THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 289

together to 380 men. It was necessary to
descend the stream for about half a mile from
the termination of the new road; and the left
bank where we crossed was so steep that the
troops had great difficulty in ascending it.
They are now encamped on the Koheroa, about
500 yards from the river; and a redoubt will
be constructed immediately which will com-
mand the navigation of the river, and secure
the communication between the Queen's Re-
doubt, and the Stockade on the Waikato.
The Troops were conveyed down the river
in the cutter of H.M.S. Harrier, and a few
other boats, manned by a party of men from
the Harrier. Capt. Sullivan, R.N., was kind
enough to superintend the embarkation and
landing of the troops. The boats above men-
tioned, and Capt. Sullivan's gig, were brought
overland the day previous—those of the
Harrier from Drury, and the others from
Auckland; and were carried from the Queen's
Redoubt down to the river during the night.
The whole of these arrangements were under
Capt. Sullivan's immediate direction and super-
vision.

I have also to inform Your Excellency that
Colonel Wyatt marched from Drury with 300
men of the 65th Regiment yesterday afternoon,
and reached Tuakau this morning. On their
approach, the Natives abandoned the Settle-
ment, and retired in boats across the river.
The detachment is now encamped on a
height overlooking the Waikato, and com-
manding its navigation, and a redoubt for 150
men will be constructed there.

I have, &c.,
D. A. CAMERON,
Lieut.-General.

His Excellency
Sir George Grey, K.C.B.,
&c., &c., &c.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 20th July, 1863.

HIS Excellency the Governor directs the
publication of the following Despatches
with enclosures, from Lieut.-General Came-
ron, C.B.

ALFRED DOMETT.

Head Quarters,
Queen's Redoubt,
July 18th, 1863.

SIR, I have the honor to inform your Ex-
cellency, that at eleven o'clock, yesterday
morning, Lieut.-Colonel Austen, 2nd Batt.
14th Regiment, commanding the camp at the
Kohiroa, having observed a large body of
Natives collecting on the hills in his front, in-
stantly ordered his Battalion to get under arms
and moved with praiseworthy promptitude
against them, followed by detachments of the
12th and 70th Regiments, which had just
arrived at the Camp as a reinforcement, the
whole force amounting to about 500 men.
A report of the circumstances reached me
as I was on my way to the Kohiroa, and I
hastened towards the column, which I overtook
on its march. After we had proceeded in
skirmishing order about two miles the rebels
opened fire upon us, and as we advanced upon
them they retired along the narrow crest of the
hills towards the Maramarua, making a stand
on every favourable position which the ground
presented. Some of their positions, which had
been recently fortified by lines of rifle-pits,
and which from the nature of the ground
could not be turned, they defended with
great obstinacy, and as we had no artillery in
the field they could only be dislodged from
them by successive attacks with the bayonet,
which were executed by the 2nd Batt. 14th,
with great gallantry and success.

We pursued them from one position to
another, a distance of about five miles, until
we drove them in great confusion across the
mouth of the Maramarua, some escaping up
the Waikato in canoes, and others along its
right bank, after swimming across the Mara-
marua. A considerable portion of them, how-
ever, before reaching the Maramarua escaped
down a gully to the left, seeking shelter in a
swamp, and suffered severely from the fire of
our men on the heights. As we had no means
of crossing the Maramarua, I ordered the
troops to return to camp.

All the troops behaved remarkably well. I
am greatly indebted to Lieut.-Colonel Austin,
2nd Battalion 14th Regiment (who was
wounded in the arm); to Major Ryan, com-
manding detachment 70th Regiment; and
Brevet Major Miller, commanding detachment
of the 12th Regiment, for the manner in
which they led and directed the movements of
the men under their respective commands.
Among the Officers conspicuous for their for-
wardness in the attack were Captain Strange
14th Regt., who commanded the leading com-
pany of the column, Captain Phelps who
greatly distinguished himself at the head of
his company when charging a line of rifle pits,
and Lieutenants Glancy and Armstrong also of
Colonel Mould, C.B., Royal Engineers, was
with the column during the engagement and
ready to give his valuable services if required.
I enclose a list of our casualties, which are
small, considering the time the engagement
lasted, and the nature of the ground, which
was exceedingly favourable for defence.
The enemy must have had fully three hun-
dred men in the field, almost the whole of them
belonging to tribes of the Waikato. There can
be no doubt his loss was considerable, upwards
of twenty dead having been counted by us on
the ground, several of whom were Chiefs of
consequunce, and among others an uncle of the
king.

I have, &c.,
D. A. CAMERON.
Lieut.-General.

His Excellency
Sir George Grey, K.C.B.,
&c., &c., &c.