fire lioin the rifle-pits, with orders to lollow the assaulting column into tho work. Tho remainder of the Seamen and Marines, and ol i the 4aid Regiment, amounting together to 800 men, followed as a reserve. The assaulting column, protected by the nature of the ground, gained the breach with little loss, and etiected an entrance into the main body ot the work, when a tierce eonllii t ensued, in which tho natives fought with the greatest desperation. Lieut-Colonel Booth and Commander Hay, who led into the work, lull, mortally wouiuled. Captain Hamilton was shot dead on the top ot the parapet while in the act ol encouraging his men to advance, and in a lew minutes almost every otlicer of the column was either killed or wounded. Up to this moment the men, so nobly led by their otlicers, gallantly, and appeared to have carried the pos.tie-n, when they suduenly gave way, and tell back Irom the work to the neatest cover. T liis repulse 1 am tit n loss to explain, otherwise than hyuttributing it to the contusion created among the- men by the ii.tiicnto natuie of the interior defences, and tile sudden fall of so many of their oiheers. On my arrival at the spot 1 considered it unadvisablu to lenew the assault, and directed a line ol entrenchment to be thrown up within one lvuntii'g yards ot the woik, so as to le able to maintain our advanced pCfir.cn, intending to resume operations the lollowij'.g morning. The natives availing themselves of the extreme . darkness of the night, abandoned the work, leaving some ot their killed and wounded behind. Oil tukiug possession ot the work in the morning 'Eicul.-tjoionei Booth and'scme'nic'h were found sthi living, and, to the ciedit of tho natives, luid not been maltreated ; nor had tiny of the bodies ( ■ the hilled been mutilated. 1 cr.iieio a li.-tot our casualties. 1 deeply (ieplore the loss of the many bravo and valuable elhceis who ieti ill the noble discharge ol their duty on this occasion. Tile -lord Regiment and the service have sustained a terious loss in the death of Lieut .-Color, el Booth, which took place on the night alter the attack. 1 have already mentioned the brilliant example shown by this eilicer in the assatdt; and when 1 met him on ] the lollowing mo]i ring, as he was being carried out ol the work, his lust wcids were an expression oi i egret that he hud iound it impossible to curry out my ciders. The lieroirm and devotion of Captain Hamilton and Commander Hay rclicct the highest honour on the iSaval Service. The loss ol the enemy must have hecu very heavy, although not more than twenty bodies and six wounued were iound in and about their position. It is admitted by the piisoners tliat they earned oil a large number ol killed and wounded during the night, and they also suffered in attempting to make their escape, us described in Colonel tireer's report. In my reports to His Royal Highness the field Marshall Commanding in Chief and the Right Honourable the fcccreliuy oi t>iute Joi- \\ ar, 1 have biought to their iavouiable notice tho names ot the otlicers who particularly distingiushed themselves on this occasion. Commodoro'Sir "Win. "Wiseman on this, as on every , other occasion, co-operated with me in the most cordial manlier, and 1 am much indebted to him as well as to the whole of the officers and linn of the Royal JNavy and Marines who took part ill these operations, ' lor their valuable assistance. X have, &e., D. A. CAMl'iiox, ; Lieutenant-General. t His Excellency Sir George, Grey, K.C.8., 1 &c., Ax., kc. , Camp Puke "Wharangi, Ist May, ISO-!. ' Siu, —I have the honour to state for the information of the Lieut.-General Commanding, that iii eoui--1 pliance with his instructions 1 marched out of camp • with the GSth Light inlantry (strength us per margin), 1 carrving one day's cooked rations, and a greatcoat 1 each", oil the 26th ultimo, at a quarter to 7 o'clock p.m., my object being to get in rear of tho enemy s ; position by means of a llank march round their right. To accomplish this it was necessary to cross a mud f Hat, at the liend of the hay, about tlu-ee quarters ol * a mile long, only passable at low water, and then r nearly knee deep, and within musketry raugo oi the 5 shore, in possession of the enemy —rough, high I ground, covered with ti-troe and fern. 2. At the point at which 1 got oil the mud flat, there is a swuinp about 100 yards broad, covered with " ti-tree about 5 feet high, on the opposite side ot ! which the end of a spur—which runs down from the high ground in rear of the pa—rose abruptly, ihis -' was also covered with heavy tern and ti-tree.^ IS. It being of the lirst importance that this movel incut should be accomplished without attracting the attention of the enemy, my instructions were to gam

*Qencrul .Stall' —-A Jiohl ollieers, 1 subaltern. Medical Stall—2 lield otlicers, 1 subaltern. Kaval Brigade—l- lield ollieers, (5 captains, 7 subalterns, 311 sergeants, u drummers, 371 rank and file. Koyal Artillery —1 Held otlieer, 1 captain, 3 subalterns, 1 stall', 1 sergeant, 13 rank and lile. Koyal Engineers—2 rank and tile. Moveable Column—l lield- otlieer, 2 captains, 3 subalterns, 1 stair, 0 sergeants, 'I drummers, 161 rank and file. •13rd Regiment,—l field ollleer, 5 captains, 5 subalterns, 3 stall', 17 sergeants, 12 drummers, 250 rank ami lile. (kStli Kcgiment —3 field ollieers, li captains, 15 subalterns, 3 stall', 31 sergeants, 21 drummers, Got) rank and tile. Total —Ifi KicH ollieers. 20 Captains. 33 Subalterns. N Stall'. 9-1 Sergeants. '11 Drummers. 1 ISO lfcmk and lile. Detail of Artillery employed— 1 110-pomuier Armstrong. 2 '10-pounder Armstrongs. 2 (i-pouiuler Armstrongs. 2 21-potmder howitzers. 2 8-inch mortars. i 6 cohori) mortars.

Ie top of tLe spur alluded to during the t'arknesfl* id remain there until there should he fcullicient to move on. }! 'Jlie regiment was all across, lying down in line ong the crest of the ridge, with picquets posted ■ uud then., at 10 o'clock, which was two hours ■fore the moon rose. I beg here to state that to e well-timed feigned attack made hy the Lieut.enerul commanding, on tlie front of the enemy s pa, consider myself indebted for having been enabled to rcomplish tliin, the most diliicult part ot Uie marcit About being attacked y.t a great disadvantage, and :poa'.ng the movement to tno enemy ; lor wlien we ached the top of the ridge, the remains of tlieir iires were discovered, the piequets having nosubt retired to assist in the dcfence oi the pa. o. About hull-past 1 o'eloek X reached a position; bout 1000 yards directly in rear of the pa. I waduided in selecting this position by hearing the •••.oris talking in their pa-, and the sentries challenge ig in our Lump. *t v»wS dnrk t»mb lining at the lime. 0. 1 immediately sent Major Shuttlcwortli forward itl*. three companies to take a position ou the loft }i\r of the pa, and 1 placed piequets round the re--minder of tlie rear, about 700 yards distance from 7. At daybreak I detached three companies to the' ight, under command of Major Kirbv, uud posted s liain of sentries, so that no one could come out of ie pa without being seen. L'p to this time the nemy did nor appear to be aware that they were arrounded ; they were fringing and making speeches l tlieir pa. Later in tlie morning, Lieut.-Colonel ! amble, C.U., Dcputy-(,Jitarter-Master-Gencral, isitcd mv post, having an e>cort with him oi 30 men f the Naval l*rigade under Lieutenant Hotham, [.X.j and seeing that, I wanted a reinforcement on iv right, lie leit his escort with me, ana I received iiluuble assistance from thut excellent officer and is partv. About the same time Major Sliuttlcortli moved to his left, and closer to the pa. S. Those positions were not altered during tho ombardment, except temporarily, when the Maoris bowed a disposition to come out at one or other ank, or when it was necctsiuy to mo\c a little irom position getting more than its share of the splinters i shell which Kept lulling about all day during tho ombardment. y. "When the bombardment ceased, and the signal f a iocket let me know that the assault was about eing made, I moved up close round the rear oi the >u in such a position that the Maoris could not come nt without being" met by a strong torce. 10. About 5 o'clock, p.m., the Maoris made a etermined rush from the right rear of their I net them with three companies, and, altera skirmish, w.ve the main body back into the pa; übout twenty ;ot past my right, but they leceiveu a tiank tile tionx Coxbphity (tibth, 10 men), and Lieutenant lotham's (*JO men) Jsu\al Lr.giaie, uid t-txieeu o£ ho Mai-'lib wcie tttn to ii.ll; t. nuu.U roi n-tii j.urucd tn«j ltuiaiiidei. JJv the time J. ,'iad collected he men again and petted them, it wai- very uurk. tly ioice available on the light Wits qu:i3 inad*quate o cover the ground in suen a manner a > to prevent he Maoris irom escaping during the night; in fact I ;on&ider that on such a wet dark night as that was, tothing but a close chain ot sentries, strongly supplied round the whole rear and tianks, could have :ept the Maoris in, and to do that, a much stronger oice than 1 had would have been necessary. 11. Luring the night the Maoris made their :scape. 1 think that, taking advantage of the darkless, they crept away in small parties, for during tho light every pott either saw or heard some of them, scaping, and fired volleys at them. Maoris, areiul not to expote themselves, never returned a Lot during the night, but there, were occasional ■hois hud nom the pa, no doubt to deceive us as to .heir having leit it. 12. 1 cannot speak too highly of the conduct of ;lie Obih duiing the muich on Thtuscay n.ght-; it k vus performed with the most complete stillness and L'tguiiiriiy. 1 have also the greatest pleasure in "being" ibie to state that duringothe whole oi their ialiguing iuty they were always ready to obey cheeriuily any muer thev iecui\td, and aitei - dark it was most difli* jult to move about from the way in which the ground in rear was swept t»v the musketry in tiont. 10. lain much indebted to the officers andnoncommissioned eiiicers lor the active intelligence and ze;d with which they peliormed their duty. I Deg to mention .particularly 3iujgr JShuttlevorth, 6Sth Light Jiiiantry, who, with the guide and six men, went leeling the way to the iront during the night inarch, and aiteiwaids commanded on the left, repelling scveial attempts of the Maoris to get away in that uiieetien. Captain r lrent, GSth Light Infantry, who with his company foimcd the advanced guard during the night march, and performed that duty with much intelligence, and was afterwards engaged on tlie left, where he enfiladed a riiiepit, ana in the front covering a working party. . . . Lieutenant Cox. GSth, who occupied j u dg~ ment and good cilcct an important position on my right, where he enfiladed a riile pit and quite shut lip what appeared the principal point of egrt.es from lite pa. . Lieutenant Hotliam, Boyal Kavy who was with & party of the JS aval lirigade, at the same post with Lieutenant Cox. . To Lieutenant and Adjutant Covey, 6oth Light iiriunm, i'icid Adjutant, X am on this occasion, as on every other where duty is concerned, much indebted ior the Zealand intelligence with which has assisted me in seeing my orders carried out. During the whole time he was constantly on the alert, and active wherever he was required. To all I owe my best thanks. a 11. I wish to bring to particular notice Uie mirable manner in which the regiment was guided bv Mr Purvis, who volunteered to act as gtudo on the* occat-iou. lie went to the front with Major frhutt lcwoilh and six men; and without hesitation or making a mistake, brought me straight to the position 1 wished to occupy. 15. The whole of GSth the regiment wea m camp by 4 p.m. yesterday. Tlie casualties were as follows : Killed—l Sergeant, liSlli Liylit Infautiy. ounded —10 Privates ditto I liavc, &c., 11. H. Greer, Col. and Lieut.-C'ol., 08th, L. 1., Comdg. l'ield Force, Camp Puke WharangiThe Deputy Adjutant-General, Camp 'le Papa.

KtMEPiCAi. Abstract of Kn led and Wocnded &t Gate Full, iicar Xauranga, April i 9, 1864. lit Battalion l2tli Foot—Xon-eommisiioned officers and men, 1 killed ; — wounded. 2nd Battalion 1-tth Foot—Kon-commicsioned officers and men, 1 wound.d. -JOtli Foot—-Non-coimai.-sioned officers and men, 1 wounded. -13rd Foot —Officers, 5 killed. 4 wounded ; noncommissioned officers and men, It killed, 23 wounded; since dead, otlicers 2 ; non-commissioned officers and men, 4. (3.3 th Foot —Non-commissioned officers and men, i wounded. GStli Foot —Non-commissioned officers and men, killed 2, wounded IS. I Total—Officers, 5 killed, 4 wounded; non-com-missioued officers and men, 12 killed, 49 wounded. .Since dead—Officers, 2 ; Non-commissioned officers and men, 4. Royal Naval Brigade. ' Curaooa ' —Officers, 1 killed ; non-commissioned and men, 1 killed. 5 wounded. ' Miranda '—Officers, 1 wounded ; non-commis-sioned officers and men, 1 killed, S wounded. 1 lisk'—Officers, 1 killed, 1 wounded; non-com-missioned office's and men, 8 killed, 10 wounded. 'Harrier' —Officers, I wounded; non-eomissioued officers and men, 3 killed, 4 wounded. tiiuce dead, 1. ' Kciipso ' —Non-commissioned officers and men, 1 killed. Total—Officers, killed 2, wounded 3 ; Son-eom-mi*sioncd officers and men, killed 9, wounded Since dead, 1. 'Total oi boJi Services —OllWrs, 7 killed,/ wounded; Sou-commissioned officers and men, 21 killed, 7G wounded. Since dead Officers, o , 011 00111 iui:s>ioiiOil oilici'vs ami men, J. Jkior.vr, _ Dep. In. Gen., P.M.O, 12tu Kmiment. Private Brissington, gunshot wound through chest lvTv'uo^Vatrick Monaghan, gunshot wound right tliiirli —suvci'O. , , , •,. Private Andrew Mitchell, gunshot wound right arm —slightMth Regiment. sergeant William Armstrong, gunshot wound, right thigh—very slight.

Private Thomas Pu.ilett, gurish. t wound light 'shoulder—slicht. ' ' , , , Private John Ruth, g mshot wound left foots—severe, "bull extracted. • , Private' William Power, gunshot wound, both shoulders se 40rn Reoivrnt. , . Private James Hungless, g-uhot wound lett mp43ni) Tir.niViiKT. Lieut.-Colonel 11. L P. Booth, gunshot wound spine and arm, dangerous—since dead. Captain Robert Coke filovor, gunshot wound head, tomahawk, riirht ;:\:lll —killed. Captain fj. R. Muiv, gunshot wound through heart —killed. Captain R. T. F. Hamilton, gunshot wound head — killed. Captain Edwin Utterton, gunshot wound nook — killed. Lieutenant F. G-. E. Glover, gunshot wound in abdoXiieutenant Clia.s. J. Lfmglands, gunshot wound chest killed. Ensign Spencer P. T. Nieholl, gunshot wound in scalp—slight. "Ensign William Clarke, gunshot wound right arm Sergeant-Major John Vance, gimsliot wound chest — killed, / Private Phillip Fitzgerald, gunshot wound heRd — killed. Privato Jamc3 Lane, gunshot wound left sido chest —killed. Private George Bnvdbrook, gunshot wound abdomen killed. private Jacob Tlcldbrook, gunshot wound chest and breast—killed. „ , A Private Henry Goff, gunshot wound left chest . killed. Private Silvester Hornbv, gunshot wound left breast —killed. Private Frederic k Tran, tomahawk, right shoulder and hand—'killed. Biiglar James Blue!;wciU, gunshot wound loft breast, —lulled. (Sergeant Edwin Young, gunshot wound in left jaw, Sergeant John Hurley, gunshot wound right fore arm and shoulder—wry severe. Sergeant Thomas Collier, gunshot wound loft arm — verv severe. Sergeant John. Cain, gunshot wound right forearai Corpors'l "S&- Everett, gunshot wound left * shoulder —severe. Private \V:iliain Bridgeman, gunshot wound both arms, severe —right a.rin amputated Privata John Bryan, gunshot wound right shoulder, Private John Noble, gunshot wound left shoulder, Private 8 James Worbuiton, gunshot wound right side of face, severe. Privute George Clarke, gunshot wound left shoulder, severe. Private, John Simmonds, gunshot wound left arm, Private 6 "John McFarlane, gunshot wound upper lip Blight Private, John Livosay, gunshot wound right jaw and Private Bernard Onroy. cutlass wound right thigh, ' ilifrVit accidental Private Michael Casey, gunshot wound right temple, severe. Private William Sergeant, gunshot wound right thigh, Private James Audley, tomahawked, head, dangerous —since dead. Private Thomas Madder, gunshot wound left chest, Private Robert Piielan, gunshot wound head, dangerous—since dead. • Private James Clarke, gunshot wound right shoulder, slight, Private George Bobbins, gunshot wound right lung and brain penetrated, very severe —since dead. Private Mai l in Walsh, gunshot wound right shin, ■Veiy severe—right log amputated. Drummer Thomas Wright, gunshot wound left leg, ■ severe. ■ ,/ - 65th Regiment. Private Greenwood Halliwell, gunshot wound left nates, severe. CSTit Regiment. Sergeant James liarmer, gunshot wound chest— ' : killed. Private John Moffit, gunshot wound right knee joint, Sloane, shell—right foot, severe. ■Private ■ Edward O'Neill, gunshot wound leit thigh, d-.ngerous. Private Daniel Sweeney, shell—right knee, severe. Private William Watson, shell—right hand, slight. Private Jolm L< gnu, gunshot wound right thigh and hand, very severe. Private Patrick McDonald, gunshot wound chest and left arm, dangerous. Private William Johnston, gunshot wound mouth and neck, sevoie. Private William Asliton, gunshot wound left arm, severe—arm amputated. Private Henry Black, gunshot wound right arm, .slight. Private John Plat, gunshot wound chest, very severe. Private James Byewatcr, gunshot wound head, slight. Private Hugh Toner, gunshot wound clieut, severe. Private Patrick lai rell, gunshot wound right chest, slight. Private John Baxter, gunshot wound left nates and scrotum, dangerous. Private John (jumble, gunshot wound forehead, slight. Private James Watson, gunshot wound face, slight. Sergeant William Atheron, gunshot wound log, Private Thomas MeGough, gunshot wound neck and chest, killed. ' NAVAL BRIGADE. ' CuilACOA.' Lieutenant Hill, killed. Ordinary Thomas Tenam, gunshot wound hip, very severe. , , . Ordinary William Fox, gunshot wound, left jaw, Ordinary John Watson,' gunshot wound, loft knee, Ordinary Ainos Smith, gunshot wound groin, danOrdinary James Harris, killed. Gunner Charles Ween, gunshot wound lower jaw, severe. 1 Miranda.' lieutenant Hanimiek, yiuisliot wound right shoulder, very severe. Gunner3l. Watts, killed. Boatswain's Mate, John Nokes, gunshot wound left shoulder, very severe. Captain Main Top, James English, gunshot wound A.B. M. Bryan, gunshot wound left leg, severe. A.B. M. Samuel liuthven, gunshot wound left lung and fracture left arm, very dangerous. A.B. M. George Charmbold, gunshot wound loft leg, very severe. A.B. M. Alexander McAllister, gunshot wound arm, P.M. Levi lveane, gunshot wound left thigh, dangerous. Gunner George Alton, dangerous. Captain Hamilton, gunshot wound through tlio heivl—killed. Lieutenant Duff, gunshot wound back, two places, very severe. Quarter Master William Dalton—killed. • Stoker AV. Leigh—killed. O.S. R. Fuller—killed. O.S. F. Donnelly, sprained leg. A.B. 11. Joflerv, sprained leg. Leadg. W. Allison, gunshot wound of chest and thigh, dangerous. Capt. Forecastle, James Knight, gunshot ■wound right shoulder, very severe. A.B. Edward Martin, gunshot wound right hip and loins, very severe. A.B. Thomas Roberts, gunshot wound of abdomen, dangerous. A.B. Alfred Bowden, gunshot wound of riglit, heel, severe. A.B. James Lawrance, gunshot wound, scalp wound, Boinbr. W. Foyer, gunshot wound of left arm SOVGI'C Gunner Robert Ward, gunshot, wound of right thigh, verv severe. ' JIAi:UIKIi. > Commander Ilay, dangerous —since dead. Stoker .Andrew Greenhorn—killed. A.B. George Voung (2d)— killed. Boy, "Henry Clark, gunshot wound througli tin throat —killed. . A.H. Alfred T.n«kte. CUUsltot' .around, riglit el DOW;

A "B. .Tamos PulVtt, nrunOiot wound. fhigor, f''!'' 1 !' Ordv. Charles Parivtt, gunshot wound, left I" 1 -.'' flight". Or.lv. AVilliam Burchill, gunshot wound, right lnp. vcrv severe. 1 Ecui'S'.' Sergeant Tlai'ding—killed. Pr.uv. Tl. IM. S. • Miranda. ' ,T. M "VAT, Deputy Inspector OeneYnl of Hospitals, . Ihhui pal Med'oal Officer. Colonial P 'fence O'l'ee. AiirV-Lvl, mil Ma v. 1 SC.I., riis KxrrtVney tin- Oovcnor direcl-i IV i.uhhVafion tlic following Th'rpnti'h irom :i;of l<n:tn:noi>a Huv, A- M. 1\ Tll'S*'!-Lt,.

Mi-Vet u, Ist Mnv, 18(14. Pir,—l have the honor to r< port for your informs- 1 tion as follows :— On the mr.rninfi- of the 27tli lih., the enemy had fired he.ivil v at- Fort Colvd'e. comim-nom!? Nt 4a. m. I Subs'-ouemlv, IT. M. S. ' FsVou" and the ' Pa-mllly' having arrived, they were shelled out of their posi- ■ tion and retreated across Wrdii. the men of war fol- . lowing them up the eoa?f for about twelve mih-s. 1 i decided on lmrsuin? tl:e;n far as 'I'd waote I Atu-.i, the Arawa houiulary. T f-ent one hundreti ! men across at once wiili or-lrrs to follow them up, t but not to proceed hevond {">t<mnirnknu. Tn tin- . afternoon I crossed the river with two hundred men, 1 leaving orii' hundred and fiftv in the pa. V e 1 camped for the night at Waiheke, about oVven j miles from Maketu. At 4i a. in. on the 2Pth we ; marched for Otamarakau, which settlement we found i the enemy had deserted. A hundred men joining I \is here from Mulo'tu, made the force up to lour t hundred strong. We marched on to ic .Aim o !'■ 1 A run ; when within two miles we saw the cneim i coming along the saml-hlls. They took up their I position across a narrow valley between the sand- I hills and the elifi's, with a cr-ek in their front, the I sanddiills on the right being lined with their skir- < mishers. They were at once engaged by two < hundred under "Wiuia'iv and other chiefs, 'lie. 1 firing < only lasted twenty minutes; the creek was then i carried with a rusli, and the enemy retreated up the 1 valley. The whole force wiis so fatigued with the : forced march over very heavy ground that they ] were unable to follow' them fast enough. They i mi"ht have held Huremu, Otamarora, To Rimgatapu, ; and T'cano Tarere Xlika, on the bank of the river, as , though not palisaded regularly, or ritle-pitted, tlu* nature of the ground would have made it very diilicult to dislodge tli. m. They retreated across the river; while doing so ninny Were shot. The enemy mustered fullv four hundred men ; thirty-seven bodies were found on the 2Sth, and. fitteen more c>n the morning of the 29th. Rangitukoliu, the chief ot the friendly natives at Raugitaiki. and who ai rived at our camp on the 29th, told me that they had found dead bodies along the beach and in the swamp on the other side of the river. The following leading chiefs wore killed —belonging to To Whakatohcn, Te Aporotunga, To iianguinatoru, Tipene, Hira te Popo and Para; to Ngutiawa, To li;uigipai; to Xgaitiiwiaere, Tatualiamkeke. Tlf.'ii' loss must- have hion fully ono hundred kilh-d and wonnded. They acknowledge to a loss of live or fix by the heavy "gun:-, wldlo at and from thirtv to i'ortv c,*i:>u:dtit:s wliilo at ;iihi on the 21st and 22nd. Three old men old women, taken ! iirisoners, were released by uu* and lianded over to ii.'ingitukehu and I regret to say that Wiuiata, who behaved most gallantly, diyd ii:o!u the effects of liis wound. The i\:ni:iinii>g easuullit-:-; on our tide are doing well. We have ovei t'oitv stand of anni', a considerable (praility oi very eoarse powder and other aianiunition, and other booty well. The Arawi.s l;eh.ivi-d v( ry well. The Jitiipo natives w(-re up at the iror.t wljen the firing fir:t coinn-.enced, and el::ir;;ed with T> hourangi; hut it was an almost f*"jniuit ,, auvanco of th'ii (brce, T think it uinieiM-r-aiy to notiee any 0110 s<-L-ti«.n in particular. Tlie men vi the JVienee Forco and . Hungers .attached to Kative O'liting'/iit were r-o fatigued with the in;.r« h, having iar more thnn the natives to cany, that thf.v woro only able t<> ioiu in pursuit. X ljel;(;vt; ii:nt tin: result vrilt lane a salutary eii'ect on t;:e h.a! t iiaiives, I am about to make arrangements h>r the better protection of the district, concerning which 1 rdiali report as boon a.s possible. T Lave, iVc. Gi:- it- i: My.oNn ITav, A. -M-, Conidg. K. C. The Hon. Mr. Kusm.ll, (Albania 1 Mini.-ter.