H.—39

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Volunteers under my command, by the several superior officers under whom I served, and also of the favourable mention made of my name by His Excellency Colonel Gore Browne, 08., the late Governor, and yourself, and the present Ministry, on the reorganization of the Taranaki Militia and Volunteers, at which time the appointment I held was done away with. Being fully aware that officers of the local forces have no one to look up to but your Excellency and the Ministry under whom they serve to support them in what I respectfully submit are their just claims, I shall feel extremely obliged if my case receive your favourable support by being forwarded to the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for War. I have, &c., Chas. St. John Heebeet, Late Major Commanding Taranaki Militia and Volunteers. His Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Governor of New Zealand.

Copt of Exteact from Despatch from Major-General Peatt, C.8., dated Head-quarters, New Plymouth, Taranaki, 10th November, 1860. (In printed papers relating to the recent disturbances in New Zealand.) I have now the great satisfaction of testifying to the gallant behaviour of the troops, Artillery Engineers, Line, Eoyal Marine Artillery, of the Naval Brigade, Militia and Volunteers ; all vied with each other as how best to reach the enemy. The behaviour of that noble corps, the 65th Eegiment, and the Militia, was most conspicuous, and at the commencement of the action the brunt fell upon them, as all the casualties except two, &c. And the following commanding corps, i.e., Captain Strover, E.A.; Captain Mould, E.E. ; Major Hutchins, 12th Eegiment; Lieut.-Colonel Leslie, 40th Eegiment ; Captain Turner, 65th Eegiment, who commanded the advance and stormed the pa, and was severely wounded after entering it; Major Herbert, Taranaki Militia, who gallantly led the storming party on the left flank ; and it is due to the continuous and energetic conduct of Lieut. Urquhart, 65th Eegiment, to name that officer also, &c. T. S. Peatt, Major-General Commanding. True Copy.—Chas. St. John Heebeet.

Copy of General After Order, dated 30th Alarch, 1861. (No. 623.) No. 1. Commodore Seymour, commanding Naval Brigade, having intimated to the Major-General Commanding, that in all probability the Naval Brigade will return to their ships shortly, the AfajorGeneral Commanding, before quitting New Zealand, has to express his great satisfaction with their services on shore, whilst under his command, which have been most conspicuous on all occasions; and he has particularly to thank Commodore Seymour for his very cordial co-operation, and for the gallant and unhesitating manner in which he has given him very effective assistance whenever it could be of use. The Major-General must also mention the very effective service rendered by Lieut. Battiscombe of H.M. s.s. " Pelorus," not only with the Naval Brigade, but also while employed as Assistant in the Royal Engineer Department. Midshipmen Hotham and Walden, while employed with the heavy guns on shore, had also an opportunity of showing their gallantry and good service, and the Major-General must add his high opinion of the services of the Royal Marine Artillery. Her Majesty having decided that the command of the troops in New Zealand shall be separated from that of the Australian Colonies, and that Liout.-General D. A. Cameron, C.8., shall assume command of the Forces in the colony, all reports will be made to Lieut-General Cameron from this date. In relinquishing the command of the Forces in New Zealand, the Af ajor-General feels it due to the troops who have served under him so gallantly and so energetically, and with such continued success as to have procured a cessation of hostilities and a probability of a permanent peace, to thank them of all arms for their arduous labours, and the unremitting cheerfulness with which they have performed them. The Af ajor-General begs particularly to thank the following officers, whose services he will bring more prominently forward in his despatches to the Home authorities: Commodore Seymour in command Naval Forces, Australian Colonies; Colonel Mould, R.E., Captain Mould, R.E., Lieut. Warburton, R.E., Lieut. Battiscombe, Royal Marines, employed in the Royal Engineers Department ; Captain Strorer, commanding Royal Artillery, and lately for a short time Captain Mercer, R.A., commanding; Colonel Wyatt, commanding 65th Regiment; Lieut.-Colonel Leslie, commanding 40th Regiment; Major Wilson, 40th Regiment, who commanded a detachment at Waitara for some time ; Major Logan, commanding 57th Regiment; Major Douglas, commanding 2-14 th Regiment; Major Hutchins, commanding l-12th Regiment; Aiajor Herbert, commanding Taranaki Militia; Lieut. Woods, commanding detachment from H.AI. s.s. "Victoria;" Colonel Sillery, D.Q.M.G.; Lieut.-Colonel Carey, D.A.G.; James Alouat, Esq., C.8., V.C., D.1.G.; Captain Paul, Major of Brigade; Lieut. R. A. Foster, R.A., A.D.C.; Lieutenant A. Thing, Militia. The Major-General has to regret the loss of many brave officers and men in this service, but more particularly Captain Strange, 65th Regiment; Lieut. McNaughton, R.A.; Lieut. Burke, 40th Regiment ; and Lieut. Jackson, 40th Regiment, who nobly fell in the execution of their duty. By command. James R. Carey, Lieut.-Colonel, D.A.G. True copy of original order.—H. Deßuroh Adams, P.F. N.B.—Some few days after the above was published, the names of Mr. H. S. Jones, Deputy-Commissiariat-General, and Mr. DuMoulin, Acting D.A.C.G., were inserted therein. True extract. —Chas. St. John Herbert, Late Aiajor Commanding Taranaki Militia and Volunteers.