NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

49

A.—No. 1

commenced an attack on that position. I was on my way from here to Tokano, accompanied by an escort of ten men, when the enemy fired into us on our left front as we neared tho Hauhau track leading up the hill, but putting our horses to a gallop we rode past and reached the friendly Natives, who commenced firing at the enemy. They had taken up four different positions half-way down the hills, and a strong body of the enemy were also in support on a narrow fern ridge, between two densely wooded gullies, which ended at the edge of the bush on the summit of the hill. Our men under their several chiefs, after some sharp skirmishing, drove the enemy from the position they held, back on their supports, leaving some of their killed and wounded in our hands. The enemy rallied again and charged down on us with loud cries, but were met by Henare's people, who again repulsed them with loss, taking a rifle pit on the top of the hill, from which a heavy fire had been maintained; this was rushed, and the enemy broke and fled, leaving three of their number behind. I called a halt here, as I did not wish to pursue the enemy through the bush on to the plains that day. Our men were tired and short of ammunition, and we could not have accomplished much of importance had we gone on, and would only have driven the enemy further than he now is, so I ordered the forces to return to camp. We learnt from a prisoner who was taken the first part of the day, that Te Kooti had led the attack in person, and had all his available men with him, about 250 to 300 men. They fought well, and contested every inch of ground, carrying off their dead and wounded to the fern ridge above them, until forced to break. The enemy is not so short of ammunition as is supposed ;in one pouch taken by us, forty rounds of Enfield ammunition and sixty caps were found ; another had thirty rounds ; and I should say they fired over 2,000 rounds during the day. Six of the enemy fell into our hands, and were left on the field, but there were many others who were carried away. I place their loss in killed and wounded at over thirty. I also append a list of our casualties, which are comparatively light. I have the honor to bring to the notice of the Government the energy displayed by Captain St. George, and by Lieutenant Preece, who was foremost in all that took place. Tho chiefs Henare, lomoana, Paora, Ilapi, Hohepa, Taunuamutu, and others, are especially deserving of credit for the good example shown by them to their men. The whole of the friendlies are in high spirits, and, if the weather will keep fine, I intend to attack To Kooti on two sides on Monday. Kemp, with the Wanganuis, has not yet made his appearance, and lamat a loss to account for his delay. I will not wait any longer. I omitted to mention that our forces engaged yesterday numbered 240 men. Since writing the above, another body has been found, making a total of seven killed of the enemy that I am certain of. I have, &c, Tuos. McDonnell, His Honor J. D. Ormond, Napier. Lieut.-Colonel Commanding Taupo Field Force.

List of Wounded ai Waipape, 2oth September, 1869. 1. Ngatikahungunu —Wi Tako, gun-shot wound left side, left lung injured; bullet lodged in left breast; extracting dangerous. 2. Pera Pakuku, gun-shot wound, entered upper third part of left arm, and lodged between the scapula); bullet extracted ; severe. 3. Himiana, gun-shot wound below right knee; slight. 4. Arawa —Maniapoto, gun-shot wound right side of chest, passing through the lung; dangerous. 5. Henarc Poihipi, gun-shot wound through calf of left leg; slight. 6. Ngatikahungunu—Matenga, gun-shot wound right thigh; slight. J. Murray Gibbs, Assistant Surgeon.

No. 28. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the Eight Hon. Earl Granville, K.G. (No. 111.) Government House, Auckland, My Lord,— New Zealand, 28th October, 1869. In continuation of my Despatch No. 113, of the Ith September ultimo, I have the honor to report that the trials of the Hauhau prisoners from the bands of Te Kooti and Titokowaru have been completed during the past month, before the Supreme Court of this Colony. 2. Your Lordship is already in possession of the opinion of the AttorneyGeneral of New Zealand as to the political and legal status of these men, and is aware that he decided that they should be tried for levying war against the Queen; also, that the learned and able Judge who presided at these trials (Mr. Justice Johnston), in his charge to the Grand Jury, practically indorsed the views of the Attorney-General. I now further transmit a printed copy (corrected by himself) of the Judge's Charge to the Petty Jury in the High Treason cases. 3. Out of the total number of nearly one hundred prisoners, more than twenty of the least criminal were discharged, no evidence against them having been tendered on the part of the Crown ; while the remaining seventy pleaded guilty, or have been convicted after long and patient trials before the Supreme Court. As I have already informed your Lordship, the Colonial Ministers and I have been 13