PALL OE MEREMERE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1983, 14 November 1863, Page 3

PALL OE MEREMERE.

GENERAL CAMERON'S DESPATCH Head Quarters, Queen's Redoubt, 4th November, 1863.

Sir, — I have the honor to inform your Excellency that the day following the arrival here of the " Pioneer," being occupied in clearing her of stores, &c, and in landing two 40-pounder Armstrong giins at Whangamarino, whioh were placed in position to command the lauding place at Meremere, I proceeded on the 29th ultimo in the "Pioneer" with Commodore Sir William Wiseman, and was enabled to make a more complete reconnaissance than before of tbe enemy's works. They occupied them stiongly on this occasion, and fired several rounds at the steamer from three

guns which they had iv position. I found that the difficulty of landing Troops rapidiy for an attack, and tbe resistance to be expected from the nature of the defences had not been overestimated, which induced me to make a further reconnaissance higher up the river, with the view of selecting some point at which a force could be landed to turn the enemy's position while his attenI tion was occupied in front by the steamer and Gunboats. I theiefore proceeded again on the 31st up the river in the Pioneer with Sir William Wiseman as far as Rangariri, and having observed a point favorable for landing about six miles above Meremere, I arranged with the Commodore to embark the same night ihe force shewn in the margin*, wilh two 12-potmder Armstrung guns. The Pioueer and Avon, with the four gunboats in tow, got under weigh at half past two o'clock on the morning of the 3lst, and reached the point fixed for the landing about six o'clock. No attempt was made to oppose the troops, who took up a commanding position about four hundred yards from the bank of the river. As I proposed bringing up an additional force on the following night, I ordered a breastwork to be constructed for the protection,of the camp, which I left uuder the command of Colonel Mould, C.B.

During tho afternoon of the Ist, whilst the neoessary preparations were in progress for the conveyanoe of the remaining part of the force, thejoffioer iv command at Whangaoaarino reported that the Natives were escaping in canoes up the Whangamarino and Maramarua rivers. I embarked at ones in the " Pioneer, " with 250 man of the 12th and 14th Regiments from the Koheroa, and on reaching IMeremere it was evident the enemy had abandoned his position A party of 250 seamen, under Commander Mayne, ft. N , and the detachments from the Koheroa under the command of Oolonel Austen, 28. 14th Regiment, landed on the position, and were ordered to hold the ground during the night, which was occupied tbe following day by detachments ofthe 12th, 14th IBih, and 70th Regiments, amounting to to about 500 men, who are employed in throwing up a redoubt there.

The steamer Pioneer left this aboul ten a.m. on the 2nd for the purpose of communicating with the camp at Taku petohetohe, and ascertained that about three o'clock on the morning of the Ist a small body of Natives fired upon the camp, inflicting no loss, and making off as soon as the guns were turned upon them.

I am indebted for the success of the operations descrihed above, to the cordial co-operation of Commodore Sir William Wiseman, aud to the indefatigable exertions'of the officers \. der his command. I have, &c, D. A. Cameron, Lieut.-General. Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B. &c, &c.,&c.