A.—No. 6.

Natives. The enemy fled in all directions, were followed for a mile and a half up the creek, and across into the bush and scrub, losing altogether, in the attack on the kainga and in the pursuit, about ten of their number, nine of whom have been buried by the friendly Natives, and I have no doubt that lam considerably underrating their loss. The casualties on our side were as follows: — Europeans. Captain Hussey : gunshot wound through spine, entering right side. Killed. No. 195. Corporal Hawes, T.M.S : gunshot wound in left arm. Serious ; doing well. No. 639. Private Hollingsworth, T.M.S.: gunshot wound in left arm and back. Serious ; doing well. Natives. Tipenc, of Kopu's party : gunshot wound through head. Killed. "While we were engaged as described above, the chief Kopu and the greater part of his men were watching the enemy's other position, in order that we should not be cut off. As soon as this chief saw the enemy driven out of their kainga, his men being fresher than ours, he determined to chase them as far as he could. He did so in the most able manner, driving them before him into the hills, and returned at nightfall, having killed three of their number in addition to those enumerated before, and having only one man slightly wounded. The next day, at two o'clock in the morning, Captain Biggs, Cornet Pearce, and Ensign Richardson, with fifty men, composed nearly all of my own Company, who volunteered for the service, started with Kopu and Ihaka, Wa&nga's people, to surprise the enemy if possible, and drive them out of any position they might have taken up. Captain Biggs returned to Camp about 9 a.m., and reported his liaving discovered a large unfinished pa from which the enemy had fled. He had not, therefore, seen anything of the enemy, but was able to give me information of the direction they had taken. Kopu remained with his men in order to scout. Kopu returned in the evening, having found and being engaged with the enemy a great part of the day in what may be described as a bush fight. Two of his men were wounded, one I fear, by name Rana, will not live. Kopu reports the enemy to be now occupying a strong position on a spur among the hills._ They have sent their women and children to Waikaremo, which is about three days journey from where I now am. The fugitives from Turanga under Anaru Matate have taken refuge with the enemy here. I estimate the number of the ,enemy at about 400; and, considering the small force at my disposal, having only 100 available Europeans for the field, together with about 150 trustworthy Natives, I am now sending Captain Biggs overland to Napier, to obtain His Honor Mr. McLean's consent for him to proceed at once to Tuparoa, in order to obtain the services—which I know will be gladly given—of those brave Chiefs Te Hotine and Ropatu, with their men. I also purpose removing by the same opportunity from Turanga-nui 20 men from my own Company and the Hawke's Bay Volunteers. This will be an addition to the force here of about 200 Natives, who have fought with me before and whom I know and can trust thoroughly, and of 50 Europeans. In concluding this Despatch I beg to bring under the notice of the Government the general gallantry displayed by both officers and men in the pursuit of an enemy over a strange country —one which even the friendly Natives knew nothing about. I must particularise the names of Captain Biggs, Lieutenant St. George, and a gentleman volunteer who has accompanied the expedition with Ihaka Waanga's Natives, a Mr. Towgood, of Hawkes' Bay, as having been, by their skill and courage, of the greatest possible assistance to me, and I trust the Government will remember their services. I have, &c., James Eraser, Brevet-Major, Commanding Local Forces, Turanganui and Te Wairoa, Province of Auckland. The Under Secretary for Colonial Defence, Wellington.

7

DESPATCHES FROM MAJOR ERASER.