A.—No. 12

22

PAPERS RELATIVE TO MILITARY OPERATIONS

On the 22nd No. G Division joined Lieut.-Colonel Lyon, and the Native Volunteer Cavalry, under AVirihana, moved up on the same day. The roadmaking proceeded, and the timber for the bridge was cut in the bush. On the 23rd all the tools were employed on the road, and the Kai Iwi Cavalry came into line at noon. In reconnoitring to find a suitable camp for them, we discovered the enemy with about 100 men, horse and foot, approaching from the sandhills, apparently with the intention of seizing a few of Mr. Moore's cattle, which were between him and our party. Lieutenant Bryce drove these off under a distant fire from his front men, and drew out his men in skirmishing order, not replying (by my directions) to the enemy's harmless discharges. Meanwhile I sent for parties of Nos. 2 and 3 Divisions, and the men turned out quickly. The enemy perceiving that his iire was not returned, now crossed the valley of the Okehu, and closed upon Lieutenant Bryce's troop. Mr. Bryce, in accordance with my orders, drew off his men, and the infantry moved up. The enemy being now in sight, Sub-Inspector Gr. McDonnell, dashed forward to meet him, but he declined to stand, and precipitately retreated. Lieut.-Colonel Lyon now coming up, I sent him by a shorter route to try to intercept the fugitives, but they made off without affording Lieut.-Colonel Lyon any opportunity to engage at close quarters. The Arawas and other troops had meanwhile come up, and the AVanganui Cavalry, whieli I had promised to inspect in town, on learning the approach of the enemy, also moved towards the Kai Iwi. The troops all seemed very anxious to close with the enemy, and were apparently in excellent spirits. After this disappointment we returned to our several quarters, the two volunteer troops encamping for the night on the Kai Iwi, together with No. 1 Division, Armed Constabulary, from AVoodall's. AVestmere was evacuated in the course of the afternoon, and the Hospital moved to Woodall's. On this day No. 7 Division moved up to Fort Lyon ; Major Kemp arrived with a few more of his men, and took command of his force. On the 24th, being Sunday, I allowed the troops to halt in their respective lines, to wash their clothes. The Volunteer Cavalry, however, came into line beyond the Kai Iwi, on Mr. Moore's run. On tho 25th the road and bridge were proceeded with, and Major Kemp moved on after nightfall through the bush, to the other side of the Kai Iwi. On the 26th, at daylight, the guides having discovered the enemy beyond our picquets, fired upon him, and in retiring, I regret to say that Constable McKenzic wa.s followed and tomahawked by the enemy, and Mr. Williamson wounded in the leg. Tho noise of this firing was heard at my head-quarters, then in process of moving to the front; and I pushed on to Lieut.-Colonel Lyon's camp with tho Arawas, leaving orders for No. 1 Division to push on from the Kai Iwi. On arriving at Fort Lyon I found that the picquets had been engaged and the troops turned out in support. During a fusillade of half an hour one man had been shot dead on our side, and the enemy, finding our troops about to close with him, had made oil' into the bush. lat once pushed on with Xo. 8 and No. 1 Divisions, and arrived at Handley's farm without overtaking him, and only just in time to save the Okehu bridge, which he had barricaded and set on fire. At Mr. Handley's I found the chief Kemj), who told me that his picquets had seen the enemy retiring half an hour before. He had been in the bush himself waylaying a different path, and thus they had escaped unmolested, as his picquet was too weak to discover itself. During the first part of the skirmish two of the enemy are believed to have been killed, but though we have found their blood, as yet their bodies have not been found, as the bush is very thick; none were carried away, however. I brought up No. G Division, under Inspector Koberts, in the course of the afternoon, and having taken up strong positions to cover the road-making parties, I sent back orders to move up all the supplies from the rear that could be required. A part of the force expected from Poverty Bay, with Lieut.-Colonel St. John and Sub-Inspector G-ascoigne, arrived during the day, and fifty-five recruits were sent back to AVanganui, to be embarked for the Waikato. The " Start " left in the evening, and may be expected back to-morrow with bettertrained men in lieu of the recruits, and more Arawas. I have, &c, The Hon. the Defence Minister. G-. S. AVhitmoee, Colonel.

No. 17. Copy of a Letter from Colonel "Whitmoee to the Hon. Colonel Haiti/taut. Sin, — Titokowaru's Pa, Tauranga Ika, 3rd February, 1869. I have the honor to inform you that this pa has this morning fallen into the hands of the Colonial forces under my command; the enemy having, during tho night and early this morning, retreated towards the Waitotara River. I had arrived before the place, and opened my attack yesterday; but, from the difficulty of ascertaining the exact features of the ground, could not invest it before dark. This morning, however, I should have done so, and, indeed, had already given directions with that object, when some scouts discovered that the enemy was in very small force inside. I thereupon directed an advance, and the enemy's rearguard evacuated it before we could overtake them. The pa is exceedingly strong, and as Titokowaru must have had plentiful supplies, it is difficult to imagine any reason, except fear, for his abandoning it. His preparations for defence were of the most complete description, and no gateways, except underground holes, were left in the palisades. I shelled the pa, with apparently some effect, both yesterday and at daylight this morning, and it is possible that Titokowaru felt that his defences did not protect his men from that kind of fire, and made off in consequence. The pa is a formidable place, and I am satisfied that, with so much at stake, I should not have been justified in attempting to take it in any other way than that I followed. No troops in the world could have hewn their way through a double row of strong palisades, backed by rifle-pits, and flanked by two-storied erections, such as are constructed in this fortification, defended by excellent shots and desperate men.