GENERAL CAMERON'S DESPATCHES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 177, 7 June 1864, Page 8

GENERAL CAMERON'S DESPATCHES.

Colonial DeiV'uce Ollico, -Aufkluml, Gili May, ISfJI. Hid Excellency the Governor, directs llio publication of the follow 1 Despa 1 eli, with the enclosures, from I Lieut.-General (-'aim-run, C.li. T. Kosku,. Head (Quarters, Tii May 5, ISIII-. Slit, —It having been decided by your Kxccllency and mysell, in consequence of information received from Colonel Giver, commanding at Tauranga, licit reiiil'oreemenls should lie sent to that Slat ion,'detachments were embarked without delay in lI.M. ships ' J'.sk' and 'Falcon,' placed at. mv disposal bv Commodore Sir Will. Wiseman, mid'by the rifith April were all landed at tlio Mission Station of Tauranga, to which place 1 had transferred mv Jlead Quarters on the 21st April. On tlie :>7ili April T moved the GStli Sediment, under Colonel Greer, and a mixed dctaehment of 170 men under Major liyan, 70th Regiment, towards the rebel entrenchments, of which I made a close reconnaissance. Jt was constructed oil a neck of land about r,OO yards wide, (lie slopes of whieh fell olf i,ih> a swamp on either side. On tlie highest poinl of this neek tliey had eonstrueled an oblong redoubt, well palisaded and surrounded by a post and rail fence—a formidable obstacle to an assaulting column, and ditlieult. to destroy with Artillery. The intervals between Ibe side faces of the redoubt and the swamps were defended by an enfreuelicd line of ride-pits. 1 encamped the GStli .Regiment, and Major I?van's detachment about 1,200 yards from (lie enemy's "position on the 27th, anil on I hat. and the follow'in" day the guns and mortars intended to breach the position were brought up to the camp, which was joined by a large force ol seamen and marines, landed at my request from the ships of the squadron by I'.nun, J. dore Sir Win. Wiseman. The composition and strength of the force, assembled in (Vonl. of the enemy's position on the evening of the 2JSth, are shown in the margin.*

# General Stair—J- Held ol'irrrs, 1 subaltern. Medical St ati—2 lield oHi cci's, 1 subaltern. Xaval Brigade—t Held ollieers, 0 eaptains, 7 subalterns, 3(1 sergeants, 5 drummers, 371 rank tnul iito. Royal Artillery—l field ollieer, 1 captain, 3 subalterns, 1 stall, 1 sergeant., I .'i rank and file. Hoyal Engineers— 2 rank and file. Moveable Column—l field ollieer, 2 captains, 3 subalterns, 1 stall', 0 .sergeants, 4 drummers, IGI- rank and file. 43rd Regiment—-1 field ollicer, 5 eaptains, 5 subalterns, 3 stall', 17 'sergeants, 12 drummers, 250 rank and file. 6St.li Regiment— 3 field ollieers, 0 eaptains, 15 subalterns, 3 stall', 3A sergeants, 21 drummers, (jSO rank and file.

Having received information that, by moving along the beach of one of the branches of the Taumnga harbour at low water, it was possible for a body of 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 68th liegiment, after dark on the evening of the 28th, and in order to divert tho attention of "the enemy from that side, I ordered a feigned uUack to be made in his front. Colonel I! leer's movement succeeded perfectly, and on tho morning of the taken up a position in rear of the enemy, which cut oil' Ids supply of water, and made his rrtrcat in daylight impossible, but was necessarily too extended to prevent his escape by night. 1 enclose Colonel Greer's report of Ids proceedings. During tho same ni<rht the guns and mortars were placed in position, and opened tire soon after daybreak on tho morning of tho 2'Jtli. I gave directions that their lire should bo directed principally against the left angle of the centre work, which, from the nature of the ground, I considered the most favorable part to attack. Their practice was excellent, particularly that of tho howitzers, and retlects great credit on the oilieers in command of batteries. About 12 o'elock, the swamp on the enemy's left having been reported by Capt. Greaves, Deputy Assistant Quui'ter-jMaster-Cienoral, practiutblo for tho passage of a gun, a six-pounder Armstrong' gun was taken across to tho high ground on the opposite side, from which its tile completely enfiladed tho leit of the enemy's position, which he was thus compelled to abandon. The tire of the guns, howitzers, and mortars, was continued with slant 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, i ordered the assault. IoU Seamen and Marines under Commander Hay, of 11.M.5. • Harrier,' and an equal number of the 43rd ii'egiment, under Lieut-Colonel iiooth, formed . the assaulting column. Major kyiwi'.s detachment was extended as close to the work a* possible, to keep down the tire iiom tho rille-pits, with orders to follow the assaulting column into the work. The remainder of tho Seamen and Marines, and of the 4ord liegiment, amounting together to 000 men, followed as a reserve. Tho assaulting column, protected by tho nature of the ground, gained the breach with little loss, and etfected an entrance into the main body of tho work, when a tierce conllict ensued, in which the natives fought with the greatest desperation. Lieut-Colonel Jjooth and Commander Hay, who led into the work, fell mortally wounded. Captain Hamilton was shot i* dead on the top of the parapet "while in the act {of encouraging his men to advance, and in a few minutes iilniuat every ollieerof the column was either killed or • wounded. Up to this moment tho men, so nobly led by their oflieers, fought gallantly, and appeared tu ■ havo carried the position, when they Mtddcidy gave way, and fell back from the work to the nearest cover, t Tliis repulse I am at a loss to explain, otherwise i than by attributing it to the contusion created among i the men by the intricate natuieof the interior defences, and the sudden fall of so many of their oilieers. On 1113' arrival at the spot 1 considered it unadvis- , able to lenew the assault, and directed a line of enr trenchmcnt to be thrown up within one huudr""? f yards of the wojk, so as to be able to maintain our » advanced position, intending to resume operations t the following morning. r The natives availing themselves of tho extreme I darkness of the night, abandoned the work, leaving" some of their killed and wounded behind. Un taking possession of the work in the morning , Lieut.-Colonel liooth and some men wen; found still living, and, to the credit of the natives, had not been maltreated ; nor had any ot" the bodies of the killed been mutilated. 1 enclose a list of our casualties. 1 deeply deplore the loss of the many brave and valuable oilieers who fell in the noble discharge of their duty on this occasion. 1 The 4 3rd liegiment and the service have sustained • a serious less in the d».ath of Lieut.-Colonel liooth, ' which took pla< eon tin: night alter the attack. 1 r have already mentioned the brilliant example shown • by this otlieer in the assault; and when 1 met him on > the following morning, as he was being carried out of the work, his lirst words were an oi regret that lie had found 3t impossible to carry out • my order.-*. The heroism and devotion of Captain Hamilton \ and Commander llay retleet the highest honour on I tho Service. The loss of the enemy must have been very heavy, although not more than twenty bodies and six wounded wi-ro iound iu and about their position. It is • admitted by the prboners that they carried oil' a [' large number of killed and wounded during the night, and they also sutlered in attempting to make their escape, as described in Colonel Greer's report. In my reports to His Koyal .Highness the Field Mai shall Commanding in Lidef and the KighL Honourable the Secictary of State lor Y\*ar, X have brought to their lavoiuablc notice the names of the oilieers who particularly distinguished themselves on this occasion. Commodore fcjir Win. "Wiseman on this, as on every other occasion, co-operated with me ill the most col- ' dial manner, and lam much indebted to him as well as t«i the whole of tlic oilieers and men of the Koyal .Navy and Maiin<-s who took part in these operations, tor their valuable assistance. J have, kv.j 1). A. f'AMKKON, Li'itlenant-Gcucral. His Kxeelleney Sir George, Grey, K.C.15., Oct:., " cVe., Camp Puke A\~harangi, Ist May, 1864. Sue, —J ha ve the honour to state for the information of the Lit ut.-General Commanding, that incompliance with his instructions I marched out of camp with the (»Bth I 'ight I nfantry (st rength as per margin), earn, ing one day's cooked rations, and a greatcoat eaeli, 011 the ultimo, at a quarter to 7 o'clock p.m., my object being to get in rear of the enemy's position by means of a Jlank march round their right. To accomplish this it was necessary to cross a mud llat, at the head of the bay, about three quarters of a mile long, only passable at low water, ami then nearly knee deep, and within musketry range of the shore, iu possession of the enemy —rough, high ground, covered with ti-trce and fern. At the point at which .1 got oil'the mud Hal, there is a swamp about 100 yards broad, covered with li-trec about 5 feet high, on the opposite side of which the end of a spur —which runs down from the high ground in rear of the pa- rose abruptly. This was also covered with heavy fern and ti-trce. 3. It being of the lirst. importance that this movement should be accomplished without attracting the attention of the enemy, my instructions were to gam the top of the spur alluded to during the darkness, ami remain there until there should be sudicicnt 1 light o move on. •!. The regiment was all across, tying down in line along the crest of the ridge, with piccpiets posted round them, at 10 o'clock, which was two hours before tin! moon rose. 1 beg liero to state thut to the well-timed feigned attack made l>v the Lieut.Gcnerai commanding, on the front of the enemy's pa, 1 consider myself indebted for having been enabled to accomplish this, the most dillicidt part of the march without being attacked at a great disadvantage, and exposing the movement to the enemy ; for when W'e readied the top of the ridge, the remains of their piri|\iel lire* were discovered, the pinpicts having no doubt retired to assist iu the defence of the pa. 5. About, half-past 1 o'clock I reached a position about. 10U0 yards directly in rear of the pa. 1 was guided in selecting this position by hearing the .Maoris talking in their pa, and the sentries challenging in our Jlcad-Qtmrters (Jump. It wus dark and raining at the time. (>. I immediately aent Major Shutt leworth forward with three companies to take a position on tho left rear of the pa, and I placed piccpiets round the remainder of the rear, about 700 yards distance from it. 7. At daybreak I detached three companies to the right, under command of Major Kirby, and posted u chain of sentries, so that no one could eome out of the pa without being seen. Up to this time the enemy did not appear to be aware that they were surrounded ; tliey were singing ami making speeches

Tolal—lo Field oliicers. 20 Captains. 35 Subalterns. K stair. !) t Sergeants. 41 Drummers. I kSO Rank ami tile. Detail of Artillery employed-— 1 110-pounder Armstrong. 2 40-pounder Armstrongs. 2 (i-poundor Armstrongs. 2 21-pounder howitzers. — S-ineh luorlars. 0 cohom luort Hi's.

in their pa. Later in the morning, Lieut.-Colonel visited my post, having an escort with liim of 30 men of the Naval Brigade under Lieutenant Holham, I;.IN"., and seeing that I wanted a reinforcement on my right, he left his escort with me, and I received valuable assistance from that excellent otlicer and his party. About the same time Major Shuttleworth iiiovecl more to his left, and closer to the pa. P. Those positions were not altered during the bombardment, except temporarily, when tho Maoris showed a disposition to come out at one or other flank, or when it was necessary to move a little from a position getting more than its share of the splinters ot shell which Kept falling' about all day during the bombardment. 'J. When the bombardment ceased, and the signal of a rocket let me know- that the assault was about being made, I moved up close round the rear of the pa in such a position that the Maoris could not" come out without being met by a strong force. 10. About o o'clock, p.m., the Maoris made a determined rush from the right rear of ilieir pa. 1 met them with three companies, and, after a skirmish, drove the main body back into the pa ; about twenty got past my right, but they received a Hunk fire from Lieut. Cox's party (OStli, 00 men), and Lieutenant liotham's (30 men) Naval Brigade, and sixteen of the Maoris were seen to fall; a number of men pursued the remainder. By the time I had collected the men again and posted them, it was very dark. My foieo available on the rig'ht was quite inadequate to cover the ground in such a manner as to prevent the Mcuis Irom escaping during the night; in fact 1 consider that on such a wet dark night us that was, nothing "nut a close chain of sentries, strongly supported round tho whole rear and Hanks, could have kept the Maoris ill, and to do that, a much stronger force than I hud would have been necessary. 11. During the night the Maoris inude their escape. 1 think that, taking advantage of the darkness, they crept away in small parties, for during tho night every post either saw or heard some of them escaping, and tired volleys at them. The Maoris, careful not to expose themselves, never returned a shot during the night, but there wore occasional shots tired irom the pa, 110 doubt to deceive us as to their having left it, 12. 1 cannot speak too highly of the conduct of the 08th during the march on Xhuisday night ; it was performed with the most complete stillness and regularity. 1 have also the greatest pleasure in being able to state that during the whole of their fatiguing duty they were always ready to obey cheerfully any Older tliey received, and alter dark it was most ditheult to move about from the way in which the ground in rear was swept by the musketry in front. i:i. J am much indebted to the oilieers aild noncommissioned oilieers for the active intelligence and zeal with which they pel formed their duty. I beg to mention particularly Major iShuttleworth, GSth Light Infantry, who, with the guide and six men, went feeling the way to the lront during Ihe night inarch, and afterwards commanded on the left, repelling several attempts of the Maoris to get away in that uirevtion. Captain Trent, CBth Light Infantry, who with his company formed the advanced guard during the night march, and performed that duty with much intelligence, and was afterwards engaged on the left, where he enfiladed a rillepit, and in the front covering a working party. Lieutenant Cox, GSth, who occupied with judgment and good ciieet an important position oil my right, where iie enfiladed a rille pit and quite shut up what appeared the principal point of egret's from the pa. Lieutenant llotham, lioytil Xavy who was with a party of the JVaval JLirigade, at the same post with Lieutenant Cox. To Lieutenant and Adjutant Covey, GSth Light Infantry, iucld Adjutant, 1 am en this occasion, as on every other where duty is concerncd, much indebted for the Zealand intelligence with which ho has assisted me in seeing my orders carried out. J)uring {he whole time he was constantly on the alert, and active wherever he was required. To all I owe my best thanks. If. 1 wish to bring to particular notice the admirable manner in which the regiment was guided by, Mr. Purvis, who volunteered to act as guide on the occasion. lie went to the front with Major Shutllcworth 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 was in cum]) by 1 p.m. yesterday. The casualties were as follows :— Killed—l Sergeant, tiStli Light Infantry. M'ounded—lti Privates ditto i have, &c., 11. 11. Gkekk, Col. and Lieut.-Col., GSth, L. 1., Conuig. i"ield Force, Camp Puke AVharaugi. The Deputy Adjutant-General, Camp Te i'upa. Xi-jiKitif.iL Aj;sthact of Kn-i.ED and "Woi-ndkd at Gate JL'ah, near Tauranga, April 2!), IS6I-. Ist Battalion ]2th Foot—Non-commissioned oilieers ami men, 1 killetl ; 2 wounded. 2nd Battalion 1-1 th Foot —Non-commissioned oilieers and men, l wounded. •loth Foot —Non-commissioned oilieers and men, 1 wouudeil. -13rd Foot —Oliicers, 5 killed, -l wounded ; noncommissioned oilieers and men, 'J killed, 23 wounded ; since dead, oilieers 2 ; non-commissioned oilieers and men, -1. both Foot—Non-eommissioned oilieers and men, i wounded. GSth Foot—Non-commissioned oliicers and men, killed 2, wounded IS. Total—Oilieers, o killed, <[■ wounded ; non-com-missioned oilieers and men, 12 killed, ID wounded. Since dead—Oilieers, 2 ; Non-commissioned oilieers and men, -1Koyal Navat. Brigade. ' Curaeoa ' —Oilieers, 1 killed ; non-commissioned and men, 1 killed, 5 wounded. ' M iranda '■—Oliicers, 1 wounded ; non-commis-sioned ol'ticcrs and men, 1 killed, 8 wounded. 1 Fsk ' —Oliicers, 1 killed, 1 wounded; non-com-lnissioiied olllee-s and men, 3 killed, 10 wounded. 'Harrier'—Oliicers, T wounded; non-comissioned oliicers and men, killed, 1 wounded. Since dead, 1. ' Kelipse '—Noil-commissioned oilieers and men, 1 killed. Total—Oilieers, killed 2, wounded 3 ; Non-com-missioned oilieers and men, killed t), wounded 27. Since dead, 1. Total ol'both Services —Oliicers, 7 killed, 7 wounded; Non-commissioned oliicers and men, 21 killed, 7ti woumled. Since dead—Oilieers, 'J ; Non-com-missioued oilieers and men, -1. J. 51 or AT, l'ep. In. Gen., 1'.M.0, 12th Hkoimext. Private llrissington, gunshot wound through elicst —killed. Private Patrick Monaghan, gunshot wound right thigh—severe. Private Andrew Mitchell, gunshot wound right arm—slight. l lTit KKOUIKNT. Sergeant "William Armstrong, gunshot wound, right thigh—very slight. Private Thomas liurdett, gunshot wound right shoulder—slight. Private John Ituth, gunshot wound left foot—severe; ball extracted. Private William Power, gunshot wound, both shoulders —severe. ■10TH IIKOIMENT. Private James Ilungless, gunshot wound loft hip— severe. •13un Regiment. Lieut.-Colonel 11. I. P. Booth, gunshot wound spine and right arm, dangerous—sineo dead. Captain Robert Coke Glover, gunsliot wound head, tomahawk, right axilla—killed. Captain U. It. Mure, gunshot wound through heart —killed. Captain K. T. I\ Hamilton, gunshot wound head— Captain Edwin Utfcerton, gunshot wound neck— killed. Lieutenant F. Ct. E. Glover, gunshot wound in abdotnen, penetrating, dangerous—since dead. Lieutenant Chas. J. Langlands, gunshot wound chest killed. Ensign Spencer P. T. Nicholl, gunshot wound in .sculp—slight. Ensign William Clarke, gunshot wound right arm —severe. Sergeant-Major John Vance, gunshot wound chest — i killed. Private Phillip Fitzgerald, gunshot wound head— killed. Private .Tames Lane, gunshot wound left side chest —killed.

Private George Bradbroolc, gunshot ■wound abdomen —killed. Private Jacob Holdbrook, gunshot wound chest and breast —killed. Private Henry Goff, gunshot wound left chest— killed. Private Silvester Hornby, gunshot wound left breast —killed. Private Frederick Tran, tomahawk, right shoulder find head—killed. Bugler James Blackwall, gunshot wound left breast —killed. Sergeant Kdwin Young, gunshot wound in left jaw, severe. Sergeant .Tohn Hurley, gunshot wound right foro arm and shoulder—very severe. Sergeant Thomas Collier, gunshot wound loft arm— very severe. Sergeant John Cain, gunshot wound right forearm —very slight. Corporal William Everett, gunshot wound loft " shoulder —severe. Private William Bridgeman, gunshot wound both arms, severe —right arm amputated Private John Bryan, gunshot wound right shoulder, severe. Private John Noble, gunshot wound left shoulder, very slight. Private .lames "Warburton, gunshot wound right side of lace, severe. Private George Clarke, gunshot wound left shoulder, severe. Private John Simmonds, gunshot wound left arm, severe. Private John McFarlano, gunshot wound upper lip slight Private, John Livesav, gunshot v.-onnd right jaw and cliin, very severe. Private Bernard Com-ov. cutlass wound right thigh, slight—accidental. Private Michael Casey, gunshot wound right temple, severe. Private William Sergeant, gunshot wound light thigh, Private James Audley, tomahawked, head, dangerous —since dead. Private Thomas Madder, gunshot wound left cheat, severe—since dead. Private Robert Phelan, 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 ilartin Walsh, gunshot wound right shin, very severe—right leg amputated. Drummer Thomas "Wright, gunshot wound left leg, severe. 65th Regiment. Private Greenwood Halliwell, gunshot wound left nates, severe. GSrn Regiment. Sergeant James Uarmer, gunshot wound chestkilled. Private John sloffit, gunshot wound right knee joint, very severe. Private "William Sloane, shell—right foot, severe. Private Edward O'Neill, gunshot wound left thigh, dangerous. Private Daniel Sweeney, shell—right knee, severe. Private William Watson, shell—right hand, slight. Private John Logan, 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, severe. 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 Byewater, gunshot wound head, slighl. Private Hugh Toner, gunshot wound chest, severe. Private Patrick Pan-ell, gunshot wound right chest, slight. Private John Baxter, gunshot wound left nates and scrotum, dangerous. Private John Gamble, gunshot wound forehead, slight. Private James Watson, gunshot wound facc, slight. Sergeant William Atheron, gunshot wound leg, slight. Private Thomas McGough, gunshot wound neck and chest, killed. NAVAL BRIGADE. ' CritACOA.' Lieutenant Hill, killed. Ordinary Thomas Tenam, gunshot wound hip, very severe. Ordinai-y William Fox, gunshot wound, left jaw, severe. Ordinary John Watson, gunshot wound, left knee, very severe. Ordinary Amos Smith, gunshot wound groin, dangerous. Ordinary James Harris, killed. Gunner Charles Ween, gunshot wound lower jaw, severe. ' Miranda.' Lieutenant Hammick, gunshot wound right shoulder, very severe. Gunner M. Watts, killed. Boatswain's Mate, John Kokes, gunshot wound left shoulder, very sex ere. Captain Main Top, James English, gunshot wound left thigh, severe. A.B. M. Bryan, gunshot wound left leg, severe. A.li. 11. Samuel liuthven, gunshot wound left lung and fracture left arm, very dangerous. A.B. M. George Charnibold, gunshot wound left leg, very severe. A.B. M. Alexander McAllister, gunshot wound arm, severe. P.M. Levi Iveane, gunshot wound left thigh, dangerous. Gunner George Alton, dangerous. ' Esk.' Captain Hamilton, gunshot wound through tho head—killed. Lieutenant Duff, gunshot wound back, two places, very severe. I Quarter Master William Dalton—killed. Stoker W. Leigh—killed. | O.S. K. Puller—killed. O.S. P. Donnelly, sprained leg. A.B. K. Jeil'ery, sprained leg. Leadg. W. Allison, gunshot wound of chest and thigh, dangerous. Capt. lorecastle, James Kniglit, gunshot wound right shoulder, very severe. A.B. Edward Martin, gunshot wound right hip and loins, very severe. A.li. r lliomas lioberts, gunshot wound of abdomen, dangerous. A.B. Alfred Uowden, gunshot wound of right heel, severe. A.B. James Lawrauce, gunshot wound, scalp wound, severe. Bombr. \V. Foyer, gunshot wound of left arm, severe. Gunner Robert Ward, gunshot wouud of right thigh, very severe. ' Harrier.' Commander Hay, dangerous—since dead. Stoker Andrew Greenhorn—killed. A.li. G'corge Voting (2d) —kilted. Boy, Henry Clark, gunshot wound through the throat—killed. A.B. Alfred Lockie, gunshot wound, right elbow, very severe. A.B. James Pullett, gunshot wound, finger, slight. Only. Charles Barrett, gunshot wouud, left thigh, slight Only. \\ illiam Bureliill, gunshot wound, right hip, very severe. ' Eclipse.' Sergeant Harding—killed. H KN'UY SLADE, Surgeon H. M. S. 1 Miranda.' J. Mouat, Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, Principal Medical Officer.Colonial Defence Office, Auckland, 6th May, 1861. ITrs Excellency the Governor directs the publication of the following Despatch from Major Drummoad Hay, A. M. T. Russell. Maketu, Ist May, ISfvt. Sir, —T have the honor to report for your information as follows :— On the morning of tho 27th ult., the enemy had lired heavily at Fort Colville, commencing at 4 a. in. Subsequently, H. M. S. ' Falcon' and the ' Snndtly having arrived, they were shelled out of their P^* 1 " tion and retreated across Wailii, the men oi war following theiu up the coast for about twelve miles, decided on pursuing tlieni as lar as Te AtttV 0 tt Atua, the Ai-awa boundary. I sent one huudreit men across at once with orders to follow thorn u Fi

but not to proceed beyond Otamarakan. Tn the afternoon 1 crossed the river with two hundred men, l,,iviii2 one lumdred and fifty in the pa. We eanipvd for ihe night at "Waibcke, about eleven miles fioni Maketu. Al -15 a. m. on the 2Sth we man In d 'or Otamarakau, wliieli settlement we found t!:e ciien \ hail deserted. A lumdred men joining us here ti'om Maketu, made t lie force np to four hundred ?liwi.s- We marched 011 lo Te Ami oto Ania: wneu within two mites we saw the enemv .. 1.11 m!o:il' the saml-lulls. They took np thei'r position nereis a narrow valley between the sandhill.- ami tin' dills. with n creek in their front, the -aml-bihs on the riirlit hi inn; lined with their skirmisher-. lhey »iTr at imee I>v two lr.ii.il'> '! under Winiata and other eliiils. The tiring oniv lasted twenty minutes; tlie ercck was then larried with :l rush, and the enemy retreated up the \ alley. I In' whole lone was so fatigued with tho f..r.vd march •■ver v. ry heavy ground tiiat they Mere nuai'ie to follow them fast enough. Tliev have held llarema. Otamarora. Te Ksuujatapu, ami 'I'eatio 1 atvre Jlika. on the bank of the river, as theiejh not palisaded regularly, or rille-pitted. the t;iv ot ihe ground would have made it vcrv diltieiill :o dislodge them. "I Iley retreated across the riv, r : while doim; so many were shot. The enemy li.i.-terrd tally tour hundred melt: thirtv-seveii l...iiies were found 011 the 2Mb. and fifteen niore on. ill,- 11:0: ni'ii; of tlie I'lHh. Haugitukehu. the ehiet'of Ine li-vu.iu names at Kangitaiki, and who ai riv ed :.r our camp on tlie ;J!>th. tohl me that thev had 1..;■1 dead bo.lie.- along the beaeh and in the sivamp i»ti the of. ei- side of the river. it leading chiefs were killed—belongi--' I" ' e \\ 1 J,: t"hi a. l'e Aporotanga, Te Hanj^uia..t''lu. 111 ene, 1 1 lia te 1 '"'l'leiml Para i to lJatsinpai: to Ngaitawaivre, Tatuahar ikoke. Their l".-s must have been fully one hundred killi d ami woiuai -i!. i h.ev aeknowiedgi' to a loss of live ■,r six hy : tie heavy guns while at Maketu, and from thirty t.i tully casualties while at "Waihi 011 tlu' 21.-t and —— 1 *ei. Ih.i'e*- e'lil men six old women, taken pns'neis. wife ii leased by me and handed over to Uaiig .■.ukeiin and Kobarnlii. 1 ivirivt to sav that w i:o behaved most gallantly, died front tlie > ::e' ;> ■ ; in.- wa-uiul. 1 tie remaining six casualties • n Hill' .-Me are ii- -:iwell. \\ e have taken over e 11 y Maia t ot anus, a considerable iprmtit v tif verv e"ai-e powd t ratal other ammunition, ami other booty a- v eli. Ihe Arawas hehtived very well. The Tiinpo Tai*.;\' - wtte up at tlie trout when the tiring tirst eea.im ae< d. and charged with Tohcaimniri : hut a.s it « ..- al. aina-t simultaneous ad value of the whole I 'i'e,, 1 ;!:;nu it mile ee-.-ary to notice aire one section 'ii j .iiia i.iai'. 1 ii- 1 men i»t tuo IVtciiee l'Vrce and 1 r -t banners attailied to thi- Native Contingent ' ta'.i-iue.i with the niari'h, having tar mote Ill;• nat'.vi s to , airy, that they w. re only .able a ' 'in '.11 pursuit. 1 iieiieve tiiat the result will have >;i;iit;;ry < lU'd on tile l'.ust Coast natives. I aill ••ut i" iiiakr arraiiiroim-ntjj ior tho bettor pmt.?cti<n ' 1 ■ thi' district. concerning wliieli 1 shnll report as li «i> |"vl'l -jo. I Iwvo, Art-. (iKt»nr;E DKl'mmdnh HAV. A. C'.aiultr. X. C. T:;- 11 "ii. Mr. Kusm-11, C'.-ii'iual .Minister.