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E.—No. 5.

Enclosures to No. 32. COLONEL WAEEE, C.8., TO THE ASSISTANT MILITAEY SECBETAEY, HEAD QUAIITEBS. New Plymouth, New Zealand; 30th September, 1863. Sir — I have the honor to transmit for the information of the Lieutenant-General Commanding, the accompanying report from Captain Atkinson, the Senior Officer in command of the Volunteers organised to patrol the settlement, with a view to prevent the incursion of rebel Maoris. It is with much pleasure that I draw the Lieutenant-General's attention to the satisfactory result of [this encounter between the Civilian Forces of this Province and the rebel Maoris, and to the persevering efforts of Captains Atkinson and Webster and the officers and men under their command to carry out the important duties entrusted to them. In all weather, and at all hours, have these Companies sought the enemy ; and it is to their constant patrolling, not only in the immediate vicinity of the town, but the outskirts of the settlement, that I attribute the little annoyance we have experienced from the presence of, it is now stated, some five hundred of the rebels, who occupy strong positions on the edge of the bush between the Bell Block Stockade and Mataitawa. Captain Atkinson possesses all the energy and perseverance requisite to make him a first rate " guerilla " leader, and lie is most ably seconded by the officers he has trained, as well as by the noncommissioned officers and men who form his force. They have co-operated with the regular troops on several occasions, and I am much indebted to their exertions, their endurance of fatigue, and their willing cheerfulness in the performance of their arduous duties. I have, &c, H. J. Warre, Colonel Commanding Troops in Taranaki. The Assistant Military Secretary, Head Quarters.

CAPTAIN ATKINSON TO THE GAEEISON ADJUTANT, TABANAKI. Taranaki, 29th September, 1863. Sir,— I have the honor to report for the information of the Colonel Commanding, that this morning, at 320 a.m., I left town with my own and Captain Webster's Company of Bushrangers forthe purpose of laying an ambuscade in the vicinity of the Bell Block. We planted, and remained in ambush till B'3o a.m., but without success. We then moved inland by the boundary line of the Bell Block, and upon reaching Street's clearing, which is covered with high fern, we surprised a party of about thirty Maoris. They returned our fire well for a few minutes, but very soon took to the bush, and then right away. We continued our march to Greenway's, where we surprised another party of about the same number; they also, after a short skirmish, made off as fast as possible. This party was apparently in waiting for a small escort from the Bell Block Stockade fetching firewood. Knowing the strength of the Natives in the immediate neighbourhood, 1 did not consider it prudent to follow up either of the parties, or to attempt to surround them, which could have been done in both cases had I felt sure of their numbers. I believe we killed two, if not more, aud wounded several. We took six mats, two stained with blood, several haversacks and kits with food in, and one ba» containing twenty-two leaden bullets. There were no casualties, I am thankful to say, on our side, except one man (Rushton) just touched in the ear. We reached town on our return at 2 p.m. To Captains Webster and Messenger, to Lieutenant Jonas and Ensign Brown, and to Assistant Surgeon Webber, my best thanks are due. The conduct of the non-commissioned officers and men, upon whom so much depends on such occasions, was most satisfactory. I have, &c, H. A. Atkinson, . Captain T.R.V. The Garrison Adjutant, Taranaki.

No. 33. LIEUTENANT-GENEBAL CAMEEON, C.8., TO GOVEBNOB SIE GEOEGE GEEY, K.C.B. Head-Quarters, Queen's Redoubt, 6th October, 1863. Sir,— I have the honor to forward Copies of a Report from Colonel Warre, C.8., Commanding

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THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.

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