E—No. 3c
FURTHER PAPERS RELATIVE TO
No. 9. MAJOR NELSON TO MAJOR OP BRIGADE. Camp, Waitara, 9th June, 1860. Snt,— Lieut. Brooke, 40th Regiment, having applied for permission to proceed in the Steamer to Taranaki, I have granted the same. This Officer will be able to afford any further information that may be deemed necessary as regards my Reports appertaining to the assembly, &c, of the Natives Jit the " Saddle-back" Pah. I have, &c, Thomas Nelson Major, 40th Regiment, Commanding Camp, Waitara, To the Major of Brigade, &c, &c, &c, Taranaki. _______^_^________
No. 10. MAJOR NELSON TO MAJOR OF BRIGADE. Camp, Waitara, 19th June, 1860. Sir, — I have the honor to forward the annexed copy of a Report which I have received from Assistant-Surgeon Stiles, 40th Regiment, regarding the state of health of Captain Brown. Referring to my former Letters, noted in the margin, I would beg to mention that there ig now palisading round the sides of the Pah visible from the Camp,—that " Whares" have been built inside, and, no doubt, the usual means of defence constructed. I would say from observation, as far as can be judged at the distance, there are 200 Natives in the Pah. I have, &c, Thomas Nelson, Major 40th Regiment, To the Major of Brigade, Commanding Camp, Waitara. &c, &c, &c, Taranaki. No. 11. MAJOR NELSON TO MAJOR OP BRIGADE. Camp, Waitara, 23rd June, 1860. Sir,— I have the honor to report for the information of the Colonel Commanding the Forces, that, observing this morning a fire burning in rear of a belt of trees S.E. of the Camp, and Natives apparently employed in cutting wood, and conveying it to the " Puketakauere" Pah ; and having reason to believe that they were aggressing upon Her Majesty's Land, I directed Lieut. Mould, R.E., to proceed and reconnoitre the ground. This Officer accordingly left the Camp, supported by an Escort. He found it to be a Raupo swamp (not a deep one) from which the hostile Natives seemingly obtain all the materials for the Whares in their new Pah. The spot is on a portion of Her Majesty's land. Having performed the duty, they were on their return to Camp, when they were fired upon by the Natives from the old Pah at the extremity of the ridge to the S.E. of the Camp, and about half a mile from it, (this I believe is also on Her Majesty's land); as well as along the top of the ridge in the direction of the Pah from which Natives were seen to come out to the number of about 150, extending as they descended. Three shots were fired by the hostile Natives, before the escort returned the fire. This it did not until nearly reaching the Camp. To cover the escort, I directed the Artillery to open a fire. From what was observed there were some casualties among the rebels, but the exact number I cannot say. The Officers and Men behaved with great steadiness. I enclose a return of Ordnance Ammunition expended. I have, &c, Thomas Nelson, Major, 40th Regiment, Commanding Camp, Waitara. The Major of Brigade, &c, &c, &c, Taranaki.
No. 11. MAJOR NELSON TO MAJOR OP BRIGADE. Camp, Waitara, 23rd June, 1860. Sir,— I have the honor to report for the information of the Colonel Commanding the Forces, that, observing this morning a fire burning in rear of a belt of trees S.E. of the Camp, and Natives apparently employed in cutting wood, and conveying it to the " Puketakauere" Pah ; and having reason to believe that they were aggressing upon Her Majesty's Land, I directed Lieut. Mould, R.E., to proceed and reconnoitre the ground. This Officer accordingly left the Camp, supported by an Escort. He found it to be a Eaupo swamp (not a deep one) from which the hostile Natives seemingly obtain all the materials for the Whares in their new Pah. The spot is on a portion of Her Majesty's land. Having performed the duty, they were on their return to Camp, when they were fired upon by the Natives from the old Pah at the extremity of the ridge to the S.E. of the Camp, and about half a mile from it, (this I believe is also on Her Majesty's land) ; as well as along the top of the ridge in the direction of the Pah from which Natives were seen to come out to the number of about 150, extending as they descended. Three shots were fired by the hostile Natives, before the escort returned the fire. This it did not until nearly reaching the Camp. To cover the escort, I directed the Artillery to open a fire. From what was observed there were some casualties among the rebels, but the exact number I cannot say. The Officers and Men behaved with great steadiness. I enclose a return of Ordnance Ammunition expended. I have, &c, Thomas Nelson, Major, 40th Regiment, Commanding Camp, Waitara, The Major of Brigade, &c, &c, &c, Tarauaki.
7tb, Bth, & 9th June.
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