ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OE STATE.

A.—No. 1

89

there appeared to be some uncertainty as to our distance from Mataitawa, I directed the day's provisions then remaining to be divided, and half rations only were issued to the troops on the 20th and 21st. For two days horse flesh was issued as a ration. Our guide, the AVaitotara Chief Pehimana, who assured me that he was well acquainted with the route, at the end of the third day's march, on coming to a river ho professed to know, stated that wewere only six miles from Mataitawa ; but after a tedious march on the following day, the 20th, finding that he had been mistaken, I determined to send forward a party of the Native Contingent, accompanied by Captain Leach, Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General, and Ensign McDonnell, N. 1., in order to ascertain our position, and, if possible, to procure supplies. I continued the inarch for about six miles on the 21st, and not having heard from Captain Leach, halted the following day to await his return, as well as to rest the pack horses, now much wearied. Late in the evening of the 22nd, Captain Leach returned, having made arrangements with Colonel AVarre, C.8., commanding at Taranaki, for the supply of the force during the remainder of the march to Mataitawa, then distant twenty miles, and where we arrived on tho 25th. I need not dwell further on the arduous nature of the duties performed by the Field Force on this march, in the face of unusual difficulties and privations, and during much inclement weather ; it will, however, be gratifying to your Excellency to hear that officers and men appeared to vie with each other in the performance of their duties with unyielding energy and cheerfulness, and, I am happy to add, there was not a single case of sickness. On the first day's march, the Native Contingent, who were in advance, came suddenly on a party of seven rebels, three of whom were shot. These men were Ngatiruanuis, who it appears had gone to the north of the AVaitara for assistance in men and arms, and having failed were returning to Ketemarai. AVith the view of intercepting any fugitive rebels that might be retiring before mj force, Colonel Warre, in pursuance of instructions I had given him, despatched, on the 20th January, LieutenantColonel Morant, 68th Light Infantry, with 150 men, to move along a track leading south from Te Arei, and eventually joining that on which I was marching. Colonel Morant's force returned to Mataitawa on the 23rd, without encountering any rebels. On the 25th, after emerging from the forest, the force moved on from Mataitawa and encamped at the Waiwakaiho Eiver, four miles north of New Plymouth. Colonel AVarre having reported that the rebels were still seen in the neighbourhood of the AVhite Cliffs, I embarked, on the 26th, with 100 men of the 43rd Light Infantry, and a six-pounder Armstrong gun, on board tho s.s. "Ahuriri" then lying in Taranaki roads, and proceeded up the coast to the mouth of the Mokau Eiver, and from thence to the Awakino Eiver. There were a few whares visible at Ingarangi and Maniaroa, but they did not appear to be inhabited, nor do I think there can be any large settlement in that neighbourhood. It was not therefore necessary to land the force, which, moreover, there would have been considerable risk in doing on account of the weather. On the 27th the field force marched to Oakaru, on the 28th to Stoney r Eiver, and on the 29th to Warea, near which the rebels were said to have collected in force at a pa called AVaikoko, situated in the bush directly inland from Tipoka, a temporary post on tho seaboard seven miles south of Warea, occupied a few days before by Captain Corbett's company of Military Settlers. On the 30th I moved the field force to Tipoka, and in order, if possible, to cut off the retreat of the rebels, I sent Captain Corbett's company by a track leading to the right rear of AVaikoko; and instructed Captain Livesay, 43rd Light Infantry, commanding at Opunoki, to march, on the night of the 31st, with 100 men, by an -inland track leading from the south to the rebel position. In accordance with this arrangement, I left Tipoka at three o'clock a.m. on the Ist instant, with the force as per margin,* and, proceeding by a path leading through scrub and dense bush for six miles, reached a large clearing within which AVaikoko is situated, at a distance of about 500 yards from the point where the troops emerged. The force was at once formed in the following order, viz. : the 2nd Battalion 14th Eegiment on the right, the 43rd Light Infantry on the left, and the Forest Eangers in the centre, all in skirmishing order with supports ; the Native Contingent forming a reserve. I then gave the order to advance, when a heavy fire was opened by tho enemy-, upon which the troops gallantly charged and occupied the place ; the rebels retreating and re-opening fire from the bush, from which they were as quickly driven. Captains Livesay and Corbett, with their respective detachments, arrived on the ground immediately after. Our loss was not severe on this occasion (casualty return enclosed) ; that of the rebels could not be ascertained, four bodies only were seen. The whares and cultivations, which were unusually extensive, having been destroyed, the troops returned to their respective camps. On the second the field force marched to Opunaki, where I found a number of Natives recently in arms against us, who had been permitted by the civil authorities to reside in a village near the redoubt without taking the oath of allegiance. I immediately directed them to be made prisoners. Amongst the number was Te Ua, the so-called prophet, and founder of the Hau Hau fanaticism: he proceeds to Wellington for your Excellency's disposal. The remainder were set at liberty on taking the oath of allegiance, and giving up their arms. Prior to leaving Opunaki, I instructed Captain the Honorable A. E. Harris, 43rd Eegiment, to capture and destroy a pa near AVarea, to which it was reported the rebels from AVaikoko had retired. In this service he was to be aided by Captain Livesay, with a detachment of the 43rd Light Infantry, from Opunaki, and Captain Corbett, with the Military Settlers, from Tipoka. I am not in possession * Distribution: Royal Artillery —subaltern, 1; sergeant, 1; rank and file, 30. 2nd Battalion 14th Regiment—field officer, 1; captains, 2; subalterns, 2 ; sergeants, 6; drummers, 3 ; rank and file, 180. 43rd Regiment—captains, 2; subalterns, 2; sergeants, 5 ; drummer, 1; rank and file, 90. Forest Rangers —field officer, 1 ; captain, 1; sergeants, 3 ; rank and file, 31. Native Contingent—subaltern, 1; rank and file, 60. Taranaki Troopers—captain, 1; rank and file, 16. Total —field officers, 2; captains, 6; subalterns, 6; sergeants, 15 ; drummers, 4; rank and file, 407.