THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.

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collect. In November this proportion may be reversed, even should we receive considerable reinforcements in the meantime. 1 beg again to assure you of my earnest desire to co-operate most cordially with you, and to supply all that you may require as far as it is in my power to do so. I have, &c, T. Gore Browne. Major-General Pratt, C.8., Commanding H.M.s Forces, &c, &c, &c. Tarauaki.

No. 34. .UAJOU-GENEKL PiIATT, C.B , TO GOVERNOR GORE BROWNE, C.B, Head Quarters, New Plymouth, Taranaki, 29th September, 1860. Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's Despatch of the 18th instant, received on the 25th instant, and with reference to the first paragraph to state that whilst in my Despatches 1 regretted that the Rebels did not remain to defend their pahs and positions, still I consider that the destruction of the pahs before their eyes, and their being obliged to retire to the bush cannot but be attended with good results, and in this opinion I am coincided in by those whose knowledge of the native character is unquestionable. Your Excellency expresses an opinion that the season which is now about to commence, being that in which the Maories usually occupy themselves in planting, is the time when they may be most successfully harassed, and that a system of secret, sudden, and constant attack when and where they least expect it, will greatly distress and dishearten them, and further, that the Troops so employed ought not to be encumbered wish baggage. Before entering upon this, I think it desirable to recapitulate as shortly as possible the state in which I found this Province on my landing on the 3rd of last month, and the events which have occurred since that date. I found the settlers driven in from their farms, their cattle seized, and other property destroyed, many of their homes burnt, the enemy in the immediate vicinity round the town, an attack on it avowedly threatened, the place crowded with women and children whose only safety was the presence of the Troops, and the defences in a very imperfect state. The total armed Force in the whole Province, Naval Brigade, Militia and Volunteers included, amounted to 2292 rank and file, of which 955 were stationed at various outposts, which being constantly threatened by the enemy could not be abandoned ; of the remainder about 3-tO, including the great majority of the Militia and Volunteers, were non-effective either from sickness or from being engaged in civil employment. Thus the whole available force at my disposal in, and in Blockhouses about the Town, amounted to 1000 or thereby. No certain information could be obtained with regard to the numbers of the enemy, which was estimated, by those best able to judge, at about 1700, who were divided into two bodies, one of which, consisting of W. Kingi's followers, assisted by some of the Waikatos, occupied the strong pah Puketakauere, little more than a mile from the Camp on the Waitara. This pah was connected with the bush by a chain of smaller pahs, some of them of considerable strength, by which the enemy were enabled to bring reinforcements to the front with great ease and rapidity. The other body comprised the Southern natives, Taranakis and Ngatiruanuis, who were busily engaged in the construction of considerable works within a few hundred yards of the YVaireka Camp. These two bodies were able to communicate freely with one another under cover of the forest which, as Your Excellency is aware, extends to within a short distance of the town, and from which detached parties of the rebels were in the habit of creeping out, sometimes by day, but more frequently by night, for the purpose of murdering stragglers and plundering and burning the property of the settlers, but although the enemy were usually distributed in the manner just described, there was nothing to prevent them from uniting their whole force at any time, either on the town itself, or any other part which they might consider assailable. Your Excellency will observe therefore that' before undertaking any active operations in the field, with a sufficient force, it was indispensable that the safety of the women and children should be secured by the completion of the defences of the town, and by the removal of as many of them as possible to a distance from the seat of war ; for the former of these I took immediate steps by intrenching and stockading a limited enceinte with a view of reducing the number required for the defence of the town, and thus giving more disposable men for the field, and I practised the garrison at occupying the lines they were to defend ; for the latter, I embarked the families to the extent in my power, and proceeded to Auckland with a view of arranging this and other matters with Your Excellency. Your Excellency and the General Government having authorised me to send to Nelson as many of the women and children as I might think desirable, and having made arrangements lor their

(No. 297.)

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