358
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

It is a source of much pleasure to me that
the conduct and soldierlike bearing of the
Force under my command should have merited,
and called forth such a gratifying mark of ap-
proval from the Lieut. General Commanding
in New Zealand,

that I yesterday carried into effect the
"Alarm" in the City of Auckland, of which I
had given notice in the daily papers some
days since, with the view to ascertain whether
the Militia and Volunteers belonging to that
City were all cognisant of the different alarm
Posts assigned to them.

It now affords me much pleasure to be ena-
bled to testify to the promptitude, zeal, and
good will, evinced upon this occasion by the
Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and
members of both the Militia and Volunteers
of Auckland, in answering this summons to
their Military duties. Nothing could have
been better than their conduct on the occasion,
and, I therefore beg to recommend them to
the favorable consideration of the Commander
of the Forces.

I need scarcely add, that I received the
greatest assistance from Lt.-Colonel Kenny,
Dy. Qr.-M. General, and Lieut.-Col. Balneavis,
Dy. Adjutant-General of the Militia and
Volunteer Forces.

I have, &c.,
GEORGE F. CAREY,
Colonel 18th R.I.,
Commanding Auckland and Otahuhu.

The Military Secretary,
Head Quarters,
Queen's Redoubt.

I have, &c.,
T. J. GALLOWAY,
Major-General,
Commanding Colonial Forces.

The Honble.
The Minister for
Colonial Defence.

Head Quarters,
Queen's Redoubt,
23rd August, 1863.

Sir,—I am directed by the Lieut. General
Commanding to forward for your information
the enclosed copy of a letter which he has re-
ceived from Colonel Carey, Commanding at
Auckland and Otahuhu, and he feels sure that
you will feel equally gratified with himself by
that officer's account of the alertness and
promptitude displayed by the Volunteers and
Militia in repairing to their several posts on the
occasion of the alarm being sounded in Auck-
land on the 20th instant. The Lieut.-General
avails himself of this opportunity to express
through you, his approbation of the conduct
and services of all the corps of Volunteers and
Militia since the outbreak of hostilities in this
Province.

Having been called out suddenly for service
in the field at the most inclement season of the
year, encamped at great-distances from their
homes, and required to perform duties most
trying and harassing, even to regular troops,
they have been subject to many hardships and
privations, which they have endured with a
constancy and cheerfulness reflecting the high-
est credit upon them.

The Lieut.-General requests you will assure
the officers and men of the high opinion which
he entertains of their conduct and of the value
of their services.

The Lieut.-General is fully aware how much
your personal influence and example have con-
tributed to call forth and encourage this sol-
dierlike spirit on the part of the Militia and
Volunteers, and begs you will accept his warm
thanks for the timely assistance given by you
in accepting your present command at a very
critical period, and for the cordial manner in
which you have co-operated with him all his
arrangements for the defence of the Province.

I have &c.,
W. J. HUTCHINS,
Lieut.-Colonel.
Assistant Military Secretary, &c.

Major-General Galloway,
Commanding Colonial Forces,
Auckland.

Camp Otahuhu,
August 21st, 1863.

Sir,—I have the honor to report for the in-
formation of the Lieut-Gen. Com. the Forces,

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Auckland, 27th Aug., 1863.

HIS Excellency the Governor directs the
publication of the following despatch,
with its enclosure, from Lieutenant-General
Cameron, C.B.

ALFRED DOMETT.

Head Quarters, Queen's Redoubt,
26th August, 1863.

SIR,—I have the honor to forward, for your
Excellency's information, the copy of a report
which I have received from Captain Cook,
40th regiment, relative to a sudden attack
made by a large body of rebel natives upon a
party of 25 men of the 40th regiment, em-
ployed under Mr. Martyn in felling bush on
the Great South Road, near Williamson's
clearing.

I regret to state that two men were killed,
and nearly the whole of the arms belonging to
the party taken possession of by the enemy,
and more lives must have been lost but for
the timely assistance rendered by the escort
under the command of Captain Cook, whose
conduct on the occasion was most praise-
worthy.

The officers mentioned in Captain Cook's
report, who commanded the different posts
along the road, deserve great credit for the
promptitude with which they hastened in
support.

Your Excellency will observe that we had
only one man hit after the arrival of the escort,
although the enemy continued firing for up-
wards of an hour.