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No. 7. CAPTAIN SULLIVAN, E.N., TO GOVEBNOB SIB GEOEGE GBEY K.CB. Banks of Mangatawhiri, 28th July, 1863. Sir,— I have the honor to inform you that in compliance with your wishes, the Colonial steam vessel " Avon " has been partially protected from musketry fire, and brought up the river Waikato, to Havelock in safety. 2. The whole of this service has been executed under the immediate supervision aud direction of Commander Mayne, of Her Majesty's ship "Eclipse," to whom I had confided that important duty. 3. Your Excellency will perceive from the copy of his report to me, which I enclose, the many difficulties to be overcome,—also the immense assistance rendered by Captain Greaves, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General, and that of Mr. Strand, a settler at Kohanga, without which, notwithstanding the great skill and untiring energy and patience of Commander Mayne (to whom I feel greatly indebted) this successful result would in all probability have been greatly retarded. I have, &c, J. W. Sullivan, Commander and Senior Naval Officer in New Zealand. To His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.CB.

Enclosure to No. 7. "Avon," off the Bluff, Waikato, 27th July, 1863. Sir,— I have the honor to inform you that I left Onehunga in her Majesty's ship under my command with the steamer " Avon" in tow, on the morning of the 16th, and steamed to the Manukau Heads. 2. The signal " Bar unsafe" being made from the station we anchored on the Huia Bank, and remained there till Monday the 20th, the ship dragging into shoal water, we then shifted berth round Puponga and remained there till Saturday the 25th. 3. On the morning of the 25th, proceeded over the bar with the "Avon" in tow, and reached the Waikato Heads at one o'clock ; took thirty of our men on board "Avon," and sent "Eclipse" back to Manukau, and crossed the Waikato bar in the " Avon " at 2 o'clock. 4. After grounding several times on the flat which crosses the river inside the entrance, we ran on the bank about two miles below Kohanga, and had to remain there until 4 o'clock next morning. We then hauled off, and steamed on till nearly daylight, when we again grounded. 6. During the day we lightened the vessel its much as possible by putting coal and some other heavy things into a large Canoe which we towed up, and at high water (4-30 p.m.) the vessel again floated ; steamed on till 6, and anchored eight miles below Tuakau ; started at daylight next morning, and reached the Bluff at 4 p.m. 7. The only Natives we saw were a few at the Heads, who hoisted a white flag as we passed, twenty or thirty at Kohanga, and as many at Cameron. No one appeared the least disposed to dispute our passage. 8. Captain Greaves, Deputy Assistant Quartermarter-General, accompanied the vessel, and it is owing to his knowledge of the river and unflagging energy that the service was accomplished so successfully. He preceded the vessel the whole way, sounding and showing the channel. 9 I request that you will bring to the notice of the Colonial Government the service of Mr. Strand, of Kohanga ; he accompanied the vessel from that place to Cameron, and materially assisted Captain Greaves in conducting her over one or two difficult places in which the channel had lately shifted. I have, <kc, J. C. Mayne, Commander of H.M.S. " Eclipse." To Commander F. W. Sullivan, Senior Officer in New Zealand, Naval Brigade Camp, Mangatawhiri River.

No. 8. REPORT OF DETACHMENT—TWO OFFICERS, FOUR PETTY OFFICERS, AND THIRTY-SEVEN MEN OF THE NAVAL VOLUNTEERS, ACCOMPANIED BY MB. PUCKEY AND TWENTY-FIVE NATIVES, ON SERVICE IN MANUKAU HAEBOUE. Saturday, July 18th.—Left Auckland, and arrived at Onehunga at 2 p.m. ; finding no boats ready, remained there the night.

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