Bay of Islands,
17th May, 1845.

( 68))

SIR, - I have the honor to report, for the
information of His Excellency the Governor,
the successful issue of an expedition I had the
honor to command against the Waikadi tribe
in accordance with instructions, and the dis-
cretionary power vested in me by Lieut. Colonel
Hulme, commanding the Forces in New Zealand,
previous to his departure for Auckland. Having
obtained, through the assistance of Mr. Clendon,
Police Magistrate of Pahia, all the necessary
information of the strength and position of the
pah at Waikadi, I proceeded up the Waikadi
river by night on the 15th instant, with 200
men of the 58th Regiment, 8 marines, and a
12-pounder carronade, with an armed seaman
in each boat, belonging to H. M. S. Hazard,
in order to reach our position before break of
day, and thereby cut off the retreat of the na-
tives from the pah; but owing to the intricate
navigation of the channel, and the difficulty in
finding the entrance to the proper creek in the
dark, some of the boats lost their way, and as
the tide went down they grounded-so that, by
break of day, I found myself before the pah
with only 50 men, and about 100 maories be-
longing to Tamati Walker and Rivers, under
the Chiefs Rippa and Rivers; these I dispatched
to the left of the pah, to flank it on that side,
whilst a subaltern and 20 men of the 58th Regt.
formed a flanking party to the right-I took up
a position in front, under cover of a low bank
and scrub. The inmates of the pah commenced
firing on us as the day broke, having heard our
approach, which was returned by the friendly
natives, but I did not allow my men to fire a
shot for fear of injuring some of them, until I
had sufficient men landed to make an attack on
the pah; however, in less than half an hour,
the enemy was seen deserting the pah, and our
allies rushing in, we immediately followed them

up and took possession of it, whilst Rippa's and
Rivers' parties followed up the fugitives, who
kept up a constant fire from the bush for six
or
seven hours after, during which time I had to
support the friendly natives, with a company of
the 58th Regt.-they fought most gallantly, and
I regret to say, had two killed and six wounded.
The Waikadi tribe, it is said, were reinforced by
a party of Kawiti's men. There were about 30
men in the pah, how many joined them after-
wards could not be ascertained, nor could their
loss, but from the heavy fire we kept up upon
them for so many hours, it must have been
considerable.

I found that all the property said to be in
their possession, stolen from Kororareka and
other places, had been removed into the bush
in anticipation of our coming, and from the
thickness of the bush it was impossible for
Europeans to proceed in search of it. I, how-
ever, burned down the pah, and carried away
all the canoes and other things of use, and have
much satisfaction in reporting that as soon as
the tide served, I returned to the ship without
losing a man, not withstanding the risk we ran
of having our retreat cut off, and being fired at
whilst in the boats, from the banks of the river,
on our return. There were two boats captured
by Lieutenant Phillpots, of the Hazard, and
the canoes I allowed Tamati Waka's people to
take.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

CYP. BRIDGE, Com. 58th Regt.,
Commanding Troops at the Bay of Islands.

The Colonial Secretary,
&c., &c., &c.,
Auckland.

CHRISTOPHER FULTON, Government Printer, Auckland.