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don overtook the fugitives before they
gained the summit of the hills, where his
leading files assailed them with their
sabres (the only arm I had to give them)
and they surrendered after some resistance
A few straggling Hau Haus escaped; the
number at present is unknown; one, how-
ever, was taken this morning, and another
was found dead, so that, according to the
prisoners' account, nine only remain unac-
counted for, of whom some may be dead in
the adjoining swamp, where they were
heavily fired upon.

In this action, which lasted nearly an
hour and a half, which was maintained with
the greatest gallantry by our forces, and an
obstinate bravery, possibly stimulated by
fanaticism, on the part of the enemy. I
have to regret the loss of one man of the
Colonial Forces and two of the Native Vo-
lunteer Contingent, among the former one
officer, Captain Kennedy, and eight men; of
the latter, four Maoris were wounded. The
exact number of the enemy's casualties I do
not yet know, but 23 have been buried, and
at least as many are now wounded in our
hospital. The prisoners amount to 56, and
of these two are chiefs of secondary rank,
Nikora and Henare, while Kipa, the head
chief, Panapa the prophet, and Kingita a
notorious character, are killed. The enemy
had the advantage of position and cover to
compensate them for a disparity, more ap-
parent than real, of number. The Militia
and Volunteers turned out 204 rank and
file, being every resident between the ages
prescribed for the first and second class,
for whom on short notice arms could
be obtained. But out of this number I
had to furnish a guard of 13 men for the
canoes, and another for the reserve ammu-
nition, so that there were not more than 180
actually engaged. None or almost none of
them had had arms have before. Thus
they marched in excellent order straight
into the pah, and though borne on one side
by the Native Contingent they never again
allowed the enemy to re-occupy that part
of the pah they had at first taken, and gra-
dually gaining ground under a very hot fire,
eventually hemmed him in a space of a very
few square yards of ground. Only a part
of the European force was employed in
attacking the pah in front. It is true the
reserve and Volunteers made a flank move-
ment which materially affected the result,
but at no time were there more than 100
men about the pah itself in actual collision
with the Natives. It may be out of place
to remark, but I pray your indulgence in
doing so, that the manner in which all ranks
turned out was beyond all praise, and
proves the high spirit and determination
to support the law which animates our
settlers. At seven p.m. on the 11th, I
assembled the officers for the first time, and
told them of the expedition, explaining
what duties and posts were assigned to
them, and the hour at which I wished them
to parade. The men, who had done their
usual day's work were summoned to march
that night quite unexpectedly, and the last
left this town at midnight, with scarcely an
absentee, and leaving no stragglers on the
road. They then marched nine miles to
the ground, fought the action, and returned
to Napier in capital order, carrying their
wounded with them. These were not
trained soldiers, but civilians from the town,
who left their shops and their work at a
short notice during the night, an I country-
men who left their homes with just enough
warning to dress and reach the rendezvous,
Captain Rhodes's Company, from Havelock
and Clive, unable to march on foot so great
a distance in the time, was represented by
upwards of half, who voluntarily obtained
horses and rode to the ground. So high a
spirit made success certain, and could only
have resulted from the firm determination
of the settlers of this province to put an end
to a state of things which of all others
is most repugnant to an Englishman's feel-
ings of submission to and respect for good
order and the law of the land. I must not
omit to bring to the special notice of the
Government the assistance afforded me by
officers of all ranks. To have assembled
their men from every part of this scattered
town, and from their farms in the suburban
lands, during the night, in a couple of hours,
was, notwithstanding the willingness of the
men, most creditable to the zeal of the offi-
cers, and commissioned and non-commissioned.
Failing enough arms, I authorised Captain
Gordon, late of the Iniskilling Dragoons, to
raise a party of horse, armed with swords
alone, from the unarmed men, and six more
unarmed men in each company marched
with us to the ground to carry the wounded
and to bring up ammunition if required.
The Natives had still less arms than the
Europeans, but they turned out at once,
and reached their posts in time. A large
section was not brought under fire, but
prevented the enemy's retreat on one side.
Another, under the leading chiefs, did join
our men. Perhaps my inexperience of their
modes of warfare may have placed them at
disadvantage, but they did not materially
add to our strength. Nevertheless many
individual acts of gallantry were performed
by them under my own observation. The
chiefs Tareha, Renata, Ihaka, Kopu, dis-
tinguished themselves highly, but the two
first named were conspicuous throughout
the action, endeavouring to induce their fol-
lowers to charge. Tarcha, with a sword
alone in his hand, rushed among the enemy
to stimulate his men. Happily no harm
reached him, and a valuable ally is spared
to the Europeans of this province. Al-
though I may have failed to afford a fair
field for these natives to fight with the gal-
lantry which I believe they possess, such
prompt assistance has been most valuable.
It has shown both the genuine nature of
their professed friendship, for they lost
several wounded and two killed in sup-
porting us; it adds one proof more to the
many we possess of the justness of our
views of the question at issue with the Hau
Haus, and it enabled us to prevent almost
entirely the escape of the defenders of the
pah. Mr. Locke, to whom the natives
were entrusted, exerted himself with so
much gallantry and zeal as to deserve my
warmest thanks. Among my fellow-set-
tlers of all ranks, many conducted them-
selves in such a manner as to merit any